An Athens engineer and his wife are mourning the decision they have made to give up custody of their adopted daughter Ann Baldizan. The child’s biological father attacked the adoption, arguing that the child’s mother, Irene Hill, kidnapped the child and gave her up for adoption before joining the Army. Here’s an article about the story from the Huntsville Times.
Birmingham lawyer Drew Whitmire represents the adoptive parents, Brian and Dawn Barlow. The mother’s attorney argues that her client did everything by the book when she allowed the Barlows to adopt her daughter, including providing the phone number where the biological father could be reached.
The mother’s attorney argues that the biological father was violent toward the mother and, by implication, a threat to the child.
Meanwhile, the Barlows are trying to move on with their lives.