Grandparents Get Temporary Custody in Case of 21-month-old’s Beating, Rape

Carroll County judge orders parenting, domestic abuse classes for child’s mother, who was in house at time of incident
By Nick Madigan, The Baltimore Sun
1:22 p.m. EDT, April 19, 2010

A Carroll County judge on Monday awarded temporary custody of a 21-month old girl at the center of an abuse case to her maternal grandmother and step-grandfather.

The child was hospitalized April 11, after her 19-year-old mother discovered she had been injured after both had spent the night at the home of Ryan C. Gifford, 23. Police later arrested Gifford and charged him with assault and child abuse after doctors determined that the girl had been beaten and raped. She was released on Wednesday after treatment.

Circuit Judge Michael M. Galloway granted a request by Kenneth E. Taylor, the child's step-grandfather, that he and his wife, Michele Yelton, be permitted to care for the toddler, pending a hearing that could determine permanent custody.

The child's mother, Sara Michele Yelton, told the judge that she understood she was being relieved of custody for the time being and that she did not object to her mother and stepfather assuming control of the child.

The judge ordered Sara Michele Yelton to take classes on parenting and domestic violence.

Yelton and the child's father, Charles C. Stuart IV, who have been separated since shortly after they had the child in July 2008, were granted the right to visit her once a week under supervision.

After the hearing, Stuart's parents and his two sisters said they objected strongly to the temporary custody order, saying the child had come to harm in the Yelton family's care.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/carroll/bs-westminster-child-abuse-custody-20100419,0,792070.story

Hopefully this one didn't survive in vain...only to be put back into the abusive home later. There shouldn't be a second chance for a mom who is in the house while this is happening.

And only 21 months old.....poor child, how sickening. I agree, pi.