Out of prison, Franklin woman fails to regain custody of kids

By TIM ZATZARINY Jr.

TRENTON -- A former Franklin woman who was charged in the death of her adopted 5-year-old son has lost an attempt to regain parental rights involving two other children she and her husband had adopted.

A state Appellate Court panel Monday rejected the request by Heather Lindorff.

Lindorff was convicted in 2003 of endangering the welfare of a child in the December 2001 death of her adopted son Jacob, 5, inside their Franklin home.

Jacob was one of six Russian children whom Lindorff and her husband, James, had adopted.

An autopsy determined Jacob died from blunt trauma to the head, causing bleeding on the brain. His body showed other signs of physical abuse, authorities said.

Heather Lindorff, now 45, was sentenced to six years in state prison. She was released this year on Nov. 16, according to the state Department of Corrections.

In December 2008, Heather Lindorff filed an appeal alleging there was a lack of fact finding before the state Division of Youth and Family Services moved to take away her parental rights following allegations in 2006 that the couple continued abusing their adopted children.

At the time, the Lindorffs had limited visitation with the children, who were in foster care, and Heather Lindorff was free on bail pending an appeal of her conviction.

In a decision released Monday, a three-judge appellate panel determined Heather Lindorff's appeal regarding her parental rights was moot because she had voluntarily surrendered them during a July 2009 court proceeding so the boys' current foster family could adopt them.

James Lindorff, 60, was convicted of child neglect in the death of Jacob. He was sentenced to probation and community service.

In September 2007, James Lindorff was charged in Salem County with conspiracy to commit murder in connection with a plot to kill a witness against him in the 2006 abuse case.

He is serving a seven-year state prison sentence on the conspiracy charge.