Octomom downplays investigation of abuse of autistic son

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http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2009/04/30/2009-04-30_octomom_.html

Octomom Nadya Suleman downplays police investigation of bitemarks, black eye on

son

By Dillon

DAILY NEWS WEST COAST BUREAU CHIEF

Thursday, April 30th 2009, 1:18 PM

Read more: " Octomom Nadya Suleman downplays police investigation of bitemarks,

black eye on son " -

LOS ANGELES - The OctoMom is playing down reports that police and child welfare

officials visited her house Wednesday to investigate an allegation of neglect.

Her 4-year-old autistic son Aidan arrived at school with a black eye and a bite

mark on his back, she said, but she's not to blame.

" He has a bite mark on his back, from this guy, " Nadya Suleman said, pointing to

one of her 2-year-old twins during a video interview with RadarOnline.

The mother of 14 - who's working on contracts for a TV documentary and a book

deal - said Aidan got the black eye when he hit his face on a desk.

" He has meltdowns, " she said. " It's normal to have meltdowns. He throws himself

down. "

She said Aidan's teacher called authorities after she failed to respond to a

note inquiring about the injuries. She said the welfare officials actually

complimented her on running a tight ship.

" They just wanted to check the kids. Oh, they said that they're shocked at how

everything is so organized. And that we're doing a good job, " she said, adding

that she doesn't even believe in spanking.

La Habra police spokeswoman Knapp confirmed that officers visited Suleman

at the request of child welfare officials.

Orange County Social Services spokeswoman TerryLynn Fischer said her department

can't confirm or deny the visit or any potential follow-up actions.

" When people go into that house, they're expecting kids swinging from the

rafters. But it's an organized house. Those eight babies, for starters, are very

good babies, " Suleman's attorney Jeff Czech told the Daily News. " There are one

or two nannies taking care of the big kids. And the babies have a couple

nannies, too. "

He said he assumes county officials will follow up with Suleman soon.

" Some people are mandated to report, and Nadya understands that. She's not

worried about it, " he said.

Police have said they've made several visits to Suleman's home in the last year

to respond to calls about lost or poorly supervised children.

Suleman, 33, gained international fame after giving birth to octuplets on Jan.

26.

The world later learned that the single, unemployed mother was living at home

with her parents and used in-vitro fertilization to conceive the octuplets and

her six other children, ages 2 to 7.