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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.
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 dad, and molested while in state care. Even as Ashleigh's childhood was stolen and her life remains in tatters, her father fights to see the daughter stolen from him.

Additional DCF news posted on the Jeb Bush Follies page.
20 September 2002 Hearing. Florida's DCF Debacles Continue. (Outcome below.)
Florida's DCF Debacles Continues. Please join us Friday, Sept. 20, for a key hearing at which the father of Ashleigh Danielle Abbott is hoping for approval to again see his daughter, now 7 1/2, whom he has been denied seeing for 1 1/2 years -- since Florida Gov. Jeb Bush stepped into the case in defense of now-resigned DCF Secretary Kathleen Kearney.

In what family preservation advocates have called the most heinous case ever of child-abuse-by-state, Ashleigh was seized without just cause on an order of Kearney, then a judge, in April 1998, and held for years in a group emergency shelter where, according to media reports, she was molested.

As national media attention built, the state then blamed the father, who now, under court order, has undergone extensive out-of-state evaluation by world-renowned experts who confirm what Florida evaluators have said for years -- that there is no evidence that the father ever molested his daughter. These expert reports are to be presented at a hearing before Broward Circuit Judge Marcia Beach on Friday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m., in Room 6840 in the North Wing of the Broward County Courthouse, 201 S.E. 6th St., Fort Lauderdale.

Extensive additional background may be found on a third-party website <www.extralove.com> which the state repeatedly has unsuccessfully sought to shut down. CONTACT: Paul Scott Abbott (home 954-962-2503, cellular 305-469-5276).
Ashleigh's dad still denied access

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Sept. 20, 2002) -- Despite urgings of internationally renowned experts, a judge today ruled that the father of Ashleigh Danielle Abbott will still be denied access to his daughter.

At the conclusion of a one-hour hearing in which the father presented the recommendation of Atlanta-based child molestation expert Dr. Gene Abel that the father begin seeing Ashleigh again, Broward County Circuit Judge Marcia Beach extended a "no-contact" order that has been in effect for 1 1/2 years. Beach claimed that, despite the thousands of dollars and mental anguish expended by the father in complying with demands for out-of-state evaluations, the father was still "not in substantial compliance" with a state "case plan." The father's motion, denied today, noted that the psychosexual evaluation and polygraph examination he underwent in Georgia completed the plan required by the state to permit the process of reunification with his daughter to begin.

However, the judge joined representatives of the Florida Department of Children and Families and Guardian ad Litem Program in expressing delight that Ashleigh, now 7 1/2, is allegedly "blossoming" in the care of her mentally ill mother. Calling today "a very important day in Ashleigh's life" even before hearing any testimony or argument, Beach terminated state supervision of the case.

Ashleigh had been admirably raised singlehandedly by her father from infancy until her April 1998 seizure at age 3 by then-judge and now-deposed DCF Secretary Kathleen Kearney without just cause on an allegation that the father "failed to protect" Ashleigh when she returned home from a family-court-ordered supervised afternoon visit with her mother with a fat lip.

Two years later, when media began reporting that Ashleigh was sexually molested at the group emergency shelter to which Kearney had indefinitely banished Ashleigh, the state began its unsubstantiated incestuous pedophilic allegations against the father, Paul Scott Abbott, 45, of Miramar. The father has not seen his only child in 1 1/2 years, since following a meeting with Gov. Jeb Bush, who has defended Kearney and publicly denounced the father.

In January 2002, when Beach moved Ashleigh in with a mother who has a record of felony child abuse, as well as a suicide attempt when pregnant with Ashleigh, the judge said the father's access to Ashleigh would be contingent upon his successful completion of the out-of-state evaluation. While the evaluation process was delayed by some experts declining to proceed and currently remains on appeal to the Florida Supreme Court, the father nonetheless gained favorable reports from Dr. Abel, who said he found no evidence that the father ever molested Ashleigh, and from polygraph expert Richard Rackleff, who said the father passed a lie detector test.

The father noted he will appeal today's ruling. CONTACT: Paul Scott Abbott, (305) 469-5276.
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 a right-wing Christian Fundamentalist who believes 'Biblical' spanking that causes ''bruises or welts'' should not be considered child abuse. Also, New York Times.

Under Jeb Bush's Watch - Hot Wired Penis Ordered by Florida Court
DCF's Missing Children - A gallery of ineptitude
Newpaper easily finds missing kids that elude Jeb Bush's DCF agency!
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.
17 Sept 2002. Miami, Central Florida DCF directors resign. Two directors of the state's child welfare agency quit. One, Charles Auslander headed the district where 5-year-old Rilya Wilson was missing for 15 months before the agency reported her disappearance. Another, Rick Barry, 51, who oversees Volusia and Flagler counties, also announced he is dropping the buck. AP
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