Jeff Winnsboro answered the knock at their front door and was met with an unexpected sight: two police officers and his three-year-old son, James, were on the front step.

The police officers explained that someone had found James alone outside their house and had taken him to the local fire station.

Jeff told the officers that his wife was shopping, he had been fixing lunch, and James must have slipped out when he was busy with the other children.

The officers told Jeff that they understood that mistakes happen, but that they were required to make a report to Child Protective Services.

The officers then left, and Jeff immediately called his wife, Lori, who called Heritage Defense.

We connected Lori with a local attorney, who asked her if CPS had contacted them yet. Lori told our attorney that she had just received a text from CPS stating that they were following up on a police report.

The local attorney recommended that Lori text the CPS investigator back and ask for her card. He then told Lori that he would contact the investigator. The local attorney also suggested to Jeff and Lori that they install something to help keep toddlers from getting out unattended, like childproof locks on exterior doors. The attorney also advised them to get letters of reference from friends and family who could vouch for their parenting.

The local attorney then reached out to the investigator but did not receive a response.

The next day, Lori called Heritage Defense back and told us that the CPS investigator had shown up at their house the previous morning, laid eyes on the children, and given Jeff and Lori a copy of the investigative report.

The local attorney tried again to contact the investigator, and this time was able to make contact with her.

The investigator told the local attorney that she did not believe abuse was taking place, but that she needed proof that the younger kids would not be able to get out of the house again. The attorney forwarded to the investigator pictures of the childproof locks and copies of the reference letters.

A short while later, the investigator contacted the Winnsboro’s attorney again and told him that she was satisfied with the letters of recommendation and the measures Jeff and Lori had taken to ensure that none of the children got out of the house unsupervised again.

Heritage Defense told Jeff and Lori the good news and closed the case.

Jeffrey and Lori thanked Heritage Defense: