Carla Contreras - heartwrenching adoption story
From: Abigail Mahnke, host of Inner Views
Length: 30:00
In 2009, Carla took in a beautiful 8-month-old baby boy named Julian after he and his 2 siblings were taken from their parents by CPS. The parents, Julia and Ray, willingly gave over Power of Attorney and the yearlong adoption process was set in motion. But just 6 months later, out of the blue, Carla was notified that CPS was coming to take Julian away because the parents had changed their minds and wanted him to go to a different family. A legal battle ensued but Carla lost in April 2010. She is still devastated to this day and believes that justice was not served.
The 3 children were taken from their parents because they were drugs users and homeless, and the final straw was when the father urinated on his children. Carla and her partner had been trying for several years without success to have children via artificial insemination, so when the call from a friend came to take Julian, it was the answer to their dreams. Or so they thought.
The birth parents were willing to give up custody of their children and happy for Carla (and her partner) to be Julian's adopted parents. Six months passed with family visitations and caseworker visits and all seemed to be going well. Then, the birth parents met another couple, the Askews, and everything changed. The Askews had money and bought a car for Julia and Ray, as well as providing a home for them to live in. The Askews had fallen in love with Julian's older brother Cai, and decided they wanted to adopt both boys. CPS rejected this plan but the Askews persisted and persisted, going up the chain of command, until CPS changed their minds. This, despite the fact that Melanie Askew was a convicted felon and had never even met Julian.
Carla hired an attorney and got an injunction to keep Julian with her. A court battle ensued and Carla got the worst possible judge - that is, this judge is known to side with the mother's wishes and Julia, apparently swayed by the money from the Askews, had changed her mind about Julian going to Carla and wanting him to be adopted by the Askews instead. The judge ordered Julian to go with the Askews. On the hardest day of Carla's life, Julian was handed over in April 2010. She has not seen him since and the wounds are still fresh.
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Piece Description
In 2009, Carla took in a beautiful 8-month-old baby boy named Julian after he and his 2 siblings were taken from their parents by CPS. The parents, Julia and Ray, willingly gave over Power of Attorney and the yearlong adoption process was set in motion. But just 6 months later, out of the blue, Carla was notified that CPS was coming to take Julian away because the parents had changed their minds and wanted him to go to a different family. A legal battle ensued but Carla lost in April 2010. She is still devastated to this day and believes that justice was not served.
The 3 children were taken from their parents because they were drugs users and homeless, and the final straw was when the father urinated on his children. Carla and her partner had been trying for several years without success to have children via artificial insemination, so when the call from a friend came to take Julian, it was the answer to their dreams. Or so they thought.
The birth parents were willing to give up custody of their children and happy for Carla (and her partner) to be Julian's adopted parents. Six months passed with family visitations and caseworker visits and all seemed to be going well. Then, the birth parents met another couple, the Askews, and everything changed. The Askews had money and bought a car for Julia and Ray, as well as providing a home for them to live in. The Askews had fallen in love with Julian's older brother Cai, and decided they wanted to adopt both boys. CPS rejected this plan but the Askews persisted and persisted, going up the chain of command, until CPS changed their minds. This, despite the fact that Melanie Askew was a convicted felon and had never even met Julian.
Carla hired an attorney and got an injunction to keep Julian with her. A court battle ensued and Carla got the worst possible judge - that is, this judge is known to side with the mother's wishes and Julia, apparently swayed by the money from the Askews, had changed her mind about Julian going to Carla and wanting him to be adopted by the Askews instead. The judge ordered Julian to go with the Askews. On the hardest day of Carla's life, Julian was handed over in April 2010. She has not seen him since and the wounds are still fresh.
Additional Credits
On-air credit to KOOP as follows:
Recorded at KOOP Radio 91.7 FM Austin, Texas
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