A Lenawee County judge ordered the removal of four children from the custody of Dustin King after the county Department of Health and Human Services filed a petition alleging domestic incidents and unsafe living conditions, testimony at a bench trial shows.

The department’s ongoing worker, Christopher Farian, told the court the petition was filed “based off of the cumulative things and then the last domestic violence incident that took place.” The department later sought and received a court order for removal; county deputies executed custody actions and the children were placed into foster care or with relatives, witnesses said.

Deputy Rincon of the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office testified that officers responded to 10520 Hickory on Nov. 21, 2024, for a domestic-assault call. He said two young children came to the front of the home “without coats or shoes” and that the temperature at the time was about 38 degrees. “I was extremely concerned for the welfare of the children and the living conditions that they were in, due to the temperatures and the unsuitable living conditions,” the deputy said while identifying photographs taken at the scene that were entered into evidence as Petitioners’ 1–10.

Britney Kelly, a child-protective-services investigator with the Lenawee County Department of Health and Human Services, said she has handled multiple investigations involving the family since July 2024 and that she substantiated the most recent investigation. “I substantiated on that case as well,” Kelly told the court.

Christopher Farian, who identified himself as the department’s ongoing worker on the case, described prior involvement dating to August 2023 and additional activity in mid-2024. He told the court he had tried to contact Mr. King and that the department’s decision to seek removal followed a series of incidents—domestic events, concerns about the children’s environment and unsuccessful contacts with the parents.

Dustin King, the children’s father and the respondent in the case, testified at length. He denied throwing a can at the children’s mother when asked directly, answering simply, “I did not.” He described housing instability, health problems and efforts to secure a mobile home on property owned by his mother. On the stand he said he wanted his children returned and outlined plans to make the mobile home habitable, including utility hookups and minor repairs.

Courtroom counsel also offered and the judge admitted photographs taken by law enforcement showing the outdoor living area and the children’s condition on Nov. 21. Defense counsel did not object to admission of the packet as Petitioners’ Exhibit 1. Department witnesses said those photographs and on-scene observations informed the removal request.

Farian described attempts to locate and serve Mr. King with the removal paperwork; he said law enforcement and department staff spent hours explaining the court order and that Mr. King at first refused to accept the petition paperwork. When Farian and deputies later secured custody of the oldest child, Farian testified the child appeared in “halfway decent spirits” though his clothing appeared dirty.

The hearing recessed for 15 minutes to conclude any remaining testimony and to move into closing arguments. The judge’s final written order and any next scheduled court dates were not read into the record during the portion of the proceeding covered by the transcript provided.