While watching the news can often make it seem otherwise, the truth is that most child abductions are done by a parent or other family member. In some cases, the parent takes the child because he or she she believes it is in the best interests of the child or is trying to protect the child from a perceived threat. However, going against a custody order is never a good idea and can cause long-term problems for both the parents and the child involved.
According to reports, a missing child case that dates back 13 years has finally been solved after the now teenage boy began applying to colleges. The boy went missing from Alabama when he was only 5 years old, and authorities have believed he has been with his father ever since. On Nov. 1, they found out they were correct.
It appears that the boy was taken by his father and then moved at some point to Northeast Ohio, where he had been attending high school. When the teen began applying for colleges, his school counselor noted that his name and Social Security didn’t match up. The counselor then realized the teen was listed on the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children database. The teen’s mother was notified that he had been found, and the father has been charged with bail set at $250,000.
It’s important to remember that there are always two sides to every story. Part of the family court’s job is to take in both parties’ arguments and make a decision that is in the best interests of the child. When one parent takes matters into his or her own hands, it can further complicate the situation and end up with that parent having limited access to the child later on. A family law attorney can help you better understand your options if you feel there needs to be a change in your custody order.
Source: BigCountryHomePage, “A Boy Reported Missing 13 Years Ago Was Found,” Heidi Alagha, Nov. 05, 2015