Anna Cardwell’s ex Michael sues Mama June for custody of late TV star’s daughter Kaitlyn, 11, from prior relationship
ANNA Cardwell's ex-husband, Michael Cardwell, has filed a lawsuit against her mother, Mama June Shannon, for custody of the late TV star's oldest daughter Kaitlyn from a previous relationship.
According to court documents exclusively obtained by The U.S. Sun, Michael - who is the biological father of Anna's youngest daughter Kylee - filed his suit against June, 44, in a Georgia court after Anna's tragic death from cancer at 29.
Michael, who has full custody of daughter Kylee, 8, after the star's death, argued in the court documents he has "fully and completely undertaken a permanent, unequivocal, committed, and responsible parental role" in 11-year-old Kaitlyn's life.
He has "engaged in consistent caretaking of the child and established a bonded and dependent relationship with the child," which he said was fostered by Anna, despite Kaitlyn not being his biological daughter.
In his pleading to the court, Michael said that when he and Anna separated and ultimately divorced in 2017, his regular visitation schedule with his daughter Kylee also included time with Kaitlyn.
He also told the court he has an "independent relationship with the child, which was fostered and supported by a parent of the child."
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"Both petitioner and parent understood, acknowledged, accepted and behaved as though the petitioner is a parent of the child and accepted full and permanent responsibilities as a parent of the child without expectation of financial compensation."
In the documents, Michael specifically stated that Kaitlyn's father is a man named Caleb Clark- though he allegedly has never taken a DNA test, and never supported Anna or Kaitlyn in any way and therefore has no legal rights to her.
Michael also took aim at Anna's well-documented tenuous relationship with her mother, June.
"Anna has been raised by her maternal grandmother in Griffin, Georgia since she was approximately eight years old and only returned to the home of June Shannon when she was 17.
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"Anna has had a very sordid relationship with her mother throughout her life and went various periods of time without speaking to her.
"Likewise, June's presence in the minor child's life has been inconsistent," he claimed in the documents.
Michael also alleged that he has, and still is, paying for Kaitlyn's schooling.
"Petitioner has been a stable and consistent part of the minor child's life since she was eight months old and has continued to do so even after years from his divorce from Anna.
"Petitioner is the only living person that has shown a constant and continuous interest in the child's minor child's well-being, and being in the custody of the petitioner will be in the child's best interest," he concludes in his petition to the court.
It appeared from the filing that June was served the papers on Sunday, December 17.
ANNA'S BRAVE BATTLE
On December 9, June revealed the heartbreaking news that her eldest daughter Anna, also known as "Chickadee," lost her battle with stage 4 adrenal cancer.
In mid-December, June uploaded a TikTok video and revealed that her late daughter wished to be cremated.
The TV star said: "Hey guys. We said our final goodbyes to Anna today and I am emotionally, mentally spent.
"We went over to Pumpkin's house and did a release with close family and her girls."
She continued: "That's one thing Anna told us, she didn't want to rot in the ground, she wanted us to carry her big chest around. And we are.
"We all got one or two things, which I think is amazing."
June concluded: "But we want to say that we appreciate each and every single one of y'all for your thoughts, your prayers, your well wishes, the thoughts and prayers for her kids as it is going to be rough and rougher every day.
"The pain does not get easier."
SAYING GOODBYE
On December 13, The U.S. Sun shared exclusive photos outside of White Columns Funeral Home in Gordon, Georgia, where Anna's funeral was held.
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June cried alongside daughters Alana "Honey Bo Boo" Thompson, 18, and Lauryn Efird, 23, known as "Pumpkin."
Alana's boyfriend, Dralin Carswell, 21, was also in attendance as June was supported by her husband, Justin Stroud.
