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Judge Refuses to Allow Caretaker of Rilya Wilson to Visit Child's Younger Sister

Aired June 18, 2002 - 11:21   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Moving on to another puzzling missing child case, a Miami judge refuses to allow the caretaker of Rilya Wilson to visit the child's younger sister. Now this is just the latest fallout from the case of the 5-year-old who got lost in Florida's child welfare system. Details from CNN National Correspondent Susan Candiotti.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Ever since Rilya Wilson's disappearance, the girl's caretaker, Geralyn Graham, has been under scrutiny for, among other things, applying for food stamps and Medicaid for Rilya, when Graham's sister, not she, was the girl's legal caretaker. So, showing up in court to ask permission to visit one of Rilya's little sisters didn't go over well with the judge.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Did you apply for public entitlements for taking care of this child?

GERALYN GRAHAM: Yes, ma'am, I did.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And you're telling -- and only as the caretaker? Don't you think that's against the law?

GRAHAM: Your honor, when Ms. Muskelly came and...

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no, I don't want to hear about Ms. Muskelly. You told me you didn't have legal custody of the child because you're the caretaker. And you also told me you applied for public entitlement when you're only the caretaker.

(CROSSTALK)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I want to hear the answer. I don't want to hear about Deborah Muskelly. I want to hear about you, Ms. Graham. Explain it to me.

CANDIOTTI: Rilya's caseworker, Deborah Muskelly, remains under criminal investigation for allegedly faking reports she visited the child. As for Rilya's caretakers, the judge ruled for now they will have no more contact with Rilya's three-year-old sister, Rodricka, who is now in another foster home.

GRAHAM: This is the U.S.A. It's called justice.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: She has no right, whatsoever, legal or otherwise, to have any contact whatsoever with these children ever again.

CANDIOTTI (on camera): Geralyn Graham denies she played any role in Rilya's disappearance. It's been 16 months since she claims she turned over the child to a social worker. And police admit unless they get a big break, the child may never be found.

Susan Candiotti, CNN, Miami.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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