She did try for statutory rape and kidnapping including taking a minor over the state line. When the MI police took it all with a grain of salt (there is a huge difference in the laws between MI and WI), that is when she began the ward process. Once the girl became a ward of the state, the MI police took it more seriously because it was the girl's social worker that was filing the complaints.

Their relationship is somewhat better now, because my friend realizes there is really nothing she can do the girl is now in her early 20s and dating men her own age (step in the right direction imo). The 40 year old was one of those creeps that attend all of the teen parties etc. I don't believe she ever graduated from school. While the state can make sure she attends they can't make her do any of the work required. She was working before the severe economic downturn.

What surprised me the most about the situation is that once the girl became a ward of the state, my friends had to continue to support her financially (which is only right imo) but the people complaining about how much child support they have to pay when another parent has custody would have fainted at this bill. She was in the system about 2 years and they paid over 30K (this did include lawyers fees).