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Court terminates rights of both parents in Delphinia Meeks case; DFPS named permanent managing conservator
Summary
Judge found by clear and convincing evidence that terminating parental rights of both parents in the Delphinia Meeks case was in the child’s best interest; father Keith Meeks signed an affidavit of voluntary relinquishment and the mother, Tessa Helms, pled to an injury-to-a-child charge and is on deferred adjudication.
A judge in the High Plains Child Protection Court terminated the parental rights of both parents in the case concerning Delphinia (Delfina) Meeks and named the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) permanent managing conservator.
DFPS investigator and permanency staff described injuries that led to the department’s involvement, the child’s medical evaluation and photos admitted into evidence, and the parents’ legal status. Investigator Casey Swihart testified she observed bruises, scratches, burns and blisters on the child during a hospital assessment and authenticated photographs admitted as exhibits. Prosecutors admitted a certified copy of an indictment charging the mother with injury to a child; the mother later pled and is on deferred adjudication.
DFPS counsel and permanency staff told the court the father, Keith Meeks, executed an affidavit of voluntary relinquishment on June 13, 2025. Saint Francis Ministries permanency staff testified the department supports termination of father’s rights based on the signed affidavit and supports termination of the mother’s rights based on the criminal case and other statutory grounds. The mother, Tessa Helms, testified in court about services she has started, employment, housing and visitation with the child.
The judge announced a bench finding that termination was supported by clear and convincing evidence under Texas Family Code §161.001(b)(1) (statutory grounds including conviction/deferred adjudication) and §161.001(b)(2) (best interest). The judge said: “I do find by clear and convincing evidence that it is in the best interest of the child, Delphinia Meeks, to terminate the parental rights between the child and the mother, Tessa Helms, based on Texas Family Code section 161.001 subsection (b)(1), the d, the e, the l grounds… and the best interest under 161.001(b)(2).”
The court named DFPS permanent managing conservator for Delphinia, and the judge said appointed attorneys and the GAL would remain in place for statutory appeal periods. The court set a first review hearing for Sept. 11, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
The record includes investigation photographs, the indictment and plea documents for the mother, and the father’s signed affidavit of relinquishment (admitted as a filed exhibit).
