Judge orders DHHS to place 16-year-old Hannah Hallowell and daughter Amaya with grandmother Sharon Cook; denies Nefflers' guardianship petition

A judge in Lenawee County Probate & Juvenile Court on March 6 ordered the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to place 16‑year‑old Hannah Hallowell and her 3‑year‑old daughter, Amaya Hallowell, in the home of maternal grandmother Sharon Cook and denied a pending guardianship petition filed by Jeremy and Laurie Neffler.

The court’s ruling keeps both minors under the juvenile court’s jurisdiction and continues a no‑contact order barring Laurie Neffler from having contact with Hannah and Amaya, while declining to enter a no‑contact order against Jeremy Neffler.

Julie Wright, foster care supervisor for DHHS, told the court, “I believe the children are doing well. Hannah and Amaya have a great relationship. Hannah does very well as mom.” Wright said DHHS completed a home study for Sharon Cook and recommended placement there while the agency pursues any later guardianship steps.

Guardian ad litem Nicole Underwood, who represents Hannah, told the court she had met with Hannah and supported a placement that keeps mother and daughter together. Underwood said Hannah had been enrolled in school online and had made parenting progress. Ms. Singh, counsel speaking for Hannah, summarized Hannah’s preference: “it is Hannah's wish that she be able to be moved to be placed with, her grandmother, Sharon Cook, and keep placement of, Amaya, her daughter with her.”

DHHS requested the authority to change placement immediately and asked the court to deny the Nefflers’ guardianship petition. The judge agreed, saying the Nefflers’ petition “would put Laurie Neffler potentially in a position of authority over Hannah and Amaya, and that's been shown to be not appropriate,” citing a prior substantiated investigation involving Laurie Neffler.

The court clarified that the children will remain under juvenile court jurisdiction and under DHHS supervision for placement, funding, and services. The judge directed DHHS to arrange a family team meeting and to coordinate supportive services for the Cook household, including referrals to Washtenaw County programs (for example, intensive home services or family reunification supports) within 14 days.

The court admitted proposed court reports into evidence and scheduled the next joint review and permanency‑planning hearing for June 3 at 1:30 p.m.

Officials and attorneys noted practical next steps: DHHS said it would begin paperwork and could move the children as soon as the next day; it also said it would begin licensure assistance for Sharon Cook should juvenile guardianship be pursued later. Wright said juvenile‑guardianship licensing, if pursued, would require licensure in place for six months before a final release could be considered.

The court maintained that the department’s placement authority—vested in DHHS in a prior order from Dec. 27, 2024—supports the transfer, and that placing the children with Cook while preserving court jurisdiction would restore subsidies and services that had lapsed when Amaya was previously returned to her mother by a Hillsdale court order in August 2024.

The judge instructed DHHS to document attempts to locate an absent parent identified in the records and to include those efforts in the next report. The court also asked for updates on Sean Hallowell’s progress toward release and any services the department arranges to support his transition; Sean Hallowell told the court his earliest anticipated release would be around June 2025.

The judge closed by denying the Nefflers’ guardianship petition for the reasons summarized on the record and by ordering paperwork changes so existing orders reflect that both Hannah and Amaya remain under juvenile court jurisdiction while placed with Sharon Cook. The court left the permanency goal open pending future reports and any further steps toward juvenile guardianship or other permanency outcomes.

Ending note: The court asked DHHS to provide written evidence at the next review that referrals and a family team meeting occurred within 14 days and to report on the transition planning for Hannah and Amaya.