My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of:
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I'm in Arizona, and need help with requesting custody of my 8 month old great granddaughter. My daughter, 18 at the time of the baby's birth, decided to keep her - even though she really had no idea who the father was. Could have been one of several boys. After being released from the hospital she stayed in several locations with other people, and finally got kicked out of the final residence. She went to live with my daughter who became primary care giver for the baby, as her mother was not at all interested in her own baby. Eventually, the baby's mom got a job, and my daughter provided free child care, total responsibility, including changing, clothing, bathing, feeding, laundry, and well being. After working at a parttime job for a few weeks, the baby's mom decided she wanted to pursue a career at a tattoo shop, under an apprenticeship program, and was gone almost all day, into the night, not providing any care or attention to the baby. She lied constantly to all of us, and on five different occasions, we witnessed abuse of this baby. The last time was just this past Friday. When I confronted her with it, she said the baby was just overtired. The next morning, the same thing occurred and she said it was because the baby didn't like being held down to be dressed. This baby, under proper care and attention, does not cry - ever - like she did then. She does not smile when she sees her mother at all. She smiles at everyone else she knows readily. She will not change her diaper, and if for any amount of time she is responsible for it - she will not do it, and the baby suffers. We have been okay with this because we care for the baby almost all the time, so her contact with the baby has been limited. Honestly, we are afraid for the baby's wellbeing due to neglect and abuse which several have witnessed. Two nights ago, she was caught in a huge lie about working, and when confronted, she became very beligerant, and the next morning, disappeared with the baby, and we found out some old boyfriend of hers was watching the baby all day long - he is NOT THE FATHER. Just a friend - and she said she was going to have another friend, also a young boy, babysit her at other times because we were just not allowing her to do as she pleased. She said she wanted to give the baby up for adoption - and I told her we would continue to care for the baby, but that she could not disappear with her - because she was just not motherly. She then said she would take the baby out of state - so she didn't have to listen to us anymore. She is still gone today, and will not let us know where the baby is. We are worried sick, and this baby is with people none of us know. We are worried mostly by the fact that a young man not related to this child would spend a whole day caring for her. Flags everywhere and we are scared to death. This baby only knows the care and routine we have set for her. The mom did not show up at her real job today, and we located her at the tat shop - but she will not tell us where the baby is. I don't know where to start in finding her and gaining custody for me and my daughter. The baby has not had her shots, and the mom has no intention of getting them for her. We need to start something, but I live in one county, and they live in another although just a few miles away. Can someone tell me what to do? Where do I start? We really do not have available funds to hire an attorney....or we would have by now. My daughter just called after visiting the tat shop again and the baby's mom told her she would not let her have the baby, and the owner of the tat shop told her to leave. So, she did, but is worried sick about this baby's safety. If anyone can help - we would truly appreciate it.

