Florida Father Discovers Daughter Alive After Being Told She Died; Engages in Custody Battle

A Florida father, Brandon Marteliz, is entangled in a heart-wrenching custody battle after learning that his daughter, Amiya, whom he was initially told had died at birth, had been put up for adoption without his knowledge. The shocking revelation has sparked a legal battle, leaving Marteliz fighting to be a part of his 2-year-old daughter’s life.

According to Daily Mail reports, Marteliz received a text message from the child’s mother on the day of Amiya’s birth, claiming the infant had succumbed to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). After losing contact with the mother for several weeks, he was shocked to discover that his daughter was alive and under the care of Heart of Adoptions, a private agency in Florida.

Despite filing a petition to establish paternity and expressing his willingness to provide financial and emotional support, Marteliz faced a setback in October when a judge ruled that his consent was not necessary for the adoption. The decision cited his absence from the birth certificate and lack of financial and medical support as contributing factors.

In the legal filings, Marteliz was listed as a “man who may have interest in the minor child,” but due to the couple being unmarried, his parental rights were not deemed necessary at the time of adoption. Furthermore, the absence of registration as a putative father further limited his legal standing.

The time to appeal the court’s decision has passed, leaving Amiya in the custody of her adoptive parents. Marteliz expressed his unwavering commitment to being a part of his daughter’s life, stating, “I am willing to do whatever it takes to be given custody of my daughter and be in her life. I am willing to pay whatever form of support or cost it takes.”

This heartbreaking case highlights the complexities and legal challenges faced by unmarried fathers in custody battles, shedding light on the need for clearer legal frameworks to protect parental rights in such situations.