GUILTY MN - Steven Cross for child abandonment, Lakeville, 2011

[HRCODEPINK]

Pics: http://picasaweb.google.com/katik.porter/NewFolder

"his father had told him his mother was dead."

http://ksax.com/article/stories/S2262143.shtml?cat=10230

"“If this paper is wet it’s because I am crying so bad. You know your dad loves you more than anything,” the letter said. Elsewhere he wrote: “There are many, many great years ahead for you. Not so for me.” The letter also revealed to the boy that his mother, whom his father had told him had died, is still alive. Investigators don’t know where she is."

...

“Some good news is your mother is still alive. Though I do not think it is for the best,”

...

“I probably only have a couple of days … No one I called would help me … I didn’t know what to do. I am scared and hopelessly depressed,”

http://www.ifbushdidit.com/tag/california/

I found only one address and phone number in MN for that name. I am sure she has already been contacted and I think she probably doesn't want to be bothered.

 

[HRCODEPINK]

A Lakeville father arrested Monday in California after abandoning his 11-year-old son last month is being investigated on accusations of felony fraud.

The fraud investigation does not involve Cross' son, said Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom. He declined to comment more on the active case.

http://www.twincities.com/ci_18784572

Lakeville Man Accused of Abandoning Son Described as 'Irrational' by Police in 2002

http://lakeville.patch.com/articles...son-described-as-irrational-by-police-in-2002

Good Lord! This boy is better of with just about anyone. That second article details the few visitations between mom and him. I am speechless.

 

[Kat]

I am keeping my fingers crossed that now his life is going to change. That he will find foster parents like the one's that we have that post here at WS. Caring, kind, giving and loving people.

I'll keep those thoughts in my heart. That his struggles are over and that he eventually overcomes his beginning and finds strengths he never thought possible because of his beginning.

Bless his heart.

 

[BuzzieCat]

What a stand-up kinda guy. Sounds like this poor boy's parents are both flakes if not worse. Some parent, to abandon his kid and leave him alone to hope the neighbors will help him. Wow. I do understand foreclosure and needing to get a job is a difficult situation, but just to leave the boy on his own! Some thought process. I do hope this boy will find a good and stable family. Is that too much to hope for? I hear a lot of horror stories.

 

[belimom]

This case just devastates me - totally breaks my heart. I have a son who is almost 9 and the thought of him waking up to a note saying to get his Playstation and ride his bike to a neighbor's house to live is heartwrenching. :cry:

I know that stress is tough when you're losing your home, but you deal with it as a family. We did. We sold our house before we "lost" it and now are all packed in a small 2BR apartment. Our kids know about the economy, and are happy that we are together and not stressed about money as much.

Obviously the father needs help as well, but not nearly as much as that dear little boy.

 

[~n/t~]

As much as my heart breaks for this boy, at least he gets the chance to perhaps be fostered or adopted by a loving family. After following so many horrific cases, despite the disgust of a father abandoning his son, he didn't harm him and that is always good news.

Wish Casey Anthony and so many others would've done the same.

 

[SkyBlueWaters]

Steven Cross was found in California so I guess we need to move him from missing to found.

Here are some of the news stories... the first one is an interview from jail

http://burnsville-lakeville-farming...-lakeville-dad-who-left-son-behind-talks-jail

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...sted-abandoning-son-11-house-foreclosure.html

http://www.twincities.com/dakota/ci_18792288

http://www.washingtonpost.com/natio...n-california/2011/08/30/gIQABESKpJ_story.html

 

[SkyBlueWaters]

Judge orders no child visits for Minnesota father who abandoned son, fled to California

http://www.twincities.com/ci_18881278?source=most_viewed

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

Father who abandoned son, 11, to start a new life in California found guilty of child neglect

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...fornia-guilt-child-neglect.html#ixzz1kZFi0Dfu

"Backstrom noted in the release that there is an ongoing child protection proceeding in Dakota County concerning the welfare of Cross’s son.

Cross has been fighting in court to regain custody of his son, completing court-ordered requirements in the custody case. However, his son has opted not to have contact with his father.

The boy who has been in foster care will soon be placed permanently with a relative, County Attorney James Backstrom said."

"Neighbour Traci Radtke said she was stunned.

She said the family who took in the boy told her he broke down in tears when he arrived at their home.

'It's heartbreaking. It's a sad story,' she said."

 

[Donjeta]

The letter also revealed to the boy that his mother, whom his father had told him had died, is still alive.

Investigators, however, do not know where she is, the Associated Press reports.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...fornia-guilt-child-neglect.html#ixzz1kZRliBGw

They still don't know where the mother is?
I hope they can ascertain that she's all right. The father seems a bit unreliable (understatement of the year).

 

[~n/t~]

This was in August.:waitasec:

Mom of Lakeville boy abandoned by father comes forward

Porter, 38, also known as Katik Splitstoesser, couldn't be located for a child-protection hearing scheduled in late July, so Sebastian was placed with a maternal aunt.

Porter's visitation rights had been suspended in 2002 after she didn't visit, records show, but her parental rights were never terminated, Backstrom said.

In a 2001 interview with Twin Cities Public Television about families struggling to get off welfare, Porter, using the name Splitstoesser, said her own mother had left her to be raised by relatives, who depended on public assistance.

She said she'd also turned to welfare to raise her five children, but had been working for more than two years

http://www.startribune.com/local/south/128835543.html

 

[tiredblondy]

UPDATE
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/usatoday/article/38423541

Father was found guilty of neglect and will be sentenced in March. The jury deliberated just 30 minutes.

This article is older but has more information
http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/minnesota/steven-cross-jury-selection-jan-23-2012

 

[tiredblondy]

This article has a lot of information. God bless Judge King.

http://www.twincities.com/dakota/ci_19812594

 

[BuzzieCat]

I wonder what is the longest and what is the shortest sentence he could get. Since it's filed under misdemeanor, I would guess it doesn't carry a very long sentence.

 

[OkieGranny]

From November 2012:

http://www.twincities.com/ci_22076368/

The Lakeville man convicted this year of abandoning his 11-year-old son was back in court Tuesday, Nov. 27, for violating terms of his parole. Steven A. Cross, 61, was sentenced in May to two years' probation for gross misdemeanor child neglect...

Cross left his son letters saying he couldn't find work and was losing the home. He also disclosed that the boy's mother, who did not live with them, was alive, after he had told Sebastian she was dead... The boy moved in with his mother, Katik Porter of Minneapolis, this year.