Court Allows Custody Of Sons To Convicted Child Murderer

Legal Battle Rages Over Mother Court Says Is Cured Of Insanity

A child custody case is making waves across the country after a court ruled to allow a woman who was tried and convicted of murdering her two daughters in 1991 to continue living with her stepsons, despite vehement protest from the boys' birth mother.

The decision is complicated by the convoluted history of the three people involved, crossing state lines and spanning more than two decades. After many years of seemingly happy marriage and blissful home life, an Orange County mother shot to death her two young daughters while they were sleeping. In the aftermath, she was found to be temporarily insane by the court, due allegedly to a poor reaction to the anti-depressant drugs she was taking, and committed to a mental institution.

Her husband, a former marine pilot, divorced her and moved to Seattle, WA, where he met the woman who would become his second wife. They had two sons together before splitting up in 2004. As per the terms of the child custody agreement arrived at between the husband and his second wife, the boys split their time between their fathers home in Seattle and their mother's in Silverton, OR.

First Wife Remarries Former Husband And Lives With Stepchildren

Around the time of the divorce, the first wife was released from state custody after authorities decided she was cured of her insanity and was no longer any danger to herself or others.

According to allegations made by the boys' birth mother, her ex-husband remarried his first wife in secret. After learning the truth five years later, she sought a court order granting her immediate custody of both her children while a new custody agreement could be worked out.

At a hearing on August 1^st, the court decided to deny the second wife's request to modify the custody plan, saying that despite her former insanity, the first wife presented no danger to her stepsons.

The mother of the boys is seeking an appeal from the King County Superior Court, who will hear the case as early as August 25^th.

A Tampa Family Law Attorney In Your Corner

If you need the aid of a dedicated Tampa divorce attorney to represent your interests, look no further than the professional team at Givens Divorce Law Group. At our firm, we believe that your children are the most important part of your family, and we seek to protect them as best as possible, seeking the most optimal outcome for you and your family. To learn more about your  child custody options, please call our offices and discuss your situation right away.

Please, contact a Tampa child custody attorney for a free initial consultation!