It does not sound like these parents are married, or were even living together. It does sound like another ridiculous effort to "involve" a criminal sperm donor.
Dad is identified as STEPHON LINDSAY.
http://whnt.com/2013/03/13/gadsden-police-investigate-toddlers-death/
Gadsden Police Investigate Toddler’s Death; Father In Custody
Posted on: 11:30 am, March 13, 2013, by Claire Aiello, updated on: 11:38am, March 13, 2013
GADSDEN, Ala. (WHNT) – Gadsden Police are investigating the death of a 20-month-old child. The girl’s father is in custody.
Police found the body of a child Tuesday night at the dead end of Plainview Street. They have not officially confirmed she is the missing girl yet.
Police say Tasmine Thomas reported her daughter, Maliyah Tashay Lindsay, missing on Monday, March 11. The woman said her daughter had been missing since March 5, and said the girl’s father, Stephon Lindsay, said he was going to take the child to his sister’s house for a few days.
The mother said she was asleep when Lindsay actually took the child. She said he had returned the next morning when she woke up.
Tasmine said after a week, she told Stephon she wanted to get her daughter. He said he would go with her. Tasmine told police Stephon then left to get gas for his car and pick up Maliyah from his sister. Tasmine called the sister, who said she had not seen Stephon or the baby for several weeks.
Tasmine tried to reach Stephon, but didn’t get a response, so she called police. Police arrested Stephon Lindsay on Tuesday night. He is being held in the Etowah County Jail without bond. Lindsay is not charged with the child’s death yet; he is currently being held for a probation violation.