When an unexpected knock sounded on the Worths' front door, Linda Worth* feared the worst.

Their family had been having significant issues with their neighbor for some time. The situation had been escalating, and Linda and her husband, Kevin, had been forced to file a police report against them.

Linda was worried this unexpected visitor was some form of retaliation. She was right.

When Linda opened the door, she was met by a Child Protective Services investigator.

The investigator seemed polite and easygoing at first. She explained she was following up on a report. The allegations were that the family had no sewage and that one of the children had a bruised lip.

Linda immediately excused herself and called Heritage Defense.

We quickly connected her with one of our attorneys, who began asking a few key questions.

Linda told our attorney that their well pump had recently gone out, but a repair technician was scheduled to install a new pump that very day. As for the bruised lip, she was baffled. No children had any injuries. Her 22-year-old daughter had undergone dental work the previous week, but she was an adult, not a child, and was currently in college.

Our attorney assured her that this was likely the source of the “bruised lip” report and was not grounds for concern. He advised Linda to remain calm, to keep answers focused only on the allegations, and not to volunteer extra information unless asked directly.

He also recommended that Linda briefly take the children outside, allow the investigator to see them, and explain the pump situation.

Linda kept our attorney on speaker, brought the children out for a moment, and told the investigator about the pump and the repairs being made.

The investigator then started asking a list of questions, and our attorney stepped in, asking the investigator to keep questions related to the allegations.

The investigator's friendly mood quickly disappeared, and she quickly became belligerent and aggressive. Our attorney told her he did not want his client answering questions unrelated to the investigation.

Our attorney then asked the investigator for her information and her supervisors. The investigator gave him the information and then abruptly left.

Our attorney informed Linda that it appeared the investigator wanted to escalate the investigation, and that Heritage Defense would assign one of our local attorneys near them to the case.

Soon after, CPS returned, asking for photos of running water and food in the home. Linda handed them the local attorney’s contact information and called Heritage Defense, who recommended that she notify the local attorney immediately.

A short while later, one of the Worths’ neighbors contacted Linda and Kevin, letting them know that CPS had reached out to ask about their family.

CPS had asked whether the Worths’ kids had cuts or bruises on their faces. The neighbor replied, “I have seen those kids every summer for years. I’ve never seen even one with a cut or bruise.”

When asked if the family had running water, the neighbor confirmed that the well had been repaired.

Meanwhile, Linda and Kevin had sent the investigator a video showing their home’s running water.

Weeks went by. They heard nothing.

Then, the phone rang. CPS informed Kevin and Linda that the case had been closed.

Thanks to the timely support from Heritage Defense and their local attorney, the Worths’ case was resolved without further disruption.

Linda and Kevin gave their testimony on the case: