IN RE DEANGELO N. ET AL.

This appeal arises from the termination of parental rights of the parents of DeAngelo N.
and Daimen N. The trial court terminated their parental rights on the grounds of
abandonment, severe child abuse, persistence of conditions, and lack of willingness or
ability to assume custody, and the finding that termination was in the best interests of the
children. Both parents appeal, arguing that the trial court’s findings regarding the grounds
for termination were in error and that termination of their parental rights was not in the
children’s best interest. We vacate the trial court’s ruling regarding the ground of severe
abuse based on lack of due process, because that ground was not asserted in the pleadings.
We also reverse the trial court’s ruling that the ground of persistence of conditions was
proven, finding the evidence insufficient to clearly and convincingly establish that ground.
We affirm the trial court’s finding that two other grounds for termination were proven, and
the termination of the parents’ rights is in the children’s best interests. Accordingly, we
affirm the decision to terminate both parents’ parental rights.