By Barry Goldstein Most custody cases do not involve domestic violence (DV) or child abuse so if courts need assistance, mental health professionals would be an appropriate choice. Family courts are used to relying on mental health professionals for all cases, but this is based on a long history rather than good research. What works best for children in cases where there are reports or evidence … [Read more...]
4 Family Members Die in Murder-Suicide Days After Judge Denied Woman’s Order of Protection Petition
Four people were found dead early Sunday morning in Roscommon County, Mich., in what police say was a murder-suicide. According to a release from the Roscommon County Sheriff's Department, the deceased have been identified as Tirany Lee Savage, 35, her son Dayton Cowdrey, 13, her mother Kim Lynnette Ebright, 58, and Bo Eugene Savage, 35 — who according to court documents was Tirany's husband. … [Read more...]
‘The System Failed Eli’ Family of Slain Minnesota 6-Year-Old Speaks Out
Six-year-old Eli Hart was found dead Friday in the trunk of a car police had stopped in Mound and now his mother is now charged in his murder. As the tributes and memorials grow for Eli, some of his family members say that they had expressed concern for his safety before his death, and this never should have happened. Court documents allege Thaler shot Eli up to nine times, and say police … [Read more...]
Someone is Mentally Ill, an Addict, or an Abuser: The Vastly Different Response in Family Court and in Life
Essay by Barry Goldstein Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Studies are medical research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ACE tells us that exposure to trauma is far more harmful to children than previously understood and has lifelong consequences unless preventive responses are taken soon enough. There are ten ACEs. Having parents who are mentally ill or engage in substance … [Read more...]