x
Breaking News
More () »

After daughter's safe return, Perham dad seeks law change

After his daughter's disappearance, a Perham dad is meeting with lawmakers in hopes of helping others faced with family abductions.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A Perham dad is making his voice heard at the State Capitol after his daughter's disappearance last year.

Claire Cooney, then 6 years old, was found weeks later with her mom in rural Tennessee. March 12 marks the one-year anniversary of her return.

"It was just horrible," said Brian Cooney, Claire's dad.

Cooney said during a custody battle, his ex-wife fled the state with her boyfriend and Claire.

"I never thought that I would never see her again but that fear is always there in the back of your head," Cooney said.

Cooney hired a private investigator. He eventually was able to file an order of protection against his ex-wife because her boyfriend who was with them was wanted on a felony warrant in Minnesota.

Related: Missing MN girl found safe in Tennessee

The private investigator had reason to believe they were in Tennessee and passed out flyers, including one at a gas station in Centerville, Tennessee.

"They were spotted on the side of the road by a guy who stopped by the gas station and saw the flyer and was like, 'Hey, I just saw those guys,'" Cooney recalled.

Police tracked them down at Cherokee National Forest. Claire's hair had been cut and dyed black.

"Just because a child is with a parent does not necessarily always mean she's safe. My child was living in a wooden shack constructed in the forest during the winter," Cooney said.

Claire Cooney of Perham, Minnesota. Photo courtesy: Brian Cooney

Since Cooney was reunited with Claire, he has realized how many people are affected by family abductions. Missing Children Minnesota Executive Director Teresa Lhotka said when the abductor is a parent, it can complicate things like filing a missing person's report.

Cooney is now talking with Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria) and Rep. Bud Nornes (R-Fergus Falls) about possible legislation that could help others faced with family abductions.

"When you think about what he had to go through to get his daughter back and the amount of not only expense involved but just the roadblocks that were thrown up. Law enforcement... there were different things that handicapped this search," Rep. Nornes said in a phone interview.

No one was ever charged in Claire's disappearance. Cooney would like to see more parental abduction cases get prosecuted.

"This type of thing goes on all the time and nobody really talks about it and it's just... it was an awful experience," Cooney said.

Cooney will meet with Sen. Ingebrigtsen and Rep. Bud Nornes Monday afternoon in St. Paul. They will be joined by Jane Straub, a victim assistant specialist with the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center. Straub said education is a huge part of people understanding what is behind a family abduction.

Legislation could be brought up this session or in 2019.

Before You Leave, Check This Out