SAN FRANCISCO—A seventy-four-year-old single father had neurodivergent twins through in vitro fertilization (IVF) in 2019 and with a surrogate when he was sixty seven years old without any support from family or friends.
He tended to lock his twin boys in the loft, which is their bedroom, to keep them safe because one of them has unpredictable mood swings, which include meltdowns that lead to temper tantrums and throwing things around. It was for their own safety, not out of any malice. They felt safe to be locked up in their own little world, the father claimed, since they have autism. He locked them in the gated loft when he was in the kitchen for 30 minutes at a time while he was cooking.
The Child Protective Services (CPS) found out Saturday, August 2, 2025. CPS took the twins away from the only home they have ever known. They are currently placed by CPS in an emergency foster home, but the father is experiencing intense separation anxiety.
According to the father, a CPS worker says that the father should clean the apartment because he is a hoarder, which the father insisted that he is not. As soon as the apartment is cleaned up, CPS will give his sons back. He has hired a cleaning service to clean his apartment.
Neighbors in his apartment complex say he is an exemplary father. They say his sons adore him. As all children do, these pair of twins love their father unconditionally. The father even says he loves his sons.
He knows no one in his community that could help him or his sons; he does not know of any resources that could be of any help to his neurodivergent sons.
