Thursday, 4:30 PM
Biological family of Haleigh Poutre lobbies lawmakers
(Boston Globe file photo)
Haleigh Poutre pictured at age 9 before she suffered brain damage.
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Correspondent
The biological family of 12-year-old Haleigh Poutre, the girl authorities allege was beaten into a coma by her adoptive mother and stepfather, lobbied lawmakers Monday to release her from state custody.
Haleigh's biological mother and grandmother held a press conference at the State House to coincide with meetings for lawmakers serving on the Committee for Families & Children.
"It seems that everyone on Beacon Hill has forgotten about this little girl," said Susan Molina, executive director of The Yellow Ribbon Kids Club, a nonprofit group based in Whitman that advocates for foster children. "If we have to go ... every week for the next year and talk to every lawmaker, we will."
Haleigh's biological mother and grandmother have been barred from visiting her by a judge.
Her birth mother, Allison Avrett is asking for visitation rights to be restored as part of a $12.5 million lawsuit against the state Department of Social Services, DSS Commissioner Harry Spence, and three employees.
