Mama June wins custody dispute with Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell's ex Michael over granddaughter Kaitlyn
HAMPTON, GEORGIA: Mama June scored a minor win in her legal fight with Michael Cardwell, the former husband of her late daughter Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell.
Court documents obtained by InTouch on July 23 reveal that a judge has approved Mama June's request for records from the Department of Family and Children Services as she seeks custody of Anna's 11-year-old daughter, Kaitlyn.
"Such evidence and testimony is material to the matters before the court to allow the court to make an informed decision regarding the best interest of the minor child in this custody action," the motion stated, per outlet.
Who has custody of Anna ‘Chickadee’ Cardwell’s kids?
A previous report from Mirror US stated that June 'Mama June' Shannon gained temporary custody of Kaitlyn after Anna's death in January. The report further mentioned that Mama June "plans to become Kaitlyn's legal guardian" due to their "very close bond."
Meanwhile, Michael, who had Kylee with Anna before their 2017 divorce, filed a separate case to gain custody of Kaitlyn.
In early July, Kaitlyn submitted a declaration in the custody dispute, according to InTouch.
She reportedly told the court, "I am electing and hereby expressing my desire and intent to reside primarily with my maternal grandmother, June Shannon. I do not wish to have set visitation with Michael Cardwell."
In an episode of 'Mama June: Family Crisis' that aired in June (as per Daily Mail), filmed before Anna's passing, the family matriarch reportedly discussed Kaitlyn's custody.
However, Anna had expressed her desire for her husband, Eldridge Toney, whom she married in 2023, to take care of Kaitlyn.
"I am surprised that she wants Eldridge on the paperwork," Mama June said during a confessional on the show. "Kaitlyn will be better off with me because there is stability. Eldridge has been in Kaitlyn's life since she was around five years old. Honestly, she needs to put this s**t on paper."
Mama June reflects on Anna Cardwell's battle with stage 4 adrenal carcinoma
According to Deadline, Mama June's eldest daughter Anna Cardwell died at the age of 29 on December 9, 2023, battling Stage 4 adrenal carcinoma.
Cardwell left behind her two daughters, Kaitlyn and Kylee.
Kaitlyn Elizabeth Shannon, Anna’s eldest daughter, was born on July 26, 2012, and was 11 years old when her mother passed away.
Anna never disclosed the identity of Kaitlyn’s father.
Anna’s youngest daughter, Kylee Madison Cardwell, was born on December 9, 2015, and turned 8 on the day her mother passed away.
Kylee's father is Michael Cardwell, Anna's ex-husband, to whom she was married from 2014 to 2017.
The news of her diagnosis was made public in March 2023, but Mama June revealed that the family initially chose to delay sharing it.
"We kept the stage four diagnosis private until Anna was ready to tell the world," she told Daily Mail exclusively. "We kept it under wraps for probably three months."
The decision was the right one for the family at that time, but Honey Boo Boo, Pumpkin, and Jessica expressed their pain and offense at accusations of exploiting Chickadee's death for their reality show.
Responding to these remarks, Mama June stated, "What was so crazy for us is when Anna passed away in December. I remember this vividly; for a long time, people really thought that we were actually putting out false news."
