LANCASTER –A Palmdale woman accused of beating and torturing her two adopted children was in court Thursday for a hearing to decide if the case will go to trial.
But the preliminary hearing for Ingrid Brewer was postponed until February 19, and 50-year-old Brewer was ordered back to custody on $2 million bail.
Brewer’s 8-year-old son and 7-year-old daughter were found huddled in a blanket under a parked car around 1 a.m. on Jan. 16. Brewer had reported the youngsters missing from their Palmdale home about three hours earlier.
The children told deputies they ran away from home because they were tired of being tied up and beaten by Brewer. The children said Brewer locked them in separate rooms each day while she went to work, and they were forced to use their trash cans as toilets, according to sheriff’s detectives.
They also said Brewer deprived them of food, tied their hands behind their backs and beat them with electrical cords and a hammer, detectives said.
Brewer was arrested at 3 a.m. on Jan. 16 at her Palmdale home in the 39000 Block of Clear View Court.
Two days later, she pleaded not guilty to eight felony counts, including two counts of torture, two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, two counts of felony battery and two counts of cruelty to a child. Brewer’s adopted children have been in protective custody since her arrest.
Thursday morning, the biological father of the 7-year-old girl said he drove from Orange County to Antelope Valley courthouse to seek justice for his daughter.
“I just feel horrible because of what Ingrid has done to my daughter,” Alan Coleman said.
Coleman said he’d spent some time in prison for drug convictions and was never able to become a permanent part of his daughter’s life. He said since his release in 2010, he’d turned his life around and was now working and enrolled at the Cooper Fellowship drug treatment center in Santa Ana. He was scheduled to complete his treatment program next month, he said.
“I drove all this way to be seen, to let the folks know that’s my daughter and I want her back. I never signed over my parental rights,” Coleman said.
Coleman said he was also seeking custody of Brewer’s adopted son, who is his daughter’s brother.
“I don’t want to separate them, because he saved her life and he made the decision to get them out of there,” Coleman said.
He said Brewer had been his daughter’s foster parent since 2009 and had adopted the child sometime after. He said he’d been permitted a few hour-long visits with Brewer and his daughter, and during those visits he didn’t notice anything wrong.
“She played it off like everything was nice,” Coleman said. “I didn’t sense something wrong until it all came to light.”
He said he hadn’t seen his daughter or Brewer since they moved to Palmdale a little under a year ago, and he was shocked when he read about the case in the media.
“I hope Ingrid gets what she deserves,” Coleman said. “I hope she never gets out.”
Coleman is seeking guidance on how to go about getting permanent custody of his daughter and her brother. He is asking anyone who is willing to assist him in this effort to contact him at 714-805-2189 or colemanderrick94@yahoo.com.
Brewer is due back in court on February 19 for her preliminary hearing.
Related article: Kids allegedly tortured in Palmdale home, mother charged
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tatiana says
Well those two victims i know they are my brother and sister it was skeptical i never thought it would happen to the ones that I love and thats all I got to say i fought for visitation rights and my family will be reunited again
dumbandblind says
The father should stand trial as well for being irresponsible and negligent.
rita says
I agree with you dumbandblind.
Gladys says
Tomorrow is the 19th of Feb. Ingrid should be in court.
me says
I agree DCFS needs to be investigated, because I know more than 1 case where they took the kids and either adopted them out or are giving the parents a very hard time to get them back after they did everything they wanted them to do, and the one’s who suffer are the kids. I seen a report saying that a child was adopted for inconclusive reasons. It’s just crazy. I think where a lot of parents go wrong is when they don’t document and put things in writing to there lawyers. I really beleive that is the key to fighting to get your kids back, and of course do everything there suppose to.
Nancy P says
Thanks for cleaning up the comments.
Bella says
The whole LA County foster care system needs a overhaul…..Too many children falling thru the system without getting the help. They are
asked questions while the foster/care taker is sitting there Do you really think they are going to say something and get into more trouble.
rita says
Gladys, do you know the dad? It really sounds as though you are personally involved. How can you make these statements out of blind ignorance, how do you know his current statis or background? These kids are not an experiment and they derserve love patience and understanding. I happen to know Coleman’s history, and it’s not pretty. So far I’m not convinced. So there is no need for you to ponder whether or not you want to respond my to my post because it really is’nt necessary until you have the facts. Hopefully he will get himself together and one day be a productive human being while he is still young. Again my prayers are with the children.
Gladys says
No, I don’t know him.
If you can’t be part of the solution, maybe you are part of the problem. If you know him so well, you could very easily be either part of his past bad deeds or part of the system that stole his daughter. ;)
No need to get in a pi$$ing match. I hope the best for these kids and the very WORST for Ingrid Brewer. You nor I get to plan the kids future or spend the money they will get when Social Services or Aspiranet is sued on their behalf.
I can talk all night long about how I think I am right and so can you. Truce
rita says
This messege is for Gladys, you are listening to the rantings of an addict. Do you know this person? My deepest concern is for these poor children who are really the victims and need tender loving care. Why did dad not come forward sooner, and if he was a real man maybe he could have found his way to palmdale sooner. Maybe he could have a difference. After all these kids have been thru do you honestly think it would in their best interest to be subjected to a person with his backgroud and past. How do you know he is on the right track and if he is drug free and crime free. You are extremely naive if you think this man is honest. Would you let him keep your children?
Gladys says
Rita, I was pondering whether to even respond to you.
Bottom line is, they are not my kids and they are not yours. The girl is his and for whatever reason they ended up in the adoption system is not relevant at this point. He didn’t have them and he didn’t give her up. He is not a sex offender, walks upright, talks in complete sentences and has the good sense to ask for help.
Hopefully, after whatever investigation that needs to happen, he will get them. It couldn’t be worse than where they have been. They want to stay together. Obviously the children are bonded.
To answer your question about him babysitting my kids…that’s a silly question. My kids were only babysat by a family member.
Martha says
its sad that a lot of these children in the adoption/foster care system end up lost as adults. The system just throws them to anyone willing to take them, and most of the time its to money hungry people who dont genuinely care about the children, but of the monthly incentives and benefits received. THere is something really wrong with the system and it doesnt seem to be getting any better
Maria Sosa says
The father is a typical low life drug addict. He’s looking for compensation to feed his habit. These kids need a stable loving environment to thrive in. My heart goes out to these innocent babies. I would not want these babies to endure yet another disater brought on by greed. I truly don’t believe the dad when he says he wants these kids. Again he knows that the state failed these babies and now the state needs to compensate for their mistake. Lets keep these precious little babies in our prayers. I would like to add that you can see that the dad is out for money. The reason being is why in the hell would he post his phone number…seems like desperation and an addicts game to me:-(
Gladys says
Are you an adddict? How would you know?
It sounds like maybe he doesn’t have the resources to fight the state of California and would appreciate it if someone has some connections to an Attorney who might be interested in being a hero and helping right a wrong.
Obviously not still doing drugs. He is working for and participating in treatment and has been since 2010.
Get off your self riteous high horse and understand that there will be a bright light on these kids and their “caregiver” for a long time to come.
Gladys says
This is from Aspiranet’s website. It basically says it’s less expensive to adopt a child through them than it is to adopt a dog from Lancaster Animal Shelter and you will continue getting paid monthly!
“Costs:Adoption through foster care services at Aspiranet are typically provided at minimal cost for adoptive families. The costs associated with adoption of children in foster care are for those expenses associated with fulfilling the requirements for completing an adoption, such as: fingerprint clearances, TB tests, health screening, obtaining copies of required documents, and any household modification that are required by regulations.
In addition, a growing number of companies and government agencies offer adoption assistance as part of their employee benefit packages, including time off for maternity/paternity leave, financial incentives and other benefits. There are also federal tax credits available for foster care adoption to help offset costs. A state tax credit may also be available for adopting a child who was in the custody of a California public child welfare agency.”
freakin know it all says
When people go to jail…when a man isn’t married to the mom…things are different. The rights can be terminated and kids put into the system. It happens all the time. If he was arrested, spent time in jail, his daughter and her 1/2 brother were put into the adoption system, there was nothing he could do about it unless he had unlimited resources to fight the State of California. He has taken the steps to get clean. He attempted to stay connected with his daughter, even enduring the 1 hr supervised visits untill Ingrid Brewer moved out to the AV.
Why did she move out here from LA? It certainly wasn’t for the schools or better daycare services. She was escaping the eyes of neighbors who knew she had mental and abuse issues.
I hope steps are taken to reunit him with his daughter and her brother is fortunate to have someone with a connection step up to raise him. If Dad seems like he is on a good track and has a better chance of being a good father and providing a better place than where the kids have been. He will also be under a watchful eye of everyone around them to insure things go well for the kids. I’m sure the kids are going to be receiving lots of counseling and health care.
I say, good luck Dad and continue on your path of recovery and thank you for showing up in court, when it counted.
freakin know it all says
Maybe this will prompt an investigation into Aspiranet and Vernon Brown. Sounds like it might be a good time to do a welfare check on other children placed by his adoption services company. Obviously he is doing his job for money, so there must be money to be made by the adoptive parents. Afterall, that’s how he makes his money, placing kids.
How many complaints have been swept under the rug by people in Mr. Philip Browning’s office? Case workers or other staff who are told that a investigation is coming so they go out on FMLA or workmans comp. Even going so far as having medical procedures to “fix” their fabricated problems, which then gives them access to OXY that they inturn sell on the streets. Round and round…..
Social Services has turned into big business by scammers both in the community and as employees. They get one or more of their people “inside” and figure out where the “cracks” are and take advantage. This has happened for years and needs to be stopped. Children are being hurt and dying in some cases.
Legitimate programs get cut and because numbers are manipulated, the corrupt programs keep getting funded.
dumbandblind says
Wouldn’t you think these children would have a better chance with new foster parents (considering if they are properly screened).
How can drug addicts gain permanent custody of their children most especially if they are known to be prone to relapse?
From a monster to an addict, that’s comforting. These kids will grow up with some sort of mental illness and eventually will make their own headline news!
dumbandblind says
Anyone undergoing drug treatment for almost three years (2010-2013)should never gain custody of anyone period.
dumbandblind says
Had Coleman not have any drug convictions to begin with the children wouldn’t have left his side.
tie says
im their older sister …and there is a total of 6 of us you must be a foster person your self to make that statement..the young boys father was on drugs and thats how this all started they got taken away from him…atleast alan changed his life around to get his daughter bak…some people dont change at all but he did it for the sake of his duaghter…
thinktwice1st says
dumbandblind,
You speak as a person who has never struggled. Struggle to you may be, not being able to take a vacation this year. lol anyways I just think you should be careful what you say or how you judge people because one thing I have learned is you will walk in those shoes one day. The dad may have used drugs but people do change. And if the dad has changed then good for him and his daughter deserves to be with her dad.
James Stouvenel says
Thursday morning, the biological father of the 7-year-old girl said he drove from Orange County to Antelope Valley courthouse to seek justice for his daughter.
“I just feel horrible because of what Ingrid has done to my daughter,” Alan Coleman said.
Coleman said he’d spent some time in prison for drug convictions and was never able to become a permanent part of his daughter’s life. He said since his release in 2010, he’d turned his life around and was now working and enrolled at the Cooper Fellowship drug treatment center in Santa Ana. He was scheduled to complete his treatment program next month, he said.
“I drove all this way to be seen, to let the folks know that’s my daughter and I want her back. I never signed over my parental rights,” Coleman said.
Coleman said he was also seeking custody of Brewer’s adopted son, who is his daughter’s brother.
“I don’t want to separate them, because he saved her life and he made the decision to get them out of there,” Coleman said.
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sounds like a really caring father, hopefully he can adopt them, those kids have been cycled through the foster care system way to many times, and this idiot lady needs 25 years to life for what she did to those kids.
dave says
Your article James says it all beautiful,I give you 10 Thumbsup.Because more people need to think the way you do, and then this would be a better place to live,your writing A+ Dave
really says
The LA Times has a story about this woman and how childrens services failed those kids. I hope someone treats her as she treated those poor kids…
Letlow says
I read the article and I wanted to throw up!! I can’t believe those imbeciles actually placed 23 innocent foster children in that monster’s care!!! The county hotline got many calls from people saying this woman was mistreating her foster kids and no one did anything even though the kids had visible injuries!!
These county workers need to be in jail right along with Ms. Ingrid Brewer!!!
If you feel like getting angry and worked up, here’s the link:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-palmdale-abuse-20130201,0,6711108.story
dave says
Punishing for being hungry,There children.You monster.I very relious and i dont judge anyone.But after hearing what this animal did.Forgive me God i did,This lady should get sent to prison as long as possible.and a little longer.
sacryinshame says
sorry I meant to thumbs up your comment.
dave says
Sacryinshame,Try to spread and talk about this article,as much as possible,to let the public no this animal shouldnt have the rite for a trial so she cant plea bargain her way out of a long lengthy jail term.
sacryinshame says
Dave, as I do agree with your thought process, it is not the justice system we have here in America.
I hope the little girls daddy is found to be in good standing and the children can be with him. Unfortunatly, they will probably be “housed” in foster care untill after her trial which could take years.That is sad.
dave says
You get ten Thumbs Up.
dave says
Who said you cant judge a person by the cover no im wondering if you can.Look at this lady a think would you let her take care of kids,who was responsible for letting this monster take care of kids,single parent working im thinking who let this lady take legal rites to these precious children.There should be better back ground checks and visits to check all these kids better,and even if they let the children see there father more this wouldnt of happened.Good luck sir for getting your kids back,and your concern should tell,how much you want your kids good luck on getting your kids back