11 kids, including family of 9, abandoned

[S&WM&P40]

OMAHA, Neb. - Eleven children ranging in age from 1 to 17 were left at hospitals Wednesday under Nebraska's unique safe haven law, which allows caregivers to abandon youngsters as old as 19 without fear of prosecution.
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Nine of the children came from one family. The six boys and three girls were left by their father, who was not identified, at Creighton University Medical Center's emergency room. Unrelated boys ages 11 and 15 also were surrendered Wednesday at Immanuel Medical Center.

The law, which went into effect in July, initially was intended to protect infants. In a compromise with senators worried about arbitrary age limits, the measure was expanded to include the word "child," which wasn't defined. Some have interpreted this to mean anyone under the age of 19.

At least 14 children have been abandoned under the state's safe haven law since it took effect.

Todd Landry, director of Health and Human Services' division of Children and Family Services, said that in nearly every case, the parents who left their children felt overwhelmed and had decided they didn't want to be parents anymore. None of the kids dropped off so far has been in danger, Landry said.

The children surrendered Wednesday are OK, said Kathie Osterman, spokeswoman for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. She didn't know why they had been abandoned. Further details weren't immediately available.

Nebraska was the last state in the nation to adopt a safe-haven law. Under previous law, a parent who abandoned a baby could have been charged with child neglect or abandonment, both misdemeanors, or child abuse, a felony.

State Sen. Arnie Stuthman said he introduced the bill intending to protect infants. In a compromise with senators worried about arbitrary age limits, the measure was expanded.

Abandoning teenagers was not the original intent of the law, Stuthman said Thursday.

"People are leaving them off just because they can't control them," he said. "They're probably in no real danger, so it's an easy way out for the caretaker."


Now come on who the hell can just dump off there kids like they are the kitchen trash?? Any one who could do that should not have been a mom or dad to start with. I can see it now " you better stop acting out or i will dump you off at the ER and be done with you" I mean we are not talking about Little baby's who have no idea who there mom and dads are. We are talking about 5,7,11,15 and 17 year old kids are are dropped off for nothing more then there mom and dad no longer wanted to be there mom or dad. Come on sounds like a Car dealer ship, when you want to lease a car or truck, lease it for a few years then when you get sick of it drop it back off and get a new one.

[mom of 3 angels]

Those poor kids! The majority of them are definitely old enough to understand what is going on or at least know it was a choice their parents made. What kind of psychological impact is that going to have on them? And not likely the 9 kids will stay together in the "system". It would be nice to have more information--they were dropped off by their dad, where is the mom? Something's definitely not right here.

[kwo51]

Did they speak english?

[MrRezister]

So these "safe haven" laws allow parent to treat their kids like pets then? Wow, what a great humanitarian effort!

[HK4U]

wonder what kind of home life they had if the dad would do something like that?

[toreskha]

The families that this happens to clearly are having some serious problems. Those children may actually be better off getting dropped nearly anywhere, than being abused or even killed. Anyone who is willing to abandon their child is not fit to be a parent.

It might be for the best of all bad choices in the long run.

[mom of 3 angels]

wonder what kind of home life they had if the dad would do something like that?

Very true, they might be better off in homes with competent, caring adults.

[Hoplites1234]

I cannot fathom the depths of despair a father would have to reach to abandon his children. My father was a hillbilly from Tennesse with a sixth grade education--yet he found a way every day to feed us four kids and keep a roof over our heads. On the other hand maybe this guy was just a piece of *****!

[tattedupboy]

Those poor kids! The majority of them are definitely old enough to understand what is going on or at least know it was a choice their parents made. What kind of psychological impact is that going to have on them? And not likely the 9 kids will stay together in the "system". It would be nice to have more information--they were dropped off by their dad, where is the mom? Something's definitely not right here.

Even sadder is the fact up until a few months ago, Nebraska was on its own among the 50 states in holding deadbeat parents accountable for their actions. Not anymore.

[Scarecrow]

wow I don't even know what to say to that.. people have no idea what responsability means anymore.