The Herald, Sharon, PA Published Saturday, October 11, 2003

Family doubts mom on the lam will give up

By Sherris Moreira-Byers
Herald Staff Writer

A reinstated bench warrant giving temporary custody of her 3-year-old son Caleb to her parents isn't likely to induce Bertha "Ellie" Wright to surrender herself or the boy, according to her mother Debra Wright.

"I would doubt it. He just said that until he decided what to do with him," Mrs. Wright said of Judge Michael J. Wherry's decision Thursday to let Caleb stay with the Wrights if Ms. Wright, who took her son and disappeared rather than allow him court-ordered visits with his paternal grandparents, surfaces.

"She'll have to be assured that the perpetrator will not perpetrate again. She needs that assurance by the court," said Mrs. Wright, of Pine Township.

The alleged perpetrator Mrs. Wright referred to was Caleb's paternal grandfather, Dan Balcer of Ambridge, whom Ms. Wright says sexually abused Caleb. No charges have been filed against him and the allegations were twice investigated by Butler County Children and Youth Services and determined to be unfounded, most recently in September.



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