Gaines' two older sons were placed in foster care after police found them running around in diapers on a busy street at 8:30 a.m. Police found Gaines inside a nearby apartment, apparently intoxicated. The mother initially complied with an agreement with DC&F and in 1996 was given the right to unsupervised home visits. After one weekend visit, however, monitors found the boys injured. The mother and her new husband were tried and convicted of aggravated child abuse based on this incident, and they were sent to jail. DC&F successfully terminated Gaines' parental rights over the two boys and a younger child. On appeal the Fifth District Court upheld this ruling as to the two older children, but reversed as to the younger.