Is She His Long Lost Daughter? | Browne v Hampton | With Update!

[00:00:04]Please be seated.

[00:00:06]>> Hello, your honor.

[00:00:07]>> Hello.

[00:00:07]>> This is a case of Brown versus Hampton.

[00:00:09]>> Thank you, Jerome.

[00:00:10]>> You're welcome.

[00:00:11]>> Good day, everyone.

[00:00:13]Miss Brown, you stand before the court with your mother, Alicia Brown. You say your world was recently turned upside down when you were contacted by a man whom you've never even heard of before, claiming to be your birth father. Now, that man, Mr. Hampton, is waiting uh in our courtroom hallway, and he will join us in a moment. Now, he claims he has evidence to prove he is in fact your biological father.

[00:00:45]>> Now, what happened when you were first contacted by Mr. Hampton? How did you even hear from him?

[00:00:53]>> Well, first and foremost, I am adopted.

[00:00:56]I was adopted when I was three months old. So, I have no idea who my extended family is or my biological mother. Um, I was recently contacted by someone claiming to be my sister on what's called Instagram.

[00:01:11]And from there, he messaged me on Facebook and he said, "Kayla, I think I finally found your Facebook. Please let me know.

[00:01:19]I have no idea how much you or your adoption parents know about how things were, but I'll be more than willing to answer your questions that they may have. And I have pictures also. Talk to you later. As if you already knew.

[00:01:33]>> Wow. And so what were you thinking when you read that?

[00:01:37]>> Who are you?

[00:01:38]>> So you've never met this man?

[00:01:42]>> No.

[00:01:43]>> Never heard of him?

[00:01:45]>> Nope. And next thing you know, he's on your Facebook saying, "I'm your birth father."

[00:01:50]>> Yeah. He's not my dad.

[00:01:52]>> Wow. Well, Jerome, I think it's time we meet Mr. Hampton. What a story.

[00:02:03]>> Hello, Mr. Hampton.

[00:02:09]>> Hello, Mr. Hampton.

[00:02:12]Thank you for joining us today. Hello, your honor.

[00:02:16]>> Thank you for being here. So, we just heard an amazing story from Miss Brown.

[00:02:23]>> I've been looking for my daughter for 20 years, your honor. I was in love with her mother, your honor. And uh >> you all were in a relationship?

[00:02:30]>> Yes, we was in a relationship, your honor. And u she was pregnant, your honor. This was my first child. I'm the one that that gave her her her name, your honor. I I I did everything that I >> So, you were participating in this pregnancy and in the birth, >> you know, I I moved to to Alaska to be with her mother while she was uh pregnant and I was there at the hospital when she was born.

[00:02:56]>> I'm confused. If you did all that stuff, I don't know why I'm here with my mom today and not with you.

[00:03:03]I just don't I don't know. I don't get it >> to be honest. I'm just being honest.

[00:03:10]>> Your mother was going through some problems. I had the opportunity to take you when uh I I met her at the mall. I didn't know whether she wanted me to take you permanently. I couldn't take you at the time. I had to go back to Seattle. Uh I cried every minute on the plane.

[00:03:25]>> Do you have any proof of this?

[00:03:31]>> This is it, y'all. This is the the the toys that I I first uh bought her before before they left. Your honor, >> Jerome, hand me the evidence, please.

[00:03:43]>> Thank you. So, this is a picture of the person you say is Miss Brown's birthother.

[00:03:51]>> Yes. Yes, your honor.

[00:03:52]>> And she's pregnant.

[00:03:53]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:03:54]>> Okay.

[00:03:55]>> I've kept this photo for years, your honor, because I I knew someday that I would I would find her, your honor.

[00:04:00]>> And who's in this photo? Mr. Hampton, >> that's me. That's my daughter here. And and and that's her mother. Y >> So, Miss Brown, what are you thinking as you see these photos?

[00:04:11]>> I look at that baby. That could be you or you. It It's just there's nothing that distinguishly says is me. Maybe if I had that wrap that was around that baby. Um maybe if I had some.

[00:04:22]>> So, when you look at these pictures, you don't feel a connection cuz in your mind, you're saying there's nothing identifiable that says it's me.

[00:04:30]>> Yeah. Nothing. This is my daughter in those p That's my daughter in those pictures you're holding.

[00:04:34]>> Okay. And listen, that may be true that in the picture, the baby you're holding is your daughter. But why are you so sure that it is Ms. Brown?

[00:04:47]>> I know her birth date and uh I I knew the situation surrounding it.

[00:04:52]>> Okay, now we're getting somewhere. So, the exact date of Miss Brown's birth is the exact date of your Kayla's birth.

[00:05:00]>> Exactly. Your honor.

[00:05:01]>> And you named this baby Kayla.

[00:05:04]>> Exactly. Your honor.

[00:05:06]>> Okay. When's the last time you saw her?

[00:05:09]Before today, if this is in fact your daughter, >> I haven't se I haven't seen her since she was she was about two weeks old, your honor.

[00:05:19]>> About two weeks old.

[00:05:20]>> Two weeks old, your honor.

[00:05:21]>> In your statement to the court, you said you have a picture of her at 2 years old. How did you get that picture? Your honor, when I went back to Alaska, your honor, I came across her mother, your honor, and uh her birth mother gave this picture to >> Jerome, let me see this picture.

[00:05:36]>> Her birth mother.

[00:05:38]>> So, you went back to Washington, then you came back to Alaska, and her birthother gave you this picture.

[00:05:45]>> Yes, your honor. And I I still have that that I've kept that photo on my wall for the last 20 years, your honor.

[00:05:51]>> This picture?

[00:05:52]>> I've kept that photo on my wall.

[00:05:53]>> And she's two years old.

[00:05:54]>> And she's two years old, your honor. So, this is a picture of Wow. So, this picture of the young baby girl that you say is your daughter, Kayla, has been up on the wall in your home.

[00:06:07]>> Exactly, your honor.

[00:06:08]>> I don't know if that's true.

[00:06:09]>> Miss Brown, is this a picture of you?

[00:06:13]>> Um, >> she's got the eyes like me.

[00:06:17]>> Yeah.

[00:06:19]>> It has a little devious smile that I had.

[00:06:23]>> This is amazing. Have you ever seen this picture?

[00:06:27]No. It looks like you to me. It looks like your eyebrows. And look, I don't know the results of the test either. So, I am here inside this mystery with you.

[00:06:39]And I want to figure it out for you.

[00:06:41]>> I know that it's my daughter, your honor.

[00:06:46]>> Your honor, I contacted social services, your honor, and I told them that, you know, I didn't want my daughter to be adopted. They told me that I I need to get a paternity test, your honor.

[00:06:55]>> I don't know why. I mean, I'm 20. I'm 20 years old.

[00:06:57]>> But she's still my daughter, your honor.

[00:06:59]>> That's a long time to go without seeing your child you love so much.

[00:07:04]>> I I I've been looking for you. I've been looking for you for 20 years.

[00:07:09]I'd searched everywhere.

[00:07:12]>> I want to hear from your adoptive mother. Um Miss Brown, please stand and first ask you, have you ever seen this picture of your daughter?

[00:07:18]>> Yes, I have.

[00:07:19]>> You have?

[00:07:20]>> I have. And I'm I'm curious to know how her biological mother got that picture.

[00:07:26]>> Oh, okay. Wait, so you know this to be your daughter?

[00:07:31]>> Yes, that's my daughter.

[00:07:33]>> But >> but I never gave that picture to anybody and I don't know where.

[00:07:38]>> We've had Kayla since she was three months old.

[00:07:41]>> So when you adopted her, did you have any information given to you about a father?

[00:07:46]>> There's no one listed as a father on >> What are you reading? Um, her adoption papers.

[00:07:52]>> May I see that, please?

[00:07:53]>> Your honor, I got child support papers right here, your honor. State of Alaska was collecting child support from me for her.

[00:07:59]>> Wait a minute.

[00:08:00]>> Oh, that piece of evidence. Let me just see this first.

[00:08:05]>> I took this child several different times, at least for sure, three times, if not four times, in for blood tests.

[00:08:12]>> Okay?

[00:08:14]>> And watch them draw blood from her to try to determine who her father was.

[00:08:19]And they never could determine who the father was. So they kept listing different men. Okay, now they now we think this is the father. Can you please bring her in for another p another test and I'd take her in? And then I mean >> but they never came to me.

[00:08:34]>> I understand your emotion. The thought of being a mother and bringing your baby in to have blood drawn to try to figure out >> who their father is. I know that was really tough. And yet you're telling me three or four men were tested.

[00:08:48]>> Yes. in every test.

[00:08:50]>> Yeah. Because we wouldn't have been able to illegally adopt her. She We had her from the time she was three weeks old.

[00:08:55]She came to us normally. I We were foster we're foster parents and that I normally wouldn't take an infant in because I knew I'd be attached to them.

[00:09:06]>> Mhm.

[00:09:06]>> But it was supposed to be just a weekend. Then it turned into a week and then I'm like, "Oh, God, please, you know, >> don't take her.

[00:09:12]>> Don't take her from us." And we went on for two years of trying to them trying to determine who because they believe they could not.

[00:09:19]>> So hold on. I just want to be clear. Out of the three to four times that you took your baby Kayla, Miss Brown in to be tested so they could try to establish paternity. Never once was Mr. Hampton tested. You don't remember him being?

[00:09:33]>> I've never heard his name. Never heard his name. Now I want to confirm from you. Mr. Hampton, were you ever tested in the past? Were you ever contacted as a potential biological father for this baby to be tested?

[00:09:44]>> No, ma'am. No, I wasn't.

[00:09:48]>> They had me paying child support, your honor.

[00:09:51]>> Let me see that paperwork. They knew that doesn't make sense.

[00:09:53]>> They You were paying child support.

[00:09:57]>> That's That's what they >> Don't they have to determine paternity to be able to make you pay child support? Yeah, you do have to have a paternity affidavit.

[00:10:05]>> Well, then they must approve that I was your father then. There's there couldn't have been another man no other man.

[00:10:10]>> I wouldn't have been able to adopt Kayla.

[00:10:12]>> So here on this page it says the paperwork you completed states that there is an order for child support in Alaska and that the order names you as the father >> of is my name on there?

[00:10:28]>> Yes it is.

[00:10:29]>> Yes it is. Listen, >> I mean my mom my biological mom has I have biological siblings that are literally consecutive years under me.

[00:10:41]>> Yes.

[00:10:42]>> There there is no other man, your honor.

[00:10:43]We were together every day. I've celebrated her birthday every single year, your honor. I've always put her her her name on the cakes. Your honor, because your honor, I I I didn't let I didn't forget about her. Your honor, >> every year you put her name on a birthday cake.

[00:11:03]>> That's right, your honor. Cuz I wanted to show her cuz I knew someday that I would find her and I wanted to show her that I I've been looking for her. Your honor, >> and do you have any paperwork to prove that you were reaching out to social service?

[00:11:17]>> Your I've gave you the letter from social services, your honor.

[00:11:20]>> Department of Health and Social Services.

[00:11:23]>> In May 1994, dear Mr. Hampton, two phone messages from you and I don't have a number to contact you. Please be advised that you need to establish paternity of Kayla King and we can discuss reunification.

[00:11:39]>> Exactly, your honor. And and and that's what I did, your honor. But when I tried to do that, they wanted her they wanted her mother, your honor, to take part in this, your honor. I didn't know where her mother was.

[00:11:49]>> How did you not have contact if you if she gave you a picture of her at two?

[00:11:58]And look, Mr. Hampton, can you not understand their doubt? They've never heard of you, >> honor, they knew they never read your name in my life.

[00:12:10]>> I have this birth certificate and my parents are on it. I don't see your name on it.

[00:12:17]>> I don't know.

[00:12:18]>> Those are your adoptive parents that are on that birth certificate, >> which are my parents.

[00:12:24]Absolutely. Um, >> y my name my name is on her on her original birth certificate. Yor, they had me paying child support for her. I was there. I'm the one that gave you your name.

[00:12:36]>> Where were you through all these months that Kayla was with us as a foster child and they were trying to find out who the father was?

[00:12:44]>> Do you feel like Mr. Hampton is her biological father?

[00:12:49]I mean, honestly, I I kind of feel like you are, but you didn't take me when she asked you. You know, >> I don't care for how long. I It does, you know, even if you couldn't I look at my son.

[00:13:02]>> I had I had I had no I had no place. I had I had no place.

[00:13:07]>> I don't It doesn't m live in a car, you know, go to a shelter. There is so many resources.

[00:13:12]>> Let me just say this. This has got to be the most incredible mystery >> that we've ever heard in this courtroom.

[00:13:22]Is your own right?

[00:13:25]>> But the only way we're going to be able to move forward is to get the results.

[00:13:29]>> Uh >> that would be nice. That would be really nice.

[00:13:32]>> Your honor, >> Jerome the envelope.

[00:13:36]>> Yes, sir. Would you like to say one more thing before we get to the results?

[00:13:40]I I've gone through a lot the last 20 years, your honor. This is my life, your honor. I I've made some some bad choices, your honor, but I've never run from any of my my children, your honor.

[00:13:50]I I've ran to them, your honor. And that's why I'm I'm here today right here in court, cuz everything that that she has felt the the all of her life, your honor. I felt the same thing, your honor. I I felt all the hurt, everything, your >> I see your heart is breaking. I really do. I can see the emotion written all over your face. I'm glad that that her adopted parents were able to take her, your honor. I you know, I I I worried about her all the time. You know, >> she's had a good >> and I've had a great I've had a great home.

[00:14:21]>> I owe that to your adopted parents for for having you.

[00:14:25]>> Well, are we ready for the results?

[00:14:30]>> These results were prepared by DNA Diagnostics and they read as follows.

[00:14:35]If anyone would like to take a seat, they can in the case of Brown v. Hampton pertaining to 20-year-old Kayla Brown.

[00:15:01]Mr. Hampton, you have desperately waited for this answer.

[00:15:10]You in the case of Brown v. Hampton pertaining to 20year-old Kayla Brown.

[00:15:24]Mr. Hampton, you have desperately waited for this answer.

[00:15:33]You are not her father.

[00:15:48]>> That can't be right, your honor.

[00:15:50]>> But that is me in the picture.

[00:15:52]>> I don't know what's going on here, your honor. This is where paternity secrets destroy our lives and our perceptions and what we believe to be true because it may in fact and it unfortunately obviously is true that her biological mother was involved with someone else besides you during that time.

[00:16:17]>> I wanted to bring some closure to myself, your honor. This is had to be had to be done, your honor. and he had to be done. And um I'm sorry that things didn't work out.

[00:16:30]They're >> Don't be sorry.

[00:16:33]>> It's okay. I'm I'm good. I am I'm fine.

[00:16:39]And ultimately, Miss Brown, Kayla, that's what we want to know, that you're okay.

[00:16:44]>> That that's that's >> and that's what he wanted to know.

[00:16:47]>> Exactly, your honor.

[00:16:48]>> So, with that said, court is adjourned.

[00:16:50]Take care, everyone.

[00:16:53]I was pretty shocked. I think that I like convinced myself at first that he wasn't in the courtroom. I then convinced myself that he was and then he wasn't. I >> I feel very thankful that um she's in a good home.

[00:17:10]>> I felt so bad for Mr. Hampton and often wonder if Miss Brown has been able to recover from such an emotional ordeal.

[00:17:18]Well, the court recently heard from her.

[00:17:21]Take a look.

[00:17:22]>> My relationship with my parents has, you know, it's definitely done nothing but grown. Finding out that the results were matching what they were telling me that there was no lies involved. I think definitely built another bond and another type of trust between us.