There is a happy ending to report tonight in Jesenia Cook’s emotional international search for her missing daughter. We first told you about the story on February 5th of this year. That was two days after Cook’s estranged husband, American Richard Cook took the couple’s 6 year old daughter Zoe and left the country. Well after seven months Jesenia and Zoe were reunited two weeks ago. With the help of the U.S. Embassy, the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and a U.S. lawyer – Jesenia tracked down her estranged husband to a city 3 hours outside of Phoenix, Arizona where, with the help of U.S. Marshals, she took back her daughter. A court later sealed custody of Zoe to Jesenia and they returned to Belize on Saturday.
Jesenia Cook today took us back to the 20th of September when she got the call that they had found Zoe.
Jesenia Cook, Reunited With Daughter
“I was having breakfast and I just stopped having breakfast and I was all excited. I was so excited I started to cry. I just couldn’t wait to see her and my God, when she came – I just ran, we bought ran to one another and we just hugged and we just –that was a happy moment and we just hugged together and man I missed her so much. I was so happy and excited to see her. And when we came here on Saturday night, when I was sleeping, I woke up in the middle of the night and touched her to make sure that she is there. I am excited at having her back.”
Keith Swift,
You came back to Belize with Zoe. So what was the ruling of the court?
Jesenia Cook,
Well mostly what they did is say that they just said that I have full custody of my daughter Zoe and that it wasn’t right to take my daughter away without me knowing.”
Keith Swift,
Did the father fight your attempt to get custody?
Jesenia Cook,
“Yes he was. He didn’t agree to the fact that I had custody of my daughter but he is just not a capable father. I just prayed and prayed for the whole two weeks that I was in the states so I could get my daughter and finally it was a tough one but I am all excited I got my daughter back.”
Along with full custody, – Jesenia says that the judge also granted a restraining order against Richard Cook. We are happy to note that even though she returned to the country on Saturday, Zoe has already been enrolled and is attending infant two at a primary school in the city.
