50 signatures reached
To: Missouri Supreme Court Justices, Governor Mike Parson, MO DSS Director Robert Knodell, Office of Child Advocate Director Kelly Schultz, MO House & Senate Judiciary & Children’s Committees Legislators
Demand Missouri Supreme Court Reverse the Wrongful Termination of Danielle Cox’s Parental Rights!
Dear Missouri Supreme Court Justices, Governor Mike Parson, MO DSS Director Robert Knodell, Office of Child Advocate Director Kelly Schultz, MO House & Senate Judiciary & Children’s Committees Legislators
I am writing to demand immediate action regarding the wrongful termination of parental rights in the case of Danielle Cox and the broader failures of Missouri’s child welfare system that have deprived parents of due process, violated statutory requirements, and failed to serve the best interests of children.
This case is a glaring example of government overreach, legal failures, and a broken system that prioritizes terminating parental rights over reunification—even when legal mandates require a different outcome.
Key Issues in Danielle Cox’s Case:
- Statutory Violations & Due Process Failures
- DSS and the Juvenile Office failed to comply with mandatory statutory requirements before proceeding with termination.
- The termination petition was filed prematurely, before the statutory timeline required by Missouri law.
- DSS did not provide adequate services to Danielle Cox to facilitate reunification, a clear violation of Missouri’s parental rights statutes (RSMo 211.447).
- Despite Ms. Cox requesting an alternative visitation provider (Connecting Grounds), DSS falsely claimed she refused services.
- Failure to Assess the Parent-Child Bond
- Testimony from Gina LeGrand states that when Ta’Scani was returned to Ms. Cox, he ran to her with excitement—yet the record lacks any official bonding assessment.
- The law requires that parental attachment and bond be assessed before terminating parental rights. This was not done in violation of statutory requirements.
- Suppression of Evidence Favorable to Ms. Cox
- The Juvenile Office withheld or failed to properly consider key evidence demonstrating that Ms. Cox was making efforts to regain custody.
- Records show she attempted to arrange alternative services and was never given a fair opportunity to comply with a reunification plan.
- Office of Child Advocate Report Found Major Concerns
- The Missouri Office of Child Advocate (OCA) issued a report raising serious concerns about how this case was handled, including the lack of contact between mother and children.
- Despite this, DSS and the court did not correct these issues before terminating her parental rights.
- Failure to Consider Relative Placement
- The law requires that family members be given priority placement when children are removed from their parents.
- Ms. Cox’s sister, Destiny, had custody of one sibling (Antonio) and requested placement of the others, but was denied without justification.
- DSS failed to follow Missouri law (RSMo 210.305) requiring priority placement with family before considering termination.
What Needs to Happen Now:
- The Missouri Supreme Court Must Review and Reverse the Termination of Parental Rights.
- The case must be reconsidered due to clear violations of due process, statutory mandates, and best-interest determinations.
- The evidence suggests that termination was premature, unjust, and procedurally flawed.
- Governor Mike Parson Must Order an Independent Investigation Into DSS and KVC Missouri.
- Missouri’s child welfare system is operating without proper oversight and is consistently violating parental rights.
- This investigation must include a full audit of wrongful terminations and DSS case mismanagement.
- The Missouri Attorney General Must Take Legal Action Against DSS for Violations of Missouri Law.
- DSS is not above the law. When a government agency violates parental rights and due process, there must be consequences.
- AG Andrew Bailey must hold DSS accountable for failing to comply with Missouri’s reunification mandates.
- Missouri Legislators Must Hold Oversight Hearings on DSS’s Failures.
- The Missouri House and Senate Judiciary & Children’s Committees must launch an immediate public hearing on DSS violations.
- The Office of Child Advocate’s concerns must be addressed in legislative reforms.
Missouri Cannot Continue to Violate Families’ Rights
DSS and the courts have an obligation to follow the law, ensure due process, and protect parental rights. The system is not above accountability. The wrongful termination of Danielle Cox’s parental rights is a direct result of government negligence and disregard for Missouri law.
I urge you to immediately intervene in this case and take concrete action to hold DSS, KVC Missouri, and the Juvenile Office accountable for violating parental rights and statutory requirements.
We demand justice. We demand reform. We demand action.
Next Steps – Taking Action Together
📌 Sign & Share the Petition – The more signatures we gather, the greater the pressure on Missouri officials.
🚨 Missouri must STOP violating parental rights. Sign the petition and demand justice now! 🚨
Why is this important?
The wrongful termination of parental rights is a human rights violation that impacts not just Danielle Cox but families across Missouri and beyond. When the government takes children from their parents without following the law, due process, or proper assessments, it sets a dangerous precedent—one that could happen to any parent.
This is not just one case. Missouri’s child welfare system is broken, and it is destroying families instead of helping them.
- If a parent is denied fair access to their children, any parent can be.
- If caseworkers refuse to work with a parent, any parent can be falsely labeled "uncooperative."
- If the state fails to comply with legal requirements for reunification, any family can be unjustly torn apart.
🔹 This Case Exposes a Dangerous Pattern
Missouri’s Department of Social Services (DSS) and family courts have been ripping families apart without following the law. If we allow them to get away with this in Danielle Cox’s case, they will continue doing it to others.
Missouri’s Department of Social Services (DSS) and family courts have been ripping families apart without following the law. If we allow them to get away with this in Danielle Cox’s case, they will continue doing it to others.
🔹 Every Child Deserves to Stay with Loving Family
Children should not be forcibly taken from their parents when there are safe, legal, and family-based options available. Danielle’s sister was willing and able to take placement of the children to keep them together as a family, but DSS ignored the law and denied her request. This is a direct violation of Missouri's own statutes requiring family placement priority.
Children should not be forcibly taken from their parents when there are safe, legal, and family-based options available. Danielle’s sister was willing and able to take placement of the children to keep them together as a family, but DSS ignored the law and denied her request. This is a direct violation of Missouri's own statutes requiring family placement priority.
🔹 Government Should Be Held Accountable
No government agency should have the power to ignore the law and take children away from their parents without due process. If DSS and Missouri courts can do this to Danielle, they can do it to anyone.
No government agency should have the power to ignore the law and take children away from their parents without due process. If DSS and Missouri courts can do this to Danielle, they can do it to anyone.
🔹 If We Don’t Act, This Will Keep Happening
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of families suffering the same injustice across Missouri and the country. Many parents lose their children because they don’t have the resources to fight back. Your signature, your voice, your support could help stop this from happening to other families.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of families suffering the same injustice across Missouri and the country. Many parents lose their children because they don’t have the resources to fight back. Your signature, your voice, your support could help stop this from happening to other families.
This is not just about one mother. This is about protecting all families from unjust and unlawful government intervention.
How You Can Help Right Now
✅ Sign the petition to demand that the Missouri Supreme Court reverse the termination of parental rights in this case and investigate DSS’s failures.
✅ Share this petition with your friends, family, and social networks. The more signatures we have, the louder our voices become.
✅ Contact Missouri legislators, Governor Parson, and the Attorney General. Demand an independent investigation into Missouri DSS and wrongful terminations of parental rights.
✅ Join us in calling for a national conversation about parental rights and government accountability in child welfare cases.
🚨 Missouri is failing its children and families. If we do nothing, more parents will lose their children unlawfully. Join us today and stand up for justice! 🚨