KFVS12 News & Weather Cape Girardeau, Carbondale, Poplar BluffJudge to mom: hiding son for two years is "neglect or abuse"
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By: Carly O'Keefe
Benton, IL (KFVS) - The parents of a boy allegedly hidden in a home for two years appeared before a Franklin County judge Friday.
The topic of the court proceeding was not criminal, but rather centered around 7-year-old Ricky Chekevdia's well being, and whether his mother can ever have any sort of parental custody after disappearing with the boy in 2007.
The boy is in protective custody currently and has been since police discovered him hidden in a wall in an Elkville home earlier this year.
A 2001 court order awarding his father, Michael Chekevdia, sole custody of the child was initially suspended pending the results of a psychological evaluation of the boy.
Now, for the court to award any sort visitation to Wilfong or full custody to Chekevdia, it's necessary to determine whether those two years in seclusion caused injury to the boy.
In Friday's adjudicatory hearing, the State argued that by keeping Ricky Chekevdia away from his father and isolated from the outside world, Wilfong was not acting in the best interest of the child.
Wilfong's attorney disagreed saying the two year ordeal was not as traumatic for the boy as reports indicate and the incident has been hyped up by the media.
Meanwhile, a psychologist testified that the boy is adjusting well, and has shown no fear of either parent during supervised visits.
In the end, the judge did side with the State, finding Wilfong's actions in hiding the boy away from his father, police, school and doctors did constitute neglect or abuse.
All parties will meet again January 8, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. when the judge will make a decision on future child custody arrangements.
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