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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 EDT, Tue, Jan 20, 2009

AP

Adolf Hitler, 3, with his parents. Adolf's younger sisters also have Nazi-inspired names.

 

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.

Adolf Hitler Campbell, Sisters Taken from Parents

Watch Video

Three children whose names were at the center of a firestorm have been taken away from their parents, but NJ officials are mum as to why.

3-Year-Old "Adolf Hitler" Causes Cake Mess

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A simple request for a name on a three year old's birthday cake has caused a controversy because of the person who he is named after.

Wal-Mart Taking Heat for "Adolf Hitler" Cake

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Some people aren't so sweet on Penn. Wal-Mart bakery for putting the name Adolf Hitler on a birthday cake.

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.

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Comments (485)

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  • Manu Tuesday, May 26 at 5:07 PM FLAG COMMENT @ Michelle - Let us say that he IS a Nazi sympathizer. Is that a crime? I dont think so. Big deal, you have Saddam sympathizers, Bi laden sympathizers, Isreal sympathizers, Palestine sympathizers, Bush sympathizers and Obama sympathizers, but they arent criminals until they commit a crime. Why should the Nazi sympathizers be any different? This is America. You can sympathize and hate anything and anyone. When did that become ... MORE >
  • Michelle Monday, May 25 at 12:37 PM FLAG COMMENT I know this comment is a little late, but after watching the videos it's difficult to not make a comment. This is plain ignorance at it's best. First of all, how can you not be a Nazi sympathizer when you collect Nazi memorabilia, have swastikas tattooed on yourself and name your children after individuals who are infamous for what they did under the Nazi regime in Germany all those years ago? On top of that, in the interview ... MORE >
  • Anonymous Monday, Apr 13 at 3:27 PM FLAG COMMENT the leftmost woman in the pic looks like gollum
  • Anonymous Monday, Apr 13 at 3:24 PM FLAG COMMENT If my mom named me ADOLF HITLER, I can only hope the government would abolish her custody rights. Watch the video, then argue the parents are mentally stable
  • d Friday, Mar 20 at 1:30 AM FLAG COMMENT first and fore most alex i dont think you got picked on in school by being named after Alexander the great so your comment made no sense. If the liitle boy would have just been aldof i really dont think people would have took notice but they gave the full name of a man who murdered many and then you name your daughter aryan nation? Those children will grow into hate. Hate is taught and learned it is not something that you are ... MORE >

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