Michelle Marie Andrews, the 47-year-old mother who chose not to surrender her daughter to Child Protective Services and instead fled the area, has been arrested. Her daughter, a 3-year-old named Arianna Rene’e Andrews, was found safe at a relative’s house, and has since been taken into the custody of the state.
According to police records, there were concerns about the little girl’s welfare while in the care of her mother. Issues like substance abuse and other problems led to ongoing interactions with CPS, and the state decided that it would be in Arianna’s best interests to take her from her mother’s custody temporarily. Andrews disagreed.
Andrews was scheduled to appear on June 21st in the Ottawa County Court to hand her daughter over to CPS, and to discuss “issues about parenting.” Andrews failed to appear for her court date, and agency workers were not able to contact her after that, which they interpreted as a deliberate evasion of the court’s orders.
Andrews was then believed to have fled the western portion of the state in a grey minivan, taking her daughter with her. The license plate number was provided to the public, but noted to have been from a different car. Police began a search for Arianna, releasing a description to the media that included blond hair, blue eyes, a weight of 40 pounds, and a height of 3 feet. A warrant was issued for Andrews arrest.
Choosing to comply and hand over your child is one of the hardest decisions a parent has to make!
At first, officers were not certain where Andrews may have gone to. They noted that she had family both in Florida and in states on the East Coast. In the end, Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department Captain Mark Bennett says that Andrew’s speedy arrest was due to the media’s widespread response to the story, because it was a citizen’s tip to police that led officers to Andrew’s location.
Andrews was located near 64th Avenue and Lake Michigan Drive in Allendale, and arrested. Arianna was found, safe and unharmed, in the home of a relative living in Grand Rapids. She has since been taken into CPS custody.
Andrews is being charged with parental kidnapping, which is a felony under state law, and is punishable by up to one year in prison and/or a fine of up to $2,000. She is currently being held in the Ottawa County Jail, pending her next court appearance.
If you find yourself in a situation where you feel that CPS has unfairly intruded into your life, you should immediately consult an attorney. Rather than fleeing, which may result in more severe consequences, you should contact a knowledgeable and experienced CPS defense attorney to discuss all of your options and determine the best legal strategy.