Page 1 of 1

Police Seize 10 Children From Homeschool Family Because They’re Off-Grid

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:21 am
by quentin
what a world we live in.

While this story is appalling there is a much darker less obvious story that is only hinted at here. That story is that CPS came in with police with the intent of taking the children based on an 'anonymous tip'. Apparently without checking anything or even verifying the allegations first. This in essence this means that anyone that has a grudge against anyone who has children can make a totally bogus 'anonymous tip' and the CPS will show up with the local 'Swat Specialists' (SS for short) and the person will suddenly find themselves having to spend a fortune trying to prove they did nothing wrong in order to get their kids back.


http://www.offthegridnews.com/current-e ... /#comments

Police Seize 10 Children From Homeschool Family Because They’re Off-Grid

Off The Grid News Staff
May 7, 2015

An off-grid homeschool family of 12 in rural Kentucky was raided, the mother arrested, and the 10 children seized simply because the government disagrees with their lifestyle and their educational choices, family members and friends say.

Until Wednesday, Joe and Nicole Naugler lived with their 10 kids in a cabin on 26 acres in Breckinridge County, about an hour southwest of Louisville.

“They are an extremely happy family,” family friend Pace Ellsworth told Off The Grid News.


Acting on an anonymous tip about the family’s off-grid lifestyle, sheriff’s officers entered the property and home Wednesday, and even blocked the access road to the family property, the family says. Joe and eight of the children were away, but Nicole – who is five-months pregnant – was home with the two oldest kids. Sheriff deputies then seemingly allowed Nicole and the two children to drive away but they got only a short distance before deputies pulled them over and took the two children away from the mom, who was arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. (She says the arrest took place after she did not passively allow deputies to take the children.) Nicole was able to contact her husband and have a brief conversation.


Later, the sheriff ordered Joe to turn over the other children by 10 a.m. or be arrested for felony charges, the family says. He complied.

Deputies also threatened to impound the car, although a friend of the family convinced the deputies to allow Joe to have it back, the family says.


The family may be off grid, but they aren’t anonymous. In fact, they have Internet, as well as a Facebook page dating back to 2012 where they frequently post pictures and videos of their children, animals and their off-grid life. A May 5 post showed a video of a toddler, Mosiah, learning to walk. An April 24 post showed a happy family, gathering around a campfire, roasting marshmallows.

They also post pictures alluding to their faith. Their Facebook page — which has nearly 2,000 likes — is called “My Blessed Little Homestead.”

Ellsworth believes the arrests took place because of their simple way of life that some would call backwards — and because of the way they homeschool. The family’s Facebook page calls it a “back to basics life.” They have a garden and raise chickens and goats. Deputies apparently were concerned about whether the children’s needs were being met. WAVE-TV in Louisville, Ky., quoted one neighbor who was critical of their off-grid life. Another neighbor apparently had a confrontation with the father on Sunday that was reported to police, the station said.

In an official form the family posted online, Kentucky’s version of Child Protective Services said the children were “not living in appropriate conditions” and not “enrolled in school.” Another official form even complained there was no fence around the pond.

In unschooling, there is no set curriculum and the education is based on each child’s strength.

“You let your kids decide the curriculum,” Ellsworth told Off The Grid News. “In unschooling, education doesn’t take a backseat. It’s listening to what they’re interested in and fascinated in.”


It’s the way all children learned before the public education movement, he said.

Awaken Your Child’s Love Of History And Adventure With A New, Fun Way Of Learning!

“This is the natural way to live,” he said. “It’s actually a growing movement. They want to have a personal education and not a factory education.”

Ellsworth called it “whole-life homeschooling.”

“They are completely open about their life,” he said. “Everyone is learning by living. They are all extremely intelligent.”

The family will have huge legal bills, and friends have set up a GoFundMe campaign here. More information about the family can be read here and here.

“They are industrious people trying to teach their children how to live right,” the GoFundMe website said. “Through no fault of their own, they will now be faced with significant legal expenses.”

Re: Police Seize 10 Children From Homeschool Family Because They’re Off-Grid

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:40 am
by quentin
http://www.offthegridnews.com/current-e ... -counties/

UPDATE: 10 Children Of Homeschool, Off-Grid Family Placed In Strangers’ Homes In 4 Counties

Written by: Off The Grid News Staff
May 8, 2015


The rural Kentucky parents at the center of a custody battle that has shocked the homeschool and off-grid communities are staying upbeat and hope to get their 10 children back soon, a family friend says.

“They’re being positive. They want to get their kids back. They’re not trying to be overly critical of the authorities,” family friend Pace Ellsworth told Off The Grid News.

The 10 children were seized Wednesday from the parents, Joe and Nicole Naugler, following an anonymous tip that apparently related to their style of off-grid living. The family is also part of the “unschooling” movement, a type of homeschooling.

A hearing is scheduled for Monday. As of now, officials have placed the children with four families in four different counties, and as of Friday morning, the parents had not spoken with them. The four families are families that Kentucky’s version of CPS chose – families the Nauglers don’t know.

The ease with which sheriff deputies were able to take the kids may have been the most shocking.


But the family has received some good news since Wednesday. The mom is out of jail after being arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. (She says she was arrested because she did not passively allow deputies to take her children.)

Also, CPS visited the family’s home on Friday morning and issued a good report on the living conditions, Ellsworth said. The Naugler’s attorney – considered by the family the best in the county – was present.

“CPS was very kind. They OK’d just about everything,” Ellsworth said.

Off The Grid News broke the story about the family Thursday and it soon went viral. Bill Heid, founder of Off The Grid News and owner of Solutions From Science, was so moved by the tragedy that he donated a solar generator to the Nauglers.

The Latest Breakthrough Advancement In Solar Backup Generators Is Here!

Also, a GoFundMe.com fundraiser for the family for legal fees had raised $19,000 as of Friday afternoon – well more than the 10,000 goal.

The family lives in a cabin on 26 acres in Breckinridge County, about an hour southwest of Louisville.

The father manages the homestead, while the mother – who is five-months pregnant — is a pet groomer. They have a garden and raise animals.

In essence, the family is living like America’s Founding Fathers lived – an off-grid, self-sustaining, close-to-nature life.

The family may be off grid, but they aren’t anonymous. They have Internet, as well as a Facebook page dating back to 2012 where they frequently post pictures and videos of their children, animals and their off-grid life. A May 5 post showed a video of a toddler, Mosiah, learning to walk. An April 24 post showed a happy family, gathering around a campfire, roasting marshmallows.

Re: Police Seize 10 Children From Homeschool Family Because They’re Off-Grid

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:45 am
by quentin
https://www.offthegridnews.com/current- ... grid-life/


UPDATE: ‘Kentucky 10’ Mom Fights Back Against Bullies Criticizing Her Off-Grid Life

Written by: Off The Grid News Staff
May 9, 2015


The off-grid, homeschool mother of the 10 children who were seized has spoken out on Facebook in defense of her family’s self-sufficient life – and she’s receiving plenty of support.

Nicole Naugler noted that her Facebook friends climbed from just under 2,000 to 8,000 in less than 24 hours (it’s now at 11,000), and she expressed gratitude for those who have been praying for her and even financially helping her family. She said she’s “overwhelmed.”

But she noted that some people have spoken out in disagreement with her family’s lifestyle. They live in a 280-square-foot cabin on 26 acres of land in Breckinridge County, Kentucky. The mom says it’s part of the “tiny home” movement. They want to build an 800-square-foot cabin.

“I have people from all over the world contacting me,” she wrote. “I know there are some of you who don’t approve of what we do. But that’s ok. You are welcome to your views. What I am not ok with is the use of force to impose those views on me.”

The 10 children were seized Wednesday from Naugler and her husband following an anonymous tip that apparently related to their style of off-grid living. The family also is part of the “unschooling” movement, a type of homeschooling.


For nine years, she wrote, she has journaled her “family’s life online.”

“I have a purpose,” she wrote. “I want to help others as well. …As many parents have relayed, it’s exhausting to have to worry if CPS is going to show up and what they are wanting to do. Sure, they come in, say things are OK, but often they don’t. Five minutes on Google will give you a good picture of the innocent families torn apart.”

Back in March, she had promised to post photos of the family’s cabin on Facebook for homesteading friends, but she never did it.

“I was reluctant,” she wrote. “I wasn’t prepared for the backlash that might arise from those who oppose our lifestyle. … But it’s done. We are here. And it’s no better time to share. Have your opinions. That’s fine. I know people who live in ways I don’t approve of, but their lifestyle is socially acceptable. I certainly wouldn’t justify force.

She added, “I don’t want people to live in fear. I want people to have confidence in their choices. If you don’t like the way someone lives, let them be. Bullying them won’t accomplish anything.”

Awaken Your Child’s Love Of History And Adventure With A New, Fun Way Of Learning!

In a subsequent post, she posted pictures of the cabin.

Her comment received plenty of feedback, most of it positive.

“Praying you are reunited with your children today, and not a moment later,” one read.

“Live your own life,” another read. “As long as your kids are healthy and happy, people should mind their own business. God Bless you and what you think is good for your family.”

Still another read, “I started following your page after the press around your family being broken apart by Child Services. Thank you for your page. … I’m in Canada. Good luck.”

Re: Police Seize 10 Children From Homeschool Family Because They’re Off-Grid

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2018 3:49 am
by quentin
https://www.offthegridnews.com/current- ... this-week/

BREAKING: Off-Grid ‘Kentucky 10’ Parents Won’t Get Their Children Back This Week

Written by: Off The Grid News Staff
May 11, 2015

The off-grid parents of the children known as the “Kentucky 10” did not receive the news they had hoped to hear at a Monday hearing and won’t be getting their children back this week.

Joe and Nicole Naugler learned at Monday’s court hearing that Kentucky’s version of CPS (known as the Cabinet for Health and Family Services) has not completed its investigation, family friend Pace Ellsworth told Off The Grid News. The children are living in strangers’ homes in four counties.

A second hearing could take place Friday or Monday, although no official date has been set.

Amazing Breakthrough In Compact Portable Backup Power — Charges Your Phone, Laptop And Even Jump Starts Your Car!

“They’re just emotionally drained. They expected better. Now they just have to wait for more news,” Ellsworth said.

The 10 children were seized Wednesday by sheriff deputies from the parents, Joe and Nicole Naugler, following an anonymous tip that apparently related to their style of off-grid living. The family is also part of the “unschooling” movement, a type of homeschooling.

A GoFundMe campaign set up to help get the children back has raised $39,000.

“At the start of this campaign, the Nauglers didn’t know what it would take to get their children back and they are now in the process of determining with an attorney what needs to be done to ensure the safe return of their children,” the website says.

It is expected that the state will require the family to make improvements to the home and property. A detailed list of how the money will be spent can be read here.