Adolf Hitler, Sisters Taken from Parents' Home
Police sergeant was assured they were not taken away because of name, birthday cake incident
By VINCE LATTANZIO and KAREN ARAIZA
Updated 11:41 AM EST, Tue, Jan 20, 2009
The custody hearing to figure out what should happen to 3-year old Adolf Hitler Campbell and his sisters, who also have Nazi-inspired names, did not happen as planned on Thursday. But no one is saying why.
People close to the case have been asked by the Prosecutor’s office to stop talking about the case because it involves minors.
The three children were taken from their Holland Township home Tuesday night by New Jersey’s Division of Youth and Family Services. The big question is why?
Their parents, Heath and Deborah Campbell gave all three of their children Nazi-inspired names: Adolph Hitler Campbell, 3, Joyce Lynn Aryan Nation Campbell, 1, and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell, who will turn 1 in April.
The story made headlines around the world in mid-December when Adolf’s parents asked a grocery store in Greenwhich, N.J., to put “Adolf Hitler” on his birthday cake. The store refused, saying it was inappropriate.
The store refused to give an apology when the parents demanded one. A local Wal-Mart ended up honoring their request.
The Campbells, in interviews, have said repeatedly that they’re not Nazi sympathizers or anything of the sort.
"I think people need to take their heads out of the cloud they've been in and start focusing on the future and not on the past," Heath Campbell said in an interview after the cake incident.
"There's a new president and he says it's time for a change; well, then it's time for a change," he continued. "They need to accept a name. A name's a name. The kid isn't going to grow up and do what (Hitler) did."
Last Friday, DYFS workers went to the home to investigate a complaint related to the children. Sgt. John Harris with the Holland Twp. Police Dept. was the police escort. He wasn’t told the details of the complaint. When the agency decided to remove Adolf and his sisters, Harris said they did tell him it was not because of the children's names.
“They assured me that removing the children had nothing to do with their names or the birthday cake incident. There were other factors that we were not privy to,” said Harris.
The sergeant said based on his personal experiences with Heath Campbell, he had no idea what could have led to the decision.
“Just from knowing Mr. Campbell from the past ten or so years, I've never known him to abuse his children and when he has talked about his children he has been very much into his kids. Very loving,” Harris said.
Local police have not had any reports of abuse or neglect.
Due to confidentiality laws, Kate Bernyk with the N.J. Division of Youth and Family Services would not comment or even acknowledge any involvement with the Campbells.
Calls to the Heath and Deborah Campbell were met with a message that the line had been temporarily disconnected.
Related Stories:
- “Nein” Cake for You, Little Adolf
- “Adolf Hitler’s” Parents Want Apology
- Hitler Cake Death Threat Sent to Wrong Family
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First Published: Jan 13, 2009 8:53 PM EST
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