Gravelles Lose Custody

In a case that has had national media attention, an end to the case seems closer at hand. Michael and Sharen Gravelle adopted eleven special needs children, and then subjected the children to sub standard living conditions. The children were removed after the children were found to be sleeping in "cages"- wooded structures framed in with doors to kept the children from getting out of bed.

The Gravelles has testified that the cages were used to protect the children, and that they in no way harmed the kids- however few bought the story.

Yestday, the judge in the custody case made a ruling:

A Huron County judge said today that evidence showed there was a good chance the couple would do it again, and he ordered that the county immediately begin seeking new adoptions. The Gravelles have denied mistreating the children, and their attorney says they love them and want them back. But Huron County Prosecutor Russ Leffler says today's ruling is in the best interest of the kids.

The Toledo Blade has a more indepth write up on the story, here's just a tid bt from them:

"It was obvious that Mrs. Gravelle still does not see the harm the children suffered in her household," Judge Cardwell wrote in his nine-page decision. "Mrs. Gravelle admitted telling national television media that some of the children still need to be contained in the boxes, even after the children were removed from her home in September. Mrs. Gravelle instead has a belief that these cases were filed because 'Children's Services has a personal vendetta' against her."

WANE-TV Coverage You Can Count On: Couple in Caged Kids Case Lose Custody

Categories: caged, abused