Investigation launched into wellbeing of Myka and James Stauffer's adopted son
Couple's four biological children will be contacted as part of investigation
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An investigation has been launched into the wellbeing of Myka and James Stauffer’s adopted son Huxley after the couple announced they had found him a new home.
Last week, the couple, from Columbus, Ohio, explained in a YouTube video titled: “An update on our family,” that Huxley, who has autism, had a “lot more special needs that we weren't aware of” and that he had been placed in a new home nearly three years after he was adopted from China.
In the video, the Stauffers, who have four biological children and who share a large portion of their daily lives on YouTube, said that they had seen numerous medical professionals regarding their four-year-old son’s “severe needs” before making the decision.
The announcement was met with widespread criticism, with many of Myka’s followers and subscribers expressing outrage over the couple’s decision.
Following “several enquiries regarding the welfare” of a local child placed up for adoption, the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office has since launched an investigation into the case and Huxley’s whereabouts, as first reported by BuzzFeed.
In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for the department said: "Our primary concern is for the well-being of this child, as well as the other children in the household. Our investigation is ongoing, and will include contact with all children to ensure their safety.
“All adoption cases are confidential, and must go through a thorough process, with specific requirements and safeguards. In private adoptions there are the same legal requirements that must be adhered to. These include home studies as well as background checks on the adopting parent(s). In this case we are confident that the appropriate process is occurring."
The spokesperson also confirmed that Huxley is “not missing” and that “both parties are being represented by attorneys to ensure full compliance with the court process."
In the couple’s YouTube video, they said Huxley had found a “new forever family” but did not specify how.
“They found somebody that they felt would be ultimately the best fit and he is thriving, he is very happy, he is doing very well and his new mommy has medical professional training and it is a very good fit,” Myka said.
At the time, attorneys for the Stauffers told The Independent that “given the facts at hand, we feel this was the best decision for Huxley.”
“In coming to know our clients we know they are a loving family and are very caring parents that would do anything for their children,” the attorneys said. “Since his adoption, they consulted with multiple professionals in the healthcare and educational arenas in order to provide Huxley with the best possible treatment and care.
“Over time, the team of medical professionals advised our clients it might be best for Huxley to be placed with another family. This is devastating news for any parent. Our clients came to the difficult determination to follow the advice of the medical professionals.”
According to the couple’s attorneys, the process of finding a new home for Huxley “did NOT include any considerations for placement in the foster system, but rather to hand-select a family who is equipped to handle Huxley’s needs.”
Val Turner, a spokesperson for Franklin County Children Services, confirmed to BuzzFeed that the four-year-old was not in its custody.
"The adoption for the Stauffer family is an international adoption, which does not involve our agency," Turner said. "It appears that [Myka] made arrangements with an individual person, versus an agency."
The Independent has contacted the Stauffer’s lawyers for comment.