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Read comments (19)Meanwhile, the Tennessee Department of Children's Services is continuing to look into the case, which a spokesman termed "shocking to us all."
Jennifer McWhirter of Bell Buckle will appear in Bedford County General Sessions Court July 30. She is represented by attorney Jeff Seckler.
She has been charged with three counts of statutory rape by an authority figure and one count of criminal responsibility for facilitation of a felony. She is currently free on $11,000 bond.
McWhirter, who is the foster care coordinator for the Center for Family Development, is currently on administrative leave from her position.
The count of criminal responsibility for facilitation of a felony stems from the allegation that McWhirter was aware of a relationship between foster mother Alea Rhea Rippy and the juvenile.
Rippy pleaded guilty last week to three counts of statutory rape and agreed to serve 6 months in jail, followed by three years of community corrections.
DCS Communications Director Rob Johnson told the Times-Gazette that when the Rippy case came to light, the department's Special Investigation Unit (SIU) began to look into the allegations.
The SIU investigates allegations involving foster homes, group homes, day care centers, Sunday schools and public schools.
At the time, the investigators found "no indication" that McWhirter had been involved in any of the crimes that Rippy pled guilty to last week, Johnson said.
But as soon as DCS learned of the arrest of McWhirter, "people reacted, including the SIU," he said. "As soon as we knew, we acted very quickly."
All foster parents go through extensive background checks, Johnson said, including fingerprint checks, criminal searches by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, and checks of the National Crime Information Center, which is a computerized index of criminal justice information.
Foster parents are also required to undergo 30 hours of training. McWhirter was thought of highly by members of the Center for Family Development and people at DCS as well, Johnson said, which made the case "such a shock."
"These are very unusual circumstances," he said. "(She) was clearly trained and passed the background check."
Last week, Detective Lt. Becky Hord of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department said law enforcement had asked DCS to remove the 17-year-old alleged victim from McWhirter's care some months ago and claimed that nothing was done in response to the allegations.
Johnson said that to take a child from a foster home would be very disruptive, and that there has to be credible evidence of wrongdoing before such an action is taken.
"As soon as we had something credible," Johnson said, referring to the charges brought against McWhirter, "we moved." The teenage boy in question has since been removed from the home.
Johnson added that the investigation into both cases involving the two foster mothers is continuing.
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This woman is a very good foster parent. Regardless of what was said nothing has been proven. DCS does not do their job at all. I myself have seen that first hand. They pay these state employees just enough to keep them there, and they do the barest minimal possible. As a past foster child I know that the system does not work. And because something is said about a person does not make it true.
Can I just ask, what is wrong with people in this world?
I apologize for wrong use of words in my statements. Decide instead of decided and pled instead of plead. Thanks
"Is Jennifer McWhirter charged with three counts of statutory rape because she was raping a child, or is she charged because she knew that the other woman mentioned, Alea Rippy, was raping a child, as she, Jennifer, was charged with facilitation of a felony because she knew about Rippy?"
She was charged for allegedly having sex with the child and she allegedly knew about the relationship with Rippy, so "yes" on both questions.
"And, was the 17 year old removed from Jennifer's home the same one that Rippy had violated?"
Yes.
If anyone ever has a question about a story, please feel free to e-mail me at bmosely@t-g.com. Sometimes, I may not see a comment or a question posted on one of our stories and I don't want anyone to feel like I'm ignoring them. Thanks.
Evidently it's quite obvious that he did speak up. As well as the foster mother that has pled guilty. So enough said it all comes out in the wash. Just let the jury of our peers decide the fate of the other foster mother. INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY! EVIDENCE PROVES IT ALL!
bedfordcounty83,
Have you seen what they look like?
Hey Forgiveness, I do know that DCS does follow up with the children after they are placed into the foster homes.It's not like they place them and never return to check on them. You tell me what 17 year old male that is sleeping with two adult females is going to speak up and say that "we are having sex together would someone please take me out of this home"?
BGPJ, It is my understanding based on previous articles that McWherter also had a relationship with the boy. When he was interviewed by police during the investigation involved Rippy, he also implicated McWherter as a sexual partner. See folks, this kid is no victim. He practically bragged to police about the affairs he was having. Both women were wrong, but it's hard to feel sorry for this kid. Heck, he's almost an adult for crying out loud. I think he turns 18 this year!
6 months in jail and 3 years of community corrections? come on now!!!!! anybody else see anything wrong with this?
I know, personnally, about a situation in which a child told his mother he was being physically abused by other children in the group home he was in and that the staff knew about it. This was reported to DCS and they asked the child about it IN FRONT OF the staff of the group home. The 16 year old child clamed up for fear of retaliation and the child was left in the home. There was retaliation, in where the staff had the boys beat him up. DCS finally removed him but it took months. The situation was rediculous.
I am with "very logic" on this, in that the story is unclear about what is alleged to have transpired. Is Jennifer McWhirter charged with three counts of statutory rape because she was raping a child, or is she charged because she knew that the other woman mentioned, Alea Rippy, was raping a child, as she, Jennifer, was charged with facilitation of a felony because she knew about Rippy? And, was the 17 year old removed from Jennifer's home the same one that Rippy had violated? I will be looking for the follow-up story to this one for clarification.
I feel as well that set aside from doing background checks, criminal checks etc... DCS should also do follow-ups with the child. Letting it be done one on one with the child. Out of the presence of the Foster family. So the child would be free to express feelings without feeling uncomfortable in the midst of the Foster Family. Just don't place a child and forget about them. I would hope that's a procedure they follow no matter how time consuming it may be. The child's well-being is what's important
I must reiterate on what I posted last week INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. I'm going to let the judge and jury decided one's fate, mind you based on the evidence. So one can speculate all one would like, but I myself trust the Judicial System to prevail with justice. Character plays a significant part in any relationship. But let's not place blame on any one person. A child is suppose to be seen just as that one who needs not only unconditional love but guidance as well. The female that's already plead guilty is just a female not a woman in the sense of the word. Because woman would be with the latter part of woman a man not a child. God Bless the Child.
Well as far as my exprience with the DCS they listen to the child in my case and let the child get by with all the things he did wrong including dealing with drugs they even took up for him and now he is still doing the same thing and going futher with it so he didnt learn nothing but he almost took another family down with him but one day someone will hopefully find out that the taking up and covering up for the child isnt always the best either.
This article is not very clear. Did Rippy rape the child, then removed from her home. Then while in McWhirter's home, was also raped by McWhirter?
Please expain this a little better.
I'll take up for Becky on trying to do her job, but on DCS I can't.From experience there are many things I don't agree with,Mr.Johnson said all of that about the backgound checks you have to do to be a foster-parent.But is it policy for DCS to let someone have temporary custody of a child without the same standards as a foster-parent? Is it okay for DCS to put a child in a home of a convicted drug felon because they don't know what to do with or for the child.And when you question it you are told it was along time ago but it is my understanding that once a drug felon or felon you are always one till a Judge removes it.So does DCS get to change things when it is in their best interest or that of the child!
If law enforcement was so sure "months ago" why didn't they file charges against her then. Bottom line is, you can never be sure. I was an investigator and had to leave many kids in situations that made me VERY nervous. By the same token, if you remove without good evidance you open the state and yourself up for litigation. Darned if you do and darned if you dont.
Last week, Detective Lt. Becky Hord of the Bedford County Sheriff's Department said law enforcement had asked DCS to remove the 17-year-old alleged victim from McWhirter's care some months ago and claimed that nothing was done in response to the allegations.
Johnson said that to take a child from a foster home would be very disruptive, and that there has to be credible evidence of wrongdoing before such an action is taken.
"As soon as we had something credible," Johnson said, referring to the charges brought against McWhirter, "we moved." The teenage boy in question has since been removed from the home.
Just how much more 'creditable' can you get when the police tells you something? Something should have been done when Becky called.
Thats a bunch of bull! Basicly once you get thru that first process and start getting children into your home your good to go until something like this happens. And it is ten times worse in facilities that DCS is suppose to oversee. I was in both settings as a tennager and would be happy to go toe to toe with anyone from DCS and tell them how they do not do there job! Been there and I know from experience!