In re M.S. CA4/2

I.

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

This juvenile court case stems from a contentious marital dissolution proceeding.

In February 2020, the family court issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) protecting

father and the children from mother. The court temporarily ordered that father have

custody of the children and that mother have no contact with them. The family court

found mother’s allegations against father, in her own request for a TRO, were not

credible and that she had been untruthful during her testimony. In addition, the court

indicated it was concerned mother had been coaching the children. In September 2020,

the family court awarded father sole legal and physical custody of the children and

ordered that mother have supervised visits. Mother was granted unsupervised visits the

following August. Finally, in October 2021, the parents agreed to share legal and

physical custody of the children.

In November 2021, DPSS received a referral that mother had threatened father

with a knife and encouraged the children to vandalize father’s property. When

interviewed, M.S. said she was afraid of father because he was “mean.” She also said

father starved the children,…