Muslim foster family takes in kids displaced by murders

By Mary Kaye Ritz
Advertiser Religion & Ethics Writer

After three months of discussions over the religious upbringing of three Muslim children, a family court judge yesterday temporarily placed Daniel, Courtney and Brandon DeArmond with a foster family who share their faith, Hakim Ouansafi, the head of the Muslim Association of Hawai'i, said yesterday.

Their father, David DeArmond, today faces a pretrial court-martial hearing in the June 10 murders of his wife, Zaleha K. Dearmond, and mother-in-law, Saniah B. Abdul Ghani. His three children had been taken into emergency police custody that day and later placed with a military family.

Members of the Muslim community protested to state officials that the three, who are 2 to 5 years old, were not coming to regular services at the mosque and were not following the dietary restrictions of their religion.

Six Muslim couples immediately stepped forward to seek custody of the three, but initially were turned down, according to Ouansafi. Two have since gone on to have their homes inspected for special licenses to serve as foster families.

"We're very happy to hear that the very first family who expressed interest and was denied has finally gotten the children," Ouansafi said.

State officials and the Muslim community at the time said the case highlighted the need for a diverse cross-section of families licensed to provide foster care on O'ahu.

Susan Chandler, the director of the state Department of Health Services, earned praise from the Muslim leader for her handling of the matter and for assigning new caseworkers to look at the situation.

Chandler was unavailable for comment.

"Susan Chandler has taken the time and fixed the problem," he said. "We appreciate the fact that because of her Jewish tradition, she understood the importance of dietary needs as well as religious practices within the family.

The children were to spend last night in the new family's home, Ouansafi said, but added that he was not allowed to disclose the location. Because it's a family court matter and minors are involved, there are restrictions on how many details could be discussed, he said.

Reach Mary Kaye Ritz at mritz@honoluluadvertiser.com.