EL RENO, Oklahoma -
The
Department Of Health and Human Services is asking an El Reno father still in
mourning to pay child support for his dead son.
Nearly nine months after the
death the state is still sending child support bills to the father. James Akins
tells News 9 his son died while in DHS custody. That was in December 2011. Every
month since then he has gotten a bill for child support. And Akins says the
state has not recognized the in-custody death
DHS removed
Gordon and Brittany Akins from their father's home two years ago. The thought
of that brings Brittany to tears and angers her dad.
"It's your
child and even when they was taken away from me I was still there as much as I
possibly could," said Akins.
Akins raised
his kids as a single father.
"I'm
getting bills," said Akins.
He says he
was confused by the bills.
"I raised
them. I was owed child support until they were taken away. It wasn't long after
they were taken away that Gordon started running amok," said Akins.
Gordon fell
into a deep depression. He didn't hop on a skateboard or visit with his sister to
cope. Instead the 17 year old took his life.
"Don't ever
choose this way. You will leave someone behind hurt," said Akins. "I couldn't be
in his life because of child welfare and this is where he ended up."
Akins says
to add to the pain the state never contacted him to tell him about his son's
suicide.
"I found
out on my way to work from one of Gordon's friends," said Akins.
The state
did however send an invoice for service.
"It is up
to a little over $700 a month and it keeps rising every month this whole past
year since he has been gone. It won't
stop," said Akins.
His last
bill says ‘Our records indicate Gordon isn't attending high school, so you don't
have to pay child support'.
"I don't
think it's right. They need to leave it where it is. They have done enough
damage to our family as it is."
Akins says
the state still has not recognized the death. And although DHS won't comment on
this case specifically, it points out if you must pay for kids while they are
in state custody and if you owe them, the debt isn't forgiven even if the child
passes away.
DHS says
the child support obligation follows the child. And any child support that is
past due will be owed until it's paid in full.
James Akins with his late son, Gordon Akins.
