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Boy in custody fight can't be adopted

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 17, 2006

ORANGE CITY - A 4-year-old boy at the center of a protracted custody battle between his foster parents and relatives will change homes for the third time.

The boy, Christian, was removed Wednesday from the home of his Orange City foster parents, Denise and Ivar Baklid, after a circuit judge denied the Baklids' adoption petition, according to their attorney, Rick Brown. The ruling came after a daylong hearing Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear where the boy was Friday. The judge asked the parties not to talk to reporters, and the Department of Children and Families said it could not comment on an open custody case.

The Baklids have been in a 2½-year custody fight with Tiffany Delk, the boy's cousin, and her husband, Jeff of Bell Buckle, Tenn.

The Baklids cared for Christian for 16 months after his birth. They had planned to adopt him in March 2003 when his maternal cousin and her husband applied for adoption.

The DCF awarded custody to the Delks in June 2003, and Christian went to live with them in Tennessee.

In 2004, a circuit judge ruled in the Baklids' favor. The ruling was upheld by an appeals court, and the child was returned to Florida. The Florida Supreme Court denied an appeal by the relatives.

The Baklids have 10 days from the most recent hearing to decide whether to ask circuit judge for a rehearing, Brown said.

If denied, they could still go to an appellate court.

"We're still looking at our options," Brown said.

[Last modified June 17, 2006, 07:11:14]