In re E.D. CA5

FACTS

Initial Removal On April 17, 2020, the Merced County Human Services Agency (Agency) received a suspected child abuse report after Mother gave birth to E.D. at a local hospital. A report was made due to Mother’s extensive case history with the Agency, which involved multiple removals of her adopted daughter, A.D. (sister). Law enforcement took E.D. into protective custody based upon the Agency’s concerns that E.D. was at substantial risk of general neglect and physical harm. The Agency filed an original petition alleging E.D. was a child described by Welfare and Institutions Code section 300, subdivisions (b)(1), (g), and (j). 1 The petition alleged that E.D. was at risk due to Mother’s history of physical abuse and neglect of the sister, who was involved in an ongoing dependency case. The report prepared for the April 22, 2020, detention hearing detailed Mother’s eight prior child welfare referrals and the sister’s three separate removals from Mother’s care. The sister was removed in June of 2016 due to Mother’s absence, February of 2018 due to physical abuse by Mother, and February of 2020 due to concerns of physical abuse by

1All further statutory references are to the…