Charles and Linda Bachman had been going through a difficult season with their adopted daughter, Ella. Ella had experienced childhood trauma before she was adopted by Charles and Linda just before her ninth birthday. Charles and Linda had done their best to raise her, but Ella became rebellious and disruptive and ran away from home. When police found her and attempted to bring her back, she resisted, which ended with her being placed in a therapeutic boarding school. However, after only a few short weeks, Ella was removed from the school for assaulting a fellow student.

Ella was then placed in a rehab facility, but things worsened, and after only a few weeks, Ella was removed from the facility, again for assault. In the meantime, Ella had turned 18. Charles and Linda tried to continue to minister to Ella, but she cut them off.

One of Charles and Linda’s older daughters was able to maintain contact with Ella, but shortly after Ella was removed from the rehab facility, she approached Charles and Linda distressed and said she no longer wanted to speak with Ella.

A few days later, Ella called Linda and told her that she was not going to let Linda cut her off from her siblings and that she was going to report them to CPS. Linda tried to talk to Ella and explain, but Ella hung up.

Linda did not have to wonder long if Ella was going to follow through with her threat. The next day, there was a knock on the Bachman’s front door.

When Linda opened it, she was met with a CPS investigator and a police officer. The investigator told Linda that she was there to investigate a report made against them and asked to come inside. Linda declined and asked the investigator what the allegations were. The investigator refused to say and left, leaving her card with Linda.

Linda immediately called Heritage Defense. Our attorney told Linda we would contact one of our attorneys in their area and get him on the case.

The local attorney contacted the CPS investigator and the police department and learned that the police had contacted Ella regarding the report. The police department informed the local attorney that they believed the report was unfounded and would not pursue it.

The CPS investigator told the local attorney that she wanted to come do a walk-through of the family's home and interview the family. The attorney made his position clear: given the lack of evidence and the police department’s own conclusion, he did not believe that any further action was necessary. The attorney told the investigator she could either close the case or take the matter to court.

A short time later, CPS said that they would be closing the case.

Charles and Linda gave their testimony on the case:

Charles and Linda never expected to face a situation like this, but when the knock came, they were grateful they didn’t have to face it alone.

For families who are not members, moments like these often come with impossible choices: Do we cooperate? Do we call a lawyer? Can we even afford one?

Heritage Defense exists to ensure families do not face those questions alone during a crisis.

Learn how Heritage Defense can protect your family before you need it.