Unfit: Ward vs. Ward

In 1995, Mary Ward filed for an increase in child support from her ex-husband. She was awarded the increase but never expected the firestorm that would ensue. Her ex-husband in turn filed for a complete modification of custody. Everyone thought this was a stunt by the father to avoid paying child support. Why would the state modify custody when Mary appeared to be a devoted mother? Her children were the center of her universe and she would do anything for them. And in the six years since their separation, the father had by all accounts been an absent parent. He was unclear as to what grade his daughter was in or which school she was attending. He didn't know that she had been in counseling for over a year to help with her ADD diagnosis.

He was behind in child support, and the most time he had spent with the daughter was four consecutive days on a trip. Mostly he just saw her every other weekend for one day. He had a limited education, was prejudiced, lived in a trailer down a windy dirt country road, had a history of a bad temper, and had been married to his fourth wife for less than a year. And as if that didn't seem like enough stacked against him, he had murdered his first wife.

Trailer...