From the International Human Rights Group...

I am writing this just after 1:00AM (EDT) on Monday, 23 April 2007. We have just learned that Melissa Busekros returned to her family just a few hours ago.

At 3:00 AM, in Erlangen, Germany, Melissa reached her home to the surprise of her entire family. Earlier in the morning Melissa left a note with the foster family where she was being held and began the journey to her family. She left of her own volition.

Why did she leave now, after nearly three months? Today Melissa has turned sixteen. In Germany this gives her broader rights than it does in America. It gives her more of a voice in her own custody. So, she decided to return home.

In fact, if the state police come for her again she is prepared to refuse to go on the advice of her attorney. As the business day begins in Germany, Melissa will be calling her attorney Dr. Hildebrandt to let him know that she has returned home. He will be prepared to come to Erlangen should he be needed.

Our director of European Operations, Richard Guenther, spoke with the family this morning and told them that it was imperative that they contact Dr. Hildebrandt immediately so that he can be available should state police visit the family.

I spoke with Gudrun, Melissa’s mother, just after midnight. I conveyed our congratulations on having their daughter home. Gudrun was relieved to have her entire family back together.

On a side note, a week or so ago, Melissa was evaluated by a professor of psychology who is the director of the institution that oversaw Melissa's care while she was being held in state custody. This evaluation was taken in the presence of a second psychologist and was done at the request of the Youth Welfare Office in Erlangen. Dr. Hildebrandt, who represented Melissa after the state-appointed attorney failed to represent her properly by siding with the Youth Welfare Office, had an extensive conversation with the psychologist in which the doctor declared that Melissa is a “stable person.” This new evaluation revealed that Melissa does not suffer from “school phobia.” She is healthy and has made it through this traumatic ordeal remarkably well, in the words of the expert.

Dr. Hildebrandt has already asked a higher German court to recognize the findings of this new evaluation and order Melissa returned to her family immediately.

So they put her with a foster family that can't even keep track of her? That sounds about typical for "state care".