10,000 signatures reached
To: Lexington Kentucky House of Representatives
Bring Zephaniah Home
On May 19, 2021 at only 2 days old, Zephaniah was taken from his mother unnecessarily by the Kentucky Child Protection System (CPS).
The Facts:
On May 16, 2021, Ms. Sellers arrived at Baptist Hospital Lexington to give birth to Zephaniah.
Ms. Sellers gave birth to Zephaniah at 5:06am on May 17, 2021 without complication.
Ms. Sellers wanted Zephaniah to stay in her room at all times to reduce his exposure to COVID. Ms. Sellers assertiveness was mislabeled as "angry" and "overreactive" just hours after giving birth when nurses insisted that Zephaniah go to the nursery.
A report for "risk of neglect" was made by Holly Rollins, MSW at Baptist Hospital. Ms. Rollins NEVER MET Ms. Sellers or Zephaniah prior to this malicious report being made. The report was made just hours after Zephaniah's birth.
On May 19, 2021, Kamika Joyner, CPS Social worker, arrived at Baptist Hospital to meet with Ms. Sellers and Zephaniah. Ms. Sellers and Zephaniah were both discharged home from the hospital prior to the arrival of Kamika Joyner. When Ms. Joyner arrived, Ms. Sellers was breastfeeding Zephaniah before heading home to begin their life together. Ms. Sellers asked Ms. Joyner to leave her hospital room so she could continue her discharge plan. Ms. Joyner refused to honor Ms. Sellers request and instead, Ms. Joyner spearheaded and orchestrated the attack on Ms. Sellers and Zephaniah's life.
Ms. Sellers was choked by hospital security and Zephaniah was ripped from Ms. Sellers hands by an officer with the Lexington Police Department.
Ms. Sellers was arrested for 2nd degree disorderly conduct and taken to jail. Zephaniah was taken to the nursery where he stayed overnight while CPS found a foster home for him to be discharged to.
Ms. Sellers has not neglected Zephaniah but yet she is forced to face another day without her child in her custody. This is NOT right. This is NOT justice. We must STOP CPS from hurting this family. Listen to this mother's story in the video below and help support this mother by contributing to support her legal defense. Keep this family in your thoughts.
Latest Update on Operation: Bring Zephaniah Home (July 19, 2021)
On July 9, 2021, CPS filed an amended petition alleging NEW grounds for the removal of Zephaniah in May 19, 2021. This proves Kentucky CPS knows their initial petition was not sufficient when it was filed on May 19. The amended petition contains more lies and fabrications in an attempt by Kentucky CPS to cover up this injustice. On July 12, 2021 Judge Stein refused to hear Ms. Sellers motion for the reconsideration of the dismissal of the petition granting CPS custody of Zephaniah. Judge Stein stated that she was not prepared to hear Ms. Sellers motion. A new attorney represented the CPS worker in court on July 16 and a new GAL was also appointed to the case on this date. The case was set for a case management conference on July 16, 2021 in attempt to give the parties the opportunity to come to a resolution without a trial. Ms. Sellers was denied entry to this conference and a resolution was not agreed upon. Kentucky CPS made the decision to take this case to trial and ignore the truth. The adjudication trial is currently in recess. The trial will resume August 30, 2021. Keep Ms. Sellers and Zephaniah in your prayers as they push forward in their pursuit of JUSTICE.
Why is this important?
The events taking place in Lexington, Kentucky are alarming. A 2 day-old baby was ripped from his mother's hands without just cause by the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CPS). This mother had not abused nor neglected her child, but the Cabinet kidnapped this newborn baby right out of his mother’s hands. Ms. Sellers gave birth to her child without complications and was bonding well with her newborn. Without notice given to Ms. Sellers by hospital staff, a social worker with CPS arrived at the hospital and took custody of Ms. Sellers child. It appears the reason for this deplorable action was due to a malicious report made by hospital staff coupled with the social workers inability to effectively engage the mother during the initiation of this malicious report. After a 5-minute conversation, this mother exercised her right to ask the social worker to leave her hospital room because she had already been discharged and was actively breastfeeding. This nightmare began on May 19, 2021 and Ms. Sellers has been advocating to be heard on the deprivation of her parental rights ever since.
Please take the time to read this so you can see the truth for yourself and help Ms. Sellers advocate for the return of her child to her care.
Judge Libby Messer recused herself on June 28, 2021 due to a blatant conflict of interest she failed to disclose prior to making any rulings on Ms. Sellers case.
Baptist Hospital staff was also caught on recording describing Ms. Sellers as “really nice” during her hospital stay and hospital staff was also heard making disparaging remarks about Ms. Sellers when they thought no one could hear them.
Call to Action
Please contact Mary Carpenter, Director of Kentucky’s Community Based Services, and demand that this child be released from custody immediately.
Phone: 502-564-2147
Email: [email protected]
This is not right by any means necessary and it is our moral and ethical duties to not allow Power and Biasness to overtake the rights of this mother.
Respectfully Responding in Power,
Amanda Wallace, BSW
Tafarrah J Austin, MPA
Kimmaire Sellers: Cell (859-913-8209)
[email protected]
www.Operationstopcps.com
Learn More About Operation: Bring Zephaniah Home