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Contested father's rights

This archive contains father's rights violation cases.

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Benjamin Wyrembek

Submitted by Admin on Sat, 2010-10-30 23:46.

Benjamin Wyrembek had a brief affair with a married woman. She became pregnant in 2007 and, along with her husband, decided to place the child for adoption. Wyrembek timely filed his claim of paternity with the Ohio Putative Father Registry and brought suit in juvenile court in December, 2007 to establish paternity. In January, 2008, the adoptive parents, Jason and Christy Vaughn, filed their suit to adopt the child.

October 7, 2010, the Supreme court of Ohio decided in favor of Benjamin Wyrembek and on October 30 Grayson was given to his father.

Date: 2007-11-04
Organizations involved: Adoption by Gentle Care
Persons involved: Michael R. Voorhees

Location

Swanson, Ohio
United States
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  • 9153 reads

Bobby L. Nevares

Submitted by Admin on Mon, 2015-02-09 20:46.
Date: 2010-09-29
Organizations involved: The Adoption Center of Choice

Location

United States
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  • 3200 reads

Bryce Carkhuff

Submitted by Admin on Tue, 2009-03-17 21:38.


Carkhuff and 20-year-old Esther Jones had a month-long relationship that ended shortly after she discovered she was pregnant in December 2006. While Carkhuff said he wanted to raise the child, Jones believed she wasn’t ready for the responsibility and decided to give the baby up for adoption. Now, with the child nearly 5 months old, the Bend man is fighting the law designed to protect adoption rights, but which he believes has wrongly cut off his parental rights.
Date: 2006-09-14

Location

Bend, Oregon
United States
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0
  • 5407 reads

Carlos Orr

Submitted by Admin on Thu, 2009-03-05 00:33.
Father of a child whose mother had not informed him contests the adoption of his child.
Date: 2003-12-10
Organizations involved: The Adoption Center of Choice
Persons involved: Larry S Jenkins

Location

Orem, Utah
United States
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  • 4359 reads

Christopher Vietri (Baby Sam case)

Submitted by Admin on Sun, 2012-10-14 18:26.
Christopher Vietri was the biological father of Sam. He was told the baby was still born, shortly after the mother had placed the child for adoption. Vietri sought custody of the boy. A settlement was eventually reached where Vietri was allowed four supervised visits per year. He was required to pay $200 a month in child support.
Date: 1996-04-10
Organizations involved: Adoptions by Choice (ABC) (Florida)
Persons involved: Gregory Boyer
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  • 3478 reads

Cody O'Dea

Submitted by Admin on Wed, 2009-03-04 22:16.
19-year-old man registered with Wyoming's Putative Father Registry in 2006, within that state's time limits after finding out he was to become a father. O'Dea's unborn child's mother moved to Utah, and because she told him that she had done so, the state mandates he comply with Utah's laws within 20 days of being notified. He didn't register in Utah in time and the child was placed for adoption.
Date: 2005-05-01
Organizations involved: LDS Family Services (Farmington, UT)
Persons involved: Larry S Jenkins

Location

Utah
United States
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0
  • 6627 reads

Dusten Brown (baby Veronica case)

Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2013-04-12 15:14.


In 2009, Matt and Melanie Capobianco, a couple from South Carolina sought to adopt a child whose father, Dusten Brown, was a member of the Cherokee Nation. Brown contested the adoption on the grounds that he was not properly notified in accordance with Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) , and won his cases in trial court and on appeal with the state supreme court.

On October 1, 2012, the adoptive couple petitioned the United States Supreme Court to review the case. On January 4, 2013, the court granted certiorari and heard the case on April 16, 2013. On June 25, 2013, the Supreme Court issued a 5-4 decision, sending the case back to the state court of South Carolina for further hearings on the issue. On July 31, 2013, the South Carolina trial court finalized the adoption of the child to the adoptive couple, but on August 30. 2013, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the girl would not immediately be transferred from the custody of her biological father to the South Carolina couple who adopted her. The stay was lifted on September 23, 2013 and the child was turned over to her adoptive parents on the same day.
Date: 2009-09-15

Location

Charleston, South Carolina
United States
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Frank Osborne

Submitted by Admin on Wed, 2009-03-04 23:10.
Osborne is a North Carolina resident. He began a relationship with Angela Baker, also a North Carolina resident, in November 2000. In December 2000, Baker became pregnant.

During her pregnancy, Osborne and Baker cohabited at Osborne's home in North Carolina. While Baker was living with Osborne, she informed him that she had contacted an adoption agency in Utah to inquire about placing the child for adoption upon its birth. Osborne expressed disapproval with that idea, and as a result, Baker assured Osborne that she would not place the child for adoption.

In early August 2001, Baker left Osborne's home and traveled to Utah with the intent to give birth and to place the child for adoption. On August 6, 2001, labor was induced and Baker delivered the child. That same day, she called Osborne and informed him that she had borne a son, that she had decided not to place the child for adoption in Utah, and that she was returning to North Carolina with the child.

Upon returning to North Carolina, Baker lived with her mother for a week and then moved back in with Osborne. However, by December 10, 2001, she once again moved out of Osborne's home. During this period of cohabitation, Osborne attempted on two occasions to convince Baker to execute a voluntary declaration of paternity. She refused to do so.

In early January 2002, Baker again informed Osborne that she intended to return to Utah and place the child for adoption, which she did. On January 4, 2002, Baker relinquished her parental rights to Adoption Center of Choice, Inc. ("Adoption Center"), a Utah adoption agency with its principal office located in Orem, Utah, so that the child could be placed for adoption. Shortly thereafter, Baker's husband also formally relinquished any parental rights regarding the child and consented to the child's placement for adoption with Adoption Center. Adoption Center then placed the child with a couple but retained legal custody of and responsibility for the child, pursuant to Utah Code Ann. § 78-30-4.22 (2002), pending the finalization of the adoption.

On February 11, 2002, Osborne filed a paternity and custody action in North Carolina.

Date: 2002-01-04
Organizations involved: The Adoption Center of Choice
Persons involved: Larry S Jenkins

Location

Orem, Utah
United States
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  • 6084 reads

Jake Strickland

Submitted by Admin on Thu, 2012-08-16 14:20.
Jake Strickland had a relationship with Whitney Pettersson, who became pregnant around April 2010. The relationship didn't work out, but a decision was made to share parental duties. Unbeknownst to Strickland, Petterson places the baby for adoption in December 2010.

Strickland has been fighting this decision ever since.
Date: 2010-12-30
Organizations involved: LDS Family Services
Persons involved: Larry S Jenkins

Location

Salt Lake City, Utah
United States
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  • 4190 reads

Jeremiah Clayton Jones

Submitted by Admin on Tue, 2009-03-17 23:44.


23-year-old Arizona man discovered that his former fiancée was pregnant just three weeks before the baby was due, when an adoption-agency lawyer called and asked if he would consent to have his baby adopted. Despite the fact he didn't consent he lost his parental rights because of his failure to file with a state registry for unwed fathers — something he learned of only after it was too late.
Date: 2006-03-19
Organizations involved: Heart of Adoption, Inc.
Persons involved: Jeanne Tate

Location

Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps
0
  • 5189 reads

Jeremy Simmons (baby Deseray case)

Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2013-10-18 14:37.
Bobby and Diane Bixler, of Irmo, South Carolina, attempted the adoption of a Shawnee child over the objections of the Jeremy Simmons, child's biological father, those of the tribe he belongs to. The child was remove from Oklahoma without the Interstate Custody for the Placement of Children (ICPC) paperwork or complying with Oklahoma state law on removing the child. Raymond Godwin, attorney for the Bixlers has been quoted as stating “Just because the birth father is a sperm donor and has that biological link does not under the law establish his parental rights.” Godwin did acknowledge that the Bixlers did take Deseray from Oklahoma without complying with the ICPC or Oklahoma state law.

An attorney for the Shawnee tribe in Oklahoma noted that the Bixlers "literally paid their money and split with the kid..."[ Godwin disputed this, claiming that the Bixlers only left to protect the job of the putative adoptive father. Oklahoma Judge Allen Welch has ordered the return of the child to Oklahoma.The tribe's attorney in South Carolina has noted that South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley insisted that Oklahoma comply with the South Carolina court order, and that it was now time for South Carolina to comply with an Oklahoma court order. In addition, the attorney contracted by Godwin in Oklahoma has written to Godwin, demanding the immediate return of the child to Oklahoma, and stating " Since your clients chose to secretly ignore the law it is my position they have all liability for the child's safe keeping until they surrender physical custody of the child and have no right to physical custody of the child.
Date: 2013-05-01

Location

Irmo, South Carolina
United States
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  • 6556 reads

John McCaul (Sonya McCaul case)

Submitted by Admin on Tue, 2014-10-14 15:17.

Sonya McCaul was born in 2004 in Nebraska. Her mother wasn't in the picture. Her father asked a family friend to act as a caregiver in 2005, before he was arrested and charged with unlawful transport of a weapon. That caregiver, Jennifer Gunn, asked McCaul if she could take Sonya with her to Dickson County in Tennessee because of an ailing relative.

Once there, Sonya was quickly put into DCS custody as questions were raised about McCaul's background. She was largely cared for by the Hodgin family, who are friends with Gunn.

In 2006, McCaul was arrested and convicted by the feds. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Meanwhile, the Hodgin family filed paperwork to terminate McCaul's parental rights and adopt Sonya, citing abandonment. In 2008, a Dickson County judge terminated McCaul's rights and allowed the Hodgins to adopt Sonya.

But a year later, the Tennessee Court of Appeals reversed the adoption and termination of McCaul's parental rights, saying that the abandonment issue wasn't properly argued at the time. Meanwhile, McCaul's sentence was reduced from 15 years to 7.5 because of his cooperation in an unrelated homicide case.

McCaul was released from prison in 2012. Since then, he's been in a pitched battle with the Hodgin family for custody of Sonya. A judge in January of this year ordered Sonya to be returned to her father in Nebraska, which is where she's been ever since.

Date: 2012-05-01
Organizations involved: Trio Solutions
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  • 3578 reads

John Wyatt (baby Emma case)

Submitted by Admin on Wed, 2010-04-28 22:03.
Baby Emma was born February 20, 2009 in Woodbridge, Virginia. Her mother, Emily Colleen Fahland, put the child up for adoption without consent of John Wyatt, the father of the child. Baby Emma was placed with a Utahn couple.

Officials in Virginia have stated John Wyatt made his claim to fatherhood within the designated time limit, while officials in Utah use different criteria, rendering his claim futile.
Date: 2009-02-20
Persons involved: Larry S Jenkins

Location

Woodbridge, Virginia
United States
See map: Google Maps
0

Logan McQueary (Gabriel Johnson case)

Submitted by Admin on Tue, 2010-05-11 21:20.


8-month-old Gabriel Johnson, born to Logan McQueary and Elizabeth Johnson, disappeared December 26, 2009. Elizabeth Johnson, without consent of the father, tried to place Gabriel for adoption with an Arizona couple. This placement never materialized, and December 29, 2009, Elizabeth Johnson was arrested. She claimed to have given Gabriel to a couple in San Antonio, Texas.
Date: 2009-12-26

Location

San Antonio, Texas
United States
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  • 10488 reads

Matt Tenneson

Submitted by Admin on Thu, 2009-03-05 00:24.

20-year-old man of Coeur d'Alene, ID, contests the adoption of his son "Baby Harvey" through LDS Family Services.

Date: 2007-06-25
Organizations involved: LDS Family Services
Persons involved: Larry S Jenkins

Location

american fork, Utah
United States
See map: Google Maps
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  • 6426 reads

Ramsey Shaud

Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2010-08-27 13:56.


23-year-old man, learned on December 19, 2009, his former girl-friend who was pregnant with his child at the time, was going to stay in Utah for some time. On January 13, 2010, Ramsey Shaud filed his claim to the child with the Utah Office of Vital Records and Statistics, two days before the birth of the child. Since entering his claim into the state's database took 7 days, he was one day late, and the adoption of his child proceeded.
Date: 2009-12-16
Persons involved: Larry S Jenkins

Location

Crestview, Florida
United States
See map: Google Maps
0

Rashad Head

Submitted by Admin on Tue, 2009-03-17 22:25.


17-year-old man upon finding out out that his girlfriend was pregnant said he decided he wanted to take responsibility and care for his child. The mother of the child decided differently and surrendered her parental rights to a Florida couple.

On February 24, 2009 a judge ordered joint custody of the child to Rashad and the mother of the child.
Date: 2006-07-01

Location

Lawrenceville, Georgia
United States
See map: Google Maps
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  • 4871 reads

Robert Manzanares

Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2012-01-27 23:38.


Robert Manzanares was deceived by the mother of his daughter, who placed the girl for adoption in Utah against his will. A court battle has been going on since 2008.
Date: 2008-02-20
Persons involved: Larry S Jenkins

Location

Colorado
United States
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  • 5259 reads

Shawn McDonald

Submitted by Admin on Tue, 2009-03-17 20:49.


Shawn McDonald is the biological father to Michael-Hunter, and was not aware of his son until two days before he was born.

Hunter was given up for adoption through LDS Family Services by his mother, without Shawn's consent. The baby was taken to Idaho and given to an LDS couple there, whom Shawn has been fighting in court.
Date: 2005-07-02
Organizations involved: LDS Family Services (Dallas - TX)
Persons involved: Eric Larson

Location

Fort Worth, Texas
United States
See map: Google Maps
6.02
Average: 6 (1 vote)
  • 7374 reads

Terry Achane

Submitted by Admin on Wed, 2012-12-05 00:10.


Terry Achane and his wife Tira Bland, conceived a daughter in 2011. At the time the couple was living apart (she in Texas, he in South Carolina) due to work obligations. Tira Bland put up the child for adoption at birth, without informing Achane.

In November 2012, a judge ruled the girl should be returned to her father.
Date: 2012-12-03
Organizations involved: The Adoption Center of Choice
Persons involved: Larry S Jenkins

Location

Provo, Utah
United States
See map: Google Maps
0

William Jardina

Submitted by Admin on Fri, 2009-03-20 18:36.
17-year-old man learned his daughter Kara had been given up for adoption by his ex-girl friend Stacey Goss. After the paternity suit, the adopters, Donald and Christine Carr, from Tampa Fl, decided not to contest the adoption and returned the girl to her father.
Date: 1993-07-24

Location

Tampa, Florida
United States
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  • 24616 reads

BS

Submitted by Ryan (not verified) on Mon, 2013-12-16 02:45.

The system is so screwed up. Women want to go around and cry about deadbeat fathers but not all of us are. Children need both parents equally and it shouldn't be so damn hard for the father to be a part of his child's life. Some women need to grow up and realize your hurting your child because of your selfishness. The system needs to be fixed immediately. I feel sorry for these fathers who clearly love and want to care for their children.

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