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American Morning

Idaho Standoff Ends With Children in Custody

Aired June 04, 2001 - 09:01   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: Six children are waiting to learn their fate right now. A hearing is scheduled today on the future of the children who spent days holed up in their remote Idaho home. The last five of them were taken into protective custody over the weekend. That ended a tense standoff that began with their mother's arrest.

Our national correspondent Eileen O'Connor joins us now from Sandpoint, Idaho. She's got the latest this morning -- Eileen.

EILEEN O'CONNOR, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Leon, that hearing will take place after a bail hearing for JoAnn McGuckin, the children's mother. She is still charged with felonious child neglect.

Now, the children came out of the compound late on Saturday evening. They came out in the back of a suburban. You can see them. It was driven by one of the negotiators. Also, they came out after a phone call from their mother. She told them to come out with authorities, though she plans to fight these charges.

Now, the property, authorities say, is as it was described by the eldest sister, Erina, and neighbors, that there's no running water, no toilet facilities, no place to take a bath and there was piles of garbage in an outer building. They also said that it was difficult for the children to eat. There were no nutritious foods there.

Now, they also said that the community had tried to help and that this was a case of willful neglect. But they say they are willing to work with the family, if JoAnn McGuckin will accept help.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHIL ROBINSON, BONNER COUNTY PROSECUTOR: We're not out to be vindictive or even punitive to Mrs. McGuckin, but we cannot let the children go back into what we believe will be an unsafe situation without some assurances. And I think both systems work together to do that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'CONNOR: Now, her attorney, Bryce Powell, maintains her innocence. JoAnn McGuckin issued a statement, through the attorney, saying that she is the children's mother, that the children are not wards of the state and she is innocent of neglecting them. He says that basically she just fell upon hard times, that she was sick, her husband was dying and that that is what led to the conditions up there. He also says that the events of the last few days shows just how close this family really is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRYCE POWELL, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: This is a tight family. It's a loving family. They stick out -- up for each other. They watch out for each other and they've been doing what they can to survive as a family.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

O'CONNOR: Now, the children remain in hospital right now -- in the hospital. They have been checked out. The hospital says they're in good condition, ambulatory, walking around and they also say for all that they've gone through, they're in very good spirits.

The likely plan right now, Leon, is after the shelter hearing they will take the children and keep them together. They will be put into the custody of a family friend -- a foster family for now and then within the next 30 days they will have a plan for the future. Within that 30 days, it could be that they will be allowed to visit their mother but probably supervised visits. Just not clear right now -- Leon.

HARRIS: Yes, interesting -- tough situation for those kids.

Eileen O'Connor, thanks so much.

O'CONNOR: Yes.

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