In re Josephine H. et al.

Camden, Tennessee family law lawyer represented the parents.

Richard H. ("Father”) and Tina H. ("Mother,” and together with Father, "Parents,” or "Appellants”) are the natural parents of the two children at issue in this appeal, Josephine H. (d/o/b August 2016) and Justice H. (d/o/b August 2017) (together, the "Children”). Appellee Tennessee Department of Children's Services ("DCS”) first became involved

with this family in 2018. On August 23, 2018, the Clarksville Police Department ("CPD") responded to a report of suspected child abuse in the Parents' home. Sergeant Lisa Fatula, with the CPD, discovered that the Children's five cousins, G.P., L.P., V.P., N.H., and P.P. (together, the "Cousins"), also lived in Parents' home. G.P., the alleged victim of the abuse, was five years old at the time. G.P. was found to have swelling, bruising, and redness on the right side of his face and throat. In interviews with the CPD, G.P., L.P., and P.P. revealed that Father hit G.P. in the face and strangled him. At the time of the altercation, Parents, paternal grandmother (Josephine W.), Cousins, and the Children were at the home. When asked who hurt his head, G.P. identified "Uncle Richard," i.e., Father, and re-enacted someone punching the side of his face and choking him. G.P. stated that "Uncle Richard" got mad because G.P. was not doing his "letters." P.P. stated that, while Father was with G.P. in the playroom, P.P. heard yelling, a loud noise, and G.P. screaming. P.P. disclosed that, after he heard these noises, G.P. had a big, swollen bruise on his face. Although P.P. stated that he tried to tell a grownup about G.P.'s injuries, he could not find an adult before leaving for the school bus. P.P. further stated that, after G.P. started school, "Uncle Richard" would hit G.P. because he would get mad when G.P. messed up on schoolwork. P.P. stated that G.P. did not want to come home from school some days because he feared Uncle Richard. P.P. disclosed that Uncle Richard "hurts" him sometimes but not like he hurts G.P.

Affirmed