Couple in Placentia Loses Foster-Care Home License

A local couple was stripped of a license to operate a foster-care home after officials found numerous instances of children being physically abused and denied access to medical care, state records show.

At various times while under the care of John and Linda Sue Dryer, one child was kicked in the head and another forced to perform housework or risk losing continued visitation with her natural mother, according to documents filed by the California Department of Social Services.

One of the youngsters, whose age was not disclosed and was identified in state documents only as Child 2, was “threatened” by John Dryer with transfer to a “group home” if she reported the incidents of abuse to authorities.

State records indicate that on at least five occasions, between November, 1992, and August, 1993, the Dryers “engaged in physical abuse, violations of personal rights and corporal punishment” of children in their care.

Linda Dryer said the department’s allegations are false and the result of differences the couple experienced with a foster home license worker.

“I’m sick about this,” she said, adding that she remains friends with the mother of one of the children referred to as a victim in the state records.

Dryer said her troubles with the state began about the time the couple took in a 15-year-old girl in November. The girl later ran away. Differences with the license worker became more serious in January when a foster infant died in their care of sudden infant death syndrome.

She said the children were not threatened with denial of their visitation rights and that all of the abuse claims are false.

“I can’t believe this,” she said.

State Department of Social Services spokeswoman Liz Brady said the Dryers’ license for the facility in the 1200 block of Caracas Drive, granted on Sept. 30, 1991, was officially revoked on Sept. 14.

Although eligible for a hearing on the charges before an administrative law judge, Brady said the Dryers “did not exercise that option.”

Linda Dryer said she challenged the department’s findings with Orange County officials but decided not to pursue the challenge with the state because “I just wanted it to be over with. . . . The licensing worker had already made up her mind.”

Brady said the facility had been inspected at least three or four times since the license was granted, but she could not say how the allegations were first brought to the attention of authorities or exactly when the department’s investigation began.

She said she did not know if the reports of abuse had been forwarded to local police for review. A Placentia police official could not say whether the incidents had been reported to the department and the Orange County district attorney’s office said it was not aware of any such reports.

“We only go after them to get them out of the foster-care business,” Brady said.

According to the documents, two children were listed as victims of abuse, and at least one required medical care, according to state records.

State officials said that “Linda Sue Dryer chased Child 1 through the facility,” causing the youngster to fall and suffer a facial cut that required “several sutures.”

Linda Dryer acknowledged that the child was injured but said the family had been playfully romping through the house.