Stacey Doss and Vanessa (Courtesy O.C. Register / July 2, 2010) |
SANTA ANA -- The adoptive mother of a 2 year old girl has filed an appeal in a bitter custody battle to keep the child she has raised since birth.
Stacey Doss, 45, of Rancho Santa Margarita filed the appeal after an Orange County judge ruled that Vanessa should return to Ohio where her biological father lives.
Orange County Judge Michael J. Naughton ruled last week that officials in the father's home, Montgomery County, Ohio, have jurisdiction over the ongoing case.
Doss has until July 16th to turn over Vanessa to child services officials in Ohio. Officials say the courts will then determine if Vanessa will return to her mother or whether her biological father, Benjamin Mills, Jr., 39, will get permanent custody.
Doss's attorney John Dodd filed the notice of appeal Tuesday.
Doss says she adopted Vanessa two years ago under the belief that Mills was not expected to be part of the baby's life. But, Mills says he was never told the child was to be given up for adoption.
Mills has a history of domestic abuse. He served time for domestic battery in 2005 in an incident involving Vanessa's birth mother, according to court records.
If the appeal fails, Vanessa will be placed in foster care, with Mills getting night visits, according to Doss. Vanessa may then be placed with the birth grandmother.
Doss, who is a public relations consultant and single mother, says she plans to continue fighting for custody of Vanessa. She says that she is the only mother Vanessa has ever known and will be devastated if she is taken away.
Stacey Doss, 45, of Rancho Santa Margarita filed the appeal after an Orange County judge ruled that Vanessa should return to Ohio where her biological father lives.
Orange County Judge Michael J. Naughton ruled last week that officials in the father's home, Montgomery County, Ohio, have jurisdiction over the ongoing case.
Doss has until July 16th to turn over Vanessa to child services officials in Ohio. Officials say the courts will then determine if Vanessa will return to her mother or whether her biological father, Benjamin Mills, Jr., 39, will get permanent custody.
Doss's attorney John Dodd filed the notice of appeal Tuesday.
Doss says she adopted Vanessa two years ago under the belief that Mills was not expected to be part of the baby's life. But, Mills says he was never told the child was to be given up for adoption.
Mills has a history of domestic abuse. He served time for domestic battery in 2005 in an incident involving Vanessa's birth mother, according to court records.
If the appeal fails, Vanessa will be placed in foster care, with Mills getting night visits, according to Doss. Vanessa may then be placed with the birth grandmother.
Doss, who is a public relations consultant and single mother, says she plans to continue fighting for custody of Vanessa. She says that she is the only mother Vanessa has ever known and will be devastated if she is taken away.
