The child custody case of a Maryland father, whose two children were taken abroad more than seven years ago by their mother, might finally be coming to a conclusion. The anticipated resolution to this lengthy international abduction fiasco is finally being realized after what the man has asserted have been failures of both countries involved to do their part to return the children home.
The man’s children, a now 8-year-old boy and 7-year-old girl, were taken from their Baltimore County home by their mother and flown to the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago as toddlers in 2010. It soon became evident that his now ex-wife had no intention of returning the kids.
Upon this realization, he initiated attempts at their repatriation through the proper legal channels in both countries. He even hoped that his ex would wake up and realize she had done something wrong and return the kids herself. It didn’t happen though.
The father has since won a number of legal battles including having been awarded sole, primary custody of his kids. His wife also has not only been ordered by the judge to return the kids, but the Department of Justice has requested that Trinidad and Tobago extradite the woman, especially in light of her being charged with two counts of child abduction.
Despite these court orders, whether or not to return the kids falls into the hands of the mother and government representatives. This is why, in the interim, the father is lobbying whoever he believes has the authority see that his kids get swiftly returned to him. This includes meeting with the newly sworn in Secretary of State and the Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to the United States.
The man’s ex-wife currently has a warrant out for her arrest should she step foot back Baltimore County or the United States for that matter. She also incurs a $1,000 fine for every day that the kids are not returned to their father as well. Her current amount owed is just around two million dollars.
This case, however extraordinary it may seem, is one of several thousand cases of international abduction parents are confronted with each year in the United States. If you or someone you know is involved in a custody dispute, a Columbia, Maryland, child custody attorney can be your greatest asset.
Source: Fox 43, “International custody battle continues for Maryland man who says he just wants his children back,” Grace Griffaton, Feb. 24, 2017
