The mother of the former Kansas City Chiefs player who shot and killed his girlfriend before committing suicide last year told a probate court judge this week she believes both sides of the family should be involved in the upbringing of his now nine-month old daughter.
Cheryl Shepherd, the mother of Jovan Belcher, was the only witness to take the stand on Tuesday during the three-day long proceedings that will decide who will be granted full-time custody of the infant, according to Fox News.
Sophie Perkins, a cousin of mom Kassandra Perkins, has also filed a petition seeking custody of young Zoey.
Shepherd told the judge she was living with her son at the time of his death and grown close to both the child and Kassandra Perkins.
Human development specialist Carrie Contey took the stand on Wednesday and told the judge she believes it would not be in the child’s best interest for there to be split custody. Besides each family living more than 1,700 miles apart, she said research shows children fare better when there is a primary caregiver with whom the child can build a secure relationship.
''That seems like a lot of stress to put on a little person,'' she told Fox.
Asked why she should be granted primary custody, Fox reports Shepherd told the judge “to show her and tell her all the good things that I know of her mother and father.”
Up until, the girl has been staying in Texas with Sophie Perkins and Shepherd said she has made frequent visits. Shepherd told the judge initially she also sought to become conservator of her son’s multi-million dollar estate, but later agreed to allow it to be handled by a third-party.
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