The father of two young children who lost custody of them to their maternal grandparents in October is accusing them of providing an unfit home and abusing the children. Relatives of the man, whose wife disappeared in December 2009, posted the allegations on a website. The man's family also claims that state child welfare officials are conspiring against him by covering up evidence against the grandparents. Police say the man remains a person of interest in the disappearance.

The recently-launched website was created by the father's brother. Besides a series of links to news articles about the search for the missing woman and related criminal investigation, the site contains an essay by the brother alleging that the children's grandparents, who were granted temporary custody in October, neglect the children and allowed the younger boy, 5, to suffer a concussion and a foot injury. The essay also claims that the boy and his brother, 7, put mud into an electric outlet while playing unattended.

The missing mother's sister said the younger boy's injuries were due to an accident and his grandparents quickly took him to receive medical attention. She refuted the website's claims and said that the grandparents are taking good care of the children. An attorney for the grandparents said that the boys' guardian ad litem and state child welfare officials "have every confidence that the children are safe" and well-cared for.

But in a statement, the father's sister accused the state's Child Protective Services agency of turning a blind eye to abuse and neglect by the grandparents. She claimed that "certain members of CPS" are conspiring to cover up evidence.

The custody dispute is scheduled to return to court on Feb. 1. The father, who currently has visitation time with his sons, is expected to ask the court to restore custody to him. He moved from Utah, where he and his wife lived, to his father's house in Washington in January 2010, a month after his wife disappeared. His father was later arrested on charges of voyeurism and child pornography.

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune, "Website supporting man launches as custody case nears," Melinda Rogers, Jan. 30, 2012