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Why did Jeb Bush's Florida incarcerate Ashleigh, a three, four, five, and six- year-old child?
Above: Ashleigh at about three years, four and five-years-old. She turned seven in March 2002 and spent more than half her life in captivity.
Latest: Nearly five years and counting — 20 September 2002 Hearing. DCF's pitiful saga continues as father pleas to see his daughter.

Ashleigh's case began years before Jeb Bush's administration lost track of little Rilya Wilson, a deplorable mess. The plight of these children (and many more) reveals a grave ineptitude and deplorable system run amok. During the nearly 4 years spent in state facilities, away from her father who had raised her from birth, Ashleigh was denied visitation from her father, molested while in state care, even denied a birthday party. While Ashleigh's childhood was stolen and her life remains in tatters, Rilya's whereabouts remain unknown. More DCF news posted on the Jeb Bush Follies page.
Under Jeb Bush's Watch - Hot Wired Penis Ordered by Florida Court
Ashleigh's dad assaulted by Orlando sheriff deputy at House Select Committee on DCF neglect.
MEDIA: 20/20 — DCF to pay $5 million in abuse case, Court Orders Missing Florida Girl's Records Released and more, including yet another Rilya case * 8 June 2002
Florida Flunks, Again. Sellout by Bush Team
Jeb Bush Fixed Panel: A Cruel Fate For Fla's Kids. Meeting 15 May 2002
DCF's Chief Kearney Busted!
Rigged Jury. DCF's Chief Influenced Investigative Panel with Governor's OK!
Scandal envelops Bush Brothers
Parent's Rights Squashed
Jeb Bush and cohort Kearny. Bilking the System Plus a personal letter to Florida's governor
Recent Abbott court hearings and results
05 June 2002. Paul not jailed, left 2 cents on bench, saying that was all court would get from him when the state billed him $3, 000 + for the privilege of abusing Ashleigh. Read full report.
Newpaper easily finds missing kids that elude Jeb Bush's DCF agency!
DCF's Missing Children - A gallery of ineptitude
Brief Ashleigh Case background: In an infamous Florida case an innocent 3-year-old child was incarcerated for nearly four years as authorities falsely accused her father of sexually abusing the toddler, then awarded custody to her mother, a known felon and child abuser. In March of 1998, Paul Scott Abbott called the local police when his daughter, Ashleigh, returned with a bruised lip after a visitation with her mom, whose history of child abuse is documented. Five weeks later, in April of 1998, Ashleigh was hauled away by Florida's Department of Children and Families (DCF) and was a prisoner in an emergency shelter where she was sexually abused.

On 12 October 2000, following Ashleigh's 21/2 years of captivity, Judge Daniel True Andrews signed the adjudication order submitted by the Florida Department of Children and Families, ruling against Ashleigh's father and formally making the young girl a ward of the state.

Then, on February 3, 2001 she was doomed to a mental facility. More than a year later, she went to live with her child-abuser mother, despite testimony from the mother's own therapist that she was not well enough to raise the child who the father had singlehandedly brought up since infancy.The father continues his legal battle for the return of his daughter in a case considered one of the most horrendous cases of "child abuse by government" in U.S. history.

Florida's inept Department of Children and Families (DCF) was headed by Secretary Kathleen Kearney, who was appointed by our Republican Governor, Jeb Bush. Rather than listen to reason, the Bush administration consistently defended the hiring of Kearney — until national coverage began affecting his reelection bid. In mid-August 2002, She finally quit, yet Jeb Bush continued to praise her even after accepting the resignation. Shortly thereafter, Jeb Bush replaced Kearney with Jerry Regier, a right-wing Christian Fundamentalist who believes 'Biblical' spanking that causes ''bruises or welts'' should not be considered child abuse. Also, New York Times.

State child services worsening The Gaffney saga, another of many
Fired company warned DCF of serious problems. Lawsuit: Child welfare system abusive
Governor's DCF figures don't tell whole story
Active Link.		 'Another potential bombshell' lurks in foster-care.
Contact us. About the site author How Florida’s foster care endangers children

Jeb Bush appoints DCF chief with extreme views — thinks 'Biblical' spanking that causes ''bruises or welts'' should not be considered child abuse. Also, New York Times.

17 August 2002. New head of Florida's child services infused his department's public policy with strongly conservative religious beliefs.

Also, 12 April 2001. Regier Skirts Competitive Bidding Laws, Manipulates Process to Favor Political Consultant. 1.2 Million.

Also, Marriage Consultant Paid $716,000 by Regier-led Agencies. 29 March 2001 — "While we were struggling to find money for nursing home inspectors, Jerry Regier was funneling health department money to a public relations firm in Oklahoma."

DCF chief Kearney finally quits, but no alternatives offered by Jeb Bush who consistently defending Kearney as child advocates and lawmakers called for her to be fired and continued to praise her after accepting the resignation. 13 August 2002

Report Florida's Most Vicious Child Abusers:

Jeb Bush and Kathleen Kearney

Toll free: 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962 2873)
As you read the facts — that Ashleigh in February of 2002 was moved in with a mentally ill felonious child abuser mother, you may concur that imminent danger exists. It is your duty to call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96Abuse.

If you are aware of child abuse, it is your duty as a Florida resident to report it by phoning toll-free 1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873). As you are aware of the abuse being exacted upon Ashleigh Danielle Abbott, 6, it's incumbent upon you to call 1-800-96-ABUSE now and report some or all of the 4 most vicious current perpetrators in Ashleigh's case.

Keep in mind that Ashleigh was a healthy, well-adjusted child when illegally seized from the care and custody of the father who had valiantly singlehandedly raised her since infancy. That was April 1998, just after Ashleigh turned 3. More than 3 years later, reports filed by and with the state indicated she has numerous severe emotional problems. Much of her time is spent curled in the fetal position, sucking her thumb and baby-babbling at the Broward County group mental facility to which she was transferred in February 2001 from a Broward group emergency shelter at which she was sexually molested to the extent that, according to news stories by The Herald, she became a sexual predator by the time she was 4 or 5.

Here are the 4 most vicious current perpetrators you are obligated to report:

Perpetrator #1: Jeb Bush, The Capitol, Tallahassee, FL 32399: Repeatedly refuses to grant an executive order to call a halt to the abuse being perpetrated by his state upon Ashleigh and to return Ashleigh rightfully to her father -- this after multiple in-person contacts with the father (Feb.19, 2001, April 30, 2001, and May 8, 2001) and an avalanche of written requests. Through his refusal to act, Bush is aiding and abetting and personally responsible for Ashleigh's continued abuse and, through his repeated neglect, is recklessly endangering and destroying the health, welfare and safety of Ashleigh.

Perpetrator #2: Kathleen Kearney, 1317 Winewood Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399:

Florida DCF Secretary Kearney began destroying children and families as Broward County dependency judge.

Ashleigh Danielle Abbott case indicative of Kearney's pattern of seizing innocent children from good homes without just cause

Before being appointed by Gov. Jeb Bush in December 1998 to the Cabinet post of Florida's Secretary of the Department of Children & Families, Kathleen Kearney was a Broward County dependency court judge criticized for seizing children from good homes without just cause.

Kearney, now again in the public eye as the Rilya Wilson case comes to light, is seen by many as more a cause of DCF's problems than part of a potential solution -- yet Gov. Bush continues to stand behind her knowing she is in the wrong.

As a Broward County dependency judge, illegally ordered Ashleigh from her father (April 25, 1998), on a petition contending the tot was at "imminent risk of neglect" by the father because he "failed to protect her" because she returned home from a court-ordered supervised visit with her mentally ill mother with a swollen lip. Kearney placed Ashleigh at imminent risk of abuse by ordering her indefinitely to the group emergency facility at which she was subjected to sexual abuse. As Bush's secretary of the Department of Children & Families, Kearney has refused to right the wrong and is personally responsible for the continuing abuse of Ashleigh through her unnecessary institutionalization away from her father, thus recklessly endangering and destroying the health, welfare and safety of Ashleigh.

Perpetrator #3: Dorian Damoorgian, Courtroom 241, 201 SE 6th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301: As a Broward County circuit judge, through abuses of judicial process, is abusing Ashleigh by denying her to be able to see her father, having ordered same (March 29, 2001) without a legally mandated evidentiary hearing. Through his actions, he is personally responsible for the continuing abuse of Ashleigh through her unnecessary institutionalization away from her father, thus recklessly endangering and destroying the health, welfare and safety of Ashleigh.

Perpetrator #4: A. Margaret Hesford, 5648 W. Atlantic Blvd., Margate, FL 33063: As an attorney allegedly representing the Guardian ad Litem Program, has repeatedly lied in open court and elsewhere (including March 29, 2001, and, most recently, June 22, 2001) so as to destroy the bond between Ashleigh and her father. Lacking evidence to support her wild contentions, Hesford "testifies" to her personal anti-father opinions in a manner such that she ispersonally responsible for the continuing abuse of Ashleigh through her unnecessary institutionalization away from her father, thus recklessly endangering and destroying the health, welfare and safety of Ashleigh.

It is suggested you follow each report with a faxed statement to the hotline (getting the appropriate fax number from the person with whom you speak) and that you make sure you get the identification number of the person with whom you speak and a report number so as to facilitate follow-up on your report.

For more details about Ashleigh's tragic case, contact her father, Paul Scott Abbott, at his Miramar home (7130 Granada Blvd., Miramar, FL 33023) at (954) 962-2503.

More Past History