In The
Court of Appeals
Ninth District of Texas at Beaumont
__________________
NO. 09-22-00018-CV __________________
IN THE INTEREST OF M.B.L.
__________________________________________________________________
On Appeal from the County Court at Law No. 3 Montgomery County, Texas Trial Cause No. 20-10-12025-CV __________________________________________________________________
MEMORANDUM OPINION
After a bench trial, Appellant R.P. (“Renae”) appeals the trial court’s order
terminating her parental rights to her child M.B.L. (“Martina”). 1 At the time the
lawsuit began, Martina was three years old. In a single issue on appeal, Renae
challenges the sufficiency of the evidence that termination of her parental rights was
in Martina’s best interest. For reasons explained below, we affirm the trial court’s
judgment.
1 To protect the identities of the minor, we use pseudonyms to refer to her and her family members. See Tex. R. App. P. 9.8(b)(2). 1 Background
On October 2, 2020, the Department of Family and Protective Services (“the
Department”) filed an Original Petition for Protection of a Child, for
Conservatorship, and for Termination in Suit Affecting the Parent-Child
Relationship. The petition named Martina as the child in the suit, Renae as Martina’s
mother, and it named Teddy as Martina’s father and Damon as Martina’s alleged
father.2
The petition was supported by an affidavit from Child Protective Services
(“CPS”) stating that, on September 30, 2020, the Department received a report of
neglectful supervision by Renae of Martina and of Renae’s two older children, Amy
and Elise.3 The report alleged that Renae had approached a neighbor for help because
Renae had locked herself out of the house, and the neighbor reported that Renae was
confused and disoriented, had an altered mental state, and said “she thought she was
an alien.” Another neighbor reported an earlier instance when Renae left Martina at
home alone, and another neighbor reported that Renae used drugs, including kratom.
Amy told the CPS worker that Renae was acting like she was dreaming. Elise told
2 In its Order of Termination, the trial court found that both the presumed father and alleged father “although duly and properly notified, did not appear and wholly made default.” The order also terminated their parental rights to Martina. Neither the presumed nor alleged father is a party to this appeal, and we discuss them only as necessary to explain the background and evidence. 3 Amy and Elise are not the subject of this appeal, and we mention them only as necessary to explain the background and evidence. 2 the CPS worker that Renae drinks wine and is sometimes moody. The CPS worker
met with Martina’s maternal grandmother Serena, who stated she thought Renae was
depressed, and she had a history of mental health issues and drug abuse, but she had
not managed her mental health because she did not have Medicaid.
When the CPS worker met with Renae, Renae said she had been diagnosed
with ADD, depression, and anxiety. Renae reported that she had been lonely and
depressed since breaking up with her partner about a year and a half prior, and she
had a “mental breakdown” because of Amy’s health issues. Renae also told the CPS
worker she had no car and was “stuck in the house” with her children. Renae
admitted she used kratom, but she stated it had been a long time since she had used
“illegal drugs,” and she said it had been a year-and-a-half since she had taken
prescription medication. Renae also stated she had spent a night in the hospital, and
when she was released, she was instructed to follow up with mental health services.
The affidavit reported previous CPS history dating back to 2014, when Renae
tried to commit suicide by overdosing on medication. Other incidents included
reports of neglectful supervision because of methamphetamine and marijuana use;
multiple referrals alleging sexual abuse, physical neglect, and neglectful supervision
of the children; concerns about a sex offender having access to the children;
neglectful supervision because of Renae’s use of drugs with her boyfriend; and
neglectful supervision when Renae said her children were dead to her, she was being
3 hypnotized by police and ambulance sirens, she did not know if her children were
real, and she was “shooting up meth.” The affidavit also reported Renae’s history of
criminal charges for misdemeanor assault, misdemeanor theft, and felony burglary
of a habitation.
Evidence at Trial
Testimony of Giselle
Giselle testified that she was a friend of Renae’s, her husband was the father
of Renae’s daughters Amy and Elise, and she is stepmother to Amy and Elise.
According to Giselle, Amy and Elise were seven and nine years old at the time of
trial, Martina was four years old, and Giselle was familiar with all of Renae’s
children. Giselle testified that her husband Brandon had sole managing
conservatorship of Amy and Elise, who were living with Giselle and Brandon at the
time of trial. According to Giselle, she and Brandon requested that Renae’s visitation
with the girls be supervised “[b]ecause of her mental health.” Giselle testified that
Amy has Chiari malformation, hydrocephalus, and is expected to have many
surgeries during her life, and that Renae is only able to keep up with Amy’s medical
needs with Giselle’s help, including waking Renae up and driving her to
appointments.
Giselle testified that in late September 2020, she went to pick up the girls at
Renae’s house after receiving a call from one of Renae’s neighbors, and when she
4 arrived, Renae looked “kind of like out of it. She just ha[d] a blank stare on her face.”
Giselle believed that Renae could not care for the girls and that it was better for Amy
and Elise to go with Giselle, and Martina went to Renae’s sister, Amanda. The next
day Renae picked up Amy and Elise from Giselle and took them home, and Martina
was still with Amanda. According to Giselle, a few hours later, she received a call
from one of Renae’s neighbors, and when Giselle went to Renae’s home, Renae was
asleep inside, but Amy and Elise were at a neighbor’s house. Giselle testified that
she took the girls back to her home because Renae “had left them with the neighbors
for hours, like, [and she] didn’t know if she was going to keep them or if she was
going to send them back there[.]” According to Giselle, she believed the three girls
to be in danger when Renae left them with an unknown neighbor for several hours.
Giselle testified that Renae had told her she was diagnosed with bipolar
disorder and that she was on medication. Giselle had picked up Renae’s prescriptions
because Renae did not have a car, and according to Giselle, when Renae did not take
her medication, she was disorganized, she could not think straight, and she was not
focused on what she needed to do. According to Giselle, Renae had told her she had
used methamphetamine and kratom. Giselle also testified that sometimes Renae had
left Martina in a playpen for hours with a soiled diaper.
According to Giselle, since the CPS suit began, Martina had stayed with
Renae’s sister Amanda, Martina is happy and “running around[]” there, and Giselle
5 had no concerns about Martina in Amanda’s home. Giselle testified that she believed
Martina was receiving appropriate parenting at Amanda’s house, and that staying
with Amanda and her husband would be in Martina’s best interest. According to
Giselle, she had had concerns about Renae’s ability to take care of Martina for about
two years, and Giselle would be concerned about Renae caring for Martina if she
were returned to Renae’s home. Giselle believed that Renae failed to feed Martina
“[a] lot[]”—three or four times a week. Giselle also testified that about half of the
time she was at Renae’s home, Martina was not groomed or clean.
Testimony of Amanda
Amanda testified that she was Martina’s aunt, and Martina had been living
with her, her fiancé Sheldon, and her thirteen-year-old son Keifer since the CPS case
began. Amanda testified that she and Sheldon were both paramedics. According to
Amanda, Keifer and Martina were bonded, and they do everything together, but they
each have their own room. Amanda testified that she and Sheldon do “interactive
things” with Martina, such as painting, building things, and puzzles.
According to Amanda, she had known for a while that Martina needed to live
somewhere other than with Renae because Renae would often call her to take all
three girls, Renae’s house was overcrowded and unsanitary, and the girls had to sleep
in the living room. Amanda testified that when the CPS case began, Renae was to
have visitation with Martina at Amanda’s home, but Renae did not come to the
6 house, and when visitations were later arranged to occur at the CPS office, Renae
attended some visits and sometimes did not attend for months. Amanda testified that
she did not see any change in Martina’s behavior when Renae skipped visits.
Amanda testified that she has bipolar disorder herself, and she sees a psychiatrist
and takes medication. She also testified that she had talked with Renae and offered
to help, support, and guide her on mental health issues. Amanda stated that she had
not seen any changes in Renae that suggested Renae had sought help. Amanda had
heard Renae call her children “pod people” and say “they weren’t her real kids, [and]
that her real kids aren’t alive anymore[.]” Amanda also testified that before Martina
was born, she saw Renae buy methamphetamine.
Amanda testified that it was in Martina’s best interest for Martina to be
adopted by Amanda and her fiancé. Amanda did not want Martina near Renae or
being influenced by Renae.
Testimony of Sheldon
Sheldon testified that he was engaged to Amanda and that Martina had been
living with them for a year. He also testified that he and Amanda were both
paramedics and he had recently returned to teaching paramedics and EMTs so he
could be home more. He further testified that his employment had been stable since
he was eighteen years old. According to Sheldon, his home with Amanda has three
bedrooms, and Martina has her own room.
7 Sheldon testified that he had observed Renae with her children, and he had
seen her “pop” or spank Martina. He also believed that Martina was not bathed as
often as she needed to be. When he and Amanda went to pick up Martina at Renae’s
house before removal, he saw that the house and children were dirty, there was no
sleeping space for the children, and he testified that many times when he and
Amanda picked up Martina, it was “for the assistance of [Renae].” One time he
observed Renae use kratom when Amy was in the hospital. Sheldon also had
concerns about Renae’s mental health based on the frequency of her need for help
taking care of her children.
Sheldon testified that Martina was doing “amazing[,]” her vocabulary and
language skills were growing, and she had become less scared and shy. He also
testified that Martina was in pre-K and was making progress in school. According
to Sheldon, he and Amanda received support from friends and his parents. Sheldon
testified that he and Amanda had made Martina available for all visitations with
Renae except one, and that Renae missed visitations for a while. Sheldon believed it
was in Martina’s best interest for Renae’s parental rights to be terminated. Sheldon
testified that he and Amanda wanted to adopt Martina because Martina needed
consistency and normalcy. According to Sheldon, he and Amanda intended to
facilitate Martina’s relationship with her siblings.
8 Testimony of Renae
Renae testified that she was Martina’s mother, Martina was four years old,
and Renae was married to Teddy. She also testified that she was a driver for Pizza
Hut, where she had worked off and on for six or seven years, she was not working
at the time of removal and had been living on child support, but she was no longer
receiving those payments because Amy and Elise’s father had primary custody of
Amy and Elise. Renae testified that her tips working for Pizza Hut could range from
$50 to $300 a day, and she could pay her rent “[m]ost of the time[.]” Renae stated
that she did not know where Teddy was, she had last spoken with him about a year
before trial when she filed for divorce, and Teddy had signed a denial of paternity
of Martina. According to Renae, Teddy had never seen Martina. She agreed she
“filed on” Damon so his name could be on Martina’s birth certificate, but he did not
sign paperwork saying he was the father, there was no DNA testing, Renae did not
pursue adjudicating him as the father, and Damon had not seen Martina for more
than three years.
Renae explained that at the time of removal, she had a “mental breakdown”
after learning something about Amy’s health, and she was disoriented and confused.
Renae agreed that she took kratom for pain every day, which she testified was “an
all-natural herb.” She testified that it had been years since she had used
methamphetamine, and it had been about a year-and-a-half since she had smoked
9 marijuana. Renae agreed that in 2014, she tried to kill herself by overdosing on
medication because she was “in a very bad place mentally[]” due to postpartum
depression and because her “ex had left her.” She agreed that she had a prior
involvement with CPS in 2014, but she worked her required services, which included
addressing marijuana and methamphetamine use. Renae did not remember any other
CPS cases until this one in 2020 involving Martina, but she agreed allegations were
made to CPS about her having a dirty house, using drugs, and abusing the children,
and one time she had to take a drug test that she passed. Renae testified that her home
was cluttered for a while after she moved items from storage, but the home was clean
and organized at the time of removal and she believed it had been “ever since.”
Renae testified that she had never called her children dead, aliens, or hypnotized.
According to Renae, she bathed the children every day or every other day, and her
home had a bed for each child.
Renae agreed she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she had taken
medication for anxiety for a while, but at the time of trial, she was not taking any
medication. Renae also testified later that “[h]e never said I was bipolar. He put me
on medicine[]” and that “[h]e took me off [the medication] and said I was okay.”
Then during other testimony at trial, Renae said she was under the care of a
physician, she was taking medication, and she intended to keep taking the
medication if her doctor prescribed it for her. Renae stated that she had removed
10 toxic people from her life, she had worked through many things, and she was seeking
help through online support groups.
Renae agreed that she had not been to every court hearing in the case. She
agreed she had been given a family service plan, but she testified that she had not
taken a parenting class, had not completed a psychological evaluation, had not had
individual counseling, had not had a drug and alcohol assessment, and had not taken
a drug test—and that she had completed nothing on her family service plan. Renae
remembered telling her caseworker that she was not going to complete services.
Renae testified that she had received a couple of texts about drug testing, but she did
not submit to a drug test, although she was selling her plasma twice a week. Renae
testified that the Department had not sent her a referral for a psychological evaluation
and she “wasn’t able to[]” participate in individual counseling. She also agreed that
she had not provided a rental agreement to the Department, but she said that was
because she “wasn’t asked for one.” She testified that she was living in a friend’s
trailer where she did not pay rent or utilities nor was there a rental agreement, and
the owner agreed to let her live there free in exchange for her “fixing it up and
making it livable.” She agreed that she had missed some visitations with Martina,
but that was because she was sick or had car trouble, or she called to cancel, or the
CPS office was closed due to bad weather. Renae testified that when she saw Martina
at visitations, Martina ran to her excitedly, she smiled, and she grabbed onto Renae.
11 Testimony of the Court-Appointed Special Advocate
The Court-Appointed Special Advocate (“CASA”) testified that she had been
assigned to this case the entire time. The CASA testified that at first, Martina was
shy and hesitant, but that she had become open and friendly. She had observed
Martina in Amanda and Sheldon’s home and saw that they put Martina’s safety and
well-being first and were very calm when they needed to redirect Martina’s
behavior. The CASA testified that Renae was inconsistent in communicating with
the CASA. According to the CASA, she explained to Renae that the family service
plan was court-ordered, but Renae “just didn’t feel it was needed.” Renae had
visitation with Martina at first, but there was about a six-month gap before she
resumed visits. The CASA testified that she had not observed Renae’s visits with
Martina nor had she visited Renae’s home. The CASA texted Renae at least once a
month, but she did not always receive a response, and there was about a four-month
period when she did not hear from Renae. The CASA recommended that Renae’s
parental rights should be terminated and that Amanda and Sheldon be allowed to
adopt Martina. The CASA testified that she recommended termination because “the
inconsistency would create an unsafe environment for [Martina].”
Testimony of the CPS Caseworker
A caseworker for CPS (“Caseworker”) testified that she had been assigned to
Martina’s case for about ten months. The Caseworker agreed that Teddy, who was
12 married to Renae, could not be Martina’s father “logistically[,]” and that Damon,
whom Renae named as Martina’s father, had told the Caseworker he was not
Martina’s father, he wanted nothing to do with the case, and he wanted her to stop
calling him. According to the Caseworker, when she was first assigned to the case
in February 2021, she called Renae, left text messages, and she received no reply,
but later in July, Renae reached out to the Caseworker. The Caseworker testified that
she set up services for Renae and discussed services and visitation, but Renae had
not completed any services. The family service plan required a psychological
evaluation, parenting classes, Parent Collaboration Group, drug and alcohol
assessment, random drug screenings, maintaining contact with the Department, and
providing proof of stable housing. The Caseworker testified that Renae “told [her]
more than once that she was not going to do services because she felt that CPS should
not be involved and that they should not have ever taken [Martina].” According to
the Caseworker, she had received verification from all the service providers about
the services that were set up for Renae. Visitation was set up to occur every week,
and between February and July of 2021, Renae’s attendance at visitation was
“sporadic[,]” she made eleven or twelve visits, and the Caseworker was unable to
contact Renae to set up more visits. The Caseworker contacted Renae at least once
a month for drug testing, the Caseworker had never received any drug testing results,
and she had ongoing concerns about Renae’s drug use. The Caseworker observed
13 “[a]t least ten[]” visits between Renae and Martina, and she saw that Martina ran to
her mother smiling, and Renae was attentive, engaged, and active when playing with
Martina. The Caseworker did not visit Renae’s home nor speak with Renae’s
employer.
The Caseworker stated that termination of Renae’s, Teddy’s, and Damon’s
parental rights was in Martina’s best interest because, at the time of trial, Martina
had permanency and consistency in her placement and because Renae had done
nothing to complete her services or alleviate ongoing concerns. The Caseworker
described her concerns to the trial court, which included concerns after talking with
Renae that the conversation went in circles and Renae did not appear to be clearly
processing what the Caseworker was saying. The Caseworker did not remember that
Renae ever reached out to her and never completed her required services. The
Caseworker also testified that the original allegations of neglectful supervision were
not resolved.
The Caseworker testified that she visited the home where Martina was placed,
and she saw that Martina was very happy, the caregivers were attentive, and it was
a “wonderful environment” for Martina. According to the Caseworker, the foster
parents were meeting Martina’s dental and medical needs, and she had no concerns
about the foster parents.
14 The trial court took judicial notice of the record. Exhibits admitted at trial
included the family service plans for Renae and for Teddy, and a Status Hearing
Order signed January 4, 2021, ordering compliance with the service plans. The trial
court found that both Teddy and Damon failed to answer after having been properly
served and they were in default, and the court terminated their parental rights to
Martina. The court also found by clear and convincing evidence that termination of
Renae’s parental rights was in Martina’s best interest and found that Renae had
endangered and constructively abandoned Martina and had failed to complete court-
ordered service plans. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(b)(1)(D), (E), (N), (O),
(2). Renae timely appealed.
Issue
In a single issue, Appellant argues that the evidence was not legally or
factually sufficient to support the trial court’s finding that termination of her parental
rights was in Martina’s best interest. Appellant argues the evidence is uncontroverted
that Martina wanted a relationship with her mother because Martina was happy
around her mother, and that Renae was engaged and attentive during her visits with
Martina. Appellant also argues that, despite the allegations that precipitated the case,
Renae had submitted to psychiatric evaluation, no medications were prescribed, she
had not used illegal drugs, she was not involved in criminal activity, and she had
removed all toxic people from her life. Appellant argues “[t]here was an option for
15 the child to remain in the current placement with [] relatives without termination[]”
and that termination of Renae’s parental rights presents a danger to Martina’s
emotional well-being. According to Appellant, the best-interest evidence was scant,
and there was no compelling benefit to severing Renae’s parental rights. 4
Standard of Review
The decision to terminate parental rights must be supported by clear and
convincing evidence. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(b). Under the Family Code,
“‘[c]lear and convincing evidence’ means the measure or degree of proof that will
produce in the mind of the trier of fact a firm belief or conviction as to the truth of
the allegations sought to be established.” Id. § 101.007; In re J.L., 163 S.W.3d 79,
84 (Tex. 2005). The movant must show that the parent committed one or more
predicate acts or omissions and that termination is in the child’s best interest. See
Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 161.001(b); In re J.L., 163 S.W.3d at 84.
In reviewing the legal sufficiency of the evidence in a parental rights
termination case, we must consider all the evidence in the light most favorable to the
finding to determine whether a reasonable factfinder could have formed a firm belief
or conviction that the finding was true. In re J.O.A., 283 S.W.3d 336, 344-45 (Tex.
2009) (citing In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d 256, 266 (Tex. 2002)). We assume the
4 Appellant does not challenge the sufficiency of the evidence to support the trial court’s statutory predicate findings. 16 factfinder resolved the disputed facts in favor of its finding if a reasonable factfinder
could do so, and we disregard all evidence that a reasonable factfinder could have
disbelieved. Id. In a factual sufficiency review, we “give due consideration to
evidence that the factfinder could reasonably have found to be clear and
convincing.” In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266. We must determine “‘whether the
evidence is such that a factfinder could reasonably form a firm belief or conviction
about the truth of the State’s allegations.’” Id. (quoting In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d 17, 25
(Tex. 2002)). “If, in light of the entire record, the disputed evidence that a reasonable
factfinder could not have credited in favor of the finding is so significant that a
factfinder could not reasonably have formed a firm belief or conviction, then the
evidence is factually insufficient.” Id. In cases tried to the bench, the trial court in its
role as factfinder determines the credibility and weight of the witnesses’ testimony
and resolves any inconsistencies or conflicts in the evidence. See Webb v. Crawley,
590 S.W.3d 570, 578 (Tex. App.—Beaumont 2019, no pet.); In re R.J., 568 S.W.3d
734, 754 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2019, pet. denied).
Best Interest of the Child
Trial courts have wide latitude in determining a child’s best interest. See
Gillespie v. Gillespie, 644 S.W.2d 449, 451 (Tex. 1982). There is a strong
presumption that the best interest of a child is served by keeping the child with his
parent. In re R.R., 209 S.W.3d 112, 116 (Tex. 2006); In re D.R.A., 374 S.W.3d 528,
17 533 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2012, no pet.); see also Tex. Fam. Code Ann.
§ 153.131(b). Prompt and permanent placement of a child in a safe environment is
also presumed to be in the child’s best interest. Tex. Fam. Code Ann. § 263.307(a).
In a bench trial, the trial court is the sole judge of the weight and credibility of the
evidence and of the witnesses’ testimony. See In re H.R.M., 209 S.W.3d 105, 108
(Tex. 2006) (per curiam). When determining the best interest of the child, a court
may consider circumstantial and direct evidence, subjective factors, and the totality
of the evidence, and evidence supporting the statutory grounds for termination may
also be used to support a finding that the best interest of the child warrants
termination of the parent-child relationship. See In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 28; In re
N.R.T., 338 S.W.3d 667, 677 (Tex. App.—Amarillo 2011, no pet.).
The Family Code outlines nonexclusive factors to be considered in
determining whether a parent is willing and able to provide a safe environment for a
child including: the child’s age and physical and mental vulnerabilities; whether
there is a history of abusive or assaultive conduct by the child’s family or others who
have access to the child’s home; the willingness and ability of the child’s family to
seek out, accept, and complete counseling services and to cooperate with and
facilitate an appropriate agency’s close supervision; the willingness and ability of
the child’s family to effect positive environmental and personal changes within a
reasonable time period; whether the child’s family demonstrates adequate parenting
18 skills, including providing the child with minimally adequate health and nutritional
care, a safe physical home environment, and an understanding of the child’s needs
and capabilities; and whether an adequate social support system consisting of an
extended family member and friends is available to the child. Tex. Fam. Code Ann.
§ 263.307(b); see also In re R.R., 209 S.W.3d at 116.
The Texas Supreme Court has articulated several additional factors that may
be considered when determining whether termination of parental rights is in the best
interest of the child, including: the desires of the child, the emotional and physical
needs of the child now and in the future, the emotional and physical danger to the
child now and in the future, the parental abilities of the individuals seeking custody,
the programs available to assist these individuals to promote the best interest of the
child, the plans for the child by these individuals or by the agency seeking custody,
the stability of the home or proposed placement, the acts or omissions of the parent
that may indicate that the existing parent-child relationship is not a proper one, and
any excuse of the acts or omissions of the parent. See Holley v. Adams, 544 S.W.2d
367, 371-72 (Tex. 1976) (setting forth the “Holley factors” and noting “[t]his listing
is by no means exhaustive[]”). No specific Holley factor is controlling, and evidence
of one factor may be enough to support a finding that termination is in the child’s
best interest. See M.C. v. Tex. Dep’t of Family & Protective Servs., 300 S.W.3d 305,
311 (Tex. App.—El Paso 2009, pet. denied) (“Undisputed evidence of just one factor
19 may be sufficient to support a finding that termination is in the best interest of a
child.”) (citing In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 27); In re A.P., 184 S.W.3d 410, 414 (Tex.
App.—Dallas 2006, no pet.). Because stability and permanence are important in a
child’s emotional and physical development, termination of parental rights may be
in the child’s best interest when a parent cannot provide a stable environment or a
reliable source for food, clothing, shelter, and emotional support. See In re J.D., 436
S.W.3d 105, 119-20 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2014, no pet.) (citing In re
T.D.C., 91 S.W.3d 865, 873 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2002, pet. denied)); In re
T.G.R.-M., 404 S.W.3d 7, 17 (Tex. App.—Houston [1st Dist.] 2013, no pet.).
A parent’s past conduct is relevant to determining the parent’s present and
future ability to care for a child. See In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 28 (parent’s past
performance as parent is relevant to determination of present and future ability to
provide for child); In re E.D., 419 S.W.3d 615, 620 (Tex. App.—San Antonio 2013,
pet. denied) (factfinder may measure a parent’s future conduct by past conduct);
Schaban-Maurer v. Maurer-Schaban, 238 S.W.3d 815, 824 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth
2007, no pet.). A parent’s drug use, criminal history, and employment and housing
instability before and during the case create a course of conduct from which the
factfinder can determine that the parent endangered the child’s emotional and
physical well-being. See In re M.C., No. 09-18-00436-CV, 2019 Tex. App. LEXIS
2961, at **15-16 (Tex. App.—Beaumont Apr. 11, 2019, not pet.) (mem. op.). A
20 factfinder can reasonably infer that a parent’s failure to submit to court-ordered drug
tests indicated the parent was avoiding testing because she was using illegal drugs.
In re E.R.W., 528 S.W.3d 251, 265 (Tex. App.—Houston [14th Dist.] 2017, no pet.).
A parent’s mental illness is not a ground for terminating the parent-child
relationship, but untreated mental illness or a parent’s failure to take required
medication can result in neglect or expose a child to endangerment, and it is a factor
the court may consider. See In re J.S., No. 09-20-00294-CV, 2021 Tex. App. LEXIS
4574, at *28 (Tex. App.—Beaumont June 10, 2021, no pet.) (mem. op.) (citing In re
L.J., No. 09-19-00457-CV, 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 4271, at *14 (Tex. App.—
Beaumont June 9, 2020, no pet.) (mem. op.)); In re P.H., 544 S.W.3d 850, 857-58
(Tex. App.—El Paso 2017, no pet.); In re S.R., 452 S.W.3d 351, 363 (Tex. App.—
Houston [14th Dist.] 2014, pet. denied).
Analysis
We first note that the trial court found that Renae had endangered Martina
under subsections D and E, had constructively abandoned Martina under subsection
N, and failed to comply with the service plan under subsection O. See Tex. Fam.
Code Ann. § 161.001(b)(1)(D), (E), (N), (O). Renae does not challenge these
findings on appeal. The evidence supporting the statutory grounds for termination
may also be used to support a finding that termination of the parent-child relationship
is in the child’s best interest. See In re C.H., 89 S.W.3d at 28.
21 As for the desires of the child, the Caseworker testified that when visitations
between Renae and Martina occurred, Martina appeared happy, and Renae played
and interacted with Martina attentively. Both Amanda and Sheldon testified that
Martina was doing well in their home and had bonded with their son. There was no
additional evidence presented about the actual desires of the child. This factor does
not weigh heavily in favor of or against terminating parental rights.
Regarding Martina’s emotional and physical needs now and in the future, and
the possible emotional and physical danger to her now and in the future, the record
included reports that Renae often left her children with neighbors or unattended.
Sheldon testified that Martina was not bathed frequently enough, and the home was
cluttered and dirty. Giselle testified that at times Renae had left Martina in a playpen
for hours with a soiled diaper. Amanda testified that she did not see any change in
Martina’s behavior when Renae skipped visits. She also testified that Renae had
called her children “pod people” and that they were not alive or were not real people,
although Renae denied that she said these things. The trial court was entitled to find
that this factor weighed in favor of termination.
Regarding Renae’s acts or omissions and her parental abilities, evidence
showed that Renae had a history of drug abuse, prior history with CPS interventions,
a criminal history, and she had a suicide attempt. She testified inconsistently about
whether she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and whether she was seeking
22 professional care, and whether she was taking medication. She testified that she used
kratom daily to self-medicate. Giselle testified that when Renae did not take her
prescribed medication, Ranae was disorganized, she could not think straight, and she
was not focused on what she needed to do. Renae failed to see Martina for four
months during the pendency of the case. She failed to submit to drug testing during
the pendency of the case, and the trial court could have inferred that Renae was
continuing to use drugs. See In re E.R.W., 528 S.W.3d at 265. Renae failed to provide
proof of a stable and safe home and was living in a friend’s trailer rent-free because
the owner had agreed to let her fix it up and make it “livable.” Renae testified that
she worked part-time as a driver for Pizza Hut, and she had worked for them “[o]ff
and on” in past years, but she could not say how much she made working for Pizza
Hut. The Caseworker and CASA both testified that Renae often failed to respond
when they tried to communicate with her. Renae failed to complete any services and
never addressed the reasons for Martina’s removal. On this record we conclude that
the trial court could have reasonably disbelieved Renae and found that Renae’s acts
and omissions weigh heavily in favor of terminating her parental rights. See In re
L.J., 2020 Tex. App. LEXIS 4271 at *17 (explaining that the impact of a parent’s
mental illness and failure to take prescribed medication are relevant factors in a best-
interest analysis); In re M.R., 243 S.W.3d 807, 821 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2007,
no pet.) (“A parent’s drug use, inability to provide a stable home, and failure to
23 comply with a family service plan support a finding that termination is in the best
interest of the child.”).
Having considered the evidence related to best interest and deferring to the
trial court’s determinations on witness credibility, the trial court’s resolution of
conflicts in the evidence, and the weight to be given the testimony, we conclude that
the statutory and Holley factors weigh in favor of the trial court’s finding that
termination is in Martina’s best interest. See Tex. Fam. Code Ann. §§ 161.001(b)(2),
263.307(a); In re J.F.C., 96 S.W.3d at 266; Holley, 544 S.W.2d at 371-72. We
conclude that the evidence is both legally and factually sufficient to support the trial
court’s finding that termination of Renae’s parental rights is in Martina’s best
interest, and we overrule Appellant’s issue.
Having overruled Appellant’s sole issue, we affirm the trial court’s order.
AFFIRMED.
_________________________ LEANNE JOHNSON Justice
Submitted on May 4, 2022 Opinion Delivered May 19, 2022
Before Golemon, C.J., Horton and Johnson, JJ.