Kingston pair gives up 2 teens

WEST JORDAN — Polygamist John Daniel Kingston and Heidi Mattingly voluntarily relinquished parental rights to their two oldest daughters on Friday and it is expected both girls, ages 17 and 14, will be placed for adoption with families already identified as suitable by state officials.

"It feels like we've had two deaths in the family," a tearful Mattingly told reporters later.

In court, Mattingly, who has 11 children with Kingston, paused a long time after being asked by the judge if this was in the best interest of the girls.

"I think they need some finality in their lives," Mattingly said. "I think it's the best thing for everyone."

The two girls have been in state custody since 2004 and have said they want to be adopted. Eight other Kingston children who were in foster care have been returned to Mattingly's custody and she is getting in-home family reunification services. Mattingly has always had another child, an infant girl, with her.

The children were removed from the home after 3rd District Juvenile Judge Andrew Valdez found that Kingston and Mattingly had abused them.

John Daniel Kingston said it was a sad decision to make, but his family believes in the principle of freedom of choice and "I respect the girls' desires and their freedom of choice." He also said the parent-child relationships probably could not be mended during short visits, "especially supervised by the people that broke all ties" between the girls and their parents.

Mattingly later lashed out at state officials, saying two years ago her relationship with the older girls was wonderful. "Now after dealing with foster care . . . and no-contact orders and conflict and other roadblocks, there is really nothing left," she said. "What they (state officials) are doing is not right. It's not right to rip families apart."

In other related matters:

• Third District Juvenile Judge Elizabeth Lindsley found both Kingston and Mattingly in contempt of court for violating a no-contact order at Mattingly's father's funeral, and the judge ordered the two to each perform 50 hours of community service by Dec. 30. The couple cannot have contact with each other, and Kingston cannot have contact with the children.

• The judge told Mattingly she no longer is under court order to get counseling after Mattingly's therapist clinically released her, and the judge praised Mattingly for making progress in her parenting and homemaking skills.