JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Imagine your son or daughter is murdered and the prime suspect is their spouse.
Now imagine, the likely murderer cuts you out of the life of your grandchildren.
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In Florida, there is no recourse for the grandparent in that situation, but a bill passed through its second Senate committee Tuesday aims to change the status quo.
Yvonne Parker’s daughter, Michelle, disappeared a decade ago.
It happened right after she appeared on an episode of The People’s Court with her ex in a dispute over a $5,000 ring.
“And we still haven’t founder her to this day. The primary and only suspect in Michelle’s disappearance is the father of twins that she shared with her ex-boyfriend,” Parker said.
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Investigators in Central Florida were never able to build a case against her ex Dale Smith Jr. after all these years.
Yvonne has been cut off from her grandchildren the entire time.
“The biggest heartache is losing your child to a murder and then they take away your grandchildren too,” Parker said.
But in Florida, visitation rights for grandparents are extremely limited.
“Because the preference of not only the Florida Supreme Court, but the U.S. Supreme Court, is that parents ultimately are the parents and that should not be invaded,” said Zayne Smith, with AARP Florida.
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Now, new legislation moving through the Florida Senate seeks to lay the grounds for change.
If a parent is found criminally or civilly liable for the death of their spouse, grandparents could petition a court for visitation rights.
“And right now, that just doesn’t exist. So that’s why this law is so incredibly important,” Smith said.
Unfortunately for Parker, because her daughter’s ex was never charged, she’d still be in the same place even if the bill becomes law.
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But sponsor Senator Keith Perry told us there is still hope.
“The goal is to at least get this bill passed with this language this session. If we can amend it, make it broader, we’re gonna do that. If not, we’re gonna come back next session and work on it again,” Perry said.
Senator Perry is asking for Floridians to reach out to their local legislators and share their stories and perspectives on this issue.
Parker told us after our interview, she’ll do the same.
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