20/20 Friday Night Re: OT: Parents Cleared In Sex Case File Suit

[Guest guest]

Tomorrow (Friday) night, Jan 6thttp://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/michigan-familys-harrowing-ordeal-investigation-nearly-tore-them-apart-2020-15288359 >> This, IMO is one of the more egregious abuses of power under color of> law, and under the guise of protecting the children, and it also> illustrates the toxic nature of Facilitated Communication. > -Lenny > > > Parents Cleared In Sex Case File Suit > Our autistic kids suffered, they say> > By L.L. Brasier, Detroit Free Press http://tinyurl.com/3lbwm8> > Thal Wendrow was at her mother's home when the police came to> get her. Four West Bloomfield patrol cars pulled up to the curb. Her> husband, n, at their home a few blocks away, also was being> arrested that day last December, the couple, who had no criminal> history, suddenly faced decades in prison. He was charged with> repeatedly raping their 15-year-old, severely autistic daughter, and> she was charged with child abuse for failure to stop it.> Thus began a four-month ordeal, a prosecution based solely on> statements their mute child reportedly made while using a widely> discredited method called "facilitated communication," in which> messages are typed on a keyboard with the help of an aide called a> facilitator.> Thursday, the Wendrows, who saw all charges against them dropped> in March, filed a lawsuit in Oakland County Circuit Court, alleging 38> counts of wrongful imprisonment, invasion of privacy, violation of> their due-process rights, malicious prosecution and other misdeeds.> Lawsuits on behalf of their daughter and her 13-year-old brother, who> was repeatedly interrogated by police, are expected to be filed today.> They are seeking unspecified damages.> > 'It doesn't get much worse' > "It was as if our lives were pristine, and then this tornado> tore through and devastated everything," Thal Wendrow told the Free> Press on Thursday at the Bloomfield Hills office of her attorney,> Deborah Gordon.> n Wendrow, who spent 80 days in jail without bond before> prosecutors dropped the case, is furious.> "My son was emotionally raped by the state, and my daughter was> clinically and emotionally raped by the state. I felt so helpless," he> said. "You're supposed to protect your children, and these malevolent> no-gooders kept me from them."> Gordon called the case "horrific."> "It doesn't get much worse. They literally broke up a family,"> Gordon said. "These people are out of control. We're hoping this> lawsuit stops this insanity."> Oakland County Prosecutor Gorcyca and his chief assistant,> Deborah Carley, named in the suit, did not comment Thursday. Assistant> Prosecutor Dean, who handled the case, also is named in the> suit, along with the West Bloomfield Police Department and ph> Brousseau, the detective who interrogated the couple's son.> Lt. Carl Fuhs, the department spokesman, who is also named in> the suit, did not respond to a call for comment.> The Walled Lake school district and several employees also are> named in the suit because the girl reportedly made the statements in a> classroom, with the help of a paraprofessional who was guiding her> hands. A school spokesperson said Thursday that the district had not> seen the suit and would have no comment.> Also named as defendants are the Oakland County Sheriff's Office> and the state Department of Human Services.> > Facilitator hopes go wrong > The Wendrows were living a seemingly simple life in December> 2007. n Wendrow owned his own painting company. Thal Wendrow> worked as a research clerk for Oakland County Circuit Court. They were> active at their synagogue and involved in their children's schooling.> Both children had been diagnosed with autism. But their daughter> was, by far, the more impaired, with a low IQ and an inability to> speak. Their son, two years younger, was diagnosed with Asperger's> syndrome, a milder form of autism.> Although facilitated communication had been widely discredited> by major universities and researchers, the Wendrows were hopeful it> would help their daughter and insisted that Walled Lake schools train> a paraprofessional to become a facilitator.> In November, the girl reportedly typed a statement accusing her> father of raping her since she was 6, and claiming that her mother> knew of the assaults but did not stop them.> A physical exam showed the girl's hymen was intact. But> prosecutors pushed forward with the case.> Fallout changes family Within days, the girl was placed in a> foster care home in Detroit, and the boy in a Pontiac facility for> delinquent minors, even though he had no history of trouble.> Thal Wendrow was released on a tether after five days in the> Oakland County jail, but n remained for weeks.> When the couple's daughter was unable to answer questions on a> keyboard in March during a courtroom demonstration to determine> whether the alleged facilitated statement would be admissible in> trial, prosecutors decided to drop the charges.> The girl, now back in school, shows signs of anxiety much of the> time, her mother said. And the boy is struggling with his studies and> prone to tears.> "This should never have happened," Gordon said. "The> prosecutors... just couldn't let it go and own up that they'd made a> terrible mistake.">

[Guest guest]

These parents' names sound familiar. Wasn't n posting to EOH a few years ago? To: EOHarm Sent: Thursday, January 5, 2012 7:32 AM Subject:

20/20 Friday Night Re: OT: Parents Cleared In Sex Case File Suit

Tomorrow (Friday) night, Jan 6thttp://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/michigan-familys-harrowing-ordeal-investigation-nearly-tore-them-apart-2020-15288359 >> This, IMO is one of the more egregious abuses of power under color of> law, and under the guise of protecting the children, and it also> illustrates the toxic nature of Facilitated Communication. > -Lenny > > > Parents Cleared In Sex Case File Suit > Our autistic kids suffered, they say> > By L.L. Brasier, Detroit Free Press http://tinyurl.com/3lbwm8> > Thal Wendrow was at her mother's home when the police came to> get her. Four West

Bloomfield patrol cars pulled up to the curb. Her> husband, n, at their home a few blocks away, also was being> arrested that day last December, the couple, who had no criminal> history, suddenly faced decades in prison. He was charged with> repeatedly raping their 15-year-old, severely autistic daughter, and> she was charged with child abuse for failure to stop it.> Thus began a four-month ordeal, a prosecution based solely on> statements their mute child reportedly made while using a widely> discredited method called "facilitated communication," in which> messages are typed on a keyboard with the help of an aide called a> facilitator.> Thursday, the Wendrows, who saw all charges against them dropped> in March, filed a lawsuit in Oakland County Circuit Court, alleging 38> counts of wrongful imprisonment, invasion of privacy, violation of>

their due-process rights, malicious prosecution and other misdeeds.> Lawsuits on behalf of their daughter and her 13-year-old brother, who> was repeatedly interrogated by police, are expected to be filed today.> They are seeking unspecified damages.> > 'It doesn't get much worse' > "It was as if our lives were pristine, and then this tornado> tore through and devastated everything," Thal Wendrow told the Free> Press on Thursday at the Bloomfield Hills office of her attorney,> Deborah Gordon.> n Wendrow, who spent 80 days in jail without bond before> prosecutors dropped the case, is furious.> "My son was emotionally raped by the state, and my daughter was> clinically and emotionally raped by the state. I felt so helpless," he> said. "You're supposed to protect your children, and these malevolent> no-gooders kept me from

them."> Gordon called the case "horrific."> "It doesn't get much worse. They literally broke up a family,"> Gordon said. "These people are out of control. We're hoping this> lawsuit stops this insanity."> Oakland County Prosecutor Gorcyca and his chief assistant,> Deborah Carley, named in the suit, did not comment Thursday. Assistant> Prosecutor Dean, who handled the case, also is named in the> suit, along with the West Bloomfield Police Department and ph> Brousseau, the detective who interrogated the couple's son.> Lt. Carl Fuhs, the department spokesman, who is also named in> the suit, did not respond to a call for comment.> The Walled Lake school district and several employees also are> named in the suit because the girl reportedly made the statements in a> classroom, with the help of a paraprofessional who

was guiding her> hands. A school spokesperson said Thursday that the district had not> seen the suit and would have no comment.> Also named as defendants are the Oakland County Sheriff's Office> and the state Department of Human Services.> > Facilitator hopes go wrong > The Wendrows were living a seemingly simple life in December> 2007. n Wendrow owned his own painting company. Thal Wendrow> worked as a research clerk for Oakland County Circuit Court. They were> active at their synagogue and involved in their children's schooling.> Both children had been diagnosed with autism. But their daughter> was, by far, the more impaired, with a low IQ and an inability to> speak. Their son, two years younger, was diagnosed with Asperger's> syndrome, a milder form of autism.> Although facilitated communication had been widely

discredited> by major universities and researchers, the Wendrows were hopeful it> would help their daughter and insisted that Walled Lake schools train> a paraprofessional to become a facilitator.> In November, the girl reportedly typed a statement accusing her> father of raping her since she was 6, and claiming that her mother> knew of the assaults but did not stop them.> A physical exam showed the girl's hymen was intact. But> prosecutors pushed forward with the case.> Fallout changes family Within days, the girl was placed in a> foster care home in Detroit, and the boy in a Pontiac facility for> delinquent minors, even though he had no history of trouble.> Thal Wendrow was released on a tether after five days in the> Oakland County jail, but n remained for weeks.> When the couple's daughter was unable to answer

questions on a> keyboard in March during a courtroom demonstration to determine> whether the alleged facilitated statement would be admissible in> trial, prosecutors decided to drop the charges.> The girl, now back in school, shows signs of anxiety much of the> time, her mother said. And the boy is struggling with his studies and> prone to tears.> "This should never have happened," Gordon said. "The> prosecutors... just couldn't let it go and own up that they'd made a> terrible mistake.">

[Guest guest]

yes, and some have been in touch with him over the years. thanks.

To: "EOHarm " <EOHarm > Sent: Friday, January 6, 2012 6:55 PMSubject: Re: 20/20 Friday Night Re: OT: Parents Cleared In Sex Case File Suit

These parents' names sound familiar. Wasn't n posting to EOH a few years ago?

To: EOHarm Sent: Thursday, January 5, 2012 7:32 AMSubject: 20/20 Friday Night Re: OT: Parents Cleared In Sex Case File Suit

Tomorrow (Friday) night, Jan 6thttp://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/michigan-familys-harrowing-ordeal-investigation-nearly-tore-them-apart-2020-15288359 >> This, IMO is one of the more egregious abuses of power under color of> law, and under the guise of protecting the children, and it also> illustrates the toxic nature of Facilitated Communication. > -Lenny > > > Parents Cleared In Sex Case File Suit > Our autistic kids suffered, they say> > By L.L. Brasier, Detroit

Free Press http://tinyurl.com/3lbwm8> > Thal Wendrow was at her mother's home when the police came to> get her. Four West Bloomfield patrol cars pulled up to the curb. Her> husband, n, at their home a few blocks away, also was being> arrested that day last December, the couple, who had no criminal> history, suddenly faced decades in prison. He was charged with> repeatedly raping their 15-year-old, severely autistic daughter, and> she was charged with child abuse for failure to stop it.> Thus began a four-month ordeal, a prosecution based solely on> statements their mute child reportedly made while using a widely> discredited method called "facilitated communication," in which> messages are typed on a keyboard with the help of an aide called a> facilitator.> Thursday, the Wendrows, who saw all charges against them dropped> in March, filed a

lawsuit in Oakland County Circuit Court, alleging 38> counts of wrongful imprisonment, invasion of privacy, violation of> their due-process rights, malicious prosecution and other misdeeds.> Lawsuits on behalf of their daughter and her 13-year-old brother, who> was repeatedly interrogated by police, are expected to be filed today.> They are seeking unspecified damages.> > 'It doesn't get much worse' > "It was as if our lives were pristine, and then this tornado> tore through and devastated everything," Thal Wendrow told the Free> Press on Thursday at the Bloomfield Hills office of her attorney,> Deborah Gordon.> n Wendrow, who spent 80 days in jail without bond before> prosecutors dropped the case, is furious.> "My son was emotionally raped by the state, and my daughter was> clinically and emotionally raped by the state. I felt so helpless,"

he> said. "You're supposed to protect your children, and these malevolent> no-gooders kept me from them."> Gordon called the case "horrific."> "It doesn't get much worse. They literally broke up a family,"> Gordon said. "These people are out of control. We're hoping this> lawsuit stops this insanity."> Oakland County Prosecutor Gorcyca and his chief assistant,> Deborah Carley, named in the suit, did not comment Thursday. Assistant> Prosecutor Dean, who handled the case, also is named in the> suit, along with the West Bloomfield Police Department and ph> Brousseau, the detective who interrogated the couple's son.> Lt. Carl Fuhs, the department spokesman, who is also named in> the suit, did not respond to a call for comment.> The Walled Lake school district and several employees also are> named in the suit because the girl reportedly

made the statements in a> classroom, with the help of a paraprofessional who was guiding her> hands. A school spokesperson said Thursday that the district had not> seen the suit and would have no comment.> Also named as defendants are the Oakland County Sheriff's Office> and the state Department of Human Services.> > Facilitator hopes go wrong > The Wendrows were living a seemingly simple life in December> 2007. n Wendrow owned his own painting company. Thal Wendrow> worked as a research clerk for Oakland County Circuit Court. They were> active at their synagogue and involved in their children's schooling.> Both children had been diagnosed with autism. But their daughter> was, by far, the more impaired, with a low IQ and an inability to> speak. Their son, two years younger, was diagnosed with Asperger's> syndrome, a milder form of

autism.> Although facilitated communication had been widely discredited> by major universities and researchers, the Wendrows were hopeful it> would help their daughter and insisted that Walled Lake schools train> a paraprofessional to become a facilitator.> In November, the girl reportedly typed a statement accusing her> father of raping her since she was 6, and claiming that her mother> knew of the assaults but did not stop them.> A physical exam showed the girl's hymen was intact. But> prosecutors pushed forward with the case.> Fallout changes family Within days, the girl was placed in a> foster care home in Detroit, and the boy in a Pontiac facility for> delinquent minors, even though he had no history of trouble.> Thal Wendrow was released on a tether after five days in the> Oakland County jail, but n remained for weeks.> When the couple's

daughter was unable to answer questions on a> keyboard in March during a courtroom demonstration to determine> whether the alleged facilitated statement would be admissible in> trial, prosecutors decided to drop the charges.> The girl, now back in school, shows signs of anxiety much of the> time, her mother said. And the boy is struggling with his studies and> prone to tears.> "This should never have happened," Gordon said. "The> prosecutors... just couldn't let it go and own up that they'd made a> terrible mistake.">