Skip to content

David Ross

David Ross was a Portland resident, the former husband of Dana Ross, and the father of Drake Ross, Danny Ross, and Darren Ross. His alcohol use disorder, volatility, and explosive behavior contributed to an unsafe household in which Danny provided much of Darren’s care. David and Dana opposed Danny’s petition to become Darren’s guardian, but the court appointed him in early 2014. David remained estranged from Danny and Darren after the case. Dana later left and divorced him.

Health and Disabilities

David had alcohol use disorder. His drinking and volatility impaired his ability to provide reliable care and contributed to the instability and fear within the Ross household.

During a late-2013 incident, Darren called Danny in a panic during a severe migraine. Danny called 911 and rushed to the Ross home, but Darren fainted before the medics arrived. David exploded at Danny in front of the emergency crew, prompting a medic to report the unsafe environment. Darren’s pediatric neurologist filed a second report after Danny described the wider pattern of neglect and abuse.

Family and Core Relationships

Dana Ross

David was formerly married to Dana Ross. His alcohol use and volatility combined with Dana’s criticism, emotional volatility, neglect, and failure to protect the children to make the household unsafe. Dana later left and divorced him.

Drake Ross

David heavily favored his oldest son, Drake, giving him money, new belongings, and approval while withholding the same support from Danny and Darren.

David and Drake sometimes drew the younger Darren into taunting Danny. Darren initially resisted in subtle ways and became openly protective of Danny after witnessing a major CVS crisis.

Danny Ross

Danny took on caregiving responsibilities for Darren because David and Dana did not meet the children’s needs consistently. During the custody case, David used Danny’s youth, health, and financial circumstances to argue that he was unfit to raise Darren.

When Danny was hospitalized at seventeen after a severe vomiting episode, David initially accused him of faking or exaggerating it. He doubted the doctors’ assessment even after hearing about the danger posed by Danny’s low potassium. When the doctor recommended further care for Danny’s physical health, depression, and suspected ADHD, David interpreted it as criticism of his parenting and told Danny to toughen up instead. He and Drake continued to minimize Danny’s illness after he returned home. David also insulted Danny after he left high school and completed his GED, and when he married Jess.

When Danny’s cyclic vomiting syndrome flared during the first contested hearing, David and his attorney presented the visible vomiting as evidence against Danny’s capacity to care for Darren. Danny later lost consciousness and required hospital treatment. The court adjourned the proceeding and ultimately rejected the argument that Danny’s chronic illness made him unfit.

Darren Ross

Danny buffered Darren from some of David’s volatility and provided much of his daily care. Darren later testified that he felt unsafe in his parents’ home and wanted to live with Danny.

Main article: 2013–2014 Portland Custody Battle

A CPS investigation examined the Ross household after a documented explosive incident involving David. David and Dana opposed the transfer of Darren’s custody to Danny and framed Danny’s chronic illness and limited resources as evidence of unfitness.

The court found the parental household unsafe, appointed Danny as Darren’s legal guardian, and placed Darren in Danny’s legal custody. David and Dana’s continuing contact was supervised. They blamed Danny for the family rupture rather than accepting responsibility for the conditions that brought the household before the court, and their estrangement from Danny and Darren persisted through Danny’s 2022 death and afterward.

Danny and Jess’s son Caleb never knew David as a grandfather. Caleb remained close to his uncle Darren, so the estrangement from David did not sever every connection to Danny’s family of origin.

Characters Minor Characters Living Characters Disabled Characters Ross Family