Internet, Money, & Adoption
The tragedy of babies caught in an international tug-of-warHeard the latest?Reports say the Kilshaws have been talking with movie people about a film version of this story. And the use of the Internet, state adoption laws, and ethics are being debated, criticized, and condemned.
However, while a British Court considers the next step, and has ordered the twins kept in foster care, a St. Louis, MO judge has awarded custody to the twins biological father, Aaron Wecker. The St. Louis judgement also prevents the twins' biological mother, Tranda Wecker, from getting within 100 feet of the girls. Of course, with the twins in the UK, the order hasn't been enforced.
It's a chilling tale involving the Internet, money, and adoption. At the center of the drama are 6 month old twins caught up in an international tug-of-war, and the story is developing into a harsh criticism of some American adoption practices.
Stories in the UK Press point an accusing finger at
Tina Johnson of Caring Heart Adoption, San Diego, CA, and
Tranda Wecker, the twins' birthmother, of St. Louis, MO, and the story reads like a badly-written B movie, complete with showdown and cross-country chase. The FBI is involved, and Britain's Home Secretary, Jack Straw, has promised a government inquiry into the situation saying,
"It's a matter of huge concern, I share that concern as a parent as much as a senior minister in this government. It is illegal, completely illegal, in this country for people to buy and sell babies or children, and that is entirely as it should be, because it is frankly a revolting idea." [
NOTE: For those sensitive to language used when talking about adoption, the international community is not viewing these practices favorably and uses words like "
broker" and "
buying/selling" which reflect the fact that many - in the UK and around the world - do not condone the type of adoption practices described in this story.]
Couple No. 1 - The AllensTina Johnson, identified in press reports as an "online broker," apparently, at a cost of £4,000. (approximately $6,000.), arranged the placement of Ms. Wecker's twin daughters with Richard and Vicki Allen of San Bernardino, CA. (The British press is not hesitant about calling this a "sale.") The twins were placed in their home and they were moving toward finalization. After two months, Ms. Wecker reportedly asked the Allens for a two-day visit with the girls to say her final goodbyes.
Couple No. 2 - The KilshawsAt some point, Alan and Judith Kilshaw, residents of Wales, connected with Tina Johnson over the Internet and were led to believe their adoption of the twins was being arranged. They traveled to California to complete the placement. In a California hotel, the Kilshaws were handed the children after a reported exchange of £8,200. (approximately $12,000.).
The ShowdownCouple No. 2 was preparing to leave with the twins when they were confronted by relatives of Couple No. 1 and a fight broke out - with the babies literally caught up in a tug-of-war. In interviews with the British press, the Kilshaws state they had been led to believe the Allens were simply taking care of the twins temporarily.
Police were called, and the Kilshaws state they were advised to leave the state. And Tina Johnson was nowhere to be found.
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