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Woman Who Took In Family, Took Off With Kids Arrested Save Email Print

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(August 7, 2008) - Five young Hurricane Katrina survivors taken from their mother by a woman they had been living with are being interviewed about allegations that their mom abused them.

Child Protective Services says the children will be held by their workers until they can determine if it's safe for them to return to their mother.

A woman who met the children's mother while volunteering during the Katrina aftermath gave up the children unharmed today.

Rhonda Tavey has been charged with five counts of kidnapping.

Investigators will also look into Tavey's claims that the kid's mother, Erica Alphonse, mistreated them.

Dick DeGeurin, the attorney for the 44-year-old Tavey says she was being taken to Harris County Jail.

Tavey had been caring for the children the past two years while their mother resettled in New Orleans. The children range in age from 3 to 8.

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Posted by: John Location: Waco on Aug 10, 2008 at 03:13 AM
The only thang here is that the kids well probbly want to be with the mother unless she was so bad to them. I grew up with a mother like this I always wanted to be with my mother no matter what she did Thats just the way kids are We love our mothers

Posted by: tess tickles Location: tex on Aug 8, 2008 at 10:17 AM
"Losing isiah" times five! Those kids are probably better off with this woman than their mother!

Posted by: Mary Location: Texas on Aug 8, 2008 at 09:51 AM
Oh I'm sure she meant well taking them. How does a woman have 5 kids from ages 3-8? Was she getting pregnant every year?? Where was the father? How do you leave your kids with a stranger for 2 years? Welfare must be good these days. How does she expect to put 5 kids through college. Was there any planning at all (or prevention) in having these babies?

Posted by: LittleOne Location: Hill County on Aug 8, 2008 at 08:51 AM
According to the information given, this woman took care of these children for 2 yrs. while the mother was in Louisiana. Why now should this woman be prosecuted for being protective of them when she was concerned about their welfare. Maybe there will be more information in the future to prove this woman was doing what she felt appropriate at the time.

Posted by: minnie Location: houston on Aug 8, 2008 at 08:16 AM
the mother left someone to care for the children now needs phisical custody to get her welfare not a new story just a diferent twist

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