ANNA Cardwell’s daughter Kaitlyn begged the court to live with her grandmother, just days before the final hearing in June “Mama June” Shannon’s custody battle with the pre-teen’s stepfather, Michael Cardwell.
The US Sun can confirm that 11-year-old Kaitlyn – the eldest daughter of June’s daughter Anna, who died of adrenal cancer in December at age 29 – filed a petition on July 9 asking the court to let her reside primarily with grandmother and not having any visits with Michael.
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June, 44, and Michael, 31 – Anna’s ex-husband to whom she was married from 2015 to 2017 – are embroiled in a nasty custody war over who would care for Kaitlyn after her mother’s death.
They are scheduled to appear in court in Wilkinson County, Georgia, next week, where a judge will decide who will have primary custody of Kaitlyn going forward.
Kaitlyn said in her filing, obtained by The US Sun: “My name is Kaitlyn Shannon and I was born in 2012. I am currently 11 years of age. I am electing and expressing my desire and intention to reside primarily with my maternal grandmother, June Shannon.
“I do not wish to visit Michael Cardwell. I am making this statement in this election voluntarily and without coercion or compulsion from anyone. I have not been promised any benefits or rewards for making this statement.
“I understand that this statement will be presented to the judge in the case above the court’s consideration in determining the issue of custody, and I declare that this statement expresses my current desire and intention in this matter regarding the location where I primarily wish to reside. I also wish to speak with the judge to enforce my will in court,” the statement concluded.
ABUSE ACCUSATIONS
Mama June supported Kaitlyn’s decision and requested an “in-camera review” from the Department of Children and Family Services on July 10, alleging that Michael abused Kaitlyn while living under the same roof.
“Upon information and belief, the Wilkinson County Department of Family and Children’s Services has filed suit concerning Plaintiff, Defendant and/or their minor child, namely: Kaitlyn Shannon, born in 2012, involving records relating to child abuse and/or neglect,” the court documents said.
In January, the Mama June: From Hot To Not star made the same accusations against Michael, claiming he physically abused Anna and Kaitlyn.
“During his marriage to Anna, the plaintiff frequently physically abused Anna and the child and it would not be in the best interest of the child to be in the plaintiff’s care and control,” June said in her response to Michael’s initial petition for custody.
In a statement to The US Sun, Michael’s lawyer said his client firmly denies the allegations.
“Michael categorically denies any type of abuse against his children, his ex-wife or any other ex-girlfriend.
“We will see how June plans to prove this or any other of her alleged truths or allegations,” Michael’s lawyer added.
The identity of Kaitlyn’s biological father is unknown.
Michael and Anna shared an 8-year-old daughter, Kylee, who Michael claimed in his initial complaint that Kaitlyn would accompany when he had her.
I am electing and expressing my desire and intention to reside primarily with my maternal grandmother, June Shannon.
Kaitlyn Shannon
However, June claimed that these visits happened because Kylee – of whom Michael now has full custody – refused to visit her father unless Kaitlyn went with her.
“Although Kaitlyn sometimes accompanied her brother, visits were infrequent,” June said in her lawsuit.
Michael also mentioned June and Anna’s strained relationship, but June stated, “With regard to the allegations that June and Anna were not close, Anna resided with her maternal grandmother from age 11 to 16 or 17.
“Outside of a short period of disagreement, the defendant and Anna had a stable parent-child relationship.”
June also claimed that Kaitlyn regularly spent time with the TV personality growing up and that Michael “has had an inconsistent presence in the child’s life since at least 2017.”
PULLING OUT
Additionally, the Mama June: Road to Redemption star responded to Michael’s claims that he financed Kaitlyn’s education.
June claimed that Michael only paid for two and a half years of Kaitlyn’s education, and that was in exchange for him not paying child support to Kylee.
She also stated that Anna’s widow, Eldridge Tony, whom she married months before her passing, had been Kaitlyn’s only real father figure since her mother and Michael’s divorce.
June asked the court to deny and reject Michael’s request for custody.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
