Mom Got Girl Back Despite Allegations
Records reveal reports of neglect; officers to begin sex-abuse inquiry
By Steve McGonigle
Originally published in the Dallas Morning News, June 15, 2001
The 8-year-old Hutchins girl at the center of one of the worst child abuse cases in Dallas County history was returned to her mother after a failed adoption despite allegations of abuse and neglect, court records obtained Thursday show.
A visiting judge in Ellis County ruled in 1995 that placing Lauren Ashley Calhoun in the care of her mother, Barbara Calhoun Atkinson, "will not significantly impair the child's physical health or emotional development."
Also Thursday, Hutchins police said they are investigating whether sexual abuse occurred at the Atkinson home.
"We don't know yet. There has been some information that has come up that warrants a search warrant," said Hutchins Police Chief Gregory Griffin. "Some things have come to light, and we have to sort through them."
Judge Lynn Markham awarded permanent custody of Lauren to her birth mother over the pleas of a Canton couple who wanted to adopt the child and an attorney the court appointed to represent the little girl's interests.
The judge, who presides over a court-at-law in Houston County, did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Bill and Sabrina Kavanaugh and their attorney, James Jenkins, blamed the failed adoption on another attorney's failure to meet a 60-day deadline for terminating Ms. Atkinson's parental rights to Lauren.
Once Ms. Atkinson retained her rights and pressed her desire to have custody of Lauren, the law left Judge Markham with little choice, Mr. Jenkins said Thursday.
"He did what he thought was right, and I can't say that I disagree with the decision," Mr. Jenkins said.
Kamela Cromer-Wilkinson, an attorney appointed to represent Lauren, said that while she felt the Kavanaughs could have offered the child better opportunities, no one envisioned she would be in danger with her mother.
"I felt like the law, as crazy as it is, won out," she said.
Ms. Cromer-Wilkinson and the Kavanaughs said they were shocked to learn earlier this week that Ms. Atkinson had been arrested on charges of locking Lauren inside a filthy closet in her trailer home for months at a time.
Ms. Atkinson, 30, and her divorced husband, Kenneth Ray Atkinson, 33, are charged with injury to a child, a felony that could bring both of them life terms in prison. Both have declined to be interviewed.
Chief Griffin would not say whether the new information regarding possible sexual abuse involved one, some or all of the six children in the Atkinson home.
"We're just looking into it, and tomorrow morning the Dallas County Sheriff's Department will execute the warrant," he said.
Child Protective Services spokeswoman Marleigh Meisner said she could not discuss possible allegations of sexual abuse.
"Any time our agency investigates, we explore all avenues of abuse, including sexual abuse."
Ms. Atkinson's father, David Calhoun, said Thursday that relatives are trying to recover from the news about the abuse and are not ready to make any statements.
"We need to clear our heads," he said.
He said he had no idea abuse had been occurring. Family members have been cooperating with investigators and would like to take care of the children if authorities allow it, he said.
Brad Lollar, an attorney appointed to represent Ms. Atkinson, said Thursday that he had not discussed the case with her and could not make any comment.
Lauren, who was found malnourished and lying in her own waste, is hospitalized at Children's Medical Center. She has had surgery, but state officials have not disclosed its nature.
Lauren won't be placed in a temporary home until after an extensive stay at Children's Medical Center, officials said. Lauren, who weighed 25 pounds and stood 3 feet tall when she was found, is in serious but stable condition.
Calls have come in from across the country from people asking how they can help Lauren and her brothers and sisters. People have donated money, toys, clothes and books, and people have promised much more.
"It's just amazing. I think the community is just outraged. I hope people ride that wave and continue to be outraged," said Stacy Ladd, a Child Protective Services spokeswoman.
A court hearing to determine temporary custody for Lauren and her five siblings is scheduled for June 26 before District Judge Cheryl Shannon.
The Kavanaughs said they will ask the court to award them custody of the girl whom they have spent the past six years dreaming about taking home again.
"If they have a relationship and we feel they would be a safe, appropriate home for the child, certainly there is an advantage. There are people who have a relationship but would not be suitable," said Ms. Ladd.
Among the lingering questions about the girl's case are why her mother fought so hard to regain custody of a child that she had given up for adoption because of her inability to provide adequate care.
The Kavanaughs, who previously lived in Ellis County, had custody of the girl they called Ashley for less than a year before Ms. Atkinson changed her mind and went to court to get her daughter back. Mr. Kavanaugh said he was concerned for the child's safety back then because she would appear for visits with bruises.
"Barbie said she fell and hit her eye on the coffee table," he said.
In an affidavit filed in court, Mr. Kavanaugh alleged that he had seen Ms. Atkinson slap her [oldest] daughter … in the face and the child often had a serious diaper rash.
"It is my belief that she would treat this child [Lauren] the same way in which she has treated her other child," he stated in his 1993 court affidavit.
A county social worker, Elva Kirks Chapman, and Ms. Cromer-Wilkinson also filed reports with the court that raised questions about Ms. Atkinson's ability to provide a stable home for her daughter. But neither report mentioned concerns about potential abuse of the child.
In Canton, former friend and neighbor Sheila Landreth recalled Thursday how she was startled by the way Ms. Calhoun treated Lauren and her other children.
Ms Landreth said that shortly after Ms. Calhoun regained custody of the toddler from the Kavanaughs, she visited Ms. Calhoun and her children and noticed that Lauren was not allowed to eat with the others. The child also had to sleep on the floor, she said.
"Little Lauren, she was kind of mean to her," Ms. Landreth said. "She'd let the other kids eat in front of her and wouldn't let her have any food. The other kids didn't know what they were doing. To them it was thank goodness they got something."
Ms. Calhoun never explained why she treated Lauren that way, and Ms. Landreth said she could not understand how her friend could have so many children and appear to not want them.
"After that, I washed my hands of her," Ms. Landreth said. "I never understood why they had it in for one kid and not the others."
