Enough is Enough: Send Baby Evelyn Bennett Home NOW!

Stephanie Bennett was put in a precarious position the moment she became pregnant in 2005. The baby’s father began making threats against Stephanie’s mother and step-father, which prompted her to conceal the pregnancy from her family until she was only weeks away from giving birth. Even so, Judy and Ranza Bennett were immediately ready and willing to support Stephanie in her new role as a mother. Still facing repeated threats against her family, Stephanie told her parents that one of her male friends from school was the baby’s father.

Baby Evelyn Joann Bennett was born on April 17th, 2006, and named after her mother’s great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother. Stephanie planned to raise her daughter and continue her schooling with support from stay-at-home mom Judy and her husband Ranza.

Over the next five months, the new mother and her baby appeared to be doing very well. However, Evelyn’s father continued to make frightening, serious threats against Stephanie, her parents, and her infant daughter. Months of emotional abuse had worn down her resolve, and during a meeting with school guidance counselor Thomas Saltsman, Stephanie mentioned the word “adoption.” Instantly, Saltsman put aside their planned discussion of the high school student’s schedule and pulled a brochure from A Child’s Waiting adoption agency from his desk. He set up a meeting between Stephanie and the agency for the following day.

On September 8th, the initial paperwork to begin the adoption of baby Evelyn was signed. Stephanie had not received counseling from A Child’s Waiting, and the attorney who was present to look after her interests regularly handled the agency’s adoptions. Her guidance counselor signed as a witness. Judy and Ranza Bennett were not informed; they never suspected that Stephanie’s school would attempt to interfere in her parenthood. This was one of only two times the young mother would meet with the adoption agency.

In order to evade the Medicaid-mandated paternity test which was supposed to take place on September 12th, a representative of A Child’s Waiting advised Stephanie to run away from home. They met with her in Carroll County, OH, away from her home, in an effort to prevent her parents’ involvement. It was there during this second and final meeting between the mother and the agency, that Evelyn was removed from Stephanie’s arms.

The next month was a harrowing one. Judy and Ranza Bennett were granted temporary custody of their granddaughter by the Summit County courts (a decision which was later over-ruled because the adoption had taken place in Carroll County). They spoke to A Child’s Waiting and were told that the agency had not done business with their daughter. Two weeks later, they were notified by the Canton, OH police that they must appear in court the following day. They were not given a reason.

On October 17th, accompanied by A Child’s Waiting, Stephanie faced her parents in court. Evelyn’s father had made allegations of abuse against Judy and Ranza Bennett, stating that neither girl was safe in the Bennett home. The court placed Stephanie in respite care.

The next day, Stephanie ran away from the respite home and called a friend. The friend called her caseworker, who suggested that he taken Stephanie to Family Court. There, she stated that she wanted to return home to her family. The lawyer for Child Protection told the judge that there was no sign of abuse or neglect in the home, and Evelyn’s pediatrician reported that he felt Evelyn was safe there as well. Stephanie was finally back home with her mother, step-father, and sister.

Since that time, the family has continued to fight for Evelyn’s return. Just this month, the Bennetts received a copy of the complaint they filed against A Child’s Waiting; the report found the agency to be non-compliant in numerous areas. Jennifer Lowry, Stephanie’s attorney, is hopeful that a reunion will soon take place between the young mother and her daughter.

What has happened to Stephanie and her daughter is not uncommon. Unethical adoptions take place every day in the United States, and loving parents who lack the financial means to pay for legal representation are permanently separated from their children. The Bennetts are still fighting, and will continue to fight for the return of baby Evelyn. You can help.

A petition has been started in support of Stephanie and Evelyn Bennett, and organizations like Adoption: Legalized Lies are working to raise funds for their legal fees. Supporters can sign the petition here and purchase t-shirts and buttons from CafePress.com.