Dad in prison for murder of mom, yet he still has say in custody of surviving child? Unbelievable! (Tavares, Florida)

Kind of an interesting family dynamic here.

Dad KRISTOFER GOULD is in jail awaiting trial for the murder of his son's mother. Mom was shot 14 times as she laid in bed WITH THE BABY. This happened after at least two years of domestic violence. How the baby survived this orgy of gun violence is a miracle. Needless to say, he was drenched in blood.

Since the murder, the boy has been staying with his maternal aunt. But now from jail, killer daddy is trying to manipulate things so his own mother gets custody, a woman that this now 2-year-old boy doesn't even know. According to the killer's father, killer daddy could get away with it because of a loophole in the Florida law which gives "parents" (violent incarcerated fathers) the right to determine custody issues.

Interestingly enough, the paternal grandfather is OPPOSING the paternal grandmother's bid for custody. 

http://www.wogx.com/story/20568633/child-custody-fight-stemming-from-murder-gets-more-complex

Father of accused killer says grandson should be with victim's family

Posted: Jan 11, 2013 9:26 PM CST
Updated: Jan 11, 2013 10:16 PM CST

By Valerie Boey, Reporter

TAVARES, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35 ORLANDO) - A child custody case being fought between the family of an accused murderer and the family of the murder victim is taking a turn -- the father of the murder suspect is speaking out in favor of the victim's family.

Deputies arrested 34-year-old Kristofer Gould back in August in the killing of Jorgete Acarie. Investigators said he shot Acarie 14 times as she lay in the same bed with the couple's baby. The two had years of domestic violence complaints, according to authorities. Now, the fight over who will have custody of their 2-year-old boy continues, as the mother of Gould is attempting to take the child from the sister of Acarie.

Phillip Gould adores his grandson, Kristofer Acarie Gould. The child has been staying with his maternal aunt, Viviane Acarie, since his mother's murder.

"He speaks Portuguese, he speaks English; there are other little children at his aunt's house now that are close age with my grandson, and that's the only family he knows," said Gould.

 But he is concerned, because his son wants to give custody of the baby to the paternal grandmother, Diann Allen. Phillip Gould and Allen were once married but are now divorced.

"In this case, my son wants to do it with his mother, and my grandson doesn't even know her," said Gould.

The father of the child is currently behind bars, formally charged with the murder of the child's mother. Investigators said it happened as their baby boy was in the same room. They found him covered in blood.

"I'm concerned he will be uprooted from the family he knows right now, which is the Acarie family, and be placed with his grandmother, who he does not know, and experience another traumatic event,"Gould said.

The Department of Children and Families (DCF) supports the child staying with his aunt. However, Gould points to a loophole in the law which gives parents the right to decide who has custody of their children. He's writing local lawmakers to change that, saying, "I'm hoping the judge takes that into serious consideration and not allow this loophole, this law, to supercede DCF's recommendations, and that's my biggest concern."

According to DCF, ultimately a judge will decide what's best for the boy.

Gould said he plans to fight his son in court, adding, "If he is guilty of this crime, I think it's so absurd how can he have the right to say now what happens to his son."

FOX 35 attempted to contact Diann Allen by phone, but we were unable to reach her for comment. A custody hearing takes place on February 14.