I Came Home From A Hospital Shift To Find My Fiancée And Baby Gone. The Police Called It A “Civil Matter” And Refused To Help. How Do I Find My Daughter?
The Vanishing
My fiancée kidnapped our six-month-old daughter and demanded I sign away my rights as her father. My fiancée, Becca, disappeared with our daughter, Lily, when she was six months old.
Just vanished one Tuesday morning in February. No note, no text, nothing. I came home from my shift at the hospital to an empty apartment. Crib gone, clothes gone, even the breast pump gone.
I called everyone. Her mother said, “Becca needed space to figure things out.”
“Figure what out? We have a baby.”
“I don’t know, Jason. She just needs time. Give her a few days.”
I filed a missing person report. The cop said, “Adults can leave if they want.”
“But she took my daughter.”
“Is your name on the birth certificate?”
“Of course.”
“Then it’s a custody issue. You’ll need a lawyer.”
I spent two weeks calling Becca’s phone straight to voicemail. Her sister finally texted me. “She’s safe. Stop harassing our family.”
Harassing? She kidnapped my child. She’s the mother; mothers don’t kidnap their own babies.
Confrontation in Arizona
Three months, nothing. I hired a private investigator with my savings. He found them in Arizona, living with some guy named Keith whom she met online.
I drove 14 hours straight. Knocked on Keith’s door. Becca answered as if nothing happened. “Oh, Jason. What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here? You stole our daughter.”
“I didn’t steal her. I’m her mother. I needed a fresh start with Keith. We’re building a life here.”
I pushed past her. Lily was in a playpen wearing clothes I’d never seen. I picked her up. She didn’t even recognize me.
“Put her down, Jason. You’re scaring her.”
“Scaring her? I’m her father.”
Becca actually smirked. “Well, Keith’s been more of a father these past months.”
Keith stepped forward. “Hey man, maybe you should go. This is my house.”
I held Lily tighter. “I’m not leaving without my daughter.”
Becca called the police. They showed up, looked at the situation. “Sir, you need to leave the property.”
“She kidnapped my child 3 months ago.”
The officer looked bored. “Do you have a custody agreement?”
“No. We were engaged. We lived together.”
“Without a custody order, she has as much right to the child as you do. You need to leave.”
