Melton v. STATE DEPT. OF PEN. & SEC.

This is a termination of parental rights case.

In March 1977 the Tallapoosa County Department of Pensions and Security (DPS) received a child abuse and neglect report concerning Juanita Melton, the five-month-old daughter of Cecilia and Harold Melton. The report indicated that for three days prior thereto, Mr. Melton had been walking up and down the road with Juanita, attempting to give her away to passersby.1 Upon investigation, it was found that Juanita, who at that time was living with Mr. and Mrs. Lyn Barrett, was in dreadful physical condition. She suffered from severe cradle cap, and…