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Posted: 2:35 PM- SAN ANGELO, Texas - Marleigh Meisner, spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, this afternoon defended the state's decision Monday to separate mothers from older children from the YFZ Ranch who are in state custody.
"This was in the best interest of these children," Meisner said at a press conference this afternoon.
It was also in the best interest of the Child Protective Services investigators who are trying to determine whether the children were physically or sexually abused or were witnesses to such abuse, she said.
"We believe that children who are victims of abuse or neglect, and particularly victims at the hands of their parents, are certainly going to feel safer when they don't have a parent there coaching them."
Meisner said child therapists and the guardians ad litem for the children agreed it was best for the mothers not to remain with the children.
She said that while the children were sad to see their mothers leave, they seem to have recovered. She said she saw some of the kids playing kickball with Texas Highway Patrol troopers.
Eighty-two mothers of children four and under remain with their children at the San Angelo Coliseum. Fifty-one women returned to the YFZ ranch 45 miles south of here, and six, Meisner said, chose to be taken to a "safe place."
FLDS women said that place is a San Angelo domestic violence shelter.
Two Texas legislators who spoke at this afternoon's press conference said the state will come up with the resources for the massive action against the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Rep. Drew Darby said Texas takes child protection seriously. Referring to Texas' motto "Don't Mess with Texas," he said, "I'm going to change that up. I'm going to say, don't mess with the children of Texas."