MONTCALM COUNTY -
Jason Zank of Greenville says his ex-wife broke their custody agreement by taking their three year old daughter and moving to her home country of Ecuador.
"I love her, I'd do anything I could for her, obviously I'm fighting tooth and nail to get her back," Zank told us.
Court documents show the couple had shared custody of the three year old girl and that his ex-wife Liz was only allowed to take her out of the country if she gave sixty days notice and had received a judge's approval.
Jason says he received a call from his ex-wife on December 7th, saying they had moved to Ecuador. A few days letter, he received a handrwitten letter in the mail which he claims is from Liz, stating she left because the custody agreement "seems unfair and even more...I was out there fighting you and your family by myself."
Liz moved to the states as a foreign exchange student in high school when she was seventeen. The two met while attending Greenville High School and married shortly after.
It's been two months and Jason still hasn't heard from his ex-wife or his daughter. We made a lot of calls investigating the case. We have learned the Montcalm County Sheriff's Department and the FBI are investigating. Plus, we also contacted the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador. They can't give us specific details. They'll only confirm that Jason did file a "Hague Petition" seeking return of his daughter from Ecuador with the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs.
The Zank family tells us the U.S. Embassy is working under international guidelines to contact Liz and their daughter.
We contacted Liz's attorney in Grand Rapids and he admits Liz broke the agreement, but says she did it for the safety of her own child.
"She's a mother that was doing what she thought was in the best interest of her child, to remove her from an unsafe environment ,' said attorney Robert Alvarez.
Alvarez claims Jason had abused Brianna in the past, but offered no proof. It's something Jason adamently denies.
Jason Zank says he just wants his daughter back and is willing to negotiate to bring her home.
Fox 17's Dan Krauth will have more on the case tonight at ten on FOX 17 News.
"I love her, I'd do anything I could for her, obviously I'm fighting tooth and nail to get her back," Zank told us.
Court documents show the couple had shared custody of the three year old girl and that his ex-wife Liz was only allowed to take her out of the country if she gave sixty days notice and had received a judge's approval.
Jason says he received a call from his ex-wife on December 7th, saying they had moved to Ecuador. A few days letter, he received a handrwitten letter in the mail which he claims is from Liz, stating she left because the custody agreement "seems unfair and even more...I was out there fighting you and your family by myself."
Liz moved to the states as a foreign exchange student in high school when she was seventeen. The two met while attending Greenville High School and married shortly after.
It's been two months and Jason still hasn't heard from his ex-wife or his daughter. We made a lot of calls investigating the case. We have learned the Montcalm County Sheriff's Department and the FBI are investigating. Plus, we also contacted the U.S. Embassy in Ecuador. They can't give us specific details. They'll only confirm that Jason did file a "Hague Petition" seeking return of his daughter from Ecuador with the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs.
The Zank family tells us the U.S. Embassy is working under international guidelines to contact Liz and their daughter.
We contacted Liz's attorney in Grand Rapids and he admits Liz broke the agreement, but says she did it for the safety of her own child.
"She's a mother that was doing what she thought was in the best interest of her child, to remove her from an unsafe environment ,' said attorney Robert Alvarez.
Alvarez claims Jason had abused Brianna in the past, but offered no proof. It's something Jason adamently denies.
Jason Zank says he just wants his daughter back and is willing to negotiate to bring her home.
Fox 17's Dan Krauth will have more on the case tonight at ten on FOX 17 News.
