Missing Girl Found in Mexico with Non-Custodial Father
After nearly five years of living under an assumed name in a remote region of Mexico, authorities have found twelve year old Cara Cox. Taken from her mother during a visitation weekend with her father when she was only eight years old, Aaron Cox, 55, has been arrested in conjunction with finding Cara for charges of interfering with child custody.
Father and daughter were found in the mountains of Hidalgo, Mexico about two hours away from Mexico City. Her mother, Jodie Borchet, had not seen her daughter since August of 2009. At that time, Ms. Borchet had custody of Cara, but her father was allowed to see her on the weekends. On the weekend of August 14, 2009, Ms. Borchet dropped off Cara at her father’s house, but when she returned later to pick her up Mr. Cox and Cara were nowhere to be found.
Ms. Borchet reported her daughter missing immediately, and both local authorities in addition to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) stepped in to help, too. The NCMEC released digitally altered photos of Cara every two years, showing what they believed that Cara looked like today. Finally, after years of no leads, the agency received an anonymous tip that the girl was in Mexico.
After that, Volusia County deputies, the U.S. Marshals Service, local prosecutors, Mexican authorities, and an international fugitive task force all worked together to find Cara and bring her back to the United States. After securing Cara, her father was arrested without incident. Both he and Cara were transported back to the United States; one to be reunited with her family, and the other to face criminal charges of interfering with child custody and other crimes.
Florida Interfering with Child Custody Law
Under Florida law, Section 787.03 states that “Whoever, without lawful authority, knowingly or recklessly takes or entices, or aids, abets, hires, or otherwise procures another to take or entice, any minor or any incompetent person from the custody of the minor’s or incompetent person’s parent, his or her guardian, a public agency having the lawful charge of the minor or incompetent person, or any other lawful custodian commits the offense of interference with custody and commits a felony of the third degree.”
In addition, the same section also applies specifically to parents and states that “any parent of the minor or incompetent person, whether natural or adoptive, stepparent, legal guardian, or relative of the minor or incompetent person who has custody thereof and who takes, detains, conceals, or entices away that minor or incompetent person within or without the state with malicious intent to deprive another person of his or her right to custody of the minor or incompetent person commits a felony of the third degree.”
Contact a Florida Family Law Attorney
If you or someone that you know has an issue with child custody, visitation, or other family law problems in the Orlando area, let the experienced attorneys at Steve W. Marsee, P.A. help. Call the office or contact us today for a free and confidential consultation of your case.
