School releases boys without mother's permission

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A DeKalb County mother is frantic to get back her children after their school released them without her permission.

Sentorri West said she sent her children to Canby Lane Elementary School expecting to see them home at 3 p.m. on March 5, but she hasn't seen them since. The school mistakenly released them to West's ex-boyfriend and the children's father, Alex Lumpkin.

"I rushed to the school and when I get there tell them, 'I'm missing two children, Alex and Alzaivion.' And the administrator said, 'Uh oh,'" West said.

She said she has sole custody of the children and hasn't seen their father in about five years. She said he managed to convince school personnel with what appeared to be court documents from New Jersey to let him take the children.

Channel 2's Jeff Dore went to the school for answers, but the principal referred him to DeKalb County Schools spokesman Walter Woods, who concedes it appears the school made a mistake.

"We have a longstanding policy about who can pick up the kids. We need to make sure this policy was followed, and if not, we have to take action," Woods said.

Lumpkin was arrested in New Jersey. He's now being held at the DeKalb County Jail on felony charges of interference with custody.

Meanwhile, the children have yet to be returned to their mother.

"The kids are still there with his girlfriend," West said.

WSBTV