Father to take ailing boy home

TACOMA — Riley Rogers, the 9-month-old with ailing kidneys who was smuggled out of a Seattle hospital last month by his mother, will live with his father temporarily when he leaves the hospital, a Pierce County judge ordered Thursday.

Todd Rogers, a 38-year-old construction worker, will care for his son at his home near Bonney Lake, Pierce County, likely with the help of public-health nurses.

The agreement, signed by Pierce County Juvenile Court Judge John McCarthy, allows Riley's mother, Tina Carlsen, to have supervised visits with Riley.

Riley had been in state custody since June 9. Carlsen took Riley from Children's Hospital & Regional Medical Center in Seattle on June 22 because she objected to surgery to prepare him for kidney dialysis

Carlsen has been charged with second-degree kidnapping in King County Superior Court. She was released from jail last week.

Doctors performed the surgery on Riley last week.

Seattle attorney Michele Shaw, an attorney for Carlsen, said Carlsen had agreed to follow medical advice in the best interests of her son. Shaw said state social workers have been very cooperative about visitations, and she is hopeful Carlsen eventually will regain custody of her son.

At the court hearing Thursday, Edwin Wade, appointed by the court to represent Riley's interests, told the judge that both Carlsen and Rogers seem "very bonded" to the boy.

The judge's order had been negotiated by all the parties in Riley's custody case, including his parents, other family members, four lawyers, a social worker and Wade.

Another hearing is scheduled next month to determine who will get permanent custody for Riley. His parents are not married and have no plans to live together, but they say they plan to raise Riley together.

Carol M. Ostrom: 206-464-2249 or costrom@seattletimes.com