A month after losing mom Kasandra Perkins and dad Jovan Belcher, Zoey Belcher is at the center of a bitter custody battle between her grandparents.
Cheryl Shepherd, Jovan’s mom, retained legal custody of her 4-month-old granddaughter after her son murdered his girlfriend, Zoey’s mom, and himself last month. Cheryl allowed Zoey to stay with her grandparents in Texas, Kasandra’s family, so that she could be in attendance at her mom’s funeral. Upon baby Belcher’s arrival, the Perkins family cut off all contact from Cheryl, causing her to seek legal assistance in getting her granddaughter back.
As of now, Cheryl is accusing the Perkins family of baby snatching, alleging that her allowing Zoey to stay with them through the funeral was a temporary arrangement. The Perkins family has countered Cheryl’s argument with their lawyer telling the press that they were seeking permanent custody of baby Zoey before the funeral and Cheryl’s giving of their granddaughter was a permanent agreement.
Zoey is entitled to nearly $3 million in life insurance and retirement payments from the NFL. Jovan Belcher murdered Kasandra Perkins in their home and then drove to his team’s stadium where he killed himself in front of coaches and police at the beginning of last month. Belcher played for the Kansas City ‘Chiefs’ immediately before his death.
Source: ABC News
