The judge ruled that Child Protective Services will maintain custody of five-year-old Jordan Bleimeyer for the next 45 days even though he will be living with his great aunt in the Tomball area. His biological mother, Windy Hall, will be able to get possession of the boy, so long as he stays with at her aunt's home every night.
Jordan only weighed 29 pounds when authorities found him; that's the weight of a 2-year-old. Right now, the 5-year-old is doing much better. A photo posted on Facebook shows little Jordan smiling as he's surrounded by toys in a hospital bed.
He's now 36 pounds and looks much better than he did last month and is expected to be discharged from the hospital sometime this week.
The boy's father, Bradley Bleimeyer, and stepmother, Tammi, are both charged with child endangerment.
During the custody hearing Tuesday afternoon, Hall told the judge how her son's severely emaciated body was covered with scabs, skin peeling, and Taser marks on his ear and shoulder. She says the child had bald patches in his hair, could hardly walk, and any mention of food got his attention as she stayed next to him in the hospital this week.
Bradley Bleimeyer kept a blank stare on his face, telling the judge he's pleading the fifth and refusing to testify during this custody hearing.
Hall's own past isn't perfect. Formerly diagnosed with ADHD and bipolar disorder, she hadn't seen her son in more than two years. From her, the court is requiring random drug testing, psychiatric evaluations and parenting classes, in addition to anger management for her 20-year-old fiance.
"If they cannot come back with clean drug tests, then they are out of the picture," Jordan's court-appointed attorney Jared Woodfill said.
Hall told the judge she'll do whatever it takes to be with her child. For the next 45 days, they will live with her aunt, but her fiance won't be allowed there. And CPS will monitor. She's confident her child will be well taken care of, from here on out.
"I have absolutely no doubt that me and Derek can step up and be the parents that he needs us to be," she said.
Meanwhile, the community is banding together to help out the boy.
A toy drive is being held for Jordan.
"We have several toys right here that we got for Jordan," said Meagan with Robin's Nest for Children in Pearland. "You just can't imagine working with children how anyone could do that to a child."
In Clear Lake, the staff at High Point Insurance Group is collecting toys for Jordan. Some coming are from Louisiana and as far as Vancouver, Canada.
"A lot of us here are mothers, and I think we could put ourselves in a mother type role for him and say this isn't right, this isn't ok. How can we make it better from here on out," said Dena King with Highpoint Insurance Group.
The judge has to factor in what's going to be best for the boy's physical, emotional and mental well-being when deciding where to place him. We're monitoring that hearing and will let you know what the judge decides.
Take ABC13 with you!
Download our free apps for iPhone, iPad and Android devices
