Video: Father Abandons His 9 Children

The nine children, age one to 17, abandoned by their father under Nebraska’s “safe haven” law are with family and in foster care.

Seven have been placed together, with a family member.

Two have opted for foster care, which allows them to continue going to their schools.

“Well, the kids have been raised together. They’re a very close-knit family. They’ve always been a close-knit family,“ said Jack Manzer, the kid’s grandfather.

Manzer’s grandchildren rely on each other more than ever.

His daughter, their mother died.

And last week, their father, Gary Staton, abandoned them.

“In the long run, I think they’re better off where they’re at. It’s not that he didn’t love them or he just wanted to pass them on, I don’t think it was any thing like that,“ said Manzer. “I have a little bit of animosity because he could have come to the family in the first place.“

Most of them are together, in the care of another family member now.

Permanent custody is still up to a judge.

“They’re coming around. They’re feeling a lot better about the way things are going,“ said Manzer.

“They’re in good spirits now. The seven that went with family are in really good spirits. They told us, ‘yah, we knew you’d come for us’” said Joanne Manzer, the kid’s grandmother.