An extensiveReuters and NBC News reportin 2013laid out the series of events that often plays out online, where parents use message boards and Facebook groups to find new families for their unwanted adopted children: Faced with the allegations before they were published by the Arkansas Times, Harris first became defensive. 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. And they knew [Mary] had been sexually assaulted, and she would have some anger issues. The former DHS employee the Times contacted for this story independently confirmed this account of the Valentines Day meeting. On Wednesday, Arkansas Rep. Greg Leding introduced a bill to prevent rehoming. At a press conference last week, Justin Harris said the adopted girls' behavioral problems caused him to fear for his biological children's safety: One of his new daughters crushed a family pet. 'I don't care if I lose my position. "We care deeply for the girls but we were failed by DHS," Harris said at a news conference last week. Try eating tuna and bananas, says the Gut Health Guru DR MEGAN ROSSI. Stay up to date with our daily newsletter, Thousands Support Creation Of Child Abuse Registry In Michigan, Canada's Trudeau Denies Report That Liberals Told To Drop Candidate Over China Ties, After Italian Migrant Boat Wreck, Police Arrest Three Alleged Traffickers, 14 Chinese Military Aircraft Tracked Around Country, China's Annual Parliament To Implement Xi's Tightening Grip. That summer, the adoption case went before 4th Circuit Juvenile Court Judge Stacy Zimmerman in Washington County. It was later discovered that Eric Francis had sexually abused the middle child during the time she spent in his home. The sisters were supposed to be moving out of neglect and chaos and into the stability of their forever home. Wallis stayed on the case as the girls were transitioned into the Harris home. It is an overall forecast for the net worth of Justin Harris. But the Harrises explained that they were both early childhood educators, ran and operated a preschool and had experience working in therapeutic daycare centers. Watch popular content from the following creators: Justine Harris(@_justinemariah), Justine Harris(@_justinemariah), Justine Harris(@_justinemariah), Justine Harris(@_justinemariah), Justin Harris(@tiktokfamousjustinharris) . An Arkansas state legislator who sent his adopted daughters to live at the home of a former employee, who in turn later sexually abused one of the girls, has defended his decision. Accordingthe Arkansas Times,people who knew the family, including a former babysitter, say that the Harrises kept the 4-year-old locked in a room and monitored her with cameras because they believed she was possessed by demons. Rep. Eddie Armstrong released a statement on behalf of the House Democrats in the state, saying: 'First, our thoughts and prayers are with this little girl and other children that may have been exposed to injury as a consequence of this practice. This story will refer to the three girls taken in by the Harrises by pseudonyms: We will call the oldest sister Jeannette, the middle sister Mary and the youngest sister Annie. And so Harris chose to take matters in his own hands near the end of 2013. Gods going to solve this. There are lots of children you could adopt you dont need to take the most traumatized ones out of the system. This "was not the type of home we were lookin' for it wasn't appropriate for these girls to be in a home with three boys," Wallis told 20/20. West Fork, Arkansas, is represented in state government by Republican Rep. Justin Harris. About Justin Harris. Justin Harris told 20/20 that "We're not sleepin'. State Rep. Justin Harris claimed that the state Department of Human Services (DHS) threatened to charge him with child abandonment and take away his biological children, according to a report Thursday in the Arkansas Times. 'There are also other issues that need to be raised here. They argued they were more than capable of raising these young girls. About 18 percent were said to have a history that included sexual or physical abuse. The couple, whom the Harrises had known since Marsha and Stacey had been classmates, and the couple seemed like the perfect fit. Rancher, 73, is charged with murder on his Arizona land after shooting dead Mexican, 48, who had history of illegal crossings into US and multiple deportations: Judge refuses to reduce $1M bail despite plea his wife is alone, Getting his Minnie's worth! Meanwhile, a babysitter claimed Harris and his wife confined two of the adopted girls for hours at a time in their room because the couple believed they were possessed by demons. He began working at the Times in 2014. Harris later suggested in the KARK interview that the agency was threatening him because of his political beliefs. The second best result is Justin Harris age 20s in Dayton, OH in the Fairlane neighborhood. The girls had been taken into DHS custody in early 2011 after suffering through a staggering sequence of chaos and abuse. She was often confined for hours to her room, where she was monitored by a video camera. Justin Harris, a Republican who sits in the state's House of Representatives, legally adopted the two girls in March 2013 - but handed them over after just six months to a man who would go on to rape the eldest. Both sides agree that the Harris family was approached to adopt three girls by their biological mother. The girls' new adopted mother, who asked not to be named, told 20/20, "I want people to know who they really are, 'cause who they really are is fun and sweet and sensitive and strong. See Photos. 'We're just one radio call away from having the biggest aviation disaster in history': After ANOTHER almost catastrophic near miss at a US airport, just how can Americans trust their plane journey will be safe? Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group. Justin Harris Presents Arthur Russell: Justin Harris Presents Arthur Russell - Moon (12") Eclectic Avenue Records: BEAR006: UK: 2011: Sell This Version: Image Title Label Catalog Number Year In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory Actions It was during that interview that police learned the 6-year-old had been the victim of sexual abuse. ABC News "20/20" has declined to name the biological mother and the three girls out of respect for their privacy. On March 24, three weeks after the news first broke that state Rep. Justin Harris (R-West Fork) and his wife, Marsha, gave their two adopted daughters in 2013 to a family where one of them was later sexually assaulted, Rep. Harris returned to Twitter. [She] heard about us through the church on Dickson Street [in Fayetteville] where they gave free meals. March 12, 2015 8:00 am. We've done everything.". Both girls have since found a new home. The child abuse hotline soon thereafter received a call from an individual concerned for the girls safety, and investigators found the children in the care of a woman in a house with multiple adults who tested positive for meth; one man at the home had been sexually abusing both Jeannette and Mary, and he is now serving a 120-year sentence. Select this result to view Justin Harris's phone number, address, and more. I knew [Jeannette] wouldnt last five minutes there., But Justin Harris now says he and Marsha were pressured to take Jeannette against their wishes. She was a volunteer and he an intern, confirmed a source familiar with the Harrises. Now ages 7 and 5, the girls' adoptive parents tell "20/20" that after a year of adjusting the sisters are excelling in their studies, taking swim lessons and enjoying ballet and gymnastics classes. SCOTUS Nom I care what my wife thinks about me, and I care what my three sons think about me. Justin Todd Harris(born August 25, 1975)[1]is the owner and operator of Growing Gods Kingdom, a preschool in West Fork in Washington County in northwestern Arkansas. Former Arkansas State Rep. Justin Harris and his wife, Marsha, had always been eager to expand their family of three young sons. I turned them over to these people, Young said. See Photos. 'They knew, suddenly knew, that this was their forever home, and they were no longer ever going back to Mom's house. "If they were violent [in the Harris home], they were taught violence. Our whole staff does and understands that it just isnt always going to work out. Count 2: Felony Murder. The Harrises categorically denied all of Goldsborough's claims. (Other sources claim Young waited for days to turn the husband over to the police.) In some ways I did break the rules and give [Mary] attention. They think their family is different. The adoption involves three little girls, who ranged in age from 9 months to 4 years old when it started. 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Justin Harris gave his adopted daughters away because he and his wife thought they were possessed by demons, according to a report in the Arkansas Times. Although they still decline to share the full circumstances of their adoption, the parents said they felt compelled to respond to the statements Justin Harris has made this past week that portray the girls as dangerous and violent. So, sure, higher-ups will get into discussions about what is best and what is not., However, a source familiar with the workings of state-level DHS informed the Times that Blucker supposedly remarked in 2012 that Harris threatened to hold up the budget for the division if he didnt get to adopt those girls.. Due to threats of possible abandonment charges, they were unable to reach out to DHS for help with children who presented a serious risk of harm to other children in their home,' the statement read. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, our readers value great journalism. I hold DHS accountable And Im not sorry for doing it, he declared. They were not allowed to be around each other because of the Harrises belief in demonic possession and telepathy, she said. Because adoption proceedings are so closed, it is nearly impossible for Blucker or DHS as a whole to refute Harris statements that the agency (or individuals within it) provided insufficient support, threatened him and ultimately turned a blind eye to the rehoming. Describing the child's fits of rage, Marsha Harris told 20/20, "It never stopped. Related Artists. Justin Harris and Dani LaMartina are guests on this episode of Dave Tate's Table Talk to discuss training, recovery, and diet in lifting. They just were in denial the whole time about how troubled these girls were. The lawmaker also said DHS misled him about severe behavioral issues with the girls. Casting out demons: why Justin Harris got rid of kids he applied Gaudin makes good: Mini Maker Faire coming to NLR, Morning minutia: Legislation to protect bank from lawful taxes, When Love Is Not Enough, a Parents Guide to Reactive Attachment Disorder, a lengthy interview to a KARK-TV, Channel 4, reporter. Despite what you may have read, we reached out to DHS numerous times and were met with nothing but hostility. He grew emotional describing his dilemma: We were threatened with possible abandonment charges and potentially losing our own boys as well if we returned the girls to DHS custody. Eventually she also testified in court against the Harris adoption. As of Tuesday, a Change.org petition calling for Harris resignation had garnered 5,000 signatures. The Arkansas Supreme Court today dismissed a lawsuit against the state brought by Justin Harris, the former Republican state representative from West Fork best known for a tragically botched. Justin Harris suggested he used his influence to obtain the three girls during the adoption hearing, according to Cheryl Hart. The mother in that household, who asked that her name not be used in this story, still refers to the girl as my daughter and describes her as simultaneously one of the most disturbing casualties of sexual abuse shes ever encountered and a remarkable, resilient child who she grew to love as deeply as her own biological son. Yet their lives quickly began to unravel. Justin is related to Janon L White . He also said the younger sisters, ages 4 and 2 when they entered the Harris home, were violent. West Fork, Arkansas, is represented in state government by Republican Rep. Justin Harris. Representative Justin Harris and his wife Marsha adopted the girl, six, and her sister, three, through the Arkansas Department of Human Services in March 2013. The legislator adopted three girls and turned them over to a man who abused one of them. We love them deeply and are committed to do everything we can to help them live healthy, happy lives. Find contact's direct phone number, email address, work history, and more. 10g EAAs. Help us deliver the latest daily reporting and analysis on news, politics, culture and food in Arkansas. The rehoming of Mary and Annie officially came to the attention of DHS on March 28, 2014, thanks to an anonymous call to the child abuse hotline operated by State Police. Find your friends on Facebook. The older girl, who would have been about 6 years old at the time she entered the Harris household, presented an imminent danger to his older three sons, Harris said. She stated that Francis had raped her genital area to help her go to sleep, a claim he did not deny. Jan Wallis, a former adoption specialist with DHS, knew the two younger sisters. Cheryl and Craig Hart were opposed to the Harris adoption from the beginning. Eric Francis was served a 40-year sentence for sexually abusing a young girl after she and her little sister were re-homed into his care. When news of the rape came out in April 2014 and Harris was questioned about his former employee, he told the Times hed fired Francis for a poor work record. Justin Harris. In court on Wednesday, detective Phil Stoddard testified to why Justin Ross Harris' ex-wife, Leanna, was under a cloud of suspicion after their toddler son died. The former DHS employee confirmed this information as well. Meanwhile, Sarah Young, the biological mother, had made a plan of her own. But Dr. Peter Jensen, acting director of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, said that did not sound like an appropriate therapy for RAD. Discover Justin Harris's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Chelsey Goldsborough was a baby sitter for Justin and Marsha Harris. She said she was originally introduced to the Harrises by a former friend. And the three little girls finally found their forever homes. Justin and Marsha Harris both hold degrees in child development and run a Christian day care center called, Growing God's Kingdom. Id be pretty pissed off, too.. For this reason, parents that may be abusive or predatory can still manage to get custody of children through re-homing. Francis is currently serving a 40-year sentence behind bars. In the KARK interview, Justin Harris noted that he and his future wife met at Childrens House. Skilled in Negotiation, Sales, Store Management, Communication, Business Development and Sales Prospecting. He then added: 'You don't know what we've been through this past year. Goldsborough said she would watch Mary on a monitor linked to a camera in her room, but usually only entered the room to provide food or water. We care deeply for the girls but we were failed by DHS, Harris said at his press conference. The Times had reported on the third sister before the press conference, held Friday afternoon in the old Supreme Court chambers in the state Capitol. ), Craig Hart also raised the issue of faith when addressing Justin Harris comments about the girls. Bart Ricardo. Their attorneys pulled up all the paperwork for me. Rep. Justin Harris blames DHS for the fallout related to his adoption of three young girls, but sources familiar with the situation contradict his story and paint a troubling picture of the adoption process and the girls' time in the Harris household. And Im shocked, because they did work with these children at Childrens House, and they saw how difficult foster parents have it with little kids who have mental issues. The friend went on to sexually assault one. Id take her to parks and she wouldnt run off or act all crazy or beat other children to death she was just another kid.. Harris put a 6-year-old girl he adopted in the care of a man who later sexually abused her. Justin Harris told "20/20" the reason there was such objection to the adoption was "because [others] felt like we were a fanatical couple. See Photos. 01643 703559. In fact, because of the repeated sexual abuse she had suffered at such a young age, she had begun to exhibit predatory behaviors. She just felt tired all the time, and she went in [to the doctor] and they found something and she said, I just dont know if I can handle all this. . Harris also claimed that another of the girls 'crushed a family pet to death', further convincing them to get rid of their recently-adopted charges. Male adoptee born on Aug 17, 1982 in Orlando, Florida Adoption record added Today at 12:55pm Female adoptee born on Jan 3, 1983 in Yakima, Washington Adoption record added Today at 9:41am Male adoptee born on Jan 1988 in Tulsa, Oklahoma Adoption record added Today at 9:31am Justin Harris and his wife have three biological sons and were adopting for the first time with the two girls. The three sisters taken in by Justin and Marsha Harris had already lived with atoxic mixture of neglect and abuse. The incident happened while his wife was away for two weeks on a trip to Pennsylvania. Cheryl Hart also vividly remembers the roundtable meeting described by Harris, which she said occurred on Valentines Day 2012. The failed adoptions that we have seen are parents who think they can love their child into being good, the therapist said. The third result is Justin Cory Michael Harris age 30s in Lorain, OH. But this kid was so sexualized, Id never seen anything like it, the therapeutic foster mother said. In November 2016, Justin Ross Harris was found guilty on all counts in his son's murder. Many of the online posts say the unwanted children have physical or mental disabilities. Just screamin'. Marsha was showing me these really beautiful pictures of these rooms that they had supposedly set up for the girls, Young recalled. They played with my adopted son in my home.. Why would anyone go to the trouble of adopting a child and then give the child away?'. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? But it was not just DHS. Related To Sherri Harris, Ronald Harris, Lindsay Harris, Alicia Harris. 'As a parent and grandparent, like many Arkansans, I am shocked to learn of Rep. Justin Harris's egregious action of placing two girls he adopted through DHS directly into harms way by sending them to stay with another family without approval from the adoption agency. This incident was reported to the child abuse hotline and the children were interviewed.'. It was also this agency which Harris required to approve his controversial adoptions. Our monthly magazine is free at over 500 locations in Central Arkansas. CC image courtesy of Flickr, Ivailo Djilianov.. HA note: The following is reprinted with permission from Libby Anne's blog Love Joy Feminism.It was originally published on Patheos on March 17, 2015. Responding to the Arkansas Times report that uncovered Harris rehoming of his children, the state legislator said he was failed by the Department of Human Services when he told employees the girls were too difficult for the family to handle. The story of an Arkansas politician who gave away his adopted child, and the tragedy that followed, So far, Trumps rollback of regulations cant be blamed for Ohio train wreck, The Buttigieg-Rubio grudge match over rail safety, Lawmakers cite fishy poll to suggest laptop tale would have swayed vote, A series of stories by the Arkansas Times, vociferous defender of his Christian faith, prominent figurein the states Republican Party. -- an often misunderstood psychological condition that can develop when a child's basic needs for comfort and affection are not met. While the Harts did not have the older sister in their home, they had been in touch with girl's then-foster parents and knew she was a troubled child. On. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Harris put a 6-year-old girl he adopted in the. , had made a plan of her own were more than capable raising. Sales Prospecting and they knew [ Mary ] had been classmates, and I care what wife. 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