In Missouri, if a social services's case stays open for 15 months, they can automatically terminate your parental rights without needing any evidence, which sadly is what happened to the Copeland family.

Dear Friends,

The Copeland family is in dire need of your help.  In October 1997 their
three month old baby, Elijah, was crying.  They knew something was wrong and
took him to the emergency room where multiple rib fractures were found.  He
did not have any bruises, internal injuries or other symptoms to indicate abuse yet they were
accused of child abuse.  During the court case, their second son, Elisha, was
born and sadly was taken immediately from them at the hospital.

The family presented medical evidence for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), also known as brittle bone disease.
Dr. Kutay Taysi, genetics director at St. John's hospital in St. Louis, MO, examined Elijah and concluded that he might
have OI.  Elijah was further diagnosed with mild OI/TBBD by Dr. Colin
Paterson, a physician with a background in genetics at the Ninewells Hospital
in Scotland, and Dr. Marvin Miller, a pediatrician with a genetics specialty
in Dayton, Ohio.

The family presented medical evidence and symptoms that supported the OI
diagnosis.  Elijah had respiratory problems at birth and was given oxygen.
It is very likely that his breathing difficulties were due to rib fractures
from the birth process. The geneticist also said that Elijah had remarkably
blue sclera.  He is also very sensitive to heat and sweats easily.  Elisha
also had hypermobile "loose joints" noted at birth and he later developed
teeth problems associated with dentin imperfecta.  Both of their son's
ultrasound images, while Suzy was pregnant, indicated lower bone density as
noted by the OB/GYN doctor but concerns were dismissed as most likely normal.
  In addition, Clifton, the father, has scoliosis in the form of
kyphoscoliosis and the connective tissue disorder, Scheaurman's disease.

Social services insisted that he did not have OI and that his fractures could
only be from child abuse.  Judge Carol Bader of the juvenile case at the Jefferson County courthouse,
had already made up her mind that this was child abuse and refused to allow
Dr. Paterson to testify at the parental rights termination hearing, even
though he had traveled from Scotland to attend the hearing.  In Missouri, if
a social services's case stays open for 15 months, they can automatically
terminate your parental rights without needing any evidence, which sadly is
what happened to the Copeland family.  The family's parental rights were
terminated in August 1999 and both children were placed for adoption in the
foster home.  Suzy and Clifton are no longer allowed to visit their children
in the foster home.  They have petitioned for visits but all of their
requests have been denied.

Due to no evidence found for child abuse and the supportive medical reports
for OI, the Copelands were never criminally charged.  There is a requirement
for evidence in a criminal court and there are juries that make the final
verdict but in juvenile court, all requests are presented by Social Services
and all decisions are mandated by the Judge.  The Judge in the Copeland's
case refused to consider any medical evidence for brittle bone disease.  A
normal child with multiple rib fractures who had been abused would have
resulted with bruises, respiratory problems, internal abdominal injuries and
retinal hemorrhages.  Elijah had none of these symptoms.  The only injury he
had were broken ribs.

The family tried to appeal to the Missouri appellate court but the appeals
judge ruled that the Judge had the  right to deny Dr. Paterson's testimony
and to exclude his medical report.  They then tried to appeal to the federal
Supreme Court last month but their case was not reviewed.

Sadly,  they now have very few options.  There is a possibility that another
appeal can be filed due to a writ of habeas corpus.  We are hoping and
praying that if many concerned individuals were to write government officials
and media representatives in Missouri, that perhaps local pressure could help
to get their case reopened.

Could you please email or write or do both (printout your email and mail it)
to the following addresses?  You could type one letter and then make copies
of it for all of the following addresses.  If you are even able to call some
of these individuals, it would be greatly appreciated.  Also, be sure to
include your mailing address, email or phone in case the officials wish to
contact you.  Could you please forward any copies of emails that are sent to
the Copeland family at: copeland-family@excite.com or to Suzy's father at
asmith_69@yahoo.com.  Thank you so much for your willingness and compassion
to help.  Dear friends, we are praying that through your intervention, that a
miracle could occur to help save this dear family.

God bless you,

Wally & Debby Hines
www.protectourfamilies.com

Please contact as many persons as you can on this list:

1) 48 Hours
524 West 57th St.
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-975-3247
Email: 48hours@cbsnews.com

2) 60 Minutes
524 West 57th St.
New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-975-3247
Email: 60minutes@cbsnews.com

3) NBC News
30 Rockerfeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

4) FOX2 TV Station
KTVI - St. Louis
5915 Berthold Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63110
Phone: 314-647-2222

5) St. Louis Post Dispatch Newspaper
900 N. Tucker Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63101
Phone: 314-240-8000

6) The Independent Journal Newspaper
119 E. High St.
Potosi, MO 63664
Phone: 573-438-5141
Email: contact@theij.com

7) Jefferson County Leader Newspaper
503 N. 2nd St.
Festus, MO 63028
Phone: 636-957-7501

8) Donald Berns
Jefferson County/Missouri Zones Editor
Phone: 314-340-8164
Email: dberns@post-dispatch.com
Email: pdeditor@post-dispatch.com

9) Associated Press
900 N. Tucker Blvd.
# 400
St. Louis, MO 63101

10) Governor Bob Holden
Missouri Capitol Building, Room 216
PO Box 720
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0720
Telephone: (573) 751-3222
Fax: (573) 751-1495
Email: constituentaffairs@mail.gov.state.mo.us

11) Attorney General Jay Nixon
Missouri Attorney General's Office
Supreme Court Building
207 W. High St.
P.O. Box 899
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-751-3321
Fax: 573-751-0774
Email: attgenmail@moago.org

12) Lieutenant Governor Joe Maxwell
State Capitol Building
Room 121
Jefferson City, MO  65101
Phone: 573-751-4727
Fax: 573-751-9422
Email: jmaxwell@mail.state.mo.us

13) Claire McCaskill
Office of the State Auditor,
P.O. Box 869
Jefferson City, MO  65102.
Phone: 573-751-4213
Fax: 573-751-7984
Email: moaudit@mail.auditor.state.mo.us
(The State Auditor has issued a report that is critical of Missouri's
Division of Family Services)

14) Speaker of the House
Rep. Jim Kreider
201 West Capitol Avenue
Room 308
Jefferson City MO 65101
Phone: 573-751-2956
Fax: 573-526-0507
Email: jkreider@services.state.mo.us

15) President Pro Tem of the Senate
Peter Kinder
State Capitol Building
Room 431
Jefferson City, MO 65101
Phone: (573) 751-2455
Fax: (573) 751-2902
Email: pkinder@services.state.mo.us

16) Jefferson County Commission
Presiding Commissioner
Samuel J. Rauls
Mailing Address:
PO Box 100
Hillsboro, MO 63050
Phone: 636) 797-5403 or (636) 797-5404
Fax: (636) 797-5506

17) Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges
James M. Smith
2190 South Mason Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63131
(314) 966-1007 (phone)
(314) 966-0076 (fax)

The Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of judges is responsible
for receiving and investigating all requests for the retirement of judges
because of disability and all complaints concerning alleged misconduct of
judges and judicial commission members. The Commission is composed of six
members: two non-lawyers, two lawyers, one Court of Appeals judge, and one
circuit judge.

On receiving a proper complaint, the Commission conducts an informal
investigation. If at least four members find probable cause to believe the
person may be guilty of misconduct, incompetency, or other action
constituting grounds for discipline as listed in Rule 12.08, a formal
investigation is conducted. If at least four members find the person
investigated should be disciplined, the Commission provides a report to the
Supreme Court, with recommendations for discipline (removal from office,
suspension, or other discipline). The Court then makes a final ruling based
on the Commission's record and transcript. A similar procedure applies in
cases involving disability.


Thank you, dear friends.  We greatly appreciate your letters and prayers for
the Copeland family