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Child Taken Away from Father

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Mount Sydney, Va.
Posted: 6:19 PM Aug 29, 2008
Last Updated: 4:30 PM Sep 1, 2008
Reporter: Philip Townsend
Email Address: ptownsend@whsv.com

34 comments

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A Mount Sydney man hasn't seen his three kids in two months. Now that his newborn baby has been taken away, he says he has been pushed to the edge.

Four kids and Mount Sydney resident Terry Clark says all he has to remind him of his children is pictures.

He says, "I saw the Child Protective Services worker that took my other children and I knew what she was up to, so then I dropped on my knees and told her, 'Please don't take my baby.'"

Clark says his seven-year-old daughter accidentally dropped their three-month old baby a year ago. The baby was taken to U.V.A. Medical Center, where Clark says the child was diagnosed with Shaken Baby Syndrome.

He says, because of that, social services took custody of all three children. It's been a year and Clark and his wife just gave birth to their fourth child on Monday.

Before they were able to even leave the hospital, Clark says his worst fear came true.

He says, "They came and took our baby right out of my wife's hands."

Clark's boss, Obaugh Ford's Greg Obaugh says Clark is a stand-up guy and they have talked about helping him find and pay for a lawyer.

Obaugh says, "He's polite to us, he shows us respect, says he loves his job, says he appreciates us, asks us if there is anything he can do for us. Just a good employee."

Clark talks about how excited he was about bringing his baby home. Now he doesn't know if that's ever going to happen.

He says, "I just went out and bought everything for my baby. I spent my hard earned money for my child and that's all I have is the stuff I bought for my child."

Clark hasn't been charged with any crime and Social Services is unable to comment on his situation at this time.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Annie on Sep 13, 2008 at 10:43 PM
I agree with shyfire. Just because charges haven't been brought doesn't mean a crime wasn't committed. Perhaps one parent is covering up for the other? Why haven't we seen or heard from the mother of these children? Guilt perhaps? The big question to ask is why are these kids still in fostercare?

Posted by: shyfire Location: middle virginia on Sep 10, 2008 at 09:58 PM
Having worked in the field here and there over the years, I can say that DSS does not remove children for the sake of removing them. Generally there is probable cause. Those who speak about no charges being filed, did you stop to think that maybe both mother and father were at home and it can't be proven which parent actually inflicted the injury to the child? I have a niece who,at 4 mos. old, supposedly rolled off of the side of a couch at the babysitters. However, at the trial, babysitter was acquitted because both she and husband were at home at time of incident and it couldn't be proven who did what, despite some of the top medical experts testifying that the injuries were not consistent with a fall, but from being shaken and her head striking a hard surface. It's called forensic science and injury patterns. My niece is blind as a result of this accident. I think maybe there's more to the story than the general public knows. I commend DSS for protecting the safety of these children!

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 5, 2008 at 12:50 AM
Are Terrys kids really in good foster homes? Are they being loved the way their mother and father would love them? These children are still little,they need there parents and each other. This isn't fair to those children. Accidents happen EVERY day. Older siblings love to help, sometimes they don't know when to stop and what not to do. There was no reason for cps to take their newborn baby. They have taken away those "bringing baby home" memories that they will NEVER get back. How are these children doing? Is anything wrong with the child that was taken to the hospital? If these children where being abused or neglected wouldn't Mr. & Mrs. Clark be charged? This just doesn't make sense. They didn't do any crime, but they are paying for it??? Let these children go home where they belong. Best Wishes to you and your wife Mr. Clark

Posted by: Elizabeth on Sep 4, 2008 at 12:34 AM
Mr. Clark - I encourage you to continue fighting for your children. Do not let your story fall on deaf ears. Do not get discouraged by SS and their bullying tactics. Maintain your composure and keep calm when dealing with them. I am sure your every move is under scrutiny. As a parent I could only imagine the grief your heart must feel. Stay strong and keep your faith with the Lord. I hope and pray your children will be back home soon.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Staunton on Sep 3, 2008 at 07:41 PM
There is so much wrong with this story, I do not even know where to begin. First off, I would assume that medically a physician would be able to tell the difference, (due to the baby's injuries), if indeed the baby was dropped or shaken. Again physicians are trained to recognized child abuse and are able to determined what would and would not cause an injury. That blows a hole in Mr. Clark's story that his seven year old dropped the baby. Which leads me to the next point; what kind of parent would go on t.v. and place the blame of harming a baby and as well as causing the children to be separated on a child? He further exploited her by showing pictures of his daughter for all of her classmates/friends to recognize? I commend social services and the courts for intervening on behalf of these children. I guess in Mr. Obaugh's opinion that makes him a stand up guy. In my opinion, it makes him despicable.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 3, 2008 at 11:14 AM
What we need to be asking ourselves is what really is going on here. I find it hard to believe that its been over a year and with no court hearing. I have friends who are foster parents and they say they should have already been several court hearings, if that's true then why haven't custody been given back to the parents. Looks like to me that there's more than Terry Clark is sharing with the media.

Posted by: hope Location: staunton on Sep 2, 2008 at 08:01 PM
i can see children being taken from parents if there are charges made against a parent for child abuse,,and then held until the case is heard by a judge,, for the safty of the children,yes, but ss is not a judge for one,so for them to take someones kids and not give them back for months when no one is even charged and then keep them for months!! and no one found guilty of anything or even charged!! for months!! come on people,, this shouldnt happen, this is kidnapping by the goverment..there is no right for the goverment to take anyones kids if there are no charges made soon after they are taken and then keep them on top of it.. thats why this is on the news my freinds..the man and his wife are found guilty of nothing and no charges are made but they cant get there kids back,,yes, this is injust and no more than kidnaping,, likely against the law or should be..ask yourself would u want your kids taken by the goverment not given back and you arent even charged,much less found guilty.

Posted by: anonymous on Sep 2, 2008 at 07:14 PM
the terry clark on the video isn't the terry clark in person. he is an angry man who bullies people and threatens them. good for cps taking his children from that situation.

Posted by: anonymous on Sep 2, 2008 at 06:12 PM
If he is such a great guy why does he have to go to court in rockingham county for probation violation? Check the record for yourself. Did you notice he never said anything about loving his kids in this story but he did talk about spending his money? Sounds like a great guy. Really has his priorities in place.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 2, 2008 at 06:04 PM
Isn't it funny. Child Protective Services gets blamed if they don't remove a child from a harmful situation. Then when they actually do remove one from a harmful situation they get blamed also. Gotta love the irony!

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Rockingham on Sep 2, 2008 at 05:31 PM
The Terry Clark on tv is not the real Terry Clark. If he wants his kids back then he should stop threatening people.

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 2, 2008 at 02:30 PM
There are two sides to every story and just because people act one way in front of the camera doesn't mean that's how they act the when the camera is rolling...there is a reason why these children haven't been reunited with their parents...

Posted by: David Location: Blackstone, Va on Sep 2, 2008 at 09:50 AM
I have known Mr. Clark since our sand box days as children.I regard him as my brother and it deeply saddens me the troubles him and his wife face. Is this justice or just a cruel joke?

Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 2, 2008 at 06:36 AM
Working with someone and living with them are two different atmospheres.

Posted by: Annie Location: Staunton on Sep 1, 2008 at 09:15 PM
Did Terry Clark stop to think about what negative affect this is going to have on his seven year old who has to goto school and perhaps answer questions about dropping their sister and causing them to be in foster care. Selfish if you ask me.

Posted by: willis Location: mt.sidney on Sep 1, 2008 at 05:32 PM
i work with this man.have for over a year,from what i see there is no way he or his wife hurt there kids,its crazy to think this!! they love them very much i see it and hear about it most everyday,,what has happened to him and his wife is the most injust thing i have ever seen,,and it comes from a goverment program that our tax money goes to,to help people,,it seems to me they are trying to destroy these people not help them. and yes other posters are right its about money and there are no checks and ballance in this system.thats why this happens to more people every day,,it needs to be stoped,,its no more than kidnapping and something need to change,,..

Posted by: Ann Location: Virginia on Sep 1, 2008 at 03:27 PM
There are two sides two every story. EVange---what the hell do you know???

Posted by: Becky Location: Good on Sep 1, 2008 at 12:11 AM
Yes you are right about the foster care! I had a friend who's mother did foster care and I can tell you she cared about the check she got not the care those kids got.

Posted by: Evange Location: Harrisonburg on Aug 31, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Please know that CPS can & do take children w/out any good cause. Their excuse is they would rather err in favor of the child -- as a result my 9 year old stepson was forcefully taken from a loving home and put with some of the scum in the community that they call "foster" parents who are no more interested in the child than the monthly check they collect. Yes, there may be some good foster parents but they are few and far between. Where are the children in this story??? Who is taking care of and loving them better than their parents??? The news reporters owe it to us in the community to follow up on this story and if necessary the community needs to support this family and let SS know they cannot break up families when it is supposed to be their goal to keep families together. The DSS also gets credit (money)for doing a good job by the # of kids they remove and put in foster care. And note their reply is always-NO COMMENT. Why? Because there is no excuse for most of their actions.

Posted by: mary Location: staunton on Aug 31, 2008 at 12:09 PM
I would like tv3 to follow up with this story. If what Clark is saying true, it should be investigated further. If he is telling the whole truth, he should have no reason to hide the charges DSS used against him to remove his children.Clarks....these children have mother, don' they...should be able to refute their claims if they are being honest.

Posted by: robert geiter Location: gloucester va on Aug 31, 2008 at 07:55 AM
same thing that rockingham county cps did to two friends of mine in 92 and they where proven wrong after 3yrs of fighting we should rally around this young man

Posted by: Debbi Location: Timberville on Aug 30, 2008 at 10:39 PM
There are alot of people these days who abuse children and are never even charged with the crime, and then there are the people like Mr. Clark and his wife that don't have any charges againest them but are being treated as if they have done something terrible wrong! I wasn't there and don't know the facts about what happened, but I do know from what I have read in the paper and seen on the news, that this man and his wife are suffering a terrible injustice, as are the children. I hope this family can retain a lawyer and get it straightened out. What does this say for our system? It just makes me question alot of things in the way our "government" handles things. Mr. Clark, I hope you and your wife regain custody of your children very soon. Take care and keep you head up.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 30, 2008 at 05:47 PM
Maria, CPS just doesn't go and take children away without a reason. He may be a nice appearing man on camera, but I'm sure there is more to this story than he's telling. Think about it.

Posted by: Kim Location: Rockingham on Aug 30, 2008 at 04:35 PM
Please...their seven yr old dropped the baby and the doctor diagnosed it as shaken baby...his story doesn't match the doctors. Gee imagnine that. What really happened to the baby?

Posted by: Lizzy Location: Staunton on Aug 30, 2008 at 04:24 PM
If I were innocent of the same charges . . . I would get a lawyer and go public. Good for you CLARK! My prayers are with you.

Posted by: Steven Location: Elkton on Aug 30, 2008 at 12:13 PM
What a sad story I hope everything goes good for the family in need of there baby and hopefully they will get there child back.

Posted by: Stephanie Location: Staunton, Va on Aug 30, 2008 at 12:05 AM
I argree,there are so many kids out there that don't even have go homes or families that care. But social services is in a hurry to take a child from a good home. I think it's sad and i can't even imagen the pain they are feeling now. i wish them the best of luck and hope they get their kids back SOON.

Posted by: rob Location: mt sidney on Aug 29, 2008 at 11:55 PM
well ss seems to think they can just take kids these days like a kidnapper with no grounds.it happens all the time check out the stories on the net...they have this power and there are no checks and ballance when there wrong or abuse there power.its wrong to take someones kids if they havent broken the law,but it happens all the time these days,,only in the us.where the goverment seems to want to take all our freedoms even the right to be a parent.

Posted by: Donna Location: Staunton on Aug 29, 2008 at 11:40 PM
You know now if the parents haven't been charged with any crime. Then social services has no right. Accidents happen older siblings want to help who are we to say it didn't happen. Social Services give those babies back to there parents. Its wrong in what you did. Go help a child that really needs your help.Parents I pray you get your children back soon. If there is justice in this town they will see that you get them back.Good Luck My prayers are with you.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: staunton, va on Aug 29, 2008 at 11:34 PM
I believe that before we go and believe someone like Terry Clark we must look at what might be unseen. I am sorry that this has happened to him but I just can't believe that Social Services would take someone's cildren without having reason. I think that there are two sides to every story.

Posted by: Tiffany Location: Broadway on Aug 29, 2008 at 10:02 PM
Maria, I have to agree with you; though I do not know this situation I do know of situations where children are abused and neglected and family members have contacted SS only to be told they are too busy and couldn't do anything about it at this time.

Posted by: Ruth Location: Page County on Aug 29, 2008 at 08:42 PM
This shows that you are guilty until proven innocent. It's a shame that these people are allowed to take children out of a home when nothing is proven and maybe put them somewhere where they can be abused.

Posted by: J Location: Dayton on Aug 29, 2008 at 08:12 PM
There is a problem with this story. Where was he when his one child "accedintelly" dropped the baby? Also, the part of him dropping on his knees is hard to believe.

Posted by: maria Location: woodstock on Aug 29, 2008 at 07:21 PM
if him or his wife wasnt charged with a crime then SS has not right to remove their children. there are more kids in danger every second that go ignored by SS. i hope they get their kids back!!!!

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