Standoff Daughter Allegedly Sexually Assaulted While In State Care
DETROIT (WWJ) - Supporters of a Detroit mother accused of firing a shot at Child Protective Services (CPS) workers and then holding police at bay for 12 hours say her 13-year-old daughter has been taken to the hospital and may have been sexually assaulted.
Now, there is a legal stand-off of sorts at Children's Hospital, where the daughter of Maryanne Godboldo is in the emergency room.
Penny Godboldo, the child's aunt, explained to WWJ's Vickie Thomas that the family received a call from the facility where the child had been placed by CPS after the mother's stand-off with police.
"[They] said that she tested positive for an STD and that they were bringing her to Children's Hospital for an exam. And so, we believe that [she] was the victim of a sexual crime at Hawthorn because she has been in their care," Penny Godboldo said.
The child was brought to Children's Hospital on Monday night, after it was discovered she has an STD.
Penny Godboldo believes her niece was the victim of a sex crime while she was under state care at The Hawthorn Center in Northville, saying, "She has been in their care the entire time since she left Children's Hospital."
The teen was examined at Children's Hospital prior to her placement at Hawthorn, which returned no results of an STD infection. The family maintains the daughter is not sexually active.
Now, the family is camping out at the hospital to make sure the child does not get released back to Hawthorn.
"We have done an all-night vigil protesting that. We are here at Children's Hospital. We have been here since last night and we will not let that happen," Penny Godboldo said.
When reached for comment, The Hawthorn Center told WWJ that employees are not allowed to speak to the media.
A CPS spokesperson told WWJ that in general, they investigate any allegations of assault, although they cannot comment on any specific cases.
The situation first caught headlines when 58-year-old Maryanne Godboldo entered a standoff with Detroit Police in late March that lasted nearly 12 hours. It began when Maryanne fired a shot at a CPS worker and police escort who arrived at her home in an attempt to take her 13-year-old daughter. CPS workers were there to take the girl after reports surfaced that the mother refused to give the child needed medication.
Maryanne Godboldo has said the state wanted her daughter to take a drug for psychosis, but she favors a holistic treatment.
Supporters are rallying behind the mother, saying their focus is on protecting parental rights. They believe CPS is overstepping their boundaries by trying to force their view on the family as to what kind of medication the girl should be given.
Maryanne Godboldo is charged with discharging a weapon in a dwelling, felonious assault, felony firearm, resisting arrest and obstruction of an officer.
Penny Godboldo is seeking temporary custody of the child at an emergency hearing Tuesday morning.
A juvenile court hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday to determine custody of the child. Maryanne Godboldo is expected to be in a 36th District Court on Friday for a hearing on the criminal charges.
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