Country singer Mindy McCready attended a court hearing yesterday to find out the fate of her son, Zander, who was recovered by police over the weekend after Mindy absconded with the boy from Florida to Arkansas. Following a scheduled visit last week, Mindy was supposed to return Zander to his legal guardian, his grandmother, who has had custody of him since 2007. Instead she fled with the boy cross country, leading to a missing persons report and a multi-state manhunt. US Marshalls and police eventually found Mindy and Zander cowering in the closet of an empty summer home in Arkansas owned by Mindy’s boyfriend. Zander was put in foster care temporarily before a judge could rule on his fate.
After the custody hearing yesterday, Mindy was smiling broadly and said that she just loved the judge. (You can see video of Mindy outside of court, above.) The court details are sealed, but it’s known that Zander will remain in Arkansas with a foster family for now.
“I can’t talk about it, but I can tell you all I’m a happy girl,” the 36-year-old McCready said after the proceeding in Izard County Court.
While she didn’t disclose exactly what was decided in the closed-door session, the troubled entertainer did heap praise on Judge Lee Harrod.
“I love Judge Harrod, I’ll tell you that. I love that man. He’s a good man,” she also told the gaggle of media before driving away.
Later that evening, according to ABC News, McCready texted HLN’s Jane Valez Mitchell, which the host read on the air.
WE WON!!! ZAN STAYS,” wrote the I’m Still Here singer. “Court details sealed but we love Judge Lee W. Harrod.”
Given it’s a family matter and court documents are sealed, it’s unknown if, in fact, the judge granted the country star permanent custody or temporary custody, like allowing her to take her son back with her to Nashville, or whether he ordered Zander remanded to his grandparents.
An attorney for McCready was unavailable for comment, but her camp did issue a statement to E! News confirming that “Mindy and Zander both remain in Arkansas at this time” and that “Zander remains with a foster care family” there.
[From E! Online]
After fleeing with Zander, Mindy told the AP that she was seven months pregnant with twins, and then her rep confirmed to People that she was just five months’ pregnant with twins. In the video of her leaving the court room she’s wearing a big poncho and it’s hard to tell, but she doesn’t look seven months pregnant with twins. That was one of her excuses for not returning Zander. Another excuse was that he was her property and “it would be impossible for me to kidnap what already belongs to me.” She also accused her mother of abuse. Mindy has a long and storied history with the law and with addiction. I’m thinking she would easily lie to get her way, since she had no problem breaking the law. Still, many of you commented that it’s not unlikely that Mindy’s mother could be abusing Zander. Look at how her own daughter turned out.
Second two photos above are from 2008. Credit: WENN
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