KIDNAP: Rights were hijacked

Emily Ward, who had her three children removed in January by police on allegations of "neglect" and was arrested Feb. 17 for "kidnapping," is being unjustly persecuted.

Emily legally adopted her three children from Madagascar, where she founded and financed an orphanage. In January of this year, police arrived at her house with no prior warning and seized one of her children. Then police went to a public school and seized the other two.

All three were placed in foster care in Rathdrum. No specific reason was given to support the allegation that she neglected her children. In the past five weeks, there has not been a single court hearing where evidence was given to justify this government intervention in her life. Before the children were taken, no government employee spoke to either her or her husband about the alleged "neglect."

The alleged "kidnapping" stemmed from her attempt to find her children in Rathdrum. She did not kidnap or molest any children whatsoever. This was after the social worker in charge of her case failed repeatedly to answer or return calls from her and her attorney.

Foster care can be dangerous for children. The public should be aware that in January 2011, a lawsuit was filed by Samantha Richardson against the state of Idaho because her toddler was seized and subsequently died in January 2009 of "blunt force trauma" in a foster home in Post Falls.

The government, not Emily Ward, is guilty of child endangerment.

HENDRIK MILLS

Rathdrum