In the Interest of E.A.O.E. AKA E.O.E., G.E.O.E. AKA G.O.E., Children v. the State of Texas

CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedAugust 20, 2024
Docket14-24-00240-CV
StatusPublished

This text of In the Interest of E.A.O.E. AKA E.O.E., G.E.O.E. AKA G.O.E., Children v. the State of Texas (In the Interest of E.A.O.E. AKA E.O.E., G.E.O.E. AKA G.O.E., Children v. the State of Texas) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In the Interest of E.A.O.E. AKA E.O.E., G.E.O.E. AKA G.O.E., Children v. the State of Texas, (Tex. Ct. App. 2024).

Opinion

Affirmed and Memorandum Opinion filed August 20, 2024.

In The

Fourteenth Court of Appeals

NO. 14-24-00240-CV

IN THE INTEREST OF E.A.O.E. AKA E.O.E., G.E.O.E. AKA G.O.E., CHILDREN

On Appeal from the 313th District Court Harris County, Texas Trial Court Cause No. 2022-01137J

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Appellant C.O. (Father) appeals the trial court’s final order of termination of his parental rights appointing the Department of Family and Protective Services (Department) as sole managing conservator of his children, E.A.O.E. (Edward) and G.E.O.E. (Gabrielle).1 See Tex. Fam. Code § 263.405(a). The trial court terminated Father’s parental rights on predicate grounds of endangerment, and failure to comply with a family service plan. See Tex. Fam. Code § 161.001(b)(1)(D), (E), (O). The

1 Edward and Gabrielle are pseudonyms, which we use to protect the minors in this case. See Tex. R. App. P. 9.8. trial court further found that termination of Father’s parental rights was in the children’s best interest. See Tex. Fam. Code § 161.001(b)(2). On appeal Father challenges the legal and factual sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court’s finding that termination of his parental rights is in the best interest of the children. We affirm.

BACKGROUND

The children came to the attention of the Department on March 1, 2022, due to a report of physical abuse of Gabrielle when Gabrielle was three months old. Gabrielle arrived at Texas Children’s Hospital unresponsive; initial assessments revealed head trauma and eight broken and displaced ribs. Mother and Father reported the injuries were the result of a fall from a baby swing. At the time Gabrielle came to the hospital Edward was under two years old.

The children were initially removed from the parents because the parents’ explanation of the cause of Gabrielle’s injuries was inconsistent with the severity of the injuries. In addition to the aforementioned head trauma and broken ribs, Gabrielle had retinal bleeding in her eyes. Father also admitted shaking Gabrielle. The Department recommended a safety plan for the parents and requested they engage in Family Based Safety Services (FBSS). Both parents refused. When Gabrielle was released from the hospital three weeks later, she was released to Mother with the condition that Father not be permitted to live in the same house with the children. On July 1, 2022, the Department filed an original petition seeking termination of both parents’ rights. The Department removed the children from Mother’s home because Mother permitted Father to move back into the home and was not taking Gabrielle to necessary medical appointments to address her injuries.

On June 28, 2023, the trial court found good cause to extend the dismissal date to December 29, 2023. See Tex. Fam. Code § 263.401. 2 Father was indicted for intentionally and knowingly causing bodily injury to Mother on or about January 1, 2023. On June 26, 2023, Father was indicted for injury to a child.

Trial commenced October 3, 2023. Dr. Sarah Risen, a pediatric neurologist at Texas Children’s Hospital, testified that when Gabrielle came into the hospital, she had sustained a severe traumatic brain injury and her “level of consciousness was at the lowest possible level.” Gabrielle’s brain was swelling, and she had to undergo life-saving emergency surgery. The brain injury caused Gabrielle to be delayed “in every single area of her development” including motor skills, language, and eating. Gabrielle had to be fed through a tube in her nose.

Risen testified that the severity of the injuries Gabrielle experienced was consistent with a high-speed car accident or shaken baby syndrome, and did not typically happen in routine childhood activities, such as falling from a baby swing. The bleeding in the brain, hemorrhages behind the eyes, and broken ribs were consistent with injuries sustained as a result of shaken baby syndrome. Severe brain trauma such as that experienced by Gabrielle leads to a lifelong increased risk for seizures and other neuro-developmental complications. At the time of trial Gabrielle was still unable to get all her calories by mouth and had to receive some nourishment through a G-button, which replaced a G-tube she had earlier.2 As she grows Gabrielle’s needs will be extensive, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, aid with social communication, twice-yearly visits to a neuropsychologist, and treatment for vision loss due to the brain injury. Gabrielle is at high risk for learning problems and cognitive delays. Risen testified there was no other reason for the

2 Gabrielle initially needed a G-tube, which is placed through the nose to feed an individual who is unable to swallow. The tube was later replaced with a G-button, which goes through the navel to help feed Gabrielle.

3 injuries experienced by Gabrielle other than abuse.

Dr. Marcella Donaruma-Kwoh, a pediatric child abuse expert, was consulted on the day Gabrielle was admitted to the hospital. While being transported to the hospital via helicopter Gabrielle experienced seizures and her body temperature dropped to 87 degrees. Gabrielle experienced injury to both sides of her brain; her right retina was detached, and the cavity was full of blood. Gabrielle’s injuries were inconsistent with the parents’ report that she fell roughly two feet from a baby swing. Gabrielle had an emergency craniotomy to relieve pressure on her brain and drain blood from her skull. Gabrielle was hospitalized for 23 days. Donaruma-Kwoh discussed Gabrielle’s condition with the neurosurgeons, and they concluded that her injuries were caused by abuse. The doctors concluded that Gabrielle’s rib fractures resulted from Father’s attempts at CPR, but her other injuries were caused by being shaken violently. Donaruma-Kwoh testified that Father told Mother he had shaken Gabrielle.

Father was home alone with the children when Gabrielle was injured. At trial, when Father was asked how Gabrielle sustained her injuries he exercised his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. Father was charged with injury to a child and released on bail. While on bail for that offense, on January 1, 2023, Father was arrested for assaulting Mother. Father, testifying from jail, admitted physically assaulting Mother in January 2023. Before Father was incarcerated, he took clothing to the children, but has not financially supported them either while out of jail or before. Father was given a family service plan written in Spanish, but did not finish reading the plan despite testifying he understood that completing the services on the plan was necessary for the return of his children.

The foster mother testified that she had Edward beginning July 2, 2022, and Gabrielle beginning March 21, 2023. Edward bonded with the foster parents

4 immediately while Gabrielle was not as social and did not bond right away. By the time of trial Gabrielle was also bonded with the foster parents. Gabrielle was improving every day, including taking about 25 percent of her food orally. The foster parents participated in 30 hours of observation training observing other children who have similar medical needs. The foster parents also received training at Texas Children’s Hospital from Gabrielle’s gastroenterologist and nutritionist. Both children attend a Montessori school near their home. A home health nurse goes to the school to help with Gabrielle’s feedings.

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In the Interest of E.A.O.E. AKA E.O.E., G.E.O.E. AKA G.O.E., Children v. the State of Texas, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-the-interest-of-eaoe-aka-eoe-geoe-aka-goe-children-v-texapp-2024.