A Paradise father is speaking out for the first time since his wife abandoned their baby boy at a Chico golf course this week. His wife remains under treatment at Butte County Mental Health. But Butte County's Children's Services has yet to return his 9-month-old son. The man, who we will only identify as Joe, says "I will work for the rest of my life to get my son back."
On Monday, Joe's wife left their son in a flower bed between the 12th and 13th holes at Butte Creek Country Club. "If she would have called me, I work 2 miles from there and I would have been there in a heartbeat. I would move mountains for my son."
While his wife is being held at Butte County Behavioral Health Department, his infant is in child protective custody. Now he's fighting to get him back. "I feel like I'm a good man and a good father and for anybody to take my son away for the actions of someone else, is horrific in this country."
Joe says prior to this week's incident, his wife showed signs of post-partem depression. She was also using Ovide to treat head lice which she contracted while caring for her dying grandfather. A pharmacist recommended she get Malathion from the hardware store because it was cheaper. That's when Joe says she appeared to get worse, but never showed any sign of being a threat to their son. "She's my wife and I love her very dearly, and these actions aren't her norm. So you can't judge a person off a single action. I've been with her for 12 years, so we've grown as people immensely and I've seen her do great things, so to throw it away because of something like this would just be a waste."
Joe says he sought help from a doctor and was told she would get over the depression. A therapist told them the same thing. Joe also sought advice from a pastor. He says he did everything he could for her safety and for his son, and could have never predicted what happened. Yet right now, his infant is with child services, and not in his arms.
Joe works full time and goes to school. He and his wife bought a home four years ago, and have poured their heart into it, to give their son a warm home. But now, it's empty.
"At this point, I feel really alone, you go to your home where you've made your life for the last 12 years and it's empty."
No charges have been filed against the mother. The assistant director of child services told Action News that the department is following procedure and the process is designed to protect the child. Joe's next court date is Monday, when he could get his son back.
