http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/WestVolusia/03WVo
lWEST01041704.htm

Mother loses fight to keep children


Last update: 17 April 2004


DELAND -- The Osteen mother who has spent the last 6 1/2 months fighting for
custody of her four children has lost her battle.

June Edmonds said a judge terminated her parental rights Friday during a
closed, two-day hearing at the Volusia County Courthouse.

Edmonds, 40, was charged with four counts of child neglect in September after
deputies found her children, now ranging in age from 2 to 14 years, living in
filth and waste. The Department of Children & Families took custody of the
children and proceeded with terminating her rights after Edmonds was arrested
again in December for aggravated stalking.

"They took my kids," Edmonds said Friday while leaving court. "I get to see
them one more time to tell them good-bye."

Edmonds said she would tell her children she tried her hardest to regain
custody and loves them very much.

DCF spokeswoman Pat Thigpen said she could not confirm what happened during the
confidential hearing before Circuit Judge Hubert Grimes. She did say when
parental rights are terminated, the children become eligible for adoption.

Thigpen said it is always a goal to keep the siblings together.

Edmonds, who said she now has nowhere to go, also faces a sentencing hearing on
her criminal charges. She pleaded no contest April 1 to four counts of child
neglect and a single count of aggravated stalking. She faces up to 25 years in
prison.




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A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown