Our Story How We Got Here

The Beginning (2021)

In 2021, North Little Rock DHS (Department of Human Services) removed my twin boys from home. A few weeks later, they removed my son, Jr. from my home. DHS had a meeting that took place at the DHS office in Little Rock. At this meeting, my first caseworker (will be referred to as caseworker 1), and three other ladies that worked at DHS, myself, Jr.'s biological father, my cousin, and Jr. also went with me.  Jr.'s biological father's oldest son and his wife also attended the meeting, but they were virtual.

When the meeting came to an end, I was getting Jr. ready to leave to go home until caseworker1 pulled out papers and told me she needed me to sign guardianship of my twin boys over to the biological father's oldest son and daughter. I refused to do so I also told them that I did not trust them and before I got a chance to explain to everyone why I didn't trust them, another DHS lady stood up and said ok then, then it's time to another removal. Jr. ended up not getting to go home with me.  DHS placed Jr. with the oldest son and his wife (the same ones who DHS had already placed my twin boys with).

This changed our lives upside down!  I have other children as well and no one seemed to realize that everything also affected my other children. After Jr. was placed with the oldest son and wife, during this time:

• I was assigned 5 different caseworkers

• Casworker 1 was the only one out of 5 that  complied and did everything ordered to do. The other four did not comply with court orders, and when I say did not comply, I mean they did nothing! I still have texts that I sent to caseworker 2 asking him to please do house visits and everything. The other 3 caseworkers I never even met. In court when caseworker  3 was asked what my house looked like she had no idea. The judge herself then stated in court that North Little Rock DHS was a disgrace.

• I warned the agency about concerns with the proposed placement

• My warnings were ignored everytime

Despite my explicit warnings, Jr. was placed with his biological father's oldest son (will refer to him as son) and his wife (wife) I had expressed concerns about.  My fears were tragically validated.

In 2024, the placement (son and wife) were convicted in Arkansas court and sentenced to 5 years in prison for abusing my son and starving him  (Jr.). They almost killed my son and only got 5 years! The abuse was so severe it resulted in criminal prosecution and conviction.

I have documentation of these convictions that I will post soon.

I was told that my in 2023 my parental rights were terminated. I was not properly notified about the termination hearing (I do not know if they've actually been terminated or not) and I did not learn about it until I had learned about what happened to Jr.

Throughout this process, two of my other children remain safely in my care, thriving in school and at home! The evidence shows that my home was and is a safe, loving environment.

On November 15, 2025, I started reaching out to different places seeking any kind of help or guideance anyone could provide.  I was told I needed to contact the Child Welfare Ombudsman. So I contacted her. About a week after I reached out to her she contacted me and told me that she was not able to find any records on Jr. at all. This left my speechless like how do you react when someone who claims their purpose is protecting children tells you that they can't find any records for your child! This just raised more concerns and confusion and left my mind  wondering with all kinds of things but the most constant was Lord, please whereever my Junebug is at please lord keep him safe please! 

The ombudsman gave me a phone number for a lawyer and said that she'd told him about my case and he was interested. I contacted him and I told him everything and he said for me to send him copies of the convictions and whatever else I had and he'd look over everything and get back to me. Three days passed I called and I sent texts asking if he had an update on Jr. has he found him, and no response.  I will say this waiting...waiting for a response a text back or phone call is indescribable!  Finally, after 5 days maybe 6, I sent him another text asking if he had any updates on my son. He finally responded with a text and said "I can not find anything on Jr not even any court records."   Needless to say that was the last time I spoke to the lawyer and that was November.

Now, I'm so lost as of what to do. I contacted ombudsman again and told her what lawyer had said. I said to her what type of system is that my son is floating around somewhere no one knows where hes at or if he is even ok and no records of anything how is this possible!!!! I was more than hurt I'm furious I asked her has this ever happened before? She said not while shes been working there. 

After the convictions I was told that Jr. was placed with the son's (abuser's) youngest sister. Then, I was told that the youngest sister didn't want to care for Jr. anymore so now he's currently with a teacher, but no name for the teacher was given.  

My son is 8 years old. DHS, the state, who prides theirselves in protection children and doing what is in the best interest of the child, failed my son (and our family) in every way possible including protecting him and here it is 2025 and they're still failing him! It's not right none of this is right! Jr. deserves so much so, so, so much better than any of this! It's wrong. He's been through enough. Let him come home safe! 

Where We Are Now

I do not know where my son is at or if he's ok if he's being took care of if he's hungry cold scared or anything.  This is my mind every day and night. The state agency responsible for him does not know where he is. 

A child cannot simply disappear from the state system. Jr. deserves to be found, to be safe, to be loved, to feel loved and wanted, he deserves stability,  he needs to be home with me, his mother, his other siblings, he needs to be in counseling for the pain he's endured. 

I am a mother who loves her children more than anything in this world, works from home as a software developer, and has provided a stable, loving home for my other children who are in well in my care!

We are ready to find Jr. and to bring him back home so we can all begin healing. We just need help making that happen.  WIth a case that's as complex as this is, makes it so much harder to find a lawyer that's affordable. It is outraoutrageous! I've contacted legal aid of Arkansas three times and they said that they're being very strict about what cases they take.  We have several different ways that you contribute that are safe.  I'm currently working on finding out if it's possible for supporters to make contributions directly to a lawyer and if so, how to go about doing it that way. I will add this as an option if it's possible.  

If you would like to make a donation and help us get Jr. back home, you can find out more details, and see all the options that's available for anyone wanting to contribute.  Thank you for taking time to hear our story. Even if you can't donate, please be sure to share our story and help us to spread the word and awareness.  Thank you so much!