Mother of Girl, 10, Held in Bunker Agrees to Her Being in Foster Care

The mother of 10-year-old Katie Beers, the Long Island girl abducted by a family friend who held her in an underground bunker for 16 days, agreed Thursday to allow her daughter to remain temporarily in foster care.

Marilyn Beers, who is fighting to regain permanent custody of the girl, appeared at a Suffolk County Family Court proceeding to deny allegations that she had neglected her daughter. The county Department of Social Services filed a sealed petition against Beers that seeks to place Katie in foster care to protect the girl’s physical and emotional well-being.

Assistant County Atty. Jeffrey Adolf and Beers’ lawyer agreed to allow Katie to stay with a foster family for three weeks. A court hearing was scheduled for Feb. 11.

In the meantime, a court-appointed psychologist will interview Katie and her mother and report to Family Court Judge James F. X. Doyle, said a source with knowledge of the agreement, which also was sealed.

Doyle must decide where Katie will live, but her mother will be allowed to visit the girl in the meantime. Adolf said the county is not seeking to terminate Beers’ parental rights.

A family friend, John Esposito, 43, was indicted Wednesday on 11 counts of kidnaping, sexual abuse and other charges. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, which carry a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

Katie has been living with a family in Suffolk County since she was rescued on Jan. 13.