Terry and Angela Clyde’s two teenage daughters, Sophie and Lacey, were away at summer camp when Angela received a phone call from a CPS investigator. Someone at the camp had reported that Sophie had said something concerning to a counselor.

The investigator said the allegations were of medical neglect and demanded a meeting with the entire family within 72 hours, even though Sophie and Lacey were hundreds of miles away and would not be home for another two weeks.

Terry and Angela drove to the camp and talked with Sophie. Terry and Angela learned what Sophie had actually said. She had confided in a counselor about some struggles she had been having, but her words had been misinterpreted and exaggerated as signs of a serious mental health crisis. The camp had made a report to CPS before ever contacting Terry or Angela.

While Terry and Angela were at the camp, the CPS investigator made contact with them. The investigator told them that she wanted to meet and speak with all of their family. Terry and Angela told the investigator that they did not want to do anything until they spoke with their attorney.

Terry and Angela then called Heritage Defense.

One of our attorneys spoke with them that same evening. He walked them through what to do next and advised them not to meet with CPS or sign anything without an attorney present.

Heritage Defense then connected the family with a local attorney to represent them.

All of the local attorney’s fees were covered by Heritage Defense.

The local attorney moved quickly. He informed CPS that no one in the Clyde family would be speaking with them until he had been able to meet with them himself. Terry and Angela also got Sophie in to see a trusted therapist.

When a CPS investigator showed up at the Clyde home unannounced, Terry and Angela called the local attorney before opening the door. While they were on the phone with him, the investigator abruptly left.

Over the next several weeks, CPS escalated. The agency demanded interviews with both Sophie and Lacey. They demanded to inspect the home. They demanded access to the daughters’ medical records. They even hinted at bringing in their own attorneys to force the matter.

The local attorney refused each demand. When CPS kept pressing for direct contact with Sophie, he provided the agency with a letter from her therapist stating that any interview with her would be detrimental to her mental health. 

After that, CPS went quiet.

Several weeks later, Terry and Angela received a letter from CPS stating that their case had been closed.

Terry and Angela shared their testimony about the experience:

Terry and Angela had never expected a camp counselor’s report to trigger a CPS investigation.

But when it happened, Heritage Defense was there to defend them.

If you are not already a member, learn how Heritage Defense can help protect your family if someone makes an unfounded CPS report against you.