In a heart-wrenching turn of events, a nine-year-old Heron Bay Primary student was escorted off the Island yesterday by US Social Services ? just two weeks after her foster mother died and despite her foster family's best efforts to keep her here.

Bianca Odo, a precocious nine year old with a big smile, had been living in Bermuda with her foster mother, June Hamilton Dill, for just over five years when Mrs. Dill become ill and died earlier this month.

It was only after her death that her family realised Bianca had never actually been adopted by their mother.

Mrs. Dill was married to an American and living in the US when she fostered Bianca's mother who was severely retarded.

Her son, Bruce Simons, said yesterday that Bianca's mother had become pregnant while in the care of Social Services in the US.

"When she was returned to my mother she was pregnant with Bianca," he said.

He said Bianca was given to Mrs. Dill as a foster child and had been her daughter ever since.

When Mrs. Dill returned to Bermuda just over five years ago, she brought Bianca with her.

"My mother was the only mother Bianca ever knew and they adored each other.

"She was traumatised when my mother died and now this happens. I don't think this little girl will ever get over this," he said.

Mrs. Dill was buried on January 11 and following the funeral, Bianca went to live with Mrs. Dill's daughter, Debra.

"But somehow American Social Services found out that she was in Bermuda and that my mother had never legally adopted her.

"We got a call on Wednesday night to tell us that she was being deported back to the US on a lunchtime flight," he said.

He said the family was ripped apart yesterday morning when a crying nine-year-old Bianca was put in a car by US Social Services and taken to the Airport, the family barely having enough time to say goodbye.

"That little girl's life was falling apart and there was nothing we could do to help," an emotional Mr. Simons said, holding some photographs of Bianca and his mother in happier times.

He said they were all still trying to deal with the grief of losing their mother and at the same time trying to find ways to prevent the US agency from taking Bianca back to the US.

"I don't know what else to do. She's at the Airport and they're taking her," Mr. Simons said when he approached yesterday at noon. "Please, you have to help me!"

Bianca had been involved in Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Bermuda for a year and was described by staff as a "lovely little girl with a very big smile".

When first called the organisation yesterday, executive director Esme Williams was too distraught to speak and cried.

The Royal Gazette contacted the Premier?s office and informed the Department of Communication and Information of the situation, but it was too late. Less than 40 minutes later the flight with Bianca on board left Bermuda.

When contacted later, Mrs. Williams said Court Services had contacted her shortly before 12.15 p.m. and had assured her that someone had gone to the Airport to try and stop Bianca from boarding the flight and leaving Bermuda. Unfortunately they were too late.

She said everyone at the organisation was traumatised by the events of the past 24 hours.

?We had no idea that Bianca had never been adopted by Mrs. Dill and we can?t believe she?s being deported,? she said.

She said Bianca?s ?Big Sister? from the organisation, Lesley, was allowed to spend 40 minutes with her at the Airport, but when contacted later in the day, was too upset to speak. She had been Bianca?s ?Big Sister? for more than a year.

Meanwhile, Mr. Simons said he would have loved to have given Bianca a home in Bermuda, but didn?t have enough money to care for her with three children of his own. He said Debra, his sister?s husband, was gravely ill and she couldn?t afford to look after Bianca either, but they were trying to find a foster family to help.

?Please, if there is anyone out there who can help us, anyone who can give her a home, please, please contact me!? he pleaded.

He added that no one would tell him where in the US she was being sent and was afraid that once she left he would disappear into the ?system? and he would never hear from her again.

Mr. Simons said he had been informed late yesterday afternoon by Family Services that they would be willing to sit down and discuss what action to take and what could be done to get Bianca back.

?She?ll never survive in the US, she doesn?t have any family there and they?re just going to put her into the system. At least here she has friends and people who love her. I?m going to do everything I can to get her back here,? Mr. Simons vowed.