WSIL-TV 3 ABC
Top Stories
Last updated 11:43 am CT September 02, 2010.
Couple Accused of Aiding and Abetting Child Abduction- Arrested Again
On Friday, 7-year-old Ricky Chekevdia, was taken from this home, belonging to his grandmother, Diane Dobbs. Dobbs and her boyfriend are accused of helping Ricky's mother, Shannon Wilfong, hide the boy in this hole in the wall.
"We had to do a good job of- when everything got the way it got and we knew we weren't gonna get help from no authorities- we were pretty much on our own, and we had to do what we had to do," Dobbs explained during a television interview.
Only hours after, 68-year-old Carmen Short of Royalton says, Dobbs was knocking on her son's front door. In this statement, Short accuses Dobbs and Sandefur of coming on to private property and threatening the life of her son. That's when Short contacted police.
Only moments later Royalton police picked up the couple at a local Casey's General Store. Charges for the pair are pending. Wilfong continues to be held at the Franklin County Jail on child abduction charges.
Meanwhile, across town, Ricky's father Mike Chekevdia, is in good spirits. He got to see his son smile for the first time at a Labor Day parade.
"It was just a wonderful feeling to see a little boy that's been in that situation for so long- enjoy himself."
Chekevdia chose not to comment on the arrest of Dobbs and Sandefur. But, he did address allegations made by Dobbs earlier in the day...
"I've done nothing wrong. I was the best father I could be given the time that I had to be- had with him. And these people are just accusing me unjustly."
But, Chekevdia says, there is one thing that he can't deny and that's loving his son...
"We used to have this thing- where he'd come up to me and I'd say, 'How much does your daddy love you?' He'd say, 'This much.' And I'd say, 'How much do you love your daddy?' And he'd say, 'THIIIIIIS much!' And I'm waiting for that day."
Wilfong, Dobbs and Sandefur are expected to be in Franklin County Court this week. Ricky Chekevdia is currently staying with his father's family under DCFS supervision. A hearing to determine what's next for the boy is set for Tuesday morning.
By: Rachel Gartner
rgartner@wsiltv.com
Now: 1283451165
