Custody Hearing...

[ALiLBabyPHAT18]

MONDAY, MARCH 24th- (WTOC.com) - Aiden Waller is now out of the hospital and in the state's custody. Judge Gates Peed confirmed that today. Baby Aiden was at Memorial University Medical Center for eight weeks and suffered from severe head injuries.

Effingham County Sheriff's deputies said Aiden's mother Tina Richards, abused her young son last July and again this past January. She's in prison right now. Deputies said Aiden's father Phillip Waller, knew about the abuse and didn't report it. He's also behind bars.

Baby Aiden will turn 1-year-old on Wednesday. He will spend the next year of his life in the custody of the state. That's what was decided in court today at Aiden's second custody hearing.

Attorneys representing Aiden's parents acknowledged in court the couple will likely never get to see Aiden again or his newborn baby brother. Today, the attorneys told the judge the parents want a family member to raise their sons.

Aiden's grandfather Steve Richards, is the only one seeking custody at this point. But it will be 12 months from now until the court and the Department of Family and Children Services decides who will get custody.

An investigator with DFACS will do an extensive home evaluation and conduct interviews with family and friends. The attorney appointed as Aiden's guardian et litem said she will do an investigation of her own to make sure Aiden is placed in a safe and loving home.

It was grandfather Steve Richards who had custody of Aiden last year after his daughter first admitted to the abuse.

April Hardy keeps in contact with the grandfather and helped form a support group for Aiden. "My concern is the fact that they're trying to make sure nothing goes wrong," said Hardy. "But in that same aspect, Steve was good enough in the beginning so why is it taking so long to figure out he's good enough now."

Hardy said a year is a long time for Aiden and his brother to wait for a permanent home.

The attorneys and the judge said they are very concerned about Aiden's safety right now. They will not release information on Aiden's exact whereabouts or who exactly has custody. All they will say is that he is the state's custody.

Aiden's attorney said several strangers tried to get into Aiden's hospital room at Memorial and at least one person tried to take pictures of him.

So far no more custody hearings have been scheduled yet. *Tina Richards and Phillip Waller will be back in court April 9*, they will be arraigned on the child abuse charges.

[21noahsmama21]

Wow, although I'm glad they are in safe hands, a year IS a long time for those kids, especially Aiden, to wait for a permanent home.  I mean, he's going to get used to being with certain people, and a year from now will be uprooted again.  I hope that he and his brother end up together in the end.  That's the right thing for those boys, to be together.  They are family.

[ALiLBabyPHAT18]

Yeah, I agree...so, Aiden will be about 2 years old before they consider a permanant home for him & his brother, and they'll get attatched to their caregivers, ETC. This is certainly not good for their mental & emotional healing or development...but like you said, hopefully they will end up together, and that will make it all worth while...

[KymmiW]

those poor kids, having to get shuffled around like that. Are they going to allow visitation for the family atleast? I mean they can't shut them out completely right? I'm glad he will be safe, but a year? Well God knows what he is doing, so everything will be alright!

[Noahsmom32825]

I just pray that whoever has Aiden gives him plenty of love and care.


If Aiden's father is in jail for knowing about the abuse and not doing anything about it then what about DFACS? They're as much to blame, if not more. They should be punished for not doing their job and feeding Aiden to the lions.

I will continue to pray for you, Aiden. You're in my heart always. Love you, sweet angel.

[wondermomma2004]

Hopefully, whoever has them now, they will be able to adopt them in one year.  That's just crazy to me.  Don't these people take child psychology classes or something!  How could it possibly do anything but damage to let Aiden get loved and start to finally trust a caregiver again, and then get ripped away from that.  Incredible.  I'm at a loss.... 

[KalubsMommy02]

I am so happy that he is out of the hospital! i hope he is doing well. i pray that the sweet angel lives a happy, normal life with extra love and attention! he deserves that! i hope the state will reconsider the waiting a year thing! he will finaly trust this new person and then they will take him away from them! i am sure there are MANY people that would be more than happy to adopt Aiden, for life! i know that if i had the opportunity that i would in a heart beat!

[BISCUIT03]

 "My concern is the fact that they're trying to make sure nothing goes wrong," said Hardy. "But in that same aspect, Steve was good enough in the beginning so why is it taking so long to figure out he's good enough now."

I'M NOT SURE THAT I AGREE WITH THIS STATEMENT. WHAT I MEAN IS THAT MR. STEVE KNEW ABOUT THE ABUSE ALSO AND "DID NOTHING". WASN'T AIDEN SUPPOSED TO BE IN HIS CUSTODY AND THEN IT ONLY TURNED OUT TO BE FOR ONE MONTH?!?!?!? (I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I THOUGHT THIS IS WHAT I HAD READ). I'M PRETTY SURE THAT THIS IS THE REASONING FOR "IT TAKING SO LONG"....RIGHT????

I AGREE THAT A YEAR IS A LONG TIME FOR THE FAMILY TO SIT AND WAIT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS TO THE LITTLE GUYS! HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BE TOGETHER IN THE END.

GOOD LUCK AIDEN WITH YOUR "NEW FAMILY"....LOVE YOU LOTS!! AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

[hannahelizabeth]

Quoting ALiLBabyPHAT18:

Yeah, I agree...so, Aiden will be about 2 years old before they consider a permanant home for him & his brother, and they'll get attatched to their caregivers, ETC. This is certainly not good for their mental & emotional healing or development...but like you said, hopefully they will end up together, and that will make it all worth while...

im agree they need stablity

[april2208]

Steve didnt know about the abuse...he only found out the TRUTH recently...Tina told him that he fell in his crib(while trying to pull himself up) and hit his face on the musicbox in his crib.....and yes he was only with Steve for a short period of time...though I think it was a little longer than a month.....but thats because Tina completed her "case plan" as ordered by the court, therefore she was granted custody of Aiden....

[NUT31326]

this leads me to wonder how much thought the judge put into sending Aiden to states custody ...................... yes mr Steve was supposed to have temp custody of him at first but I heard the words out of his mouth personally in the hospital that he made a mistake by letting Aiden be alone with Tina ............. arent we all human and allowed to mess up every now and then? ............................. my point is mr Steve has remorse for his decision and I am certain he learned from it I think the judge should place Aiden and his brother in the custody of family members