The adoptive parents and birth father of a girl known as “Baby Veronica” have fought for custody of her since shortly after she was born in 2009.
Her birth father, Dusten Brown, a member of the Cherokee Nation, fought for custody of Veronica, 3, under the Indian Child Welfare Act.
The case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of her adoptive parents, Matt and Melanie Capobianco. Brown defied a court order to return Veronica to the couple and was arrested Monday. Here is a timeline of events in the adoption dispute. Exact dates for some events were not available.
Sept. 15, 2009: Veronica is born; Matt and Melanie Capobianco take her shortly afterward.
Early 2010: Birth father Dusten Brown asserts his parental rights.
November 2011: A South Carolina family court judge rules in Brown’s favor, and an appellate court agrees.
December 31, 2011: Brown takes Veronica from the Capobiancos.
At some point, the Capobiancos appeal to the South Carolina Supreme Court.
July 2012: The South Carolina Supreme Court rules for Brown.
January 5, 2013: The U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear the Capobiancos’ appeal.
April 15: The U.S. Supreme Court hears: the Capobiancos’ appeal
June 24: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that adoption was proper and did not intrude on Brown’s rights; it sends case back to the South Carolina Supreme Court for review.
July 16: The South Carolina Supreme Court orders that the Capobiancos’ adoption be finalized.
At some point, Brown asks the U.S. Supreme Court to temporarily block the transfer.
August 1: The U.S. Supreme Court refuses to intervene.
The week of August 4: Veronica’s transition was scheduled, but Brown never shows up. A family court judge orders her immediate handover.
August 9: The Charleston County, South Carolina, sheriff issues a warrant for Brown.
August 12: Brown surrenders to police in his home state of Oklahoma and is arrested.