Member Story: Someone saw our kids playing outside
Knock, knock, knock. That was the first sign of trouble for the Scott and Linda Purtis* family on what seemed to be a normal Thursday sunny afternoon.
Scott answered the door expecting to see one of his neighbors or perhaps one of his friends at the door. Instead, a stranger was standing on the front step.
The man greeted Scott and told him that he was from Child Protective Services and was there to investigate a report that had been filed against them.
Scott fought back feelings of stress that washed over him. He asked the investigator for a business card. The investigator handed Scott his card and told him that he would like to speak with the Purtis’s children. Scott asked him to wait one moment while he got his attorney on the phone.
The investigator told Scott that he was not allowed to interact with attorneys. Scott said he understood and asked him again to wait one moment while he called his attorney.
Scott stepped inside and closed the door. He then proceeded to call the Heritage Defense 24/7 emergency helpline. Scott was quickly connected with an attorney.
The Heritage Defense attorney asked Scott to put the phone on speaker and ask the investigator what the allegations were. The investigator told Scott that someone had seen their kids playing outside unattended and they also thought that one of them may have had a dirty diaper.
The investigator went on to ask Scott if ever let the kids hang out of the car windows when he drove around the property. Scott told the worker that he sometimes rolled down the car windows but the children never hung out of them.
The investigator started asking about Scott’s job and other questions that were not related to the allegations. The Heritage Defense attorney interrupted and indicated that Scott and Linda would only be answering questions relevant to the allegations.
The investigator then asked Linda about the allegations. Linda told the investigator that she keeps an eye on the kids whenever they are outside and that she always changes their diapers whenever they are dirty.
After laying eyes on the children, the investigator left, telling Scott and Linda that he would be in touch.
Once the investigator left, the Heritage Defense attorney told Scott and Linda that based on how things went this would likely be the last they would hear from the investigator.
Several more weeks passed, and Scott and Linda never heard anything else from CPS.
The Heritage Defense attorney informed Scott and Linda that CPS had probably closed the case quietly and simply did not notify them. The attorney told them that in many cases, the family never receives a closing letter.
Scott and Linda thanked the attorney for his handling of the case:
“We are so thankful we had Heritage Defense when it happened. It was a very odd thing that happened, but we can’t say enough good about Heritage Defense. It’s a great deal for 20 bucks a month.”
If you are a member of Heritage Defense, we hope it is an encouragement for you to know that your membership is going to help families like the Purtises. While we cannot guarantee outcomes, if your family is ever falsely accused of child abuse or neglect, we are ready to fight to defend you and your rights.
If you are not yet a member, please join today to have 24/7 access to experienced attorneys ready to defend your family.
*Names changed for privacy