Ecclesia Founder Blasts Oregon’s Handling of Case
The founder of the Watts-based Ecclesia Athletic Assn. accused the Oregon Children’s Services Division of lies and incompetence and of trying to take 53 Ecclesia children in state custody away from their parents.
After an emotional confrontation with division officials Friday, Eldridge Broussard Jr. told reporters his 8-year-old daughter, Dayna, was “not beaten to death” at Ecclesia’s farmhouse near Sandy, east of Portland.
Broussard said he is awaiting a report on the cause of the child’s death from William Brady, the forensic pathologist hired by defense attorneys to conduct an independent autopsy.
Broussard said statements of two of four Ecclesia members facing trial on manslaughter charges in his daughter’s death, made in a hearing last week on pretrial motions, were “taken out of context.”
“It did not happen like people heard. You will hear it in court. I bet you that,” Broussard said.
The state agency took the children into custody at the residence near Sandy on Oct. 14. Broussard and others said the children were undergoing rigorous athletic training but state authorities have alleged severe beatings and other abuse.
The Oregon Children’s Services Division said Friday it has initiated proceedings to return 10 of the 53 children to California.
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