Pubdate: Tue, 02 Jun 1998
Source: Associated Press 
Author: Todd Spangler

GIRL WANTS MOM'S RIGHTS TERMINATED

DOVER, Del. (AP) -- A 10-year-old girl whose mother abandoned her four years
ago asked the state Supreme Court on Tuesday to let her appeal a lower
court's decision to reunite her with the woman.

In her filing Tuesday, Samantha Frazer said her mother, Victoria Frazer,
``never tried to come back and take care of me'' after leaving in 1994.

``She did not even call me regularly, visit me regularly or celebrate
holidays like my birthday with me. When she did speak to me, she made
promises that she broke,'' the filing said. ``Since she left me she has
failed to act like a parent to me. She has not cared for me or loved me.''

In March, Kent County Family Court Judge William Walls ruled Samantha would
have to be reunited with her mother in South Carolina by August.

According to court documents, Ms. Frazer was diagnosed with crack cocaine
and marijuana addictions in 1992. She left Delaware two years later, moving
to Texas with a boyfriend and leaving her two daughters behind.

The other girl had lived with her stepfather until last March, when she went
to live with her mother in South Carolina.

Samantha, who was 6 when her mother left, has lived in four foster homes
over four years.

The court said Ms. Frazer struggled with addictions for years but is
rehabilitated and does not want to give up her parental rights to Samantha.

It was not known how to contact Ms. Frazer or her lawyer. Family Court
refused to release their telephone numbers and the state Division of Family
Services did not have the numbers.

Samantha's filing asks that she be appointed a lawyer and given standing to
challenge Walls' decision on appeal.

A therapist who treated Samantha, Bonnie Gladu, and her husband Thomas want
to adopt the child and are allowed to see her four hours a week. The Gladus
brought Samantha to the courthouse Tuesday to file the appeal papers.

``I don't want to move to South Carolina,'' Samantha said. ``I've been
moving too much. You keep moving, you have to keep switching friends.''

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Checked-by: Melodi Cornett