The girls, born to Tranda Wecker of St. Louis, have been bounced from Missouri to California to Arkansas and finally to Wales in three months. The Allens say the babies, named Kiara and Keyara by their birth mother, were taken from them by Wecker in December and given to the Kilshaws, who took the children to Arkansas, where a hurried adoption was completed before the Kilshaws and the babies flew to Great Britain. On Thursday, Johnson denied any wrongdoing, saying the children had been taken from the Allens at Wecker's behest. California law allows a natural mother 90 days after an adoption order is filed to change her mind. The Allens, who took custody of the girls Oct. 2, reportedly had not filed any order with the court.
Questions remain about the legality of the Arkansas adoption.
Eugene Kelley, a veteran Arkansas attorney and member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, said last week that the Kilshaws' adoption of the twins would be voided should a court there confirm that Wecker had not lived in the state for 30 or more days. Wecker could not be reached for comment. Her stepfather, Willie Gunn, reached at his St. Louis home, declined to comment. Today's hearing in England, to be held in the family division of the High Court, will be conducted behind closed doors, as all custody hearings are in that country. Though the hearing is closed, the result likely will be known when the Kilshaws leave the court.