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LA'" OFFICE OF
SCOTTD. McKENZIE
EXECUTIVE WOODS OFFICE PARK
1603 S.W. 37TH STREET
TOPEKA, KA.."SAS 66611- 2563
(913) 267-5400
April 14, 1997

Honorable Jan W. Leuenberger Judge of the District Court Shawnee County Courthouse

200 S.E. 7th st.
Topeka, Kansas
66603
Donald Hoffman
701 S.W. Jackson suite 206
Topeka, Kansas
66603
Sheri Keller
Court Services Officer
Shawnee County Courthouse
200 S.E. 7th st.
Topeka, Kansas
66603
John Ambrosio
1208 S.W. Tyler
Topeka, Kansas
66612
Report of Guardian Ad Litem

The undersigned was appointed by the District Court october 23, 1996, to conduct an independent investigation and report to the court concerning the best interest and needs of the parties minor child, Rikki

Dombrowski,
in relation
to contested
custody
and
visitation proceedings.
The court and the parties should bear in
mind
that
this
report
is prepared
without
the
benefit
of
participation
in an evidentiary
hearing, which could very well
influence
or modify
my
conclusions.
As
is the
nature
of
investigations,
Iam influenced by the opinions of others familiar
with the circumstances
of the parties, investigations
of others
that were not duplicated by this writer, hearsay statements,
and
~
other indirect information and inadmissable evidence.
Despite my
~
best efforts to be child centered and neutral as to the parents
\ ~conflicting
position,
conclusions
are
also
influenced
by my
\)
personal values.
~~~
Initial investigation
consisted of reviewing the court file
I~
and the confidential
social file maintained
by court services.
"' I
Court Services
Officer Sheri Keller was interviewed
at length.
were:
Ms. Dombrowski's
prior counsel
Freund
d Alan Alderson' Gretchen Morganstern, who assisted
visitation exc anges ln Salina, Kansas; Dr. Richard Maxfield,
who
has
submitted
a
custody
evaluation
to
the
court;
Mr.
Richardson's
children from his first marriage, Tiffany (18), Lisa
(16), and HalIII
(15); and Bernie Nobo, MSW, who had previously
counseled the parties.
Mr. Richardson was also interviewed,
but
our discussion
centered
solely
on possible
solutions
to the
visitation exchange problems.
Also reviewed were a telephone tape
recording
provided to Sheri Keller by Mr. Richardson,
1 police
\
report from 1993 involving Ms. Dombrowski
and Kermit Lindgren, 7
~/
Rich~dso~
~_
~~~~~ski
Ap:z:-.:L~ ::L4,
::L997
Pa.ge:
.2
police reports
from 1995 involving
the parties,
and 12 police
reports from 1996 involving the parties.
The following documents were received from Ms. Dombrowski and
reviewed:

Joel H. Nance, MD, letter dated 7-13-96; cotton-O'Neil medical record of 3-26-96; cotton-O'Neil medical record of 1-8-96; stormont Vail progress notes and social work assessment of 12-16- 94; stormont Vail assessment flow sheet of 12-12-94; stormont Vail daily care activity sheet for 12-14-94; INK name search result for Richardson,

H. from 8-27-96; Topeka Police cover sheet for case
#8953-96; and June Barger, psychologist,
letter dated 1-21-97.
Rikki Dombrowski
is presently two years and four months of
age.
All information obtained reflects the child is healthy, has
normal development
for her age, and has no special needs.
All

sources of information indicate no basis for any neglect or abuse concern, regardless of which parent has charge of Rikki's care. The child is not of sufficient age to consider her desires as to custody or residency, and has not been seen by this writer.

Both
parties
were
requested
to
submit
detailed
written
proposals for appropriate visitation if each were the residential
parent and also if each were the non-residential
parent.
Ms.
Dombrowski
suggested
if she were
the residential
parent,
Mr.
Richardson should have visitation every other weekend or one week
a month, to cut down travel time, with exchanges
of the child
occurring at a police station.
Ms. Dombrowski had no visitation
proposal
should
Mr. Richardson
be designated
the residential
parent.

Mr. Richardson states if he is designated the residential parent, he would be very reasonable and would want Rikki to spend as much time with her mother and grandparents

as any other child
irithis situation would, except that the maternal grandmother's
visits should be supervised.
Mr. Richardson suggested if he is the
non-residential

parent, that he be allowed reasonable visitation, weekly if possible, for longer than twenty-four hours at a time, plus

at least
one month
extended
stay
in the summer.
Mr.
Richardson
would like visitation
exchanges
to occur in peace,
without supervision by police or social workers.
Mr. Richardson
suggested Ms. Dombrowski's
step-father's
home in st. Marys as a
preferred exchange point, where the parties could drop the child
!1fand not have contact with each other.
~
All sources of information describe both parents as devoted
t~ the well being of Rikki.
Dr. Maxfield describes both parents
as clearly
involved
and invested
in Rikki' slife.
Observed
interaction of each parent with the child have been appropriate.
Both parents
are able
to comfort
the child
and demonstrate
tenderness
to the child when she is distressed.

No source of information reported anything negative on either parent in their interaction with the child.

Ri~h~~dso~
~_
~~~o~ski
A.pz-.:i.~
.24,
.2997
.poage
:3
It is apparent that since the birth of Rikki, ~e

has been under the primary care and control of Ms. Dombrowski. LJIowever, the circumstances indicate ~

Dombrowski has intentionally kept Rikki
away from Mr. Richardson.
There have been short periods when Rikki
was in the care of Mr.
ichardson or in the care of his former
wife.
Several sources of information
expressed
negative
comments
regarding Ms. Dombrowski's mother, with whom Ms. Dombrowski moved
to Larned, Kansas, around May, 1996.

As a child, Ms. Dombrowski was apparently a victim of rape, incest, and physical abuse while in the care of her mother.

Ms. Dombrowski's childhood is described as bouncing back and forth from multiple foster care placements and her mother's home.

Ms. Dombrowski wants to protect her daughter
and provide a positive upbringing.

Mr. Richardson states he does not get along with Ms. Dombrowski's mother, and has requested her contact with Rikki be supervised.

Gretchen Morganstern of Salina,
Kansas, also stated the maternal grandmother
should be kept away
from Rikki.
Ms. Dombrowski indicates her mother has moved on to
California and is no longer in the area.
Mr. Richardson's
children from his first marriage, Tiffany,
Lisa, and Hall III, all speak fondly of Rikki.
Lisa has a definite
dislike
of
Ms.
Dombrowski.
Hall
Richardson
III
has
been
interviewed by police regarding domestic disturbances

between Mr. Richardson and Ms. Dombrowski, and related to me incidents he had observed.

All three children are of sufficient age and maturity to assist in caretaking of Rikki, and are quite curious about how their half sister is doing.

All three expressed
concern about

Rikki's welfare as she gets older should she remain in her mother's care, and fear they will never get to know Rikki or watch her grow up.

Tiffany
Richardson
resides
with her
father,
and visits
regularly with her mother.
Lisa and Hal III alternate residence
between their mother and Mr. Richardson,
spending approximately
equal time in both homes.
Ms. Dombrowski's
therapist and Rikki's day care provider in
Larned have been interviewed by Sheri Keller and Dr. Maxfield.
All
indications are that Rikki has adjusted well to her mother's new
home and day care, and that Ms. Dombrowski benefits from therapy.
Ms. Dombrowski
is an L.P.N., which I view as a mobile job
skill.
Ms. Dombrowski was previously employed at the Topeka State
Hospital, and now works at Larned State Hospital.
Mr. Richardson
is a small business
owner, operating
Minuteman
Solar Film and
Topeka Vinyl.

It appears Mr. Richardson is tied to the Topeka area by his business, the children of his first marriage, and extended family.

Court documents
indicate Ms. Dombrowski
has extended
family in the Great Bend area, but they are not identified.
As
previously stated, Ms. Dombrowski's mother with whom Ms. Dombrowski
resided in either Great Bend or Larned, has apparently moved on to
of 00

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