West Virginia Department of Welfare ex rel. Eyster v. Keesee

NEELY, Justice:

This is an appeal from two separate orders of the Circuit Court of Cabell County entered on 25 June 1981. One order permanently terminated the parental rights of Gary Keesee and the other order permanently terminated the parental rights of Mary Workman to their twin sons, Gregory and Gary Keesee. In order to understand the issue in this case a somewhat extended recitation of the facts is necessary.

The appellants had lived together out of wedlock for nearly three and a half years; their relationship was characterized by violent acts against one another, escalating during the…