FL - Police in search of parents who allegedly threatened to kill children

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...arents-alleged-suicide-pact-article-1.1211914

The Florida Department of Children and Families said the family came to the United States from Vietnam to get treatment for Kristin, who is autistic. The agency stepped in after the Firths allegedly told someone they would murder the children and kill themselves if treatment was too expensive or failed to work.

“We just want to make sure the children are OK,” Melbourne police Lt. Byron Barnes told Bay News 9. ...................

While Firth has family in Florida, as well as Michigan and Arizona, police believe they may be headed for California in a 2002 silver Lexus SUV, and could ultimately hop a plane back to Vietnam.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement at 888-356-4774.


Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nat...-suicide-pact-article-1.1211914#ixzz2EDvoNVTk

Found safe

Investigators were relieved to find a family they were worried about.

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/news/central-fl.../rsss_2.0/-/o0ae4k/-/index.html#ixzz2EGJ9dlE6

Amen.

Now what happens to these two children? Especially the little doll that needs all the help. They're no citizens I presume so can Florida keep the kids or can they just up and take them? Eventually?

How utterly beautiful these kids are.

http://assets.nydailynews.com/polop...ives/landscape_635/article-pact-kids-1202.jpg

Hoping they can get help for this little doll.

Filly said:

Amen.

Now what happens to these two children? Especially the little doll that needs all the help. They're no citizens I presume so can Florida keep the kids or can they just up and take them? Eventually?

Click to expand...

I think the father is a U.S. citizen since he was said to own property and have family here.

From CarmelEyesD's link above:

Florida caseworkers are bringing the children back to Brevard County to complete the investigation into the murder-suicide pact threat. The parents are expected to follow on their own.

A judge could decide to put the children into foster care and have the family meet certain conditions to get their children back.

Read more: http://www.wesh.com/news/central-fl.../rsss_2.0/-/o0ae4k/-/index.html#ixzz2EUuFff9s

Click to expand...

With what these parents said and did, running away from the investigator, threatening murder/suicide, it will not be a quick 'get the kids back' procedure. They will have to meet certain requirements set by the judge to prove they can care for the children and are not a danger to them. First of all counseling and psychiatric exams, prove they have a place to live and way to support themselves and children. If they don't meet the requirements I can see these children staying in the state's care for a long time and no visitation until they can be trusted to not run from a caseworker. I can also see with the murder/suicide threat the children being removed permanently...just depends on their own behavior now.....but it won't be overnight for sure....IMO

January 2013 - the kids were in foster care and the parents were allowed 8 hours supervised visits per week. The judge ordered them to have psychiatric evaluations, take parenting classes, have family counselling etc, and was hopeful they would be able to regain custody.

The Firths' attorney said the threats of a suicide pact is a big misunderstanding and that the parents are not a danger....

Kristin's autism treatments will continue at the Scott Center for Autism at Florida Institute of Technology. The Firths will observe the treatments and receive training on how to help Kristin live with her condition.

Mahl said if the couple do not follow his recommendations, their parental rights could be terminated.

Click to expand...

http://m.wesh.com/news/Custody-hear...-family-murder-suicide/18012428#ixzz2HJf8HOeF