N.R.
N.R. v. San Bernardino County Children and Family Services CA4/2
Opinion
Opinion
BACKGROUND
Laurel R. was previously married to Christopher R., and the couple had a child,
N., who was born in 2008, while the couple lived in North Carolina where Christopher, a
Marine, was stationed. The couple subsequently divorced and Christopher assumed
physical custody of N. When Christopher was transferred to Twentynine Palms, N.
moved with him, as well as his girlfriend Hannah T. Christopher was an air traffic
controller for the Marines and had been transferred to San Bernardino County.
On September 2, 2013, an ex-roommate of Christopher and Hannah’s made a
report of abuse and neglect of N. on the San Bernardino County Child and Family
Services (CFS or County) Child Abuse Hotline. The report indicated that Hannah locked
N. in his room all day causing him to defecate and urinate in the room and that N. was
fed only vegetables, but his food would be taken away as punishment. The door to N.’s
room locked from the outside so N. could not exit the room. When he defecated on
himself, he was given a cold shower. The caller also indicated he was verbally abused,
had dark circles around his eyes, and that Hannah used a drumstick to beat N.