Post by Admin on Aug 8, 2021 6:51:31 GMT
A Texas dad who allegedly faked claims of child abuse against the mother of his 10-year-old daughter during a custody battle last year is now accused of abducting the girl, according to authorities.
Sophie Long is believed to have been taken by her 42-year-old father, Michael Long – who does not have custodial rights, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Michael Long created a viral GoFundMe campaign and shared videos in 2020 amid a battle with his ex-wife Kelly Long over the custody of their three children.
The campaign included a harrowing, 20-minute YouTube video titled #standwithsophie that showed the girl in apparent distress and saying she did not want to visit with her mother, Kelly Long, whom Michael Long accused of abusing the child.
The mother denied those allegations, and last year a court-appointed amicus attorney assigned to represent their children’s best interests described the video as "self-produced" and "heavily edited." The attorney recommended that Kelly Long be granted sole legal custody.
Court filings at the time alleged that Michael Long barely sent the children to school and coached the children on how to respond to questions. He also allegedly repeatedly had the oldest examined for signs of sexual abuse – of which doctors found none.
The amicus attorney also found "deep concerns" over "the children’s immediate emotional health and safety while in their father’s care" and accused him of monetizing the custody battle for his own profit at his kids’ expense.
Sophie Long is believed to have been taken by her 42-year-old father, Michael Long – who does not have custodial rights, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Michael Long created a viral GoFundMe campaign and shared videos in 2020 amid a battle with his ex-wife Kelly Long over the custody of their three children.
The campaign included a harrowing, 20-minute YouTube video titled #standwithsophie that showed the girl in apparent distress and saying she did not want to visit with her mother, Kelly Long, whom Michael Long accused of abusing the child.
The mother denied those allegations, and last year a court-appointed amicus attorney assigned to represent their children’s best interests described the video as "self-produced" and "heavily edited." The attorney recommended that Kelly Long be granted sole legal custody.
Court filings at the time alleged that Michael Long barely sent the children to school and coached the children on how to respond to questions. He also allegedly repeatedly had the oldest examined for signs of sexual abuse – of which doctors found none.
The amicus attorney also found "deep concerns" over "the children’s immediate emotional health and safety while in their father’s care" and accused him of monetizing the custody battle for his own profit at his kids’ expense.