2 CHILDREN RETURNED TO CARROLLS' CUSTODY

2 CHILDREN RETURNED TO CARROLLS' CUSTODY

May 19, 1995

Janice Haidet

Dayton Daily News   

A Greene County agency relinquished custody of two disabled Carroll family youngsters, but kept the right to monitor the Cedarville home where four adopted children died without explanation in 1992-93.

The Greene County Children Services Board and attorneys for Kathleen and Timothy Carroll, the children's parents, on Thursday reached an agreement about the custody of Samuel, 7, and Isaiah, 12. Both disabled youngsters had been staying in foster homes since December 1993. As the agency began feeling more comfortable about care of the children, the agency began allowing them to visit their home more frequently.

Isaiah and Samuel have been staying in the home steadily since February, but Thursday's agreement officially restores full legal custody to the Carrolls, said Dennis Gump, Mr. Carroll's lawyer.

Greene County Prosecutor William F. Schenck said he feels comfortable with the agreement but said, ``Isn't it interesting to note that since we've intervened and taken custody, no more children have died in that home?''

The last Carroll child died in June 1993; a judge ordered Isaiah and Samuel removed from the home the next month.

``It's been a long battle for almost two years now,'' said John H. Rion, attorney for Mrs. Carroll. ``Now the biggest battle we see is over home-schooling.''

The Carrolls, for religious reasons, don't want Isiah and Samuel to continue in public school.

The Carrolls have continued to home-school Hosea, 11.