Police released information that Child Protective
Services made a voluntary agreement with Sergio Celis. He is not to have contact with his sons. He agreed to leave the family home. That does not mean the children were
“removed” from the father or the family.
This type of agreement is
developed during a meeting with the family and concerned professionals, as well
as the CPS investigator, supervisor and CPS meeting facilitator. If the CPS agency got information from law
enforcement that the father had done something to put his children in the way
of harm, the agency needed to take action.
But, maybe there wasn’t enough information to take the situation to
court, under our Arizona laws.
Removal of children must meet stringent legal
requirements that the CPS investigator would need to detail in a written petition
to the court.
A voluntary agreement is time limited and has
stipulations. For example, there is a
monitor appointed whose role it is to assure that the father doesn’t violate
the agreement. Typically and it is my
best guest - that the mother was given
the designation as monitor – which would mean that at this time she is trusted
by the CPS agency, as well as law enforcement and willing and able to set and
maintain these limits.
In addition to that,
there may be drop in visits to the home randomly, by a CPS investigator. Or, there could be a trusted family member
monitoring and visiting additionally.
All parties, including
both parents need to agree to and sign off on a voluntary. It is not legally binding. However, if he violated it, that could provide
legal weight for the agency to initiate a court case. In the worst case scenario, if the mother
were enabling the violation, the children may be removed and put with approved
relatives, or if that is lacking, in foster care.
The agreement doesn’t mean that Sergio Celis is
considered to have done something wrong or hurt his daughter. It is a precaution.
If there was grave
concern, there would be court action (through the Pima County Juvenile Court)
initiated by CPS and not a voluntary contract.
It may be that he has a
past record of arrests for driving while intoxicated with the children in the
car. Or, he had an arrest several years
ago – at a younger age – for using marijuana, cocaine or other drugs. Or, it could simply be based on whatever
information law enforcement provided.
Keep in mind if that were concrete and irrefutable proof he was somehow
involved or negligent, then law enforcement would have initiated an arrest –
don’t you think?
Sergio could be severely depressed about his daughter’s
disappearance and so guilty that he has verbalized suicidal ideation. He could be unable to function due to
depression, leading him to cry continually and/or react in unpredictable ways
that adversely affect his boys.
There may have been an incident of prior domestic
violence which raised concerns. This is
possible, but not probable because if he had hurt his wife and/or children
before and Becky Celis did not take action to prevent and protect – the CPS
agency could potentially take legal custody as it might appear Becky is afraid
or unable to protect.
He may be angry or not, with his sons, or they perceive he
is…and they may think he blames them for the incident – after all, they almost
always slept in their brother’s room.
Why not that night? The boy(s)
may have stated they are worried or fearful about this.
There may be someone who is targeting Sergio, placing him
in jeopardy, and to remain in the home would further jeopardize his children’s
safety.
Perhaps Sergio owes money to unsavory people…and that
puts the rest of the family at risk. Is
he a gambler? Was there any drug dealing
going on in the house? Was there traffic
going in and out that the neighbors are now reporting on? Did he do something to anger the wrong
people?
There may have been statements made by one or both
parents that is inconsistent…or not matching, that raises concerns about what
happened. It may be his affect when he
reported his child missing, his chuckling about telling his wife to “get her
butt home” raised flags in some way. We
never know how people will respond to a crisis – you cannot jump to
conclusions.
Perhaps Sergio had become overly vigilant in the home to
the point it frightened the boys. Maybe
he began to stay up all night, patrolling the house and checking doors and on
the hour - who knows.
The boys may have said something that concerned
investigators – maybe one of both heard someone else in the house that morning.
Maybe the boys think their father is angry with them;
after all, why wasn’t Isa sleeping in their room that night like she normally
does? He may not be able to assuage
their guilt (if they have any), if he himself too feels guilty or
distraught. What’s left in him to give
the boys right now? He is the man, the
protector…and like any father he has to feel terrible about whatever happened.
Police, now believe Isa’s disappearances abduction. However, they haven’t ruled out the
parents. Law enforcement is not sure who
the abductor(s) are and whether, somehow, Sergio brought the people to the home
– however innocently – himself.
Time will tell.
Law enforcement recently stated that CPS was at the family home in
December. Why? Was there a domestic violence incident? Did neighbors hear something? Did a child tell the teacher something? Did people observe cars and strangers coming
to the home all hours of the night? Or
maybe only after Becky went to work?
It takes time to develop information to “solve” a
case. Both CPS and law enforcement are
expected to know and turn over rocks and leads and swiftly figure out what’s
going on. But, of course, that’s what we’ve
learned as a society to expect. Doesn’t
CSI and all the other investigators, law enforcement agencies and other
professionals we see portrayed on Television figure it all out in an hour. It’s only a matter of time before people
start questioning whether Police know what they are doing or if they have done
enough. We know if CPS had any prior
involvement, it will all be turned back on that Agency.
Such is child welfare.
Such is the nature of frightening times.
No one knows right now what is going on.
And let’s remember, it’s all about Isabel…and keep praying, and keep
thinking good thoughts and keep the focus on her. Now is not the time to judge and reach a
conclusion. We still need to focus on
finding her.
