BREAKING: GSG for Hurricane-Helene Survivor Suzann Kootz Helps Car Repairs and Legal Battle Against CPS for Taking Her Son Benjamin
You Asked for It - Here it IS! Suzann's Son was Taken Away because Her Home was Muddy, Now with CPS Housed with Foster Family 2 Hours Away. Needs MET for Car Repairs, Family Attorney. Thank You!
Our original article was posted yesterday as a developing story on Suzann, a survivor of Hurricane Helene whose son Benjamin “Benji” was taken away from her by CPS after the Red Cross shut down a shelter and sent her home:
It was my error for saying that her son was disabled; Suzann gets Social Security benefits on Benji’s behalf, from his father who passed away. I have corrected this in the original article.
Suzann Koontz is a survivor of the Hurricane Helene Disaster that ravished Eastern TN, Western NC and many other states in the southeast. As a result of damage to her home, she was temporarily displaced and sought shelter with the Red Cross at a local church in Roan Mountain, TN. After a brief stay with the Red Cross, she was asked abruptly to return to her flooded home which was not suitable living conditions for her son to return to.
Shortly after she returned home, the Department of Child Protective Services came knocking at her door with a barrage of allegations, ultimately leading to her son Benjamin (also known as Bug) being taken into custody by CPS. Benjamin (Benji) is now placed in a foster home two hours away from his mother and has not had any visitation since he was taken.
On top of taking care of Benjamin as a single mother, Suzann also takes care of her disabled mother Kim full-time, who suffers from a variety of health issues. Benjamin receives social security benefits due to his father being deceased, these benefits were counted as Suzann's income and for that reason she was denied state-appointed legal representation (lawyer) by the court's clerk. Suzann now is having to battle this legal situation on her own, with no experience on how to navigate the legal system.
Bug is 8 years old and a ball of energy. Like most kids he loves his legos, his momma, his grandma and especially his precious kitty cat. Suzann and her mother are all Bug has ever known in this life. These two individuals are what home means to Bug. It is very likely that Bug is also on the autistic spectrum, but he has not been officially diagnosed as of yet. Due to this belief, change is especially hard for Bug. Bug is known for having food aversions due to textures and is a very picky eater as a result. His mother and grandmother know how to nourish him best, they understand his needs and know how to keep him comfortable and calm. Suzann has major concerns that her son is not adapting well to being in the care of the state, and is constantly worried about him. She says receiving any information or updates about him is like "pulling teeth".
(How we got here) September 24, 2024 Hurricane Helene ripped through their home in Roan Mountain, TN. Water began to raise from the ground and just kept coming. Startled by what she was experiencing, Suzann took her phone out and recorded a video of the unbelievable flood waters penetrating her neighborhood. Suzann held close to her mother and son as they prayed that they would live through this. As the water receded a neighbor gave them a ride to the local church where they sought temporary shelter with the Red Cross. Her family stayed at the church where the Red Cross was setup approximately a week. The last two days they were at the church, Red Cross employees had began opening cases for all the survivors in order to identify the specific needs each survivor had. Suddenly, after the interviewers obtained personal information from the victims, the Red Cross began informing those housed at the church that they needed to return to their homes, as the temporary shelter was being shut down. Once again, these people were being displaced.
Suzann returned home, two days later CPS arrived at her residence claiming they had received a random complaint about her, and expressed "concerns" about her parenting of Benjamin. They would not disclose who made the accusations...
Suzann needs out support, as the legal system is extremely difficult to navigate alone without the knowledge and experience a lawyer has. Suzann also is having troubles with her 2010 Ford Mustang GT (Hot2Trot) which she is very passionate about working on. We hope to be able to raise enough monetary donations to be able to provide her with competent legal representation BEFORE her preliminary hearing on the 3rd of December, where a judge will decide if she will be re-united with Benji. We also hope to raise additional funds to repair her vehicle, so she can push for visitation with her son over two hours away from his home where he is currently in foster care.
Please, help Suzann by donating today to this Fund, the future of an entire family hangs in the balance!
Do you think this is “the” Nicole Shanahan attorney from Silicon Valley, CA, Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s running mate in his 2024 independent presidential campaign?
LET US PRAY
Father God,
Thank you for this beautiful response to Suzann’s plight. We pray for her to find a great attorney who can help her get her son Benji back as soon as possible! We pray for Benji’s continued safety and care until he is returned to his mom.
Thank you for those who donate to her plight, which is also helping car repairs so she can make the 2-hour drive to visit her son.
We know she has only received 4 pictures of her child since he was taken, and we ask that You ensure she can document and highlight her ties to her son so that she does not lose custody to the State.
Guide her and her lawyer for the upcoming December 3rd hearing, and cause a miracle so she walks out of that courtroom with her child!
YOU ARE THE WAY MAKER! YOU ALONE ARE HERE, MOVING IN OUR MIDST! WE WORSHIP YOU!
YOU ARE HERE, WORKING IN THIS PLACE, THIS SITUATION WITH SUZANN! WE WORSHIP YOU!
YOU ARE THE WAY MAKER, MIRACLE-WORKER, THE PROMISE-KEEPER, THE LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS! WE KNOW THAT IS WHO YOU ARE!
TURN THESE LIVES AROUND, WE PRAY! MOVE MOUNTAINS TO BRING BENJI HOME! WORK THROUGH ALL INVOLVED HEARTS, WE PRAY!
I'd guess it's the same Shanahan who is said to have an Autistic child and who would naturally identify with the family, having said she experienced poverty as a child.
This is incredibly cruel action for the state to take against this family. In stead of supporting their needs the state takes action that further traumatizes these families. We see the short sided relief that Red Cross provides and doesn’t look to help with long term solutions for areas that have been hard hit. One reason I don’t support them. I pray that mom and son are reunited soon. I know how traumatic it is for an autistic child to be separated from his mom. I am one of those moms. I am praying that God will intervene and temporary housing is found for this family while their house is being fixed and the courts will act swiftly to reunite mother and son.
I'd guess it's the same Shanahan who is said to have an Autistic child and who would naturally identify with the family, having said she experienced poverty as a child.
This is incredibly cruel action for the state to take against this family. In stead of supporting their needs the state takes action that further traumatizes these families. We see the short sided relief that Red Cross provides and doesn’t look to help with long term solutions for areas that have been hard hit. One reason I don’t support them. I pray that mom and son are reunited soon. I know how traumatic it is for an autistic child to be separated from his mom. I am one of those moms. I am praying that God will intervene and temporary housing is found for this family while their house is being fixed and the courts will act swiftly to reunite mother and son.
Amen. 💔🙏🏻