It is not unusual for parents to have custody disputes. However, there are some cases where these disputes escalate and children are put in danger. When this happens, the courts often need to step in and reevaluate how custody and visitation should be set up.
Right now one Missouri father is in the process of fighting for sole custody of his 4-year-old daughter. This is after his ex-wife took off with the child to Mexico. Currently, the ex-wife is in jail where she has been charged with a felony count of interference with custody and a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child.
According to the Missouri father, on Dec. 7 he dropped his daughter off at his ex-wife’s home. The following Sunday, when he went to pick up his daughter, his ex-wife was gone. So were his daughter and a teenage girl his ex-wife has from another marriage.
Worried about his daughter, the father immediately contacted Liberty police. However, according to the father, police did not take any type of action for several days. Instead, he claims police treated the incident like any other child custody dispute.
It wasn’t until Dec. 18, after the mother had already crossed the border three times and stayed in an apartment in Mexico that she was apprehended. She also allegedly had a pipe used to smoke crack or methamphetamine in her possession.
After her arrest, the children were returned to live with their fathers. For now, the one Missouri father has primary custody and his ex-wife has stipulated visitation rights.
Going forward, the Missouri father is hopeful that he will be granted sole custody of his daughter.
Source: Liberty Tribune, “Father seeks custody of child after mother heads for the border,” Angie Anaya Borgedalen, Jan. 24, 2013
- Missouri fathers fighting for custody may fight an uphill battle. However, it is not impossible. To learn more, visit our Missouri child custody page.
