Patrick v. Byerley

This is a child custody dispute between the child’s natural mother, Nina Sue Patrick, and his former stepmother, Linda Lou Byerley. The trial court awarded Byerley custody of the child, Christian Lee Alexander (Chris), after finding, inter alia, that Patrick voluntarily abandoned her son and that it is in his best interest that Byerley be awarded his custody. The question presented in this appeal is whether the evidence supports these findings.

Because Byerley prevailed at trial, we must view the evidence and all reasonable inferences deducible therefrom in the light most favorable to her.…