Oklahoma
Gov. Mary Fallin
(R) won't be acting immediately on a request to extradite Dusten Brown, a citizen of the
Cherokee Nation, to South Carolina for failing to turn over his biological daughter to a non-Indian couple.
Fallin, however, urged Brown, his family and the non-Indian couple to reach a compromise on the custody of Baby Veronica. She issued a statement yesterday in the high-profile and increasingly contentious dispute.
"As a mother, my heart goes out to Veronica, who has been placed in a terrible situation. I can also imagine the pain that both her adopted and biological parents are feeling," Fallin said.
"As governor, my job is to ensure the law is upheld. My legal staff and I are currently reviewing the request for rendition of Mr. Brown to South Carolina. Should that request adhere to the letter and spirit of the law, I will sign it," Fallin added. "My hope, however, continues to be that sending Mr. Brown to face criminal charges in South Carolina is unnecessary."
"To be clear, the legal system cannot deliver a happy ending in this case. Only Mr. Brown and the Capobianco family can do that. For Veronica's sake, I urge them to reconcile and to come to an agreement that best serves their child and grants all parties some measure of peace," Fallin concluded.
Meanwhile, the non-Indian couple that wants to adopt Brown's daughter flew to Oklahoma last night and have scheduled a press conference this morning. Matt and Melanie Capobianco have demanded that local authorities find Veronica but the local sheriff has said he won't take action without an order from the Oklahoma courts.
The Oklahoma courts, the South Carolina courts and the Cherokee Nation courts all have pending cases affecting Dusten Brown and his daughter.
Get the Story:
Fallin Receives Request To Surrender Nowata's Dusten Brown
(News9 8/13)
Baby Veronica's Adoptive Parents Arrive In Oklahoma
(News9 8/13)
Capobiancos in Oklahoma on quest to bring Veronica home, press conference set for today
(The Charleston Post and Courier 8/14)
Baby Veronica's adoptive parents arrive in Tulsa
(The Tulsa World 8/14)
Custody Battle Continues Despite Ruling by Justices
(The New York Times 8/14)
Related Stories:
Cherokee Nation father out on bond as custody
dispute rages (8/13)
Judge orders immediate move
of Baby Veronica to non-Indians (8/8)
Lawsuit questions
constitutionality of Indian Child Welfare Act (7/26)
Tribal organizations to move forward with Baby
Veronica suit (7/25)
South Carolina
court won't reconsider Baby Veronica decision (7/25)
Dusten Brown: I won't stop fighting for my daughter
Veronica (7/24)
ICWA dispute over Baby
Veronica simmers in multiple courts (7/24)
Tribal organizations plan lawsuit on behalf of Baby
Veronica (7/22)
South Carolina's top
court approves adoption of Cherokee girl (7/17)
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