Caldwell mom says state unjustly took her son away

NAMPA, Idaho (CBS 2) — Kristine McCreery met with me in Nampa's Lakeview Park, one of the few places she was able to see her son under state supervision.

The 41-year-old Caldwell mother says Child Protective Services (CPS) took her son and placed him in foster care in January after several trips to see Treasure Valley doctors.

And just a few hours after our meeting, McCreery said CPS told her all contact with her son was not allowed, citing a no contact order.

She says doctors were treating her son's health and weight loss challenges from the flu.

"I didn't do anything wrong, I do exactly what the doctors tell me to do," she said. "Now they're telling me I hurt my son, saying I withheld food from him in some way or another."

And McCreey is being charged with felony injury to a child.

I reached out to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare about the case.

They told me they couldn't comment on this specific case.

But the state says CPS can place a child in foster care when law enforcement determines the child is in imminent danger.

And McCreery says that's what she was told by Nampa police after CPS was alerted by a nurse.

Rep. Christy Zito, who knows McCreery, says she's worried parents in cases like this are being denied due process.

"I know what abuse and neglect are," said the Republican from Hammett. "My concern is, in our zealousness to protect children are we actually causing harm to children?"

And Zito says she'll take her concern to the legislature next year.

Meantime, McCreery plans to plead not guilty to the felony charge against her in state district court on Wednesday.

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