I, TiAna Hester, mother to a 4 month old exclusively breastfed baby, Cru Justice, urgently seek support to have my baby returned to me. On 9/23/2024 Cru's father, Jalen Tyre Justice, and his mother Afiya Oni Tyler took him without any formal custody court order and have severed the natural bond between a mother and her baby. 

What started as a normal, mutual meet-up for Cru to spend time with his dad turned into an unimaginable nightmare for any mother. For over five days, he has hidden our child's location, disrupted the vital growth process of our infant, and forced a change in his diet. He has completely denied me access to seeing and even feeding our baby, has hidden him and revoked my rights as a mother to our baby. He claims that I have kept him from seeing his son for four months, but he has been welcomed into my home and has always had access to his son, with proof to account for.

According to the California Family Code Section 7610 provides that an unmarried mother automatically gains custody of her child upon birth. No legal action is required to assert her custodial rights. Paternity MUST be established by both parents signing an Acknowledgement of Paternity (AOP) form or through a court-ordered DNA test. Therefore, an unmarried father CANNOT take a child from the mother, and the mother has automatic rights the child.

I cannot understand why anyone would want to keep an infant from their mother, completely disrupting and severing the natural bond between the two. This has put my body into more shock than it already went through during pregnancy and childbirth, and it has been emotionally taxing. It is gut-wrenching to leave your house with your baby, believing that you’ll have a normal day, only to come home and not see them again. There is absolutely no justification for doing this, and this is 1000% against the law!!!!

Breastfeeding not only provides essential nutrients and antibodies to protect babies against diseases, it also contributes to the sensory and cognitive development of infants (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Unfortunately, abruptly changing this natural process significantly disrupts an infant's nourishment and growth.

I have been an integral mother to my children, never revoking or withholding access from their fathers. I yearn to continue to bond with Cru, to hold and to nurse him. I carried my baby for 9 months. His father was absent my entire pregnancy. This is not right! For the wellbeing of Cru Justice, I implore the legal system to promptly restore the mother-child connection that has been unjustly broken.

Please support this petition to return my son to his rightful, loving, and nursing mother and his 6 year old brother. Your voice matters and can help bring justice to this heart-wrenching situation. Every signature brings us closer to helping Cru reestablish his natural growth process and motherly bond. Sign, and stand with us in solidarity. #JusticeforCru