In the custody of a killer

On Wednesday, Mark Stanfield tried to get full custody of his daughter Tori. Not only did the judge say no to granting full custody to Tori's father, he suspended visitation after an emotional day of testimony in an Owen County courtroom.

Linda Evans and her daughter Renae Settle say their family story is like a soap opera. It began years ago with two young high school kids working at the McDonalds in Mooresville. They met and fell in love.

Years later he came back from serving his country. She wanted a baby and on July 6th, 2004 Mark and Mary Stanfield were blessed with twins. Little Cody and Tori - a mother's dream come true.


"Amazing. They were beautiful," said Linda Evans, Tori's grandmother.

"She couldn't believe it," added Settle, Tori's aunt. "I mean she just could not believe it."

"She had a home, a husband, children and that's what she always wanted," continued Evans.

But it all took a tragic, unexpected turn on the morning of September 23rd. Just three months into his little life, Cody stopped breathing and his father Mark called 9-1-1.

"That's when he said he had shook him a little bit, maybe a little bit too hard," said Evans.

Cody had massive brain injuries and slipped into a coma. Three weeks later, he was gone.

Mooresville police arrested Mark, charging him with battery resulting in death. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 5 years behind bars. Mary filed for divorce.

"She said I've lost a son, a husband," explained Settle. "She said my whole world is torn apart."

But Mary still had Tori and the little girl started growing up.

Just a year and nine months after her father went to prison he was released, serving less than half of his sentence.

"I was upset because I wondered what his next move would be," said Settle.

According to a protective order request his next move was to come after Mary and Tori, who lived in Indianapolis at the time.

"He was abusive to her. Grabbed her by the arm - shook her," said Evans. "She said for the first time in her life she could see the anger."

Mary obtained a protection order in Marion County citing "fear of physical harm."

"She told me it was the most scared (she'd) ever been of a man in her life," said Settle.

According to documents Judge David Certo ordered Mark to stay away from both Mary and Tori.