This fellow is an insurance agent, but he could probably be a guardian ad litem.

He's an insurance agent who visited their house and observed one of the eleven children of Sharen and Michael Gravelle in "a little cubbyhole type of thing," and another one in a "cage-type thing."

He found this "weird," but not abusive.

These, by the way, were adopted, special-needs children.

Then, we have the Huron County Department of Job and Family Services, which says that they received a report in 2003 "that the Gravelles were keeping some of their adopted special-needs children in cages."

But -- and I am not making this up -- they could not substantiate the allegation "because the Gravelles would not cooperate."

Would not cooperate? How about visiting the house? IT'S CALLED GETTING A SEARCH WARRANT. Available from any judge with the proof of probable cause.

Two representatives of HCDJ&FS visited the home but "were not allowed to see the children's bedrooms upstairs." As a result, they didn't do a full investigation.

HELLO???

Can we imagine this conversation?

"They won't let us see the bedrooms, Chief."

"Ah, well, must mean there's nothing to see up there."

"OK. Is it time for lunch yet?"

Then, in August, 2005, they were allowed to visit the home, and at this point, the mother "allowed" the caseworkers to go upstairs.

Probably because she thought nothing would happen to her.

At THAT point, they went out and got a search warrant.

The parents' attorney is apparently irritated because HCDJ&FS listed the house, erroneously, as having nine cages, when there was one pet cage mistaken for a child's cage.

Doesn't this, in and of itself, tell us something?

And then, the caseworker says she believes that the Gravelles love the children.

But that they say they won't remove the cages.

And have impeded the agency's efforts to reunite the children.

WHY ARE WE TRYING????

I'd like to mention that if they adopted children, it means they went through what one would hope was a rigorous court process.

One would hope.

If there's any virtue from this horrible case, and it is a horrible case, it's that it's nice that the Toledo Blade is reporting on it. Too often, these decisions involving custody happen in the dark, and that's not a good thing. When people feel they aren't going to be held accountable for their actions, they tend to act like it.

Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised to see more cases like this. While eleven children caged by their parents is bad, I suspect there are lots more children who have been put into cages just as bad as anything with wire on it by peole mising the boat on what is happening.

PS: On an upbeat note, congrats to NJ and CA passers, especially TSC, GG and Eve, who take the oath today. Welcome to the practice!!!