posted on February 11, 2001 08:37:34 PM new
I read an article in Reader's Digest today entitled "Tug of Love" and was struck by the similarities between this situation and the "Baby Sam" case that was discussed here about a month ago.
In this case, the father (Michael Elskes) knew his ex-fiance (Crystal Kane) was pregnant; when they broke up she moved out of state and gave the baby, a boy, up for adoption, when he was born in June or July 1997. As in the Baby Sam case, she claimed he would be a bad father and made several exaggerated claims about his behavior while they were together.
The boy was adopted by Aaron and Lynda Kass - a month after they brought him home, they received a habeas corups, ordering that the baby be returned to his birth father.
As you might guess, Elskes is a blue-collar worker; the Kasses have money. The case went to court - several times, of course - and the boy was awarded to the Kasses. Then it was overturned. Then another judge entered the picture. During this time, the biological father moved to California - with his daughter who he had custody of - where he was able to see his son one hour a week, under supervision.
Eventually the attorney for the Kasses insisted that the daughter would need to submit to a physhological examination to determine her emotional fitness as a sister. Elskes finally gave up, not wanting to subject his daughter to any more emotional upheaval. He said, too, that he didn't want his son to suffer either.
They signed an agreement that he would have visitation rights with his son once a month (if he was in California; he had decided to move back to Texas) and that the Kasses would change the boy's middle name to include his biological father's last name.
"I guess I made the right decision," [Elkses] said, "but it's tough. It's really tough."
The CBS News broadcast "48 Hours" will feature "Spencer's Story" in an hour-long program. It will be aired February 22 at 10 pm EST.
posted on February 12, 2001 07:51:09 AM new
Dear Mr & Mrs Kass,
There's a lot of things in this life that I want. I don't have the money to afford a diamond necklace, or a Lexus or vacation in Tahiti.
But I have never had the urge to go down to the bank and rob it. Or to shoplift at Dillards. See, I know that stealing is wrong.
I can't imagine how callous, selfish and ruthless I would have to be to steal someone's baby.
I really can't.
As for the other things you did to enable yourselves to keep your stolen baby, all I can say is, if I were a religeous woman, I'd just have to hope that there really is a hell for you.
Since I'm not, I just have to hope that somehow, somewhere, there is a hell on earth waiting for you instead.
I hope this boy truly understands what happened to him, and when he achieves maturity, he spits on you.
