C‪.‬

On this appeal, we review a judgment of the Juvenile Division of the Circuit Court of Newton County terminating parental rights
to three children, pursuant to §§ 211.441, et seq. 1 At the time the judgment was entered on May 25,
1970, S, the eldest child, a little girl, was four and one-half years of age; A, a little boy, was about three; and D, a little
girl, was approximately 18 months old. C, the mother of the children, appeals. The record is very depressing. The children's situation seems to have come to the attention of the juvenile authorities when
B, the father of two of the children involved, was charged with sexual molestation of the eldest child. While in custody,
he admitted the molestation and was thereafter sent to State Hospital No. 1 for psychiatric examination pursuant to §
552.020. B was returned with a report, the record shows, that "there was nothing wrong mentally," although the hospital authorities
noted that he had admitted molesting the child. In the course of a statement made at the time of his arrest, B stated that
" last 10 or 15 years when I get around little girls I get excited but I've never molested any until this time. When I live
with my wife we have intercourse 2 or 3 times a night almost every night. My wife is 22 years old and we are seperated at
this time. S is a stepdaughter of mine. She has been with me since she was about 3 months old." B was present in court with
counsel when this statement was received in evidence; during the trial he added to this statement by saying that when he was
sent to the state hospital he "couldn't remember nothing," but after his visit there "things got better." After B 's conduct
came to light, the three children were taken into custody by the juvenile authorities. The little boy, A, was placed in a
private home, and the two girls were put in custody of the Department of Welfare, apparently on a finding of neglect.