Linda Dulmaine

Diagnoses

Family

American family with domestic violence; when Linda Dulmaine called a hotline after her husband, Eugene, repeatedly slapped their oldest daughter, Sarah in late 2002, the hot line worker reported Eugene to the Department of Social Services, an agency that investigated the household and found that Eugene had abused his daughter. In a twist, however, the social workers found that Linda Dulmaine, the mother, had "emotionally maltreated" both her daughters. A couple of months later, Eugene filed for divorce and won custody of the children. Linda was allowed visitation rights. She then sued to get her children back. DSS has reversed its findings acknowledging that it made a mistake in its determination that she had endangered her children and has left it up to the divorce court to decide which parent should gain custody. The divorce proceedings have revealed that Linda receives treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder and has physical problems as well. Allegations have been lodged that Eugene has managed to manipulate the social workers by revealing his wife’s medical history. In December, 2002, both Linda and Eugene were arrested on assault charges in a violent meeting, after which Eugene took out a restraining order and Linda claimed that she was the one who was abused. The case is ongoing.