Eileen O'Connor: How the Idaho stand-off ended

Eileen O'Connor

Eileen O'Connor is a national correspondent for CNN, and reported from Sand Point, Idaho

Q: What contributed to the end of the stand-off in Idaho, and was any part played by the mother?

O'Connor: The negotiations began when a note was sent from the children's mother -- they were worried she wasn't safe -- indicating that she was OK and telling them in the note that they were a "whoop-ti-do per bounce", according to her attorney. That began negotiations between the children and some family friends who came to the house on Saturday, left some food and water and another note from their mother saying that she was OK, and had a couple of hours of talks then, but through a wall -- obviously the dogs were all around still

VIDEO After five days, children voluntarily leave their home in rural Idaho. CNN's Eileen O'Connor reports (June 3) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Lilian Kim reports on Ben McGuckin, who was involved in the standoff but is now in custody (June 1) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)    CNN ACCESS Idaho standoff neighbor: 'It's very bad with the dogs'    MESSAGE BOARD Idaho standoff

The children then asked that their elder sister and brother come to the property. They came on Sunday morning and spent a few hours with them, then a telephone line was established between the house and the jail cell of JoAnn McGuckin, the mother, and she told them that she loves them and that they should in fact come out and go with the authorities. So they came willingly out of the house and got into the back of a Suburban that was driven by one of the two female negotiators from the sheriff's department and the local police department. They drove them then to the hospital, where the children were checked out, and given meals and rest. They say they are in good condition, they've been through a lot of trauma, and they still remain in the hospital. They are expected today after a shelter hearing to be released to a family friend. who is going to serve as a sort of foster parent, and then a permanent plan for the children will be determined in the next 30 days. JoAnn McGuckin, will be appearing at that shelter hearing.

Q: Was there any reason the authorities didn't allow the mother to go to the house to bring the children out?

O'Connor: She apparently wanted to go to the house, but the prosecutor said he thought that was too dangerous, because she might then try to stay in the house with the children, which would inflame the situation. So they were concerned to avoid that, and it seems that their attitude may have paid off, as they were able to resolve this without that risk.

The sheriff himself said he didn't really like the word "stand-off" and that the children were scared but they weren't really pointing guns at each other. He said the oldest of the children, Kathryn, said she was never really frightened of the sheriff's deputies or their presence -- he didn't say she was never frightened at all. He said this was really about trying to figure out the best solution for the children and what the children felt comfortable with. He believed that when the authorities came to get them on Tuesday, the children were frightened and distressed, and thought they were going to be split up and sent to strange places. He said his personal assurance that they would stay together with people they were familiar with was also instrumental in ending the stand-off.

Q: Will the mother be able to resume care for her children, and how does the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare expect to accomplish this?

O'Connor: The mother says she's fighting this -- she issued a statement through her attorney. She says that she's innocent of neglect, and that they really have to look at the facts. She says that the children are hers, they are not wards of the state, she provided as best she could and the state needs to learn its place, and this is not in the family business. She also said, may the public demand some answers as well, referring to the interference of the state authorities in what she considers to be family business. She is fighting the charges, saying that the children were living in these conditions because she had an unpaid tax debt and the state took over her property last fall, and in fact sold it to pay off this debt. She says she tried to work it out before through other means, and she also says that this is a family that fell on hard times.

The father was sick with multiple sclerosis till he died a few weeks ago, the family sawmill business went bankrupt in the 80's, the well broke -- that's why they did not have running water -- and she said that she was providing as best she could. She had accepted some food from the food bank but authorities say that other help that had been offered, she wouldn't accept. They say she is therefore guilty of willful neglect. Some in the community support that, saying that they tried to bring things for the children and the mother kept them off the property, but her attorney says she was really guilty of being poor, and she was trying to do the best she could. She was also sick at one point in the last few weeks and that was also making things difficult.

The state says they are willing to work with this family, they are willing to reunite the mother with the children, but she has to accept the help they offer, and that's probably going to need supervision as well. They want to make sure the children end up being cared for and given a safe environment -- there were a couple of dozen very emaciated dogs on the property. This complaint began with the oldest sister, Rena, who told the authorities about the conditions under which the children were living when she left last fall to join the Navy, and she, a family member, was the one saying that the children weren't living under the best of circumstances.

Everyone here including the authorities agrees that this is a very close family. Everyone agrees, even the prosecutor, that this is a good family, they love each other, and in the last few weeks they showed that. They were willing to stand up and fight for each other.There are people who believe that JoAnn McGuckin was paranoid, had some mental and physical problems, and she needs help, but she refused that help. So what the authorities say is they are willing to reunite this family, but they want to make sure everyone gets the help they need - financial, counseling, therapy, physical, medical attention, everything.