Crime & Safety

Baby Veronica Parties Agree to Mediation

Parties head to closed-door talks to sort out custody.

The families involved in the dispute over who should parent 3-year-old "Baby Veronica" will sit down with a mediator to sort out terms of the custody agreement, according to media reports. 

In the meantime, we may not be hearing much from either side. A gag order has been issued in the case and all the court records will be sealed.

Dusten Brown, the girl's biological father, is contesting the legality of adoption proceedings by Matt and Melanie Capobianco, a James Island couple who took custody of the girl shortly after her birth in 2009.

Brown, a member of the Cherokee Nation, won custody of the girl in South Carolina courts with the help of lawyers from tribe.

He has refused in recent weeks to return custody of Veronica to the Capobiancos after his earlier court victory was nullified in June by the U.S. Supreme Court.  Veronica turns 4 in September. 


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