The case of the State Dept. of Children & Family Services (DCF) literally kidnaping the Nowatney children (See story on page 1) has all the markings of a career buster. After more than five months of allowing these kids (aged 1 and 3) to be shuffled from foster home to foster home, State Attorney Kirk Zuelch now has to win big in court— or risk looking like an insensitive fool. And a man perceived as an insensitive fool may have trouble getting reelected. And Zuelch is up for reelection this year.
What is troubling here is that Zuelch probably knows by now that he can't win in court. He simply doesn't have a case. He can't find anybody who knows the Nowatneys to testify that there has ever been even a hint of child abuse or neglect in that family. Not a neighbor. Not a co-worker. Not a day care teacher. Not anyone in the Norwatney's church congregation. Not even the doctors who set the kids' broken arms. So, in desperation, Zuelch is now soliciting out-of-town "experts" to testify that, in their opinion, the Nowatneys may have abused their kids.
But even the father, Army Sgt. Nick Nowatney, says he understands why three broken bones in two young children over a short period of time might have caused some flags to be raised. "We did understand the need for an investigation," he said. "But we know the injuries to our children were accidental. And we know that any objective investigation will show that. But what we don't understand is why the DCF investigation is taking so long— and why we can't get our kids back."
Indeed, investigations by both the Army and the Navy have been conducted— and closed— with no evidence of any abuse or neglect found. Full body x-rays show no evidence of abuse or neglect. Polygraph examinations show no evidence of abuse or neglect.
It's now been more than 160 days since DCF officials turned up at the Nowatney's door and took their kids away. And after all this time, Zuelch still doesn't have a case. But he still refuses to return these kids to their parents! How will he explain this to the voters during his upcoming reelection campaign? How will he explain his apparent willingness to tear a model family apart for no good reason?
Also, when this is all over, it might be a good idea to take a hard look at the local DCF officials who have been willing players in this outrageous fiasco. Like a pack of wild dogs, they appear to be running out of control. Where's Animal Control when you need them? These people need to be hosed down!