Wheeler v. Buck

This is a child custody case involving the Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act of 1980 (PKPA). 28 U.S.C. § 1738A (1982). The Alabama court granted custody of a seven-year-old child to the ex-husband's step aunt and uncle.

The mother appeals and we reverse and remand for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.

The mother, Donna Keaton Wheeler, first surrendered custody of her child, Jamie Lee Keaton, in November of 1976 when Jamie was almost six months old. At that time the mother was eighteen years old and was in the process of obtaining a divorce from Jamie's father, Russell E.…