In the Missouri Court of Appeals
Eastern District
DIVISION TWO
In the Matter of J.D.D. ) No. ED101337
)
J.R.D., JR., ) Appeal from the Circuit Court
) of Marion County
Petitioner/Appellant, )
)
v. ) Honorable John J. Jackson
)
J.L.D., )
)
Respondent/Respondent. ) Filed: December 16, 2014
Introduction
J.R.D., Jr. (Appellant) appeals from the trial court’s judgment denying his petition for
letters of guardianship over the minor J.D.D. (Child) and granting J.L.D.’s (Mother) petition for
habeas corpus. We reverse.
Factual and Procedural Background
Appellant and Mother were divorced in 2007 and have a son together. Appellant has had
custody of the parties’ son since their divorce. On January 3, 2011, Mother gave birth to her
second boy, Child, who is the subject of these proceedings. Although no paternity test has been
performed, Child’s biological father is presumed to be E.P., who has never been involved in
Child’s life and was given notice but failed to appear for these proceedings and is thus in default.
Prior to Child’s birth, Mother approached Appellant about financing an abortion of Child
or about Appellant and his partner being Child’s parents. Appellant declined to finance an
abortion but did agree to take and raise Child once he was born. Mother listed Appellant’s name
on Child’s birth certificate as the father. On January 5, 2011, Mother executed a hospital release
form titled “Release of Infant to Other Than Parent” to allow Appellant to take Child home and
care for him. The hospital release provided that Mother understood she was responsible for
Child’s health care needs until an order of termination of parental rights or a decree of transfer of
custody and adoption was received by Hannibal Regional Hospital.
Appellant took Child home with him and cared for Child along with the parties’ son.
Around November 2011, when Child was ten months old, his stomach was temporarily
paralyzed due to a virus, a medical condition called gastroparesis. Appellant took Child to the
hospital where he was admitted and administered a feeding tube and an intravenous line for
nutrition and hydration. After a two-month hospital stay, Appellant took Child back and forth to
the hospital for check-ups. Child’s treatment for and recovery from this medical condition
spanned three months, and although Appellant informed Mother of Child’s medical problems
and invited her to come to the hospital to visit and see Child, Mother never went to the hospital
to see or visit Child. Nor did Mother assume any of the responsibility for Child’s health care
needs or costs during this time or any other. For the next year and a half, Appellant took care of
Child. During this time, Mother never visited Child or provided any support for Child.
On July 1, 2013, for the first time since Child’s birth, Mother suddenly arrived at
Appellant’s residence accompanied by Missouri State Highway Patrol officers demanding
physical custody of Child. Appellant showed the officers Child’s birth certificate with his name
on it, and the officers refused to physically take custody of Child from Appellant and give him to
Mother. Between January 5, 2011 and July 1, 2013, Mother never attempted to obtain physical
custody of or visitation with Child.
2
On July 22, 2013, Mother filed a Petition For Writ Of Habeas Corpus in the Circuit Court
of Marion County, Case Number 13MM-CV00186, alleging Appellant had the unlawful physical
custody of Child and seeking to have the trial court transfer physical custody of Child from
Appellant to Mother.1 In response, on August 13, 2013, Appellant filed a Petition For
Guardianship, Case Number 13MM-PR00033, seeking to have the trial court appoint Appellant
as Child’s statutory guardian so Appellant could lawfully retain legal and physical custody of
Child.
The cases were consolidated and heard simultaneously at a two-day bench trial held on
November 4, 2013 and November 27, 2013.
Appellant submitted evidence Mother had abandoned and neglected Child from January
5, 2011 to August 13, 2013, by providing no financial support to Appellant for Child and seeking
no contact with Child during that time.2 Mother never visited Child nor provided any care for
him during this time, including during his hospitalization.
Appellant presented evidence Mother was physically unable to have physical custody of
Child because Mother has been diagnosed as disabled due to fibromyalgia, degenerative disc
disease, chronic knee pain, chronic back pain, and chronic neck pain. Mother testified her
disabilities prevent her from accomplishing minor chores due to pain and that she is not
supposed to lift anything over twenty pounds. At the time of trial, Child weighed thirty pounds.
Appellant provided evidence Mother had also been diagnosed as being disabled due to
bipolar disorder, personality disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Appellant provided
evidence Mother has had seven psychiatric hospitalizations, including hospitalizations for
suicidal attempts and ideations.
1
On this same date, Mother filed a Motion to Modify the parties’ Decree of Dissolution of Marriage in Case
Number 07MM-CV00079 in the Circuit Court of Marion County.
2
The one exception to this time frame is the Highway Patrol visit.
3
Toni Medina (Medina), Mother’s caseworker, testified as of the time of trial, Mother
takes a number of medications including Trazodone, a mood stabilizer and sleep aid; Naproxen
for pain; Prilosec for gastrointestinal pain; Tramadol for pain; Lamotrigine, a mood stabilizer;
Topamax, a mood stabilizer; Campral, to curb the urge to drink alcohol; and Citalopram, an anti-
depressant. Medina also testified that as of June of 2013, Mother has reported a history of
difficulties with mood swings, anger, past suicidal ideations and gestures, childhood emotional
and sexual trauma, anxiety, paranoia, auditory hallucinations, cutting on herself, stress, coping
with physical health issues, depression, explosive anger, flashbacks, nightmares, and alcohol
abuse.
Mother testified that her former psychiatrist, Dr. Lyle Clark, diagnosed her with bipolar
disorder with homicidal rages.
The guardian ad litem, Meredith Morrow Illa (Illa), testified she did not believe Mother
should have guardianship of Child at the time of trial as it was not in Child’s best interests. Illa
cited reasons for her recommendation, to-wit: Mother’s physical limitations; Mother’s recent
history of relapsing; not taking her medications; and failing to follow her caseworker Medina’s
recommendations, for example, to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Illa stated that
although she saw some improvement in Mother’s mental health, it was not in Child’s best
interests for Mother to have full-time custody of him at that time. Illa stated she believed
guardianship with Appellant and visitation with Mother was the most appropriate action at that
time and comported with what she thought was in Child’s best interests.
On January 7, 2014, the trial court entered a judgment without findings in the docket
sheets granting Mother’s Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus and denying Appellant’s Petition
for Guardianship. On February 6, 2014, Appellant filed a Motion for New Trial and/or Motion
4
to Amend Judgment. On March 18, 2014, the trial court heard Appellant’s post-trial Motion and
on March 25, 2014, denied it. This appeal follows.3
Points on Appeal
In his first point, Appellant maintains the trial court erred in denying his petition for
guardianship because the judgment was unsupported by substantial evidence and against the
weight of the evidence, in that the evidence established Mother was physically and mentally
unfit and unable to assume the duties of natural guardian of Child.
In his second point, Appellant contends the trial court erred in denying his petition for
guardianship because its judgment was unsupported by substantial evidence and against the
weight of the evidence, in that the evidence established Mother was unfit to assume the duties of
natural guardian of Child due to her abandonment and neglect of Child.
In his third point, Appellant claims the trial court erred in denying his petition for
guardianship because it erroneously declared and applied the law by failing to recognize and
apply the judicial exception created by In the Interest of K.K.M., 647 S.W.2d 886 (Mo.App. E.D.
1983), which permits awarding custody of a child to a third party when the welfare of the child,
for some special or extraordinary reason, demands that disposition.
Standard of Review
The trial court’s judgment in guardianship proceedings is to be affirmed unless it is
unsupported by substantial evidence, is against the weight of the evidence, or erroneously
declares or applies the law. In re M.B.R., 404 S.W.3d 389, 392 (Mo.App. S.D. 2013).
3
Mother did not file a responsive brief.
5
Discussion
Points I and II – Unfitness
Three statutes govern appointment of a guardian for a minor. In re Estate of A.T., 327
S.W.3d 1, 2 (Mo.App. E.D. 2010); Flynn v. Flynn, 34 S.W.3d 209, 211 (Mo.App. E.D. 2000).
Section 475.0254 provides that the father and mother are the natural guardians of a minor child.
Section 475.045.1 gives the parents first priority in appointment as guardian, except as otherwise
provided in Section 475.030. If the parents cannot fulfill guardianship duties, then the court
should appoint the most suitable person willing to serve, whose appointment serves the best
interests of the child for a stable and permanent placement. Section 475.045.3; Estate of A.T.,
327 S.W.3d at 2. Section 475.030.4 provides that letters of guardianship of the person of a minor
may be granted in the following cases:
(1) Where a minor has no parent living;
(2) Where the parents or the sole surviving parent of a minor are unwilling,
unable or adjudged unfit to assume the duties of guardianship;
(3) Where the parents or the sole surviving parent have had their parental rights
terminated under chapter 211.
Section 475.030.4(2) is at issue in the instant case.
A court should not appoint a guardian for a child unless there is no parent available,
willing, and able to care and provide for the child as a natural guardian. Estate of A.T., 327
S.W.3d at 2. These statutes create a rebuttable presumption that a natural parent is the
appropriate custodian for his or her child. Cotton v. Wise, 977 S.W.2d 263, 264 (Mo.banc
1998). Evidence that a parent is unwilling, unable, or unfit to take charge of the child, however,
will overcome this presumption. Id. Consequently, if there is sufficient evidence presented that
Mother is unfit, unwilling, or unable to take charge of Child, then the presumption in favor of
Mother dissipates. In re Estate of L.G.T., 442 S.W.3d 96, 101 (Mo.App. S.D. 2014). The parties
4
All statutory references are to RSMo. 2012, unless otherwise indicated.
6
stipulated at trial that if a guardianship was necessary for the future care of Child, Appellant
would be a suitable guardian.
In the instant case, Mother abdicated to Appellant her duties to Child with regard to the
provision of care, home, protection, and medical care5 for two and a half years after his birth.
There was also evidence that Mother made no effort to fulfill her duty of providing any financial
support or insurance6 for Child while Child was in the custody of Appellant. Mother never
visited Child at Appellant’s home, nor did she see Child when he was in the hospital for two
months due to gastroparesis. Mother provided no support, neither personal nor financial.7 These
failures are properly regarded as constituting abandonment and neglect. Evidence of neglect can
demonstrate a parent’s unfitness to serve as guardian, provided the neglect relates to the parent’s
duties as natural guardian. Reece v. Reece, 890 S.W.2d 706, 711 (Mo.App. W.D. 1995).
A parent’s duty to provide for a child is a personal obligation which cannot be satisfied
when, by chance, another provides that service in the parent’s stead. Reece, 890 S.W.2d at 710.
The fact the minor child does not suffer deprivation of necessary food, clothing, lodging, medical
or surgical attention because such needs are being supplied by another does not abrogate the
parent’s obligation. Id. Likewise, under the law of parental abandonment, it would be
unfathomable if a parent could have absolutely no contact with her child, spend no money on the
cost of raising her child, and take no responsibility for rearing her child and yet still not abandon
her child because she first asked someone else to take care of the child. Id. The fact that support
5
See Estate of L.G.T., 442 S.W.3d at 114 (“except for occasional consent forms, [Mother] abdicated to
[Grandmother] her duties to [Child] after June, 2011 in regard to provision of home, protection, medical care and
education and thereafter maintained only infrequent contact with her without any excusable cause.”).
6
See In re Moreau, 18 S.W.3d 447, 451-52 (Mo.App. S.D. 2000) (Appellant made little effort to fulfill his duty of
providing financial support for C.D. while C.D. was in Respondents’ custody; during nearly 24 months Respondents
had physical custody of C.D. up to the time of trial, Appellant had sent Respondents only $175 to $225 in support;
aside from this token sum, Respondents bore all financial costs of caring for C.D. while he was in their custody.).
7
Moreau, 18 S.W.3d at 450-51; Estate of L.G.T., 442 S.W.3d at 108.
7
was supplied from another source does not obliterate a natural parent’s duty of support. Id.
When a mother leaves her child with another, contributes no provision of support and does not
communicate with or visit her child, the duty of support is not met. Id.
Sufficient evidence exists to overcome the statutory presumption that Child’s best
interests would be served by Mother having guardianship of him because her abandonment and
neglect of Child demonstrates her unfitness to serve as Child’s guardian. Matter of T.A.P., 953
S.W.2d 638, 644 (Mo.App. S.D. 1997). When proof is made that no natural parent is fulfilling
parental duties, then appointment of a statutory guardian is necessary. Id. at 642, citing In re
D.L.J., 916 S.W.2d 437, 438 (Mo.App. E.D. 1996).
In determining Mother’s unfitness to serve as Child’s guardian, we also consider the
instability of her life, the care she will be unable to provide for Child on a daily basis due to her
physical infirmities, the environment in which Child will be raised, the lack of any effort made
by Mother during their two-and-a-half-year separation to furnish any personal or financial
support for Child, and her mental health. Estate of Williams, 922 S.W.2d 422, 425 (Mo.App.
S.D. 1996).
Child’s guardian ad litem, Illa, was of a similar opinion. Illa opined at trial that Mother is
not fit to be an appropriate guardian for Child. Illa made, without reservation, a recommendation
to the trial court that the appropriate action was to appoint Appellant Child’s guardian and it was
not in Child’s best interests to be placed under Mother’s guardianship.
There is an utter lack of factual findings and legal conclusions supporting the trial court’s
decision denying Appellant guardianship of Child and instead giving it to a woman who
abandoned and neglected Child for the first two and a half years of his life. Although normally
when the trial court makes no findings of fact we construe all facts in favor of the judgment, we
8
cannot find any factss in the recorrd supporting
g Mother’s rrole as Childd’s guardian other than thhat
she gave birth to Chiild and, as su
uch, the statu
utes favor heer with a presumption off suitability. This
presumpttion has been
n overcome.. The trial co
ourt’s judgm
ment is againnst the weighht of the
evidence.
Based
B on the foregoing, Points
P I and II are granteed. Our resoolution of Pooints I and II
renders disposition
d of Point III un
nnecessary. The judgmeent of the triial court is reeversed.
Conclusion
C
The
T judgment of the trial court grantiing Mother’ss petition forr writ of habbeas corpus aand
denying Appellant’s
A petition for guardianship
p is reversedd in its entireety. Appellaant’s petitionn for
guardianship of Child
d is granted. Mother’s petition
p for w
writ of habeaas corpus is ddenied.
Sherrri B. Sullivaan, P.J.
Mary K. Hoff, J., andd
Philip M. Hess, J., co
oncur.
9