UPDATE: Arizona Sisters Forcibly Removed from School by Police After Custody Switch Amid Abuse Allegations
On August 29, two Arizona sisters were forcibly removed from their schools following a court order transferring custody from their mother to their father—a decision later reversed, according to public court records. Fourteen-year-old Sophia Clever reported she was taken from her honors geometry class at Pinnacle High School and escorted to the school office, while her younger sister was removed from Fireside Elementary. A widely circulated audio recording, captured outside Pinnacle High School in front of students and staff, reveals Sophia sobbing and pleading, “Please don’t touch me,” as she resisted. Sophia confirmed the recording’s authenticity, which was corroborated by multiple sources. The recording is available below and on the One Mom's Battle Instagram account here.
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Custody Ruling and Transfer
During an August 21 hearing, Maricopa County Judge Paula Williams stated in open court that she found no clear basis to remove custody from the girls’ mother, Deana Wyttenbach, according to court documents reviewed by this reporter. Despite this, on August 28, 2024 Judge Williams issued “temporary” orders vacating the June restraining order against the girls’ father, Dr. Todd Clever, awarding him sole custody, and restricting the mother to monitored visitation twice a week for two hours.
This ruling came after a temporary restraining order was issued against Dr. Clever in June, following allegations that he had endangered the children.
Court records indicate the custody transfer was scheduled for August 28 at the girls’ dance studio, but it did not proceed as planned. Sophia recounted the incident:
"My sister and I sat on the floor of my mom’s car, vomiting because we were so scared to go. When we refused to get out, the police were called. They agreed that the judge’s orders didn’t specify when the exchange was supposed to happen."
The transfer was rescheduled for the following day at school. What happened next revealed the alarming dynamics at play.
Forcible Removal
Sophia described being removed from her classroom early and taken to the school counselor’s office. Later she was met by a school resource officer, She described the experience:
"The next day at school, I was forcibly removed from my class and taken to the counselor’s office because I was apprehensive," Sophia recounted. "Later outside the school in front of everyone, a school resource officer started lecturing me, saying that if I didn’t go with my father, he would send me to ‘juvie’ or put me in a home with ‘mean girls.’ He also said he would escort me in handcuffs to my abusive father’s car and even threatened to ‘taze’ me. He told me my father was ‘truly a good guy’ and warned me that ‘it is illegal to lie to an officer about abuse.’ But I’m not lying."
The situation escalated, Sophia continued:
"My father picked me up by my backpack, which was still strapped to my back, and started to strangle me. The officer just stood there, doing nothing. While my father forced me into the car, my head hit the vehicle. I felt like I was going to pass out. Afterward, the officer gave my father a high five and said, ‘Good job!’"
Sophia’s younger sister was later removed from her school under similarly distressing circumstances. According to Sophia, her younger sister had visible bruises on her arms the following day.
Incident in June
On June 23, 2024, during a visitation, Sophia and her younger sister were reportedly forced to stay outside in 112-degree heat until they agreed to their father’s new house rules, which included surrendering their phones. Sophia alleged that they were left outside for six hours, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. A family friend who witnessed the incident corroborated the account, stating:
"I saw the girls vomiting in their mother’s driveway and called 911."
The girls were subsequently hospitalized for heat-related illnesses. Court records show that on June 26, an application for a restraining order was filed against Dr. Todd Clever, and the order was granted.
Just a week after this heat stroke incident, a 10-year-old Arizona boy tragically died while hiking in 113-degree weather, underscoring the dangers of such extreme heat.
Sophia’s Story
Sophia, who has since come forward publicly, shared with this reporter the years of abuse she claims to have endured at the hands of her father:
"I have suffered physical, emotional, and mental abuse from my father," she said. "He would bend my arms and wrists backward, slam my limbs in doorframes on purpose, leave me with bruises, hit and punch me, and scream inches from my face. During ‘time-outs,’ he would sit on top of me—he’s 200-300 pounds heavier than me—and lock me in a dark closet, knowing I was terrified of the dark. I also witnessed horrific domestic violence against my mother. He broke her fingers, slammed her head into walls, tried to push her off a balcony, and punched and slapped her repeatedly."
Despite multiple reports to authorities, Sophia said her claims were consistently labeled “unsubstantiated.”
"Even though there have been multiple interventions from DCS, my case continues to be labeled ‘unsubstantiated.’ My sister and I both experienced this abuse, yet every time I’ve spoken to professionals, I’ve been told I’m lying. I have reported the abuse over and over, but no one believes me," she shared.
The Clever case echoes similarities with other high-profile cases in California’s family court and CPS systems, such as the Frank Mogavero case out of Orange County and Maya and Sebastian Laing case out of Santa Cruz. Maya Laing spoke at the Capitol in 2023; watch her testimony here:
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Background on the Case
Dr. Todd Clever, an emergency room physician, and Deana Wyttenbach, a nurse who has been a stay-at-home mom for the past 15 years, were married for 23 years before divorcing in March 2021. Since the divorce, they had shared 50/50 custody of their daughters. Over the past three years, Dr. Clever reportedly utilized approximately eight visitation days per month. However, this arrangement shifted following the June heat stroke incident.
Court documents obtained reveal that earlier this year, Dr. Clever and his attorney, Gregg Woodnick, requested that the girls be sent to Turning Points for Families Texas, a controversial reunification camp. These camps, which have faced significant criticism, are banned in several states, including Arizona.
In March, Judge Williams ordered the Clever sisters to participate in another reunification program known as Intensive Family Transformations (IFT), according to court records. The formal order, signed on April 8, 2024, granted IFT sweeping authority over the family’s custody and treatment decisions for a period of one year. The order identified IFT as “experts for the court,” stating they were “performing a judicial function in aid of the Court” and that “qualified immunity shall apply” to their actions.
As part of the program, the family was mandated to complete an initial five-day intensive session at a cost of $15,000. The order also specified the following terms:
“The Court identifies that given the complex and concerning dynamics within this family, it is ordered that the family participate in an intensive process as determined by the IFT case manager.”
“Reports of the Interventionist may be received in evidence without the necessity of foundation and without objection to hearsay statements contained therein or any other objection.”
Following the five-day intensive, the court ordered additional post-intensive interventions, including:
“If deemed necessary by the IFT team, the Court shall consider the inclusion of a ‘No Contact’ period between the aligned parent and the children. The no-contact period is intended to allow the children to focus on the relationship with the estranged parent and solidify new family patterns established during intensive treatment.”
Concerns about this decision were raised in a May 9 hearing, where members of the public attended to show support for Sophia and Madeline’s well-being. Allegedly, opposing counsel took down the names and numbers of the attendees and called them out in court.
On May 29, 2024 Judge Williams barred the public from attending the hearing, despite no confidential information being discussed.
June 4, 2024 Dr. Clever file a Expedited Motion to Compel requesting Mother undergo a psychological evaluation.
June 23, 2024 Heat stroke incident.
June 26, 2024 a temporary restringing order was issued against Dr. Clever.
June 27, 2024 Judge Williams signed the order for Mother to take a psychological evaluation.
August 21, 2024 Judge Williams ordered temporary sole legal custody to Dr. Clever, removed the restraining order against him and placed Deana on monitored visitation.
August 29, 2024 Sophia and Madeline were forcibly removed from school early to facilitate the custody switch.
In Arizona, Senator Shawnna Bolick introduced Kayden’s Law (SB1372), and Senator David Farnsworth co-sponsored, which was signed into law in April 2024 and took effect on September 14, 2024. See press release here.
October 15, 2024 I contacted Senator Bolick to inquire about the courts' application of Kayden’s Law. In response, Senator Bolick stated via email that she had notified the courts by letter shortly after the law’s signing and plans to address the issue with them in person in the coming weeks.
The next court hearing in the Clever case was scheduled for Thursday, October 17, 2024, at 1:30 PM (Pacific Time). Members of the public were encouraged to show support for Sophia and Madeline by attending online, as promoted through social media posts like this one:
Case Update
Subsequent hearings led to a settlement canceling the November 2024 trial. Both parents now share joint legal decision-making, with primary custody granted to the mother and the father allowed nine days of non-overnight visitation per month.
Kayden’s Law
SB1372, commonly referred to as Kayden’s Law, imposes significant restrictions on court-ordered family reunification treatments, including reunification camps and custody reversals. Enacted in April 2024, the law prohibits courts from mandating family reunification treatments that, as conditions of enrollment or participation, involve:
Issuing a no-contact order with a parent.
Requiring overnight, out-of-state, or multiday stays.
Transferring physical or legal custody of the child.
Utilizing private youth transporters or agents who employ force, threats, physical obstruction, or actions that jeopardize the child's safety.
Employing threats of physical force, undue coercion, verbal abuse, or isolating the child from family, community, or other support sources.
These provisions effectively ban the use of reunification camps and the practice of flipping custody without mutual parental consent. The legislation stipulates that courts may only order such treatments if both parents consent.
The law defines "family reunification treatment" as any treatment, therapy, program, service, or camp aimed at reuniting or reestablishing a relationship between a child and an estranged or rejected parent.
This legislative action was driven by concerns over the safety and well-being of children subjected to forced reunification treatments, which have been criticized for their coercive methods, ignoring claims of abuse and potential to cause further trauma.
This is a developing story. Whistleblowers and victims of family court, CPS, probate court, foster care corruption, please contact this reporter at juliea005@proton.me.
This article is made possible by donations from readers like you! Donations can be made here. Thank you for your support!
Learn more about my ongoing investigative series uncovering corruption in Orange County and its family court system:
Whistleblowers expose the Orange County family court crisis
Whistleblowers reveal corruption in Orange County family courts and beyond
California’s Family Court Crisis: The Failure of Oversight and the Impact of Dr. Sue Tonkins
California Family Courts: Dr. Joan Meier Exposes Bias and Systemic Failures
Orange County reunification therapist deceives courts about credentials
OC Bar Association says “I just want to protect my children” means “I just want to screw my ex”
The victims of Jessica St. Clair, part three
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Pure evil. These corrupt family courts need to loose the immunity and face the consequences for their decisions. Maybe then they wouldn't be so ignorant lazy and corrupt. Selling custody of a child to their abuser is human trafficking. Violating civil rights is so common in family practice. It need to be shut down. Abusers belong in criminal court with due process and jury trials. Only abusers steal custody of children just to punish the other parent. Its domestic violence. Family court need to go. Too many evil judges and court professionals making money off abusing children, staling money from the good parents who are willing to fight and pay anything it takes to try to protect their children. Its how they make their money. Criminals