And so while Felicia Chen awaits further evaluation of her present mental state, the father of her children Thomas Teul Sr still hasn't spoken to her. Today, he was making arrangements for the funeral of his three children, 4 year old Triana, 3 year old Thomas and 1 year old Trinaya. It is an unimaginable burden that he's been left with, and what's made it even worse, is that in the public eye, it's likely because of him. The child's grandmother Protacia Chen told the media that he was an abusive, deadbeat dad: that he hadn't visited the kids or given the family money and that he beat Felicia, and probably caused her homicidal distress. That's pretty tough to come back from, but today we met Thomas Teul Sr: He put the blame right back on the grandmother, and even on himself, but stressed that it was not Felicia's fault. He admits that he hadn't seen his kids in two weeks, but says there's a story behind that too.
Voice of Thomas Teul Sr
"This Monday I went there to take some stuff for the baby and I wanted to see my kids but the mother (Felicia's mother) started throwing phrases such as 'I am not a man and I don't deserve to see my kids' and Felicia heard that and she didn't allow me to see them. I walked away and explained to her what we will have to do and I left."
Jules Vasquez
"Felicia's mother indicated that it was problems with you which may have led to her doing that awful thing that she did. Were you the problem in this relationship? Were you what prompted her to do this?"
Voice of Thomas Teul Sr.
"Well like I said earlier this isn't her fault. She is a strong and loving mother. She has never thought about this, I don't know what went wrong but according to what I hear is that she had an arguement with her mother and her sisters just like every other day. They always pressure her about money and they know she doesn't have and that I am struggling trying to pay off our debts. But I didn't run away, I stayed. I called her again and she said that a couple days before her mother had slapped her. I told her that she needed to stand up for herself and not allow them to always bring her down. Everyday it's something and she even calls herself the 'black sheep' of the family because her brothers and sister and even her mother always treat her like she is the worst thing in this life, treat her like she's a nobody and just want her out. She accused her daughter that she's always frustrated and that she takes out the frustration on the kids but that is a lie. She would never hit those kids, she would never hurt them. Because sometimes when I would want to yell or hit them for them to behave and discipline them, she would tell me to just talk to them and not hit them. I know i'm not the perfect man and that she and I have had our ups and downs but we always work it out. That is why the hate to see that I love her so much and she loves me also. I've never really left her by herself - I always try my best. This is not her fault. This is between her mother and I. Her mother did something that morning. They are always accusing her and her father died last year - this month so all that boiled down and only God knows what happened. All she has always wanted to do it work. She tried working for two days but there wasn't anyone to babysit the kids so she had to stop again. They would accept to take care of the baby one day and the next day they would have to pay a lot of money for babysitting and she had just started working. Where do they expect the money to come from? We are trying and as we try something brings us back down. No matter how hard we try because all she thinks about is to help me get out of this."
Jules Vasquez
"When you speak to her - do you know what you will say? What do you want to tell her?"
Voice of Thomas Teul Sr
"I will never say anything negative to allow her to hurt herself more because I know how she feels. I've been with her like seven or eight years and I could think how she thinks and feel how she feels. She doesn't have the fault. If anyone is to blame it's me and the mother and her entire family."
Jules Vasquez
"Is it your hope to take over custody of your daughter?"
Voice of Thomas Teul Sr
"Of course - she is the only thing I have left now because when they were there I didn't want them there. Why would I keep her there now and no one is left there. She will be mine."
Jules Vasquez
"I see you seem very calm but at the same time very sad. Explain to me what you're going through right now?"
Voice of Thomas Teul Sr
"I have to stay calm because I have to deal with all the ups and downs. I have to get the resting place for my kids so I have to stay strong. I cry too because it hurts."
Teul is 24 and works at a local call center. Presently his only surviving daughter Trina Teul is staying with her grandmother.
They will have a funeral for the three children on Friday at Holy Redeemer Church. Anyone who wants to help the family with funeral arrangements can call 605-3754.
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