How Karesha Richardson decided to take care of her siblings

Published: March 12, 2006

May 1992

Karesha and her siblings are first taken from their mother and split up among foster homes and shelters.

September 1992

Sue Ann Kanu was sentenced to prison for child beating.

January 1995

Karesha is returned to live with her mother and siblings.

August 1995

The last time Karesha and her siblings lived together with their mother. It lasted six months.

May 1, 1998

Arerion, Karesha's daughter, is born.

September 1998

The last time Karesha saw her siblings. She was 16 and saw them for 20 minutes at a Lawton social services office.

August 1999

Karesha joins the Navy and leaves Oklahoma.

January 2002

Karesha learns from her sister, LeTeasa, that their mother was trying to give their younger sister, Te' Julianne, to a girls' home. Karesha calls their mother and learns that her siblings have been taken from her for neglect.

Sue Kanu goes to court, where a plan is developed to reunite her with her children. Several other court hearings follow. Karesha and LeTeasa work to get their siblings to tell social workers what has really happened in the home.

February 2002

A state Department of Human Services social worker digs into the archives to find Sue Kanu's child abuse history.

March 2002

Karesha writes to Oklahoma County District Judge Roger Stuart asking for custody of five of her siblings. Of her seven siblings, LeTeasa was to be a co-parent and Iyanla was less than 2 years old.

April 2002

Kanu's parental rights are terminated in Oklahoma County District Court.

Iyanla's father wins custody of his daughter.

Oriana is placed with her father in Texas.

Tristan is placed with his aunt, Maybelle Moore.

Te', Xavier and Yakira still need a home. The judge gives custody of three siblings to Karesha.

August 2002

After Karesha completes foster care training and a home study, the children arrive in Virginia to begin their new lives.