Mother of 'genius' admits to errors

Court considering whether she should gain custody of son

Julie Poppen, News Staff Writer

Published March 9, 2002 at midnight

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The mother of Justin Chapman admitted in court Friday to creating an "injurious environment" for her son, whose troubled life was profiled in "Boy Genius," a Rocky Mountain News special report.

Elizabeth Chapman's admission came in a dependency and neglect case brought by Broomfield County, precluding a trial scheduled for March 18.

The boy was hospitalized Nov. 18 for an apparent suicide attempt, and Broomfield County removed Justin from his mother's care. Chapman, 29, had moved with Justin from New York to Broomfield last summer.

The hearing in Broomfield District Court was closed to the public, with seven uniformed police officers patrolling the hallway.

After the hearing, Chapman and her attorney Paul Dugas left through a back door. Chapman declined comment. The next hearing is scheduled for 8 a.m. April 12, according to a statement by Chief Judge Harlan Bockman.

Broomfield child welfare officials would not comment on the case.

Children's law experts said the admission could help Chapman regain custody of Justin, 8, sooner than if a trial were pursued.

"Very few children are ever taken without good cause," said children's advocate Adoree Blair of Littleton. "Parents know that. If she's saying, 'Yes, I bear some fault here and I'm sorry,' it's the easiest and best way to get reunited with her son."

Based on her experiences with other neglect cases, Blair speculated that Chapman could be reunited with her son within a few months if she successfully completes a treatment plan. It could take longer if the court determines that Chapman is mentally unstable or unable to be treated in a short period of time, Blair said.

"Knowing about so many abuse and neglect cases, this is not a horrendous case," Blair said. "The boy did need intervention. It's too bad it had to be taking him out of the home."

Chapman recently admitted she copied the SAT score report of a neighbor's son, attributing that perfect 800 math score to her then 6-year-old son. She also admitted fabricating IQ test results when Justin was 3 that portrayed him as profoundly gifted.

She also said she and her son studied an IQ test booklet before the child took an IQ test in April 2000 through the Gifted Development Center in Denver. On that test, Justin scored the highest IQ score ever recorded -- 298-plus.

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