CPS Victim

By: Kathleen Johnson

I t all started in 1982, when CPS entered my life. They have never left.

I had two sons, aged 2 1/2 and 1 1/2, and had just left my husband to give them a better life. My estranged husband became a stalker, and my life became a nightmare. Just seeing him drive by, gave me chills. I ran and ran until things mellowed down; at least I thought they had. I moved in with my father and began to plan my future without him. I was only 21, and was raised sheltered, and attended private schools. I did not realize what evil man would do...just because. Little did I know, I was about to find out, first hand. I browsed through the Yellow Pages to find a daycare center for my two sons. I was going to have to work. I came upon a place called " The Children's Aid Society “, and gave them a call. I told them that I was looking for childcare for my sons while I work. They said they could help. The guy made an appointment to come out and discuss the program with me. When the guy arrived, to my surprise, he was working for CPS. He tried to convince me to put my sons in foster care while I work, and I refused. He said, " Didn't you say you needed help?" I said, "Yes, but I was only looking for daycare" He gave me his card, and left.

A month later, I looked out on my dad's lawn, in the middle of the night. There was my husband, parked on the lawn, with the car door open. He raised a gun and a shot came through the ceiling. I called the police. When the police arrived, they looked at the ceiling, and started a report. They ask me did I see my husband do it and I said yes. Then they asked, did I actually see his finger pull the trigger, and I had to say no. He was about 20 feet away, I saw the gun raise...all illuminated by the lights from within his car. I looked straight into his face, and wasn't about to watch his finger movement and not grab my kids and duck. They said that I had no proof that he had actually done it. Well it was 3 am and he was parked out on the back lawn with a gun aimed at the house. I felt really let down. Soon the worker was back and took my kids, because my husband shot at me. How can they have it both ways? In court, he twisted my asking for help, as asking for mental help. They were trying to put me in an institution! I couldn't hold up any longer. I stood up in court and asked him did he want to go to jail on perjury charges. He finally admitted to what I really asked for. He didn't even get a frown for lying in court.

My younger son was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma while in care. He had a 13% chance of living. I was devastated. How much more hell could I go through? Then they threatened jail if I didn't drag my other son out to his dad's car for visitation. My son was terrified. He said dad was giving him white powder on the visits in Kool-aid and it made him sleepy. They did not check it out. I went to classes and did everything they told me to do. I didn't get a break until my husband went to jail for something else. I got my oldest son back. My sick child stayed in his foster home, because they said I couldn't handle all the care he would need.

When my husband got out of jail, they immediately came and took my son again. I knew then, it wasn't me they had problems with, it was my husband. I began the divorce. My son was in remission, and looking good. And I was halfway thru another pregnancy. I guess, I didn't move fast enough one day, and my husband grabbed me off a curb, took me home and raped me, I got pregnant. The only thing that saved me was he kicked my teeth thru my jaw, and then wanted to take me shopping at the mall. While he was in a dressing room, I signaled a salesman to get the police. He almost didn't believe me, but I pointed out the fresh wound on my chin, still dribbling blood. The cops wouldn't keep him, they just ran his car plate and found tickets, and he was out in a couple of hours. But that was enough for me to get away.

My once sick son, was rushed to the hospital in a coma. He had a huge bruise on the back of his neck. He had a blood clot in his brain. They gave him aspirin in his IV, which he was allergic to. I screamed at the doctors that he is allergic, but they wouldn't listen. Just aspirin could kill him, by itself! Then his brain started bleeding swelling so bad; it had actually forced itself down his neck. I held him, until he died. I never knew where the big bruise came from, and after he died, it seems that then they gave him back to me. They asked for organs, and I had an autopsy done. He died cancer free. Dead at 3 1/2 years old.

My other son was in another foster home. He was sodomized and forced to drink apple juice, while being told it was urine. He spent most of his time locked in a hot upstairs room, with a pot. He was almost 5. I had been warned by CPS not to tell him that his brother was sick, now forced to tell him he had died. My new son was only 10 days old. They finally gave me my remaining son back, after I turned down $10,000 from the foster family to allow their doctor son in California to adopt him. And, I think the flyers of my story plastered all over town helped too.

Well, my sons are grown, and it still goes on. I now have 6 kids, mostly grown ones. CPS came because neighbors get mad, or just because. They report the surge protectors on my computer as a threat, my pets, my garage, the fact that they come in while I'm painting or retiling the floor, or moving furniture. They accuse me of drug abuse, buying a sewing machine and a laptop...yes you read right. They made me pull out my sewing machine and laptop! They close a case, and a year later investigate it again. They claim the worker was transferred and forgot to close it. They came out on that same closed case for about 2 or 3 years. Every time I get a job ...here they come. Now I moving and they want my new address. I have no open case with them! They have turned into stalkers.

One poor worker came in, looked funny, and asked me to turn down the fan and TV so he could hear. Then he said, " I have to ask, there is a report that you don't have any electricity. " I laughed until I realized he was waiting for an answer. One said I had 12 cats and 3 pit bulls! He didn't see them. Now he was feeling stupid even coming out, but he had to. After not finding the animals, he proceeded to check everything in my house. I thought they were supposed to only address the allegations. But he found nothing. They have been to my house at least once or twice a year, for the last 15 years. They never find what they are looking for. It is harassment. They have shown up on two of my kid's birthdays. And now, even though he didn't find the 12 cats and 3 dogs, and said the house is fine, he wants my new address. The case is closed, so why does he want my new address? They plan on getting my kids even if it takes a lifetime.