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Over time, Amber Wright has blossomed into a strong young woman. But it wasn't easy after enduring years of abuse at the hands of her own father.
David Wright served three and a half years in prison for forcing Amber to take drugs and molesting her from the time she was 13 until his arrest nearly two years later.
“We are under the impression our social workers go out there, do their job and follow their laws to protect our children and it’s nothing like that,” said Amber’s adoptive mother, Michelle Bossard.
During the time Amber was being abused, eight other girls in the neighborhood said they witnessed the abuse. Some of them were even molested by David Wright and gave sworn statements to that effect to the Sumner Police Department.
The Child Protective Services social worker assigned to the case, Bruce Morrison, admits he was unqualified to investigate such charges and says he never read those statements or interviewed any of those girls before closing the case and recommending Amber be returned to her abusive father’s home.
“During the 2004 investigation that you conducted, did you read the victim statements about other young girls being fed drugs?” asked attorney David Moody in court.
“No, sir,” said Morrison.
“Being asked to perform sexual favors?” asked Moody.
“No, sir,” said Morrison.
“Witnessing David Wright exploit Amber?” asked Moody.
“No, sir,” said Morrison.
Attorneys who represent victims in cases like these said it’s an ugly pattern they see again and again. Take the case of Maria Esquivel. She is charged with abusing six children in her Auburn home.
“The oldest daughter was beaten with rolling pins to the point where people knew her couldn`t even recognize her,” said attorney Julie Kays.
Those victims are suing the state Department of Social and Health Services for failing to protect them. They claim that despite 17 complaints to the state by teachers and concerned family friends, DSHS never took the kids out of the home.
“When you go out to investigate a case, you don’t just talk to the kid or the victim in front of the abuser and that’s what would happen oftentimes,” said Kays. “It was woefully inadequate, and these kids paid the price.”
“It doesn’t take someone with a whole lot of common sense to realize these are dangerous situations and DSHS continues to screw up time and time again,” said Moody, Amber Wright’s lawyer.
Moody has won some of the largest settlements against DSHS in the agency’s history, including $7.5 million for brothers Joey and Shayne Abegg, who were abused by their father, Danny Abegg.
“He was a meth addict, and from the time they were placed back in the home until each was rescued, they were beaten and starved systematically week after week after week,” said Moody.
Neighbors, baby sitters and teachers all alerted DSHS, noting the boys’ underfed appearance, heavy bruising and their repeated hoarding of food.
In May 2006, a caseworker finally went to the house but only spoke to the father.
