A Georgia judge awarded “Mama” June Shannon legal and physical custody of her grieving 12-year-old granddaughter, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Shannon, last Friday in her legal battle against Michael Cardwell, the ex-husband of her late daughter Anna “Chickadee” Toney.
The 24-year-old fisherman, who was married to Anna from 2014 to 2017, has legal and physical custody of their eight-year-old daughter, Kylee Madison Cardwell, and firmly believes the half-sisters should not be separated.
In his ruling, the judge noted that Michael “never provided any significant financial support to this child,” who testified at a hearing in July that she wanted to continue living with the 45-year-old grandmother of four, according to In touch weekly.
Kaitlyn’s therapist also testified that she was afraid of being taken away from June, who had temporary custody since Toney tragically lost his 10-month battle with stage four adrenal carcinoma at age 29 on Dec. 9.
In her legal documents, Shannon claimed Cardwell “frequently physically abused Anna and the child” during their marriage, which he vehemently denied as they “simply grew apart due to differences in opinions and personalities.”
Last Friday, a Georgia judge granted “Mama” June Shannon legal and physical custody of her grieving 12-year-old granddaughter, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Shannon, in her legal battle against Michael Cardwell, the ex-husband of her late daughter Anna “Chickadee” Toney.
The 24-year-old fisherman (L, in May 7 photo), who was married to Anna from 2014 to 2017, has legal and physical custody of their eight-year-old daughter, Kylee Madison Cardwell (2nd R), and firmly believed the half-sisters should not be separated.
“(Michael) will not have visitation rights as such, unless the parties and the minor agree otherwise,” the judge wrote in his decision.
On the June 21 episode of the We TV reality show Mama June: Family Crisis, Anna stated that she wanted Kaitlyn (whose biological father was reportedly her high school boyfriend Caleb Clark) to “go with” her second husband Eldridge Toney, whom she married last year.
Shannon famously lost custody of her 19-year-old daughter, Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, to her 24-year-old daughter, Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird, following her 2019 arrest for possession of a controlled substance (crack) and drug paraphernalia.
“Some people think I don’t deserve or need Kaitlyn because I voluntarily gave up custody of Alana,” the former warehouse worker explained on the June 14 episode.
“My life has been a crazy rollercoaster, but I’ve been clean for four years now. I’m doing well in life. I’m back on track and I’ll vouch for anyone who says I don’t deserve Kaitlyn, including my own children.”
On April 26, Kaitlyn proudly wore a necklace containing her late mother’s remains to a high school dance.
Because “Anna didn’t want to rot in the ground,” June had some of her cremated remains placed inside a heart-shaped charm on a bracelet and other keepsake jewelry for her family.
“It has his fingerprint and his ashes on it as well,” Shannon explained via TikTok“Because Anna wanted us to take her everywhere and that’s what we’re doing.”
June was just 15 years old when she welcomed Toney, who was first introduced to audiences on TLC’s Toddlers and Tiaras.
The family spin-off Here Comes Honey Boo Boo was canceled by the cable network in 2014 after four seasons due to Shannon’s then-boyfriend, Mark McDaniel, being convicted of sexually assaulting Anna.
In his ruling, the judge noted that Michael (pictured July 8) “never provided any significant financial support to this child,” who testified at a hearing in July that he wanted to continue living with the 45-year-old grandmother of four.
Kaitlyn’s therapist also testified that she feared she would be taken away from June, who had temporary custody since Toney (left, pictured in 2023) tragically lost his 10-month battle with stage four adrenal carcinoma at age 29 on Dec. 9.
On the June 21 episode of the We TV reality show Mama June: Family Crisis, Anna stated that she wanted Kaitlyn (whose biological father was reportedly her high school boyfriend Caleb Clark) to “go with” her second husband Eldridge Toney (R), whom she married last year.
Shannon famously lost custody of her 19-year-old daughter, Alana “Honey Boo Boo” Thompson, to her 24-year-old daughter, Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird, following her 2019 arrest for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia (pictured Sept. 14).
The former warehouse worker explained on the June 14 episode, “Some people don’t think I deserve or need Kaitlyn because I voluntarily gave up custody of Alana. My life has been a crazy rollercoaster, but I’ve also been clean for four years. I’m good with my life. I’m back on track and I will vouch for anyone who says I don’t deserve Kaitlyn, including my own children.”
On April 26, Kaitlyn proudly wore a necklace containing her late mother’s remains to a high school dance.
Because “Anna didn’t want to rot in the ground,” June had some of her cremated remains placed inside a heart-shaped charm on a bracelet and other keepsake jewelry for her family.
“It has her fingerprint and her ashes on it,” Shannon explained via TikTok, “because Anna wanted us to carry her everywhere and that’s what we’re doing.”
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