How Could You? Hall of Shame-Desmond Wright UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Williamson County, Texas, foster dad Desmond Wright was “arrested after a baby girl under his care suffers a brain injury.”

“The girl is OK but Desmond Wright is now charged with injury to a child. His neighbors are coming to his defense and the agency that placed the baby in the foster home says there is conflicting medical evidence of when the injury occurred.

“I’ve known him for about ten years. He’s a good guy. Hard to believe. Don’t believe it,” said neighbor John Koepke.

Neighbor after neighbor describes Desmond Wright as a nice guy and good dad. “He’s always been a good guy,” said neighbor Ricky Regalado.

In just released court documents, Wright called 9-1-1 in September [2015] when his 18-month-old foster daughter was possibly choking or having a seizure. She was eventually transported to Dell Children’s Medical Center because her brain was bleeding. Doctors say the injuries were consistent with shaking an infant. Wright told a case worker he gave the girl a french fry and heard her wheezing. He admitted to shaking and grabbing her face side-to-side.

“I believe and trust him 100 percent. If that’s what he says happens, then that’s what happened,” said Koepke.

We reached out to the Wright family at their Williamson County home but no one answered the door. But the child placing agency, the foster home was licensed through says when you become a foster home, you’re letting the government into your house.

The Wright’s passed all background checks, multiple home inspections and all ongoing training requirements.

Helping Hand Home Executive Director Ted Keyser said, “First and foremost; we are relieved that the child in care is fine. We were saddened and surprised by the allegations against the Wright family as their service to children in the foster care system has been outstanding. Background checks, income verification, multiple home inspections, and all ongoing training requirements were met and in place. We would also caution against a rush to judgment of the Wright’s as there appears to be conflicting medical evidence as to when the injury occurred. The child had only recently been placed in the Wright home after removal from her family.”

“I’m like, I don’t know how they do it, but it’s awesome because there’s not enough people that do things like that for young children,” said neighbor Ricky Regalado.

The family has been licensed since 2012 and this is the first residential child care licensing investigation at the home. DFPS says the investigation is still pending. Two other foster children, ages 1 and 4 were also in the home at the time but were immediately placed in a new home back in September at the time of the incident.”

WilCo foster dad arrested for injury to a child [KeyeTV 2/8/16 by Lindsey Liepman]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: A search of the Williamson county texas court files says that Desmond has a pre-indictment docket call on 6/15/16.