Mom Fights For Custody Of Daughter After Son Dies In Relatives' Care
YARMOUTH (CBS) – A frustrated and angry Jennifer Cronin left Barnstable District Court Friday morning. She had requested custody of her daughter, Layla, but apparently, that wasn't going to happen.
Since their births, Layla and her little brother Lucas have been living with Jennifer Cronin's cousin and her partner. The courts ordered it, because of Cronin's opiate addiction. Lucas was in fact, born addicted.
On Thursday morning, two-year-old Lucas was found dead in his crib at his guardian's home in West Yarmouth.
The couple issued a statement, saying "our family is devastated beyond words at the loss of our beloved Lucas."
Originally, the Dept. of Children and Families had placed Lucas in a foster home, but the courts overruled, and put both children in the home of Cronin's cousin. Now, Lucas is dead, but his death is not suspicious at this time.
His guardians said, "At our last court date on Tuesday, which involved DCF… all parties involved were satisfied and happy with the results of the placement of the children, and no change was warranted."
It appears Jennifer Cronin is not going to get her daughter back anytime soon. While she continues her fight in court, law enforcement officials will try to determine what caused Lucas's death.
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