Hearing Ends on Placing Child; Referee Puts Lid on Result

A closed-door hearing on where to place a 4-year-old boy who police say was abducted from his foster home by his biological parents concluded Tuesday, but the results were not revealed because an Orange County Juvenile Court referee forbade participants to discuss the case.

However, a friend of Susan White said Tuesday night that White, foster mother of the child, Taj Jayyusi, had received custody and that they were staying at an undisclosed location.

A smiling White left the courtroom after the hearing and rushed to hug supporters who had waited for her since the session began at 1:30 p.m. and went until late afternoon.

White, her attorney and county officials declined to discuss the case, citing the gag order issued by Juvenile Court Referee Gary L. Vincent.

White’s lawyer, Redmond P. McAneny, would say only: “I do not intend to be back in that courtroom.” Tuesday’s session ended a closed-door hearing that began last week.

A friend then drove White next door to the Orangewood Children’s Home, a shelter for abused or neglected children where Taj has been living since Feb. 18.

Taj’s biological parents, Yaser and Deborah Ann Jayyusi, allegedly abducted the child from White’s Rancho Santa Margarita home Feb. 12, police have said. The couple were arrested in Cerritos Feb. 18 as Yaser Jayyusi tried to pick up his paycheck. The boy was with them at the time.

Taj and a 2-year-old sister entered foster care two years ago after being taken from the Jayyusis because of allegations of physical abuse, according to county Department of Social Services officials and court records.

White, a special education teacher, had begun proceedings to adopt the boy when his parents allegedly snatched him as he played in her garage.

Both parents are now being held at the County Jail on suspicion of child abduction.