The Washington Times, and other mainstream new media, have reported that a minister has been arrested for his aid in a parental kidnapping case that involves one little girl and two female parents.
The women, L.M. and J.J., were once joined in a civil union in Vermont. The Christian minister, T.D.M., has been ordered to appear in a Vermont court.
L.M. gave birth to a daughter, I. M-J., in 2002 in Virginia when the two women were in the civil union. The three moved to Vermont soon after.
In September 2003 L.M. returned to Virginia – but only with I.M-J.
L.M. had decided that she was no longer a lesbian and that she didn’t want the couple’s child to be raised in her former partner’s lifestyle. She filed to dissolve their civil union in November 2003.
Also during this period L.M. became an evangelical Christian.
A custody battle soon ensued and L.M. was granted custody of the child, while J.J. was given rights for visitation.
When L.M. failed to return I.M-J. to J.J. in January 2010, J.J. filed a criminal complaint in federal court. An FBI investigation of the child’s whereabouts was begun and a federal arrest warrant was issued.
The child has been listed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as missing.
FBI Special Agent Dana Kaegel filed a complaint in Vermont’s U.S. District Court on April 1 stating that she had evidence on an “international parental kidnapping” by T.D.M. and L.M.
Kaegel’s affidavit included evidence garnered via access to e-mail, TACA Airlines records and Facebook accounts.
There is documentation starting in September 2009 of L.M. taking I.M-J. through Canada, Mexico, El Salvador and then finally settling in Managua, Nicaragua. There is no evidence that the two have since returned to the United States.
T.D.M. is part of the Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries. The group has a mission in Managua, Nicaragua.
The child is due to turn nine this month.
In a statement released by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, J.J. said that she is “grateful to everyone in law enforcement. I know very little at this point, but I really hope that this means that Isabella is safe and well. I am looking forward to having my daughter home safe with me very soon.
Courts in both Virginia and Vermont are involved in I.M-J’s custody battle. The Vermont court awarded J.J. sole physical and legal custody of I.M-J when L.M. failed to return her for her court-ordered visits.
The transfer of custody was set for January 1, 2010 – a date that came and went with I.M-J’s disappearance.
T.D.M. has been charged with aiding in international parental kidnapping. It is believed that he not only assisted in the travel but that he also provided a home for the two – outside of the U.S.
The charge carries up to a three-year prison term.
Matthew Staver, chairman of Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal organization that represented J.J., said, “From our perspective, she just dropped off the face of the earth. We haven't heard from her or from anyone who said they've heard from her.”
Loosing custody of your child, biological or not, can be an excruciating experience. Contact a family law attorney to help you regain your custody today!