Wife's Death Prompted Dad To Dump 9 Kids

State Law Allowed Neb. Man To Leave Children, Ages 1-17; Says He "Fell Apart" Without Spouse

(AP)  An out-of-work widower who abandoned nine of his children at a hospital under Nebraska's new safe haven law said he was overwhelmed without his wife and just "fell apart."

"I hope they know I love them," Gary Staton told KETV. "I hope their future is better without me around them."

The unique law allows caregivers to abandon babies and teenagers alike at hospitals without fear of prosecution. Originally intended to protect infants, it was expanded in a legislative compromise to protect any "child." Some have interpreted that to mean anyone under 19.

Staton anonymously left the five boys and four girls - ages 1 to 17 - at Creighton University Medical Center's emergency room on Wednesday night. He has a 10th child, a daughter who is 18 and was not dropped off.

Staton said his wife died early last year, shortly after delivering their youngest child. He said he quit his job because of his family responsibilities but couldn't pay rent or utilities or take care of his kids.

"I was with her for 17 years, and then she was gone," he said of his late wife. "What was I going to do? We raised them together. I didn't think I could do it alone. I fell apart. I couldn't take care of them."

Staton said he surrendered them so they would be safe.

A call Friday to a number listed for Staton went unanswered.

A 2007 interview with Staton's oldest daughter in Omaha North High School's student newspaper said she shouldered some of the parenting duties at home. Despite helping to feed her siblings, check their homework and put them to bed, the teen managed to graduate a year early.

Once a child is abandoned under the safe haven law, the courts become involved. Parental rights don't end automatically, but parents who change their minds about abandonment may find it difficult to regain custody.

At least 16 children have been abandoned since the law took effect in July.

Hospitals call police when a child is left, and officers will usually place a child in protective custody. Then the county attorney determines whether a child should be allowed to return home and makes a recommendation to a judge.

Now that teenagers are being abandoned, Gov. Dave Heineman, who signed the law, and some other former supporters are saying changes are needed. The Legislature reconvenes in January.

[wl7bzh]

those 2 post are from people with the kind of mentality that instead of ''''getting retrained...whines and moans that everything is finished for them and blames everybody and anybody.

Posted by libluv2spit at 03:14 PM : Sep 27, 2008

Ok, so you tell me what to tell patients who have to choose between food that keeps them alive and medication that keeps them alive.

The economic Titanic that I spoke of in the initial post indicated a no win situation in which there is no money at all(major recession/depression) or hyperinflation in which money has little purchasing power.

The compensatory mechanisms of the human psyche can be overwhelmed to the point in which rational thought does not exist. This is not always due to a weakness of character. It can actually be considered an illness.

In the next few months,when the full impact of the economy touches people you know, you may have a different view of people that "whine and moan".

Essentially my original post was stating-when it comes to whining and moaning, you ain''t seen nuthin yet.

[wl7bzh]

the very first thing you need to learn when you get back to school is to understand THE CONVERSATION THAT IS GOING ON..you are about 10 steps behind everybody.

you have to re-train at 59??


what do you do? assemble widgets?

Posted by libluv2spit at 12:03 PM : Sep 27, 2008


Ten steps behind? No I was responding to your comment that we should go out and do something.

As for what I do for a living, I am retired with a government pension. As for assembling widgets, any technology bringing in a decent salary is constantly changing and require updating and or continuing education. In fact, some require CE to maintain licensure.

[shanev137]

It''s way better than him killing all of them, and then killing himself....which is what is fashionable for people to do now in our screwed up society.

[wl7bzh]

if what you guys think is real..THEN GO OUT AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT...but noooo..you guys rather whine..rant..prefer the ''''drama'''' approach...if 90% of the citizens in this country THINKS AND REACTS to tough times like you guys do..then we are INDEED FU CKED

Posted by libluv2spit at 04:43 AM : Sep 27, 2008

Hey motormouth, you have no idea what others are doing to increase their personal financial security.

Me?, I''m 59 y/o and just went back to school to retrain for a more in demand job.

I agree with your self-assessment. If your post is an example of your mentality you are "INDEED FU CKED"

[slim1h2o]

Certainly seems like the posters here have never suffered from depression. I only have sympathy for this father as I have had depression and know what it is like to feel like there is no one to help. It is a time when one is not thinking clearly and does some really unbelievable things that they wouldn''''''''t do any other time.


----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
------

Posted by cat5dog1 at 08:10 PM : Sep 26, 2008


I agree, I have been suffering from that myself (depression about health issues). Sometimes I don''t like to talk to people because of it. But somehow, it''s deemed my fault that I have this disease. I find that whole situation quite remarkable really.

Till people suffer from this, nobody knows how debilitating it can be, by itself, tack on the underlying illness that causes the depression in the 1st place, and you have the perfect storm. (For the lack of a better term)

[barbaram99]

Dear Dad,
What a cop out. Their Mum died and ye dumped them. They will hate ye. I hope ye know they maybe not love ye. They just may hate ye. I would not blame them. Mum dumped us for another man. She walked out on her first marriage and children born in that marriage. They may know who fathered them. Don''t be surprised they never address ye as Dad. Ye just hurt yer kids by dumping them. That is cold. Ye should be fixed so ye can''t breed. Ye think they will have a happy life in foster homes.I think not. That was my life. Moved from home to home. That went on for years. Yer kids will end up in homes and sep from each other. Maybe abused. Who knows WHAT hell awaits each one. They may never trust ye ever. Don''t be surpised. A former foster child from age 5 to 19. She had a great life. Hope the state makes ye pay for their sopport. That is the fair thing to do,

[swwils]

Loser is the word.I didn''t have 9 kids,but that is not my fault.I do have 2,and lost their mother.I didn''t skate out and I am mentally disabled so I don''t have any pity for the pity pot,except I am sorry for your loss.Pick your head up and be Dad and Mom.It''s hard but life wasn''t meant to be easy,unless your a spoiled brat,born with a golden spoon in your mouthThose kids need someone other than child protection,they lost someone also.

[beehive21-2009]

It''s the economy,it''s going to get worst,more kids are going to be dropped off,some sold or traded,life a bit,as you know.We are looking at a President that has dropped US off at the Big Oil Companies door and they do not treat us well ,they have stripped the people and are murdering there families ,so they can get fat, with gold,the greedy pigs.

[wl7bzh]

The Titanic has hit the economic iceberg and is going down- we''re quibbling about the seating arrangement of the deck chairs?

[libluv2cnsor]

Certainly seems like the posters here have never suffered from depression. I only have sympathy for this father as I have had depression and know what it is like to feel like there is no one to help. It is a time when one is not thinking clearly and does some really unbelievable things that they wouldn''''t do any other time.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by cat5dog1 at 08:10 PM : Sep 26, 2008
+ report abuse


***********

the man is weak..plain and simple..