Quets Pushes for Court to Uphold Visitation Agreement

Raleigh, N.C. — A birth mother who kidnapped twins from their adoptive family in Apex a year ago maintained in court papers filed Friday that she should have the right to see the children.

Allison Quets was sentenced last week to five years on probation after she pleaded guilty to international parental kidnapping in the case. She spent more than eight months in jail before agreeing to plead guilty in the case.

Quets took the twins, who were 17 months old at the time, on Dec. 22, 2006, from their adoptive parents, Kevin and Denise Needham, following an approved visit. Authorities apprehended her a week later in Ottawa, Ontario, and returned the twins to the Apex couple.

She has fought their adoption for more than two years, saying she was ill after suffering medical problems during her pregnancy and signed adoption papers under duress.

A Florida appellate court has upheld a lower court's ruling terminating Quets' parental rights in the case.

Quets filed a complaint in Wake County court last month, stating the adoption was contingent upon her "retaining a continuing and familiar role" in the lives of the children after the adoption was finalized.

The Needhams have asked that the case be dismissed, but Quets filed papers Friday reiterating her request that the original adoption agreement, which called for six visits and telephone contact with the children each year, be upheld – or that her consent to the adoption be voided.

"Quets is asking for (the) court to grant her visitation and communication rights with the minor children as previously agreed by the Needhams," the filing states.

A hearing on the case is scheduled for next Wednesday. The Needhams have asked that the court be closed to the public and that the case file be sealed.