Eight years
JUNE 2010
Children, Youth and Families Department files petition against parents for failing to protect their youngest son, age 6, from their oldest son’s sexual assaults. CYFD takes 2-year-old daughter and 6-year-old son into temporary custody. Oldest son, 18, is charged with rape. CYFD creates plan for REUNIFICATION of family.
MAY 2011
CYFD says parents have remedied issues and it is safe for daughter to return home within three months. Parents are granted unsupervised overnight visits with girl.
JULY 2011
Visitation terminated after Hobbs police officers say they might have found child pornography on computer. CYFD changes plan to TERMINATION pending investigation.
JUNE 2012
Parents ask for case to be dismissed after child porn investigation comes back inconclusive. Parents still blocked from visits.
FEBRUARY 2013
Girl’s adoptive parents back out, and she is sent to new home. CYFD changes back to REUNIFICATION plan. Still no visits with parents. CYFD appoints a mediator to coordinate reunification.
JUNE 2013
Parents ask CYFD for clear instructions for reunification.
DECEMBER 2013
Court and CYFD reverse course, change plan to TERMINATION despite parents cooperating fully with treatment plan. Court says underlying issues have not been remedied and children had been away for too long from parents.
AUGUST 2014
CYFD finds new adoptive home for girl despite court-ordered psych evaluation showing no remaining issues for parents. Therapist recommends reunification of daughter and family. Still no visits.
JANUARY 2015
CYFD makes final petition for TERMINATION.
AUGUST 2015
Court TERMINATES parental rights
JUNE/JULY 2017
Court of Appeals OVERTURNS TERMINATION of parental rights and mandates hearing on the best option for the daughter: adoption or reunification with birth parents.
2018
Lea County judge holding custody hearings to determine best placement for daughter.
SOURCES: Lea County District Court records, Hobbs police reports, Court of Appeals opinion, federal lawsuit filed by family.