Colorado Father Not Giving Up on His Lost Son
Father fights for Custody of Son He Never Met
David Archuletta, his son, and the adoptive parents are victims of an overzealous adoption agency and a system that all too often treats children in adoption as chattel of their adoptive parents. I have no idea what the adoptive parents think, although having had an adoption reversed myself, I can only surmise they are terrified at the prospect of losing their son.
Of course the two most at fault in this situation are the birthmother and the adoption agency. Despite that, I can’t believe the adoptive parents are blameless in this. Was the court notified of Mr. Archuletta’s existence before the adoption was finalized? If not, why not? According to this article Steven Sklar, attorney for the adoptive parents notified the adoption agency of Mr. Archuletta’s existence more than 9 months before the adoption was finalized. Why didn’t Mr. Sklar inform the court of Mr. Archuletta’s existence to ensure the adoption would be error free?
There will be no happy ending. I don’t know if Mr. Archuletta’s disability played a part in the adoption agency’s decision to not seek him out, but if he pursues custody, it will almost certainly become a part of that case. Then what do you do with a child who is four years old is in the middle of a custody battle between the only parents he has known, and a parent he has never met? Clearly Mr. Archuletta has been wronged, as has his son, and the adoptive parents. Hopefully the adults can reach a resolution where all the parents will be able to be a positive part of the child’s life.
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