Woman says she will return adopted girl if teen wins case

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

HOUSTON - A Florida woman who adopted a baby from Galveston County without the birth father's consent says she will give up the child without a struggle if the father wins his custody suit.

"I don't think we would appeal," The Houston Post quoted Christine Carr, 47, of Tampa, Fla., as saying in a copyright story yesterday. "We would just like this to come to a head," Carr said. "The longer you have the baby, the worse it gets."

The possibility that Carr would have a change of heart was good news to William Jardina, 17, and his family.

"I feel a lot better about it," said Jardina, of Bacliff. "I wish they had only said that a couple of days ago," so he wouldn't have to sue for custody.

Jardina is suing for custody on the grounds that he never signed papers terminating his parental rights.

The newspaper reported Thursday that the Carrs adopted 1-month-old Kara from birth mother Stacey Goss, 19, of Dickinson, in a private arrangement.

Goss has not returned telephone calls made by the newspaper or The Associated Press.

Jardina and Goss are scheduled for a hearing at the Galveston County Courthouse on Wednesday to begin paternity and custody proceedings.

Carr said that she and her husband, Donald, 38; and the baby will skip the hearing and wait for the outcome and, if necessary, give Kara back.