How Could You? Hall of Shame-Cynthia and Isaac Greenwood 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 Houston, Texas, adoptive mother Cynthia Greenwood and her now 19-year-old biological son Isaac Greenwood face accusations that Cynthia took her adopted, special needs 12-year-old daughter to get an abortion “after her 19-year-old brother sexually assaulted her.

Isaac Greenwood, 19, faces 3 counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child. Cynthia Greenwood, 42, is charged with tampering with evidence.

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services first learned of Cynthia and her daughter on Oct. 15 2010, according to court documents.

An anonymous caller told Child Protective Services the victim was acting hysterical and her adoptive mother refused to say how the victim became pregnant.

The abortion was not performed, but TDFPS and Harris County Sheriff’s Office investigators began looking into the case.

Another report was made regarding the victim, this time in Cleveland, Ohio.”

“Investigators believe Cynthia knew about the Harris County investigation into her daughter’s pregnancy and used the abortion to sweep away the evidence, according to the document.
TDFPS took custody of the victim and her sister.”

KDSK reports “Two months later, in a videotaped interview, the young special needs girl claimed she got pregnant because her brother had sex with her. She also said her mother took her to Ohio for an operation so it wouldn’t hurt when the baby came out. ” Also “Greenwood used to live in North Harris. A former neighbor didn’t know Greenwood well, but described her as polite, and family oriented.

“The alleged victim is now 13 and in foster care. ”

ABC and KDSK report that the girl was 22-weeks pregnant at the time of the abortion and that it happened one week after the report to TDFPS.

According to ABC, Isaac was charged in April 2011. He is out on bail and has a hearing on September 7, 2011.

According to FoxNews, “Cynthia was arrested and remains in custody on $5,000 bond. Her first court date is set for Sept. 26.”

Mother, Son Charged in 12-Year-Old Sister’s Pregnancy
[My Fox Houston 8/29/11 by John Perera]

Isaac Greenwood impregnates 12-year-old sister
[KSDK 8/29/11 by Brandie Piper]

Mom in court over 12-year-old daughter’s alleged rape, abortion
[ABC 13 8/29/11 by Andy Cerota]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

“A Houston adoptive mother has been charged after arranging an abortion for her 12-year-old special needs daughter during a criminal investigation about whether the woman’s biological son impregnated the girl.

Cynthia Greenwood, 50, of Houston, was arrested Friday on one count of tampering with physical evidence. Her son, 19-year-old Isaac Greenwood, was charged in April and indicted in July on three counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14. Both are free on bail.

A criminal complaint filed in Harris County alleges that Cynthia Greenwood, knowing that there was a pending investigation concerning the pregnant preteen, concealed biological matter with an intent to impair its availability as evidence in the probe.

Moderately disabled

The girl has moderate mental retardation, court records said. Under Texas law, 12-year-olds cannot legally consent to sexual activity.

The mother took the child for an abortion when she was 17 weeks pregnant, according to criminal complaints against Isaac Greenwood, but the procedure could not be performed because the child was “too hysterical.”

Authorities were notified about the pregnancy last fall.

On Oct. 15, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services received an anonymous call about a 12-year-old who was taken to an Ohio clinic for an abortion. The caller also reported the “hysterical demeanor” of the girl and that the mother refused to provide any details about how the child became pregnant.

The child, in her second trimester, was interviewed at home by a Child Protective Services employee that same day. The girl said an adult had touched her private area, but refused to name that person. The social worker also interviewed Cynthia Greenwood, who said she did not know who got the girl pregnant.

Two weeks later, on Oct. 29, medical personnel at the Center for Women‘s Health in Cleveland, Ohio, told Texas officials that the girl was brought there by her mother. The girl, who was five months pregnant, was taken to the clinic on Oct. 20 and had an abortion two days later, according to court filings.

The fetus and medical reports were obtained from the Ohio clinic as evidence, court records show.

Child removed

On Nov. 2, a Harris County sergeant in the crimes against children unit interviewed Cynthia Greenwood, who admitted taking the girl to Ohio for an abortion, but denied knowing who sexually assaulted her. CPS removed the child and her younger sister the same day.

In a December interview, the girl told a forensic investigator that Isaac Greenwood had sex with her and that her mother took her to Ohio “to have an operation so it wouldn’t hurt when the baby came out,” court records said.

Isaac Greenwood would have been 18 when the acts allegedly happened – twice in March 2010 and once in May 2010 at a relative’s home.

The victim, now 13, and her 12-year-old sister have been living together in a Harris County foster home since November.

“The rights of the parents were terminated and now the girls are in our permanent custody,” CPS spokeswoman Estella Olguin said.

In Texas, abortion providers are required to notify authorities when receiving a patient so young for the procedure.

“If they’re under 14, the law is that you have to report any sexual activity,” said Rochelle Tafolla, the Houston-based spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast.”

Houston mom charged in pre-teen’s abortion

[Houston Chronicle 9/12/11 by Cindy George]

Update/September 6, 2013

A search of Harris County, Texas court records shows that the original felony tampering with evidence case was dismissed in July 2012. A misdemeanor of  failure to report child abuse count was filed instead.  On July 25,DEFERRED ADJUDICATION OF GUILT. PENALTY is PROBATION 2 YEARS ENDING 07/24/14 and a fine of $500.

A search of Harris County, Texas court records shows that Isaac pled guilty on January 23, 2013 to 1 felony 1 count of Aggravated sex assault on child < 14 years old. He was sentenced to 6 years.