Petition for Domestic Violence Restraining Order (FL-300)
Russell v. Walsh — Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco
I. REQUEST FOR ORDER — Child Custody & Protective Relief
This Request for Order (Form FL-300) seeks the following relief:
- Temporary custody to Father: Petitioner requests that child Evelyn Grace Walsh (DOB: 1/27/2018) be placed in temporary legal and physical custody to the Father
- Supervised visitation: Respondent (Mother) shall have only supervised visitation
- Return of child: Order requiring return of child from New York to California forthwith
- Expedited hearing: Order shortening time for parties to attend Family Court Services mediation and hearing
II. STEPHEN RUSSELL'S SWORN DECLARATION — Key Allegations
Relationship History: "Respondent (hereinafter 'Tara') and I have resided together in San Francisco with our daughter since March 18, 2018. Previously, Tara and I had lived together in San Francisco (where Evie may have been conceived), but after an incident whereby she threw a bottle of wine at my head, I asked Tara return to New York."
Pattern of Control and Isolation: Russell detailed Walsh's controlling behavior, including preventing him from leaving the apartment, destroying his personal property, and making false accusations of infidelity and assault.
Seroquel Drugging Incidents (May 2018): "Over the course of a year and a half, Russell was being poisoned by Walsh via Seroquel in his drinks. Walsh left the state and is currently refusing to return the daughter to California."
Specific Drugging Admission: The petition directly references Walsh's own admissions in her DV-120 Response where she states: "I put 100mg of Seroquel in Petitioner's red wine, which is a similar dose he would often take to help him sleep."
III. EXHIBITS TO THE PETITION
Exhibit E & F: iPhone Text Message Screenshots (June-July 2018)
The petition includes contemporaneous text message evidence, including:
- Walsh's apologies for drugging Russell
- "Make amends" exchange where Walsh acknowledges wrongdoing
- Father's Day messages with photographs of Evie
- Communications showing Walsh's acknowledgment that she is being treated for mental health issues
Walsh's Admission to Therapist: In text messages to their therapist Dr. Gopal, Walsh admitted: "sometimes when he is out of his mind on drugs and won't sleep I have put Seroquel in his wine."
IV. EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE ORDER (CLETS-EPO) — Issued July 3, 2018
An Emergency Protective Order (CLETS-EPO) was issued by SFPD Officer Dove (Badge #4326) on July 3, 2018, protecting Stephen Grant Russell against Tara Knoll Walsh, specifically citing domestic violence allegations including poisoning/drugging (SFPD Case No. 180494149).
V. LEGAL FINDINGS & CONTEXT
Jurisdiction: The petition establishes that existing Family Court orders exist in Westchester County, New York (Case No. 154703 / 0-06917-18), indicating parallel family law proceedings in multiple jurisdictions.
Hearing Date: The petition was scheduled for hearing on July 10, 2018 at 1:30 p.m., Department 404, with Judge Richard C. Darwin presiding.
Critical Context for Drug Poisoning Allegations: The petition references supporting declarations from:
- Abrehet Tedla (Evie's nanny) — Eyewitness to drugging incidents
- Bryan Crutcher (Security chief) — Observed Walsh putting Seroquel in Russell's wine and heard Walsh admit to chronic drugging
VI. KEY EVIDENTIARY PASSAGES
From Russell Declaration (¶4): Russell describes incidents in May 2018 where Walsh put Seroquel in his wine on at least two occasions, with the knowledge and assistance of the nanny and security detail. The declaration states this was done while Russell was experiencing what Walsh characterized as "Adderall-induced psychosis."
Nanny Corroboration: According to the petition, nanny Abrehet Tedla states that Walsh told her and Dan Ochoa (another staff member) that she drugged Russell "all the time," causing the nanny to fear for Russell's safety.
Security Chief Observation: Bryan Crutcher, a retired police officer serving as Russell's security chief, states he observed "a small white chunk of something floating in a wine glass that Mr. Russell had just consumed" and later learned "Tara had put some of her own prescription medications in his drink."
VII. COURT'S TEMPORARY EMERGENCY ORDERS
The court document indicates that temporary emergency orders (Form FL-305) were to be applied to this proceeding and personally served with all filed documents, demonstrating the court's recognition of the urgent, emergency nature of the allegations.
VIII. SIGNIFICANCE & ADMISSIONS
This petition is significant because:
- Direct Admission: Walsh herself admits to drugging Russell in her sworn DV-120 Response filed concurrently with this petition
- Multiple Eyewitnesses: The allegations are corroborated by the nanny, security chief, and Walsh's own statements to therapist and staff
- Contemporaneous Documentation: Text messages provide real-time evidence of the incidents and Walsh's acknowledgment
- Pattern Evidence: The nanny testified Walsh stated she drugged Russell "all the time," not just on two occasions
- Protective Order: Law enforcement issued an Emergency Protective Order specifically citing the poisoning/drugging allegations