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Now that the Elizabeth Johnson story has hit Huffpo and other venues, a lot of people are newly enraged upon seeing the story for the first time. And once again I find myself defending a man who got dragged down into a crime story by a mesmerizing woman. Logan McQueary is the father of Baby Gabriel. Many commenters on the net are venting some of their rage at him.
Here's a typical one:
18 hours ago (11:34 PM)
"Yeah, sweetie, I'm leaving you and the baby so you can get your life back together. Later!"And then he leaves the obvious mental case with the baby. Can we say "contraceptives?"
And another:
21 hours ago ( 9:18 PM)
"i am confused, he left her with the child, did not want to put it up for adoption, sooo did he expect her to take care of it without him and then come and go as he pleased? not excusing what she has done but if the father did what it appears from this article he must not have cared for the child that much."
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These comments can only come from newcomers to the case, which we have many of starting today. Here is a quick recap for them of Logan McQueary's conduct during Gabriel's life and disappearance. This is information presented at trial and undisputed by her lawyer.
Logan was in jail on a skipping probation charge when Gabriel was born. Logan used his work-release time to go to the hospital to visit the baby and his mother every day, including the day he was born. The being in jail part is not a feather in his cap but it also demonstrates he made a big effort NOT to abandon his child. As soon as Logan was out of jail, he created a two parent family for Gabriel and lived with Elizabeth. Neighbors testified they often saw him working on the house (trailer) with the baby in his stroller nearby while daddy watched over him. Elizabeth, the neighbors testified, was not seen in a similar manner.
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| Logan McQueary testifying. His quiet sadness came through, |
There was disallowed evidence that even when she was with the baby, Elizabeth was often in the other room while Logan took care of him. This info was disallowed not because it was not reliable, but because the prosecution was not allowed to argue whether or not Elizabeth was a good mother or even loved her child.
By the time he was 7 months old, Gabriel's parents were bickering so much that Logan left. Elizabeth told him to "take that thing with you." "That thing" was their infant. While the "that thing" comment was not allowed in court (too inflammatory), Logan did pack up the baby and leave with him that morning. A few hours later, cops came looking for him, saying Elizabeth had reported the baby kidnapped by his father. Logan was forced to return the baby to Elizabeth. He requested the police accompany him to her house. Gabriel was handed over to Elizabeth under this escort.
The next day, Elizabeth --without Logan's consent or knowledge-- took the baby to a woman named Tammi Smith and began conspiring with her ways to adopt the baby out without Logan's consent. For about 10 days, this young father did not know where his baby was. And during this time, Elizabeth yet again reported to police that Gabriel had been kidnapped by Logan! All the while, Elizabeth knew very well the baby was with Tammi because she delivered him to her.
Logan attempted relief in Family Court. Elizabeth made nice with Logan for one night and in court maneuvered for Joint Custody. In a snap decision he must surely regret forever, the judge in the custody case awarded the split custody. The judge never knew that the baby was right that minute at Tammi's house, being plotted over with fake paternity documents.
The very day after this joint custody decision, Elizabeth cleaned out her bank account, picked up the baby from Tammi and skipped town. A few days of confusion followed as Tammi manipulated Logan's understanding of Elizabeth's whereabouts and her intentions. But after just 4 days, Logan went back to court and was granted Sole Custody of Baby Gabriel.
It was too late now. Elizabeth was alone in San Antonio, her rage growing and her determination never to let Logan have his baby boiling over. When she first texted Logan--who did not know how to reach her since she did not have her own phone at the time she skipped--that she had killed the baby, he did not believe her. But his terror at her words made him contact police.
So for all the newcomers to the case who believe that Baby Gabriel's father cavalierly left his son with a distraught mother, here is the real information. Maybe he fell in love with the wrong girl and maybe he made some blunders, but at no time, starting before Gabriel was born, did Logan McQueary ever abandon his baby.
There are heartwrenching electronic conversations between the two young parents where Logan begs Elizabeth for custody. Her adoption scheme was carried out against his will, without his knowledge. Elizabeth Johnson even reported the baby kidnapped by his own grandaddy on a day when Logan's father, by Logan's request, picked up Gabriel from daycare. All evidence shows that Logan actively cared for the baby and so did his extended family. He tried to salvage his relationship with Elizabeth but after being reported as a kidnapper, having your dad reported as a kidnapper, and the baby flat out disappearing, who wouldn't want to split up?
There are heartwrenching electronic conversations between the two young parents where Logan begs Elizabeth for custody. Her adoption scheme was carried out against his will, without his knowledge. Elizabeth Johnson even reported the baby kidnapped by his own grandaddy on a day when Logan's father, by Logan's request, picked up Gabriel from daycare. All evidence shows that Logan actively cared for the baby and so did his extended family. He tried to salvage his relationship with Elizabeth but after being reported as a kidnapper, having your dad reported as a kidnapper, and the baby flat out disappearing, who wouldn't want to split up?
Follow me at twitter @CamilleKimball to read my tweets from inside the courtroom, just a few feet away from the defendant.
Pssst! Going to jail, buying documents, and everything else it takes to get this kind of info for the blog takes time and money! Every time you make a purchase here, it helps me be able to do more for you!