Another side of the story:
By late Friday, people close to the woman raised doubts about the children's claims, describing the mother as straitlaced and hardworking.
If anything, they said, the 35-year-old mother may be guilty of neglect - she works 16-hour shifts as a certified nursing assistant ...
"That lady has bent over backward, crying sleepless nights, working double shifts, keeping her house together to get her kids back, for her kids to turn on her like that . . . they're just ungrateful kids," said Valencia Ward, who said she's known the woman for 18 years. * * *
"I just totally think that's not true," [the woman's landlord] said of the abuse allegations. "Every time I would go over there, the kids were always clean. Their room was fixed so nice. They had matching bed sets, beautiful curtains, plenty of toys."
... some friends question story
Ungrateful little brats!