My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: Florida
I am divorced and have joint custody of my 3 children, but their mother is the custodial parent. I apologize for the long story now, but please read and see if you can help, or provide advice. No one will help me.
A year ago my 4 year old (now 5 yrs. old) supposedly made a claim to my ex-wifes mother that she had been "touched". This conversation was brought about by the ex-mother-in-law while bathing my daughter. At first my daughter said no, when she was questioned. Then as she was further questioned by the ex-in law, with specific names ahe claimed my father, my brother, and my ex-wifes boyfriend had touched her. At first the ex-wife was in disbelief cuz of my daughter having the tendency of story telling, plus the way she was questioned could have easily brought forth an answer desired by her mother. However, my ex did take her to a doctor to be examined, which nothing was physically found, but the doctor had to report the situation to DCF.
Well, DCF did their investigation (with no knowledge of my own that all this was taking place until about a month later when my ex FINALLY mentioned it). When I tried calling no one would call me back at the DCF office. It took basically until the day the DCF closed the case (2.5 months later) with no substantial eveidence to prove anything to be true through counseling and questioning. At that time, I finally demanded to be informed, and they told me what had been claimed and all that was done to investigate the matter.
During that time my brother and dad were not allowed to see the kids, and the boyfriend who lives with them and had been their care taker was supposed to move out temporarily...which he NEVER did, but my ex wife enforced that my family could not see them. This is due to the fact that my ex wife tries everything in her power to keep me and my family from seeing my kids, or making it as difficult as possible. I have all legal rights as the mother, and my parents have a grandparent rights clause in my divorce decree stating they have all my same rights when I am unable to see my kids (due to me being in the military and not living close by).
Now without my knowledge of anything, my father was served with a restraining order this morning, stating he could not come near my daughter until he went to court for further alligations that he has done something to her. After reading the report, my ex wife claims that my daughter made statement to her one night while they were putting her to bed amd discussing safety that my dad had touched her. However, it even says in the report that when asked 3 times, my daughter said "no one has done anything to her", even when my ex wife asked her "what about nana and pop pops?" she said "no." she continued with," so since the last time, no one has touched you?" then my daughter says yes pop pop. Let me mention this was a week after my father said he would not inspect a house my ex wife was trying to buy so that she could save money on someone else. Well she went to DCF and once again they found it to be "unfounded" and was dropped. Again, no one ever contacted me or my family and we were totally unaware any of this was happening again. Then the reprot claims that a day after I told my ex wife taht i would not pay for her to get a new car, that my daughter made yet another claim that something happened a year ago. This time she went to the police and opened an investigaion and filed for a restraining order. The claim was that a year ago my brother and my dad did something at a family BBQ celebrating my return home from Iraq. Funny thing is, my brother wasnt even there that day, and my kids were under supervision of my entire huge family, along with me and my wife.
I feel as though, my ex-wife is trying anything she can now to use this situation that was presented a year ago to her advantage to demean my family and remove us from their lives. My wife has a twisted back story, which eeven involves her claiming that her own father sexually molested her when she was 12, but now she goes and spends time with him in with my kids, and acts as though nothing ever took place. this was always a concern of mine, when her and her dad reunited, but she says she knows he would never do anything to them, that he is different now. Another concern, is possibly the man she lives with who was accused as well, and yet she has never made him leave and he is constantly alone with my kids. My parents rarely, and I mean rarely ever see my children because she won't allow it. Basically, they see them once every 2 months, and nver for over nigts. So this is all so hard to believe about the accusations made about my family.
I just found out this all was happening this morning when my dad called and told me he had been served. I have tried contatcing the police dept, and am awaiting the detetcive to call me back. I have tried calling DCF and am awaiting for the case manager who was involved to call me back.
there is so much more back info, but I am sure this is way too long already.
My questions are....
1) Do I not have the right to be contacted about all of this by someone...this is my daughter and I have all legal rights? If so, what can I do to enforce this, or hold some responsible?
2) I know my ex has a big role in all this to work to her advantage. But she does not want to get rid of me cuz she barely works part time and I am her biggest source of income, and I provide all benefits to my children through my job. I think she is going after the next best thing...my family. What can I do to possibly gain at least temporary custody of my kids until this passes? I feel like I can provide a more stable lifestyle, especially since she just had to move back in with her mom with my kids, and her boyfriend.
PLEASE SOMEBODY HELP!!!

