When Jessica and Daniel Groves fought to regain custody of their newborn son, Dylan, they promised to keep him safe. Born prematurely and with a mix of methamphetamines, fentanyl, and opiates in his tiny body, Dylan was already battling withdrawal, his arms shaking and legs twitching. For a brief time, he found a safe haven with a foster mother, a sober school teacher whose community rallied to create a perfect room for him in a single day. She took time off work to hold him constantly, easing the painful symptoms his parents' addiction had caused.
Despite her warnings to child services that she believed Jessica was under the influence during a visit, the system made a fateful decision. On January 28th, Dylan was placed back into his father's care, based on the false belief that Daniel was clean and employed. A social worker last saw the baby alive two months later, on March 28th, seemingly unharmed. After that, the family vanished. Daniel began missing doctor's appointments, court dates, and visits with child services, who for two months could find no trace of them. When the sheriff's department finally surrounded their trailer, they found the parents, but not the baby. Jessica and Daniel both told the same story: child services had taken Dylan—the very agency that had reported him missing.
⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains descriptions of child abuse, addiction, and systemic failure that some listeners may find disturbing. Listener discretion is advised.
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