Opinion
No. 08-1937.
February 4, 2009.
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Woodbury County, Brian L. Michaelson, Associate Juvenile Judge.
A father appeals from the order terminating his parental rights to his daughter. AFFIRMED.
Dewey Sloan, Jr., Le Mars, for appellant father.
Martha McMinn, Sioux City, for appellee mother.
Thomas J. Miller, Attorney General, Kathrine S. Miller-Todd, Assistant Attorney General, Patrick Jennings, County Attorney, and Cindy Weber-Blair, Assistant County Attorney, for appellee State.
Lesley Rynell of Juvenile Law Center, Sioux City, for minor child.
Considered by VOGEL, P.J., and VAITHESWARAN and EISENHAUER, JJ.
Cory appeals from the November 2008 order terminating his parental rights to M.B. pursuant to Iowa Code sections 232.116(1)(b), (d), (e), and (h) (2007). He claims the State failed to prove that termination was in the best interests of M.B. Cory did not appear nor present evidence at the termination hearing. Upon our de novo review, we affirm the termination of Cory's parental rights. See In re J.E., 723 N.W.2d 793, 798 (Iowa 2006) (de novo review).
M.B.'s mother consented to termination of her parental rights.
At the time of the termination hearing, M.B. was seventeen months old and had complex medical needs requiring twenty-four hour monitoring. The district court concluded, and we agree, that the father has demonstrated very little interest in caring for M.B. Upon the recommendation of Iowa Department of Human Services, the district court concluded that it was in M.B.'s best interests to be placed in a foster home that was conducive to her well-being. She was placed "with two very special foster parents" who were intending to adopt M.B., should parental rights be terminated. Because we agree with the district court's careful findings and application of the law, we affirm pursuant to Iowa Court Rule 21.29(1)( a), ( c), ( d), and ( e).