IN RE BUNCH MINORS
Annotate this Case
Download PDF
STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of OSCAR ALLAN CURETON,
Minor.
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
August 16, 2007
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 277508
Isabella Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 06-000113-NA
MICHELLE BUNCH,
Respondent-Appellant.
In the Matter of CHEYENNE VICTORIA
BUNCH, RAELYNN MARIE BUNCH, and
STARLISSA ANN BUNCH, Minors.
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 277527
Isabella Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 06-000112-NA
MICHELLE L. BUNCH,
Respondent-Appellant.
Before: Whitbeck, C.J., and Talbot and Zahra, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent appeals as of right from an order terminating her parental rights to the minor
children pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(b)(ii) and (g). We affirm.
The trial court did not clearly err in finding that the statutory grounds for termination
were established by clear and convincing evidence. MCR 3.977(J); In re Trejo, 462 Mich 341,
356-357; 612 NW2d 407 (2000). The evidence established that respondent’s husband, Johnny
-1-
Bunch, was prone to frequent episodes of aggression and hostility when he lived with the family,
and that he pleaded no contest to several charges of criminal sexual conduct against the children.
The evidence also showed that respondent was incapable of protecting herself or her children
from her husband’s conduct and that respondent was complicit in some of the abuse inflicted on
the minor children.
Specifically, evidence was presented demonstrating the unsanitary conditions of
respondent’s home. The minor children lacked appropriate supervision and nutrition. In
addition, their hygiene was not routinely addressed, leaving them filthy and smelling of urine.
Respondent failed to intervene when her husband, as punishment, frequently locked the minor
children in their bedrooms for 30-minute periods throughout the day and overnight, precluding
their access to bathroom facilities. Following their placement in foster care, the extent of the
sexual and physical abuse inflicted by respondent’s husband on the minor children was revealed.
Respondent, despite her physical proximity and awareness of these abusive incidents, failed to
intervene or attempt to preclude her husband’s deviant behavior. Psychological evaluations of
respondent indicated an impaired emotional connection to her children, which was described as
being “severely dysfunctional.” This emotional distance, coupled with respondent’s immature
and passive personality interfered with her ability to cope with problems and led to the denial of
her husband’s abusive behaviors and ignoring her children’s needs and feelings. The
psychologist who evaluated respondent opined that her low intellectual functioning, passive
personality and lack of motivation prevented respondent from being capable of attaining the
necessary skills to overcome her parenting deficiencies. Accordingly, termination was proper
under §§ 19b(3)(b)(ii) and (g).
Affirmed.
/s/ William C. Whitbeck
/s/ Michael J. Talbot
/s/ Brian K. Zahra
-2-
Some case metadata and case summaries were written with the help of AI, which can produce inaccuracies. You should read the full case before relying on it for legal research purposes.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
