Last-Ditch Move Keeps Abandoned Kids with Family

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Lincoln, NE - Seven of the nine kids who were abandoned at an Omaha hospital will get to stay together, for now. Late this afternoon, the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services appealed a judge's decision to take the kids away from family and place them in foster care.

The seven brothers and sisters are living with an aunt in Lincoln. Last week their father left them at Creighton University Medical Center, under Nebraska's safe haven law. The other two children stayed in Omaha.

Earlier today, the judge ordered the kids removed from the aunt's home. She wanted them placed in foster care in Omaha because she was troubled by the cramped quarters at the aunt's home and the fact that the kids were still out of school. Some of the children were sleeping two and three to-a-bed in the home.

This DHHS appeal means the seven kids will stay with their aunt, until the matter is settled.

The Attorney representing the kids admits that there was too much of a rush to get them out of foster care and back with family.

"I think it's important to have children placed with family," Tom Incontro says. "however, in this case we hurried up and got that done and didn't put in place the thing that the kids need."

The family tells Action 3 News the aunt in Lincoln is working on renting a bigger home where all of the kids can stay.

Joann Manzer, one of the children's grandmothers, was upset by the judge's decision. "We want to do what's best for the children to try and keep them as close together as possible and around family," Manzer says.

Todd Landry, director of the DHHS Division of Children and Family Services says, "We believe it is in the best interests of these children to stay together and live with a relative."

The two children who stayed in Omaha will stay in shelter care until they can move in with another relative.

Posted by Mark Barmann, mbarmann@action3news.com &

Molli Graham, mgraham@action3news.com