Biological mom wants girl back after abuse allegations surface

Biological mom wants girl back after abuse allegations surface

UPDATED 12:57 PM CST Nov 09, 2012

Neighbors say Ankeny couple had no choice

ANKENY, Iowa —

An Iowa mother said news about abuse inside an Ankeny couple's home is not the first report that she has heard, and it has reignited her desire to get her daughter back.

June Simpson said her daughter who was adopted by the Drakes told her four years ago that she was being physically abused by JoAnn Drake. Simpson is the 13-year-old girl involved in the case's biological mother.

Paul Drake, 45, and JoAnn Drake, 44, are each charged with two counts of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person and two counts of false imprisonment.

The Iowa Department of Human Services is investigating allegations that an Ankeny couple locked their adopted children in a basement anytime they were not in school for a three to four week period.

Simpson said four years ago she and her husband turned against each other and that there was drinking.

"We were just so wrapped up in ourselves and our own problems and had five children," said Simpson.

The Iowa Department of Human Services removed all of Simpson's children from her home. At the time, the 13-year-old was 9 years old and was adopted by the Paul and JoAnn Drake.

June said the last time she was allowed to speak with her daughter four years ago, her daughter told her something was wrong.

"She was not allowed to eat. Not allowed to eat her meals, not allowed to sleep in her bed, made to sleep on the floor and pushed down the stairs," said Simpson. "It makes me wonder how long and how bad and what's happened in between these last four years."

Simpson said she tried to tell the judge what was going on back then, but she said DHS and the courts wouldn't listen.