IN RE JOHNSON & ROBINSON MINORS
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STATE OF MICHIGAN
COURT OF APPEALS
In the Matter of TARNEZ JOHNSON and
DAJANIQUE ROBINSON, Minors.
FAMILY INDEPENDENCE AGENCY,
UNPUBLISHED
December 28, 1999
Petitioner-Appellee,
v
No. 217427
Muskegon Circuit Court
Family Division
LC No. 97-024208 NA
TAMARA GEE,
Respondent-Appellant,
and
TARNEZ JOHNSON,
ROBINSON,
SR.
and
DAMARIO
Respondents.
Before: Saad, P.J., and McDonald and Gage, JJ.
MEMORANDUM.
Respondent-appellant appeals as of right from a family court order terminating her parental
rights to the minor children pursuant to MCL 712A.19b(3)(c)(i) and (g); MSA
27.3178(598.19b)(3)(c)(i) and (g). We affirm.
The family court did not clearly err in finding that the statutory grounds for termination were
established by clear and convincing evidence. In re Hall-Smith, 222 Mich App 470, 472-473; 564
NW2d 156 (1997); In re Vasquez, 199 Mich App 44, 51-52; 501 NW2d 231 (1993). In addition,
respondent-appellant failed to show that termination of her parental rights was clearly not in the
children’s best interests. MCL 712A.19b(5); MSA 27.3178(598.19b)(5). Therefore, the family court
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did not err in terminating respondent-appellant’s parental rights to the children. In re Hall-Smith,
supra.
We reject respondent-appellant’s argument that the family court erred by failing to place the
children with an aunt instead of terminating her parental rights. If the court finds that it is within the
children’s best interests to do so, it may terminate parental rights instead of placing the children with
relatives. In re McIntyre, 192 Mich App 47, 52; 480 NW2d 293 (1991); In re IEM, 233 Mich App
438, 453; 592 NW2d 751 (1999). Here, the evidence did not establish that the proposed custodians
were able to provide proper care and custody. One aunt failed to respond to petitioner’s inquiry
regarding placement and another aunt, whom the children barely knew, was investigated and found to
be unsuitable. Therefore, the family court did not err in rejecting respondent-appellant’s alternative
resolution.
Affirmed.
/s/ Henry William Saad
/s/ Gary R. McDonald
/s/ Hilda R. Gage
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