Adoption of Janelle M. CA4/1

BACKGROUND

Janelle's mother, B.B., married R.M. in 2002. Janelle was born in January 2005.

R.M. was present at the birth and his name is on Janelle's birth certificate. R.M. and B.B.

separated in 2008. Janelle has been in B.B.'s sole care since then.

B.B. reported that during their marriage, R.M. abused her physically and

emotionally. In October 2008, B.B. filed for divorce. In November, R.M.'s friend told

B.B. that R.M. was planning to have B.B. killed. B.B. called the police and terminated

R.M.'s visits with Janelle. B.B. kept her location confidential because R.M. had

threatened her life. The last contact between R.M. and Janelle took place in November or

December 2008, when Janelle was three years old.

In December 2008, R.M. was arrested and jailed. B.B. obtained a restraining

order protecting her from R.M.2 In early 2009, R.M. was convicted of soliciting B.B.'s

murder. R.M. was sentenced to three years in prison. During his incarceration, he earned

no money with which to pay child support.

In mid-2009, R.M. sent a letter to Janelle at the maternal grandparents' address.

The maternal grandmother told B.B. about the letter. B.B.…