Erica arrested

Watch the video here from King 5 News:

Erica and Cleave Rengo were the subject of national interest as reports of them fleeing Washington CPS made the headlines. Last November, the holistic, devoutly Christian couple’s three breastfed babies were taken amidst accusations of neglect for choosing alternative remedies such as calendula and coconut oil for their older baby’s eczema and preferring not to take their newborn twins to the hospital after an unassisted homebirth, even though they were reportedly healthy.

After a court hearing and huge public outcry, the babies were returned home in December. It had been a grueling month of separation, and their return came with strings attached. They were being watched, and reportedly had a number of conditions placed upon them in order to be permitted to parent Levi, and the twins, 4 month old Daniel and Morna Kai.

CPS demand the couple separate in order for them to have children returned.

Like the separation from their children, the couple’s separation is not by choice. CPS is “trying to make [Cleave] out to be a monster, but he’s not,” Erica told Health Impact News. She reports that CPS has told her that she must leave him and get her own place, in order for them to consider giving the babies back to her. She is also required to see a therapist, of the state’s choosing, and attend domestic violence/sexual assault classes. Erica reports that she is complying with their demands. She feels that she has no choice, because nothing is more important to her as a mother than getting her babies back.

Erica has maintained since her very first conversation with us that Cleave is not abusive. She has explained that some around them have interpreted their religious viewpoint that the husband is the head of the wife as being evidence of abuse. During their involvement with CPS, she says that lawyers and social workers alike have tried to pit husband against wife. She made it clear as she spoke with the Captain on his blogtalk radio show that “we love each other.”

Since that time the children’s health has deteriorated and the judge has demanded that the couple divorce. Read the details on Medical Kidnap.