Sandra Whitehead Ray v. Sally Beth Burns

Michael Ray, who was two years and ten months old at the time of trial, is the son of Kenneth and Sandra Ray. Kenneth was killed in 1988. Sally Burns, Michaels paternal grandmother, originally filed this suit in 1989 against Sandra, seeking appointment as Michaels managing conservator and termination of Sandras parental rights. Dr. W.A. Bilsing and his wife, Shirley, then joined Burns in an amended petition, seeking joint managing conservatorship and termination of parental rights. The Bilsings, whom Burns works for, are not related to Michael but assisted Burns in caring for him until he was almost one year old. Michael lived in the Bilsings home during most of that time. Following a bench trial, the court appointed Burns and the Bilsings joint managing conservators, Sandra possessory conservator, and denied termination of the parent-child relationship.