Baby Mia's Father Speaks for First Time Since Daughter Abandoned
By: Eugene Daniel
Updated: October 3, 2012
STARK COUNTY-Timothy Thompson, 22, has never been more thankful to be a father.
"She's my miracle girl. I'm just overwhelmed that she's here," Thompson said.
On September 27, his life changed after his 3-week-old daughter, Mia Graci Thompson, went missing and her mother told police she had been abducted. Thompson said he was at work when he heard the news around 8:50 a.m.
"It was just overwhelming. And I just broke down," he said.
He said it was the worst moment in his life. Twelve hours later, Mia was found alive in a ditch alongside a rural Stark County road. Thompson watched 19-year-old Kendra Meaker, Mia's mother, arrested and charged for child endangerment and for lying to police.
"At first, I was angry at her. It's just I've learned to get past that because life's too short," he said.
Meaker faces up to three years in jail for obstruction of justice and up to one year for endangering the life or health of a child. The latter charge is a misdemeanor unless the person has been charged with it before. This was Meaker's first offense. An online petition was formed by friends of Thompson requesting stronger penalties for child endangerment cases. Thompson supports the petition because Mia "could have died", and he doesn't want this to happen to more children.
Thompson said he never noticed any signs that would lead to Meaker to this behavior. He called her "a good and loving mother."
"No, she never mentioned anything. She didn't mention anything of having any problems. She always said that she was happy and happy that her family was there for her."
However, there was a moment he thought she was responsible. Meaker's calm demeanor shocked him, and he wondered why police questioned her for so long.
"It took longer than it should of. That's when it started hitting me that she could have possibly did it," Thompson said. "I was just shocked that she didn't show no emotion, though she wasn't possibly going to see the kids at all."
He said he had nothing to do with Mia's abandonment, claiming he was at work when the incident happened.
He's focused on Mia and her sister, Mersadeze. Both are staying with him. Thompson said Mia is fine, outside of some sunburns. She has trouble falling asleep, and cries in the middle of the night. But it's a sound he's more than happy to hear.
"I love to hear that she cries. It's actually kind of music to my ears that she's actually there, and she's not gone," he said.
Thompson said he appreciates everyone who helped get his little girl back. He's also thankful to have a new relationship with his daughters. He said he's taken off work and spends more time with the girls.
Thompson hasn't spoken to Meaker since the incident. He doesn't plan to get back together with the mother of his children, but he would let her see the kids again, if the courts allow it. He wants the girls to know their mother.
Thompson said "Justice for Mia" bracelets and t-shirts are being made to raise money for the babies.
"She's my miracle girl. I'm just overwhelmed that she's here," Thompson said.
On September 27, his life changed after his 3-week-old daughter, Mia Graci Thompson, went missing and her mother told police she had been abducted. Thompson said he was at work when he heard the news around 8:50 a.m.
"It was just overwhelming. And I just broke down," he said.
He said it was the worst moment in his life. Twelve hours later, Mia was found alive in a ditch alongside a rural Stark County road. Thompson watched 19-year-old Kendra Meaker, Mia's mother, arrested and charged for child endangerment and for lying to police.
"At first, I was angry at her. It's just I've learned to get past that because life's too short," he said.
Meaker faces up to three years in jail for obstruction of justice and up to one year for endangering the life or health of a child. The latter charge is a misdemeanor unless the person has been charged with it before. This was Meaker's first offense. An online petition was formed by friends of Thompson requesting stronger penalties for child endangerment cases. Thompson supports the petition because Mia "could have died", and he doesn't want this to happen to more children.
Thompson said he never noticed any signs that would lead to Meaker to this behavior. He called her "a good and loving mother."
"No, she never mentioned anything. She didn't mention anything of having any problems. She always said that she was happy and happy that her family was there for her."
However, there was a moment he thought she was responsible. Meaker's calm demeanor shocked him, and he wondered why police questioned her for so long.
"It took longer than it should of. That's when it started hitting me that she could have possibly did it," Thompson said. "I was just shocked that she didn't show no emotion, though she wasn't possibly going to see the kids at all."
He said he had nothing to do with Mia's abandonment, claiming he was at work when the incident happened.
He's focused on Mia and her sister, Mersadeze. Both are staying with him. Thompson said Mia is fine, outside of some sunburns. She has trouble falling asleep, and cries in the middle of the night. But it's a sound he's more than happy to hear.
"I love to hear that she cries. It's actually kind of music to my ears that she's actually there, and she's not gone," he said.
Thompson said he appreciates everyone who helped get his little girl back. He's also thankful to have a new relationship with his daughters. He said he's taken off work and spends more time with the girls.
Thompson hasn't spoken to Meaker since the incident. He doesn't plan to get back together with the mother of his children, but he would let her see the kids again, if the courts allow it. He wants the girls to know their mother.
Thompson said "Justice for Mia" bracelets and t-shirts are being made to raise money for the babies.
Comments
The law needs to be changed. Kendra should have a stiffer penalty for attempted murder of her child rather than a stiffer penalty for lying to the law. That's just so backward.
Remy R.
October 6, 2012 at 12:05 pm
