Mr. Wheat, you filed your case because you claim you've been
robbed as a father. You are desperate
to prove to the defendant that you fathered
her 19-year-old daughter Sierra Sloan. And once you do, you want to make up
for lost time. -Is that correct?
-[Mr. Wheat] Yes, Your Honor. Ms. Grider, you say, as much as you would like
the plaintiff to be your daughter's
biological father, facts are facts, and he isn't her dad. -Is that correct?
-Yes, Your Honor. Ms. Sloan, you say
you are the victim in this paternity chaos, and deserve to know who your dad is. -Is that correct?
-Yes, Your Honor. Ms. Grider, so, you say, unfortunately, as much as
you would like
your daughter to be Mr. Wheat's biological child, you just say she is not. -Right, Your Honor.
-[Judge Lake]
Explain to the court why you are so certain. Because I was 19. I was young, dumb
and full of eggs, and I was having-- Doing me. [all laughing] "Young, dumb and full of eggs,
and doing me." I don't think
I've ever heard it
explained like that. [all laughing] [Judge Lake] Okay. And so, Mr. Wheat, tell me the nature
of your relationship with Ms. Grider.
How did you meet? How did the relationship begin?
Tell the court. I met her back when I was
in high school. Well, we lost contact
for a little while, and then I ran into her at, uh, a club called
Texas Nite Life, and... kind of had a one-night stand. And, I don't know
how many more months later, I found out she was pregnant. Uh, her friend of hers come up to me and says, "How does it feel
that you're about to be a dad?" Really? What-- And so, did you
confront Ms. Grider? Yes. Well, didn't confront her,
we talked about it. She goes,
"Yes, there is a possibility that you are her father." [Judge Lake] So, Ms. Grider,
that's different from your testimony earlier. -Do you remember
that conversation?
-[Ms. Grider] Yes, Your Honor. So, why did that change for you? Because she started to
get darker, and her... and everything and... -Um...
-[Judge Lake] So, how many guys were you with
during this window of time that your daughter
was conceived? Four. [Judge Lake]
Four different guys? And Mr. Wheat is one of them? Yes. So, can you tell the court how is it you were with
these guys? One of 'em was my boyfriend, he was living with me
at the time, and he went away. And then, uh, Mack had moved in with me. I met him through
a mutual friend of all of ours. And, yes, we were
sleeping together. And then, I went out
to Texas Nite Life and saw David and had a one-night stand
with him at that time. And then who's the fourth? It was somebody I knew
from Texas Nite Life. [audience exclaiming] You better stay out of that
Texas Nite Life, Jerome. [all laughing] So, what happens next,
Ms. Grider? Who signs
the birth certificate? Does anybody sign
the birth certificate? Yes, Your Honor.
Mack Grider did. There's been on and off drama
for 19 years. So... Well, Mack Grider is here, and he believes he could be Sierra's father. what was your relationship with the defendant? She is my ex-wife. [Judge Lake]
She's your ex-wife. All right. So, do you think you are Sierra's, Ms. Sloan's, biological father? There is a possibility. Me and Charlene were
sleeping together and staying in the same house. And she was having sex
more than the other guy. [audience exclaiming] So, were you there throughout her pregnancy and birth? Yes, ma'am. I was there, went to
the doctor appointments. -I named her and I signed
the birth certificate.
-[audience] Aw. And, Sierra,
I can see your face, this must be
so confusing, honey. What are you feeling
in this moment? Can you tell the court? [crying] Upset that
I never knew who my real dad was. -[audience] Aw.
-[sniffles] [Judge Lake] And when you say
you've never knew... Never. You were always told that
it was -uncertain?
-I've had a father figure throughout the years
and he's watched me
grow up and... just never really knew
who my dad was. In the case of <i> Wheat v. Grider/Sloan,</i> when it comes to 19-year-old Sierra Sloan, it has been
determined by this Court... Mr. Grider... you... are not the father. -[Sierra sniffling]
-I'm very sorry, Mr. Grider. I still love her
no matter what. -[Ms. Grider] We're all still
a happy family.
-[Sierra sobs] It's just that this is
hurting her 'cause she still--
She loves him, but it's-- She felt
there could be a possibility. [Judge Lake] Of course she did. And I saw you, Mr. Wheat, because once I said
Mr. Grider was not the biological father, I think the weight even became
heavier for you that, well, if he's not that's even more probability
that I could be. Mr. Wheat... you... are not the father. [Sierra crying] [Judge Lake]
I'm very sorry, Sierra. [sniffles] [Judge Lake] I'm very sorry. [Sierra sobbing] [Sierra continues sobbing] I know this is not
what we expected to hear today. Ms. Andrews, you claim
that while at a restaurant
recently, you were shocked when
Mr. Glenn approached you out of the blue and raised his pant legs
to reveal a tattoo
of your name on his leg. Now you say he then dropped
the bomb that he believes he is your biological father. Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Glenn, you confessed
you kept a 30-year secret because a good family
raised Ms. Andrews and you didn't want to
interfere with that? That's right, Your Honor. You say, you now believe you've evidence to prove that you are Ms. Andrews father and you believe
today's DNA results will verify your claim. That's right, Your Honor. All right. Now Ms. Andrews, why do you doubt Mr. Glenn is your
biological father? Your Honor, honestly Mr. Glenn has not
been in my life the entire years
that I've been living. I was raised by the father.
My biological father was in my life. <i> Um, I've never
known Mr. Glenn.</i> I don't know him. You never knew Mr. Glenn? I never... I knew of him. JUDGE LAKE: Mmm-hmm. But I did not know him
enough to say, "Hey, you're my dad."
And know all of a sudden... So when you say
you knew of him, explain. I knew that he was the father
of my youngest sister. Okay. Okay. Uh, supposedly we
had different fathers. Um, and it was
never a question. Never, until... And what was your relationship with your father,
the man you were
told was your father? What was that like? I had a great relationship
with my father. Although I did not
live in the same
household as he. He came around
and he attended
family reunions. He's done things for me.
He was even at my graduation, my high school graduation. He was at my college
graduation as well. So, you know,
to just run into someone after all those years to just say that
you're my father. You know, I was going to
a restaurant in Atlanta,
beautiful restaurant to have something to eat
and I ran into him and he revealed to me
that I was his daughter. And he showed me the
tattoo on his leg. <i> This is a time
I'm still grieving over
the loss of my father,</i> who passed on my due date of my second child. So as I'm still
grieving over this, I ran into him to express that
he's my father. Now he's bringing
more complications and now I need answers. I need answers. I need to know
what's going on. Me and her mother,
grew up together. Okay. Raised up together. And we started dating
in 1976. And I left for about 8 months. When I left, and I came back, Donna was born. She was about two,
three months old. You were in a relationship with Ms. Andrews' mother? Right. Right. You left town? Yes, I left town. By the time you come back
she had a baby? Right. Right. But she never told me. But she never
came and told you... That she was pregnant. I asked her about the child. You know, why
she didn't tell me you know, after her
cousin told me about it. I said
"Why did you do that?" Uh-huh. She'd never give me
no answer to it. Did you feel instantly
in your heart she was yours? When her cousin told me this so I started cackling, and started thinking from the night
when went to club in '77
and I went home with her and that's how I felt like
that when she got pregnant. So you calculated up the time and you felt like
that I could be the father? Right. And that's when you
confronted her mother? Yes. When you
approached me, Mr. Glenn, it put me in a depression. It seems to me like
a coward move, it does. You wait till he dies.
You wait till our
mother passed away. We don't have nobody's word
but your word now. Your... Only your word. And the DNA. And the DNA. You could've done DNA
when I was young. I'm struggling, I have children
and I'm doing just fine. And I've got degree.
I'm in graduate school.
I'm doing just fine. I love that, baby.
I love that. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) Ms. Gates, please state
your relationship
to Ms. Andrews. Donna Andrews is my sister. She's my middle sister. Okay, and you're the... Oldest of three girls. Okay. Yes. Ms. Gates, do you believe Mr. Glenn is
Ms. Andrews' father? GATES: No, I do not. JUDGE LAKE: Why? Keep in mind that Donna
and Elonda are 11 months apart. If he had thought that
he was her father... Okay, my mother
had to get pregnant again
to have my baby sister, and so if he had opportunity
to be a father to her. Right. So your point is, if he's the
father of your younger sister, why not just say,
"I'm also the father of..." Exactly. You know,
he had opportunity. He said that she was
raised in a good family. She was raised,
her father's family was and he is.
Roger Andrews is her father. He had opportunity
to say this when she was an infant, okay, before she
even established a bond with this family,
with the Andrews family. GLENN: But I didn't know
at the time because your mother
had not told him. I didn't know
she was pregnant
at the time. But it is still
your responsibility. It was still
your responsibility
to find out. When it comes to the paternity
of Ms. Donna Andrews. Mr. Glenn, you are her father. GATES: Oh, my God! (SOBBING)
Oh, my God! Oh, God. (CRYING) Oh, Sis. Oh, my God! You're wrong for that.
You're wrong for that. You couldn've done better. Oh, my God!
Okay, sis, come on.
Have a seat. Sit down. See if she'll sit in the chair. Come on, girl. No! No! Donna, just sit down. (SOBBING) JEROME: Can I get
you some water... No! No! No, Dad! No! No! (SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY) You could've said some
before this girl got raised by a totally different family.
You could've said something
before now. GLENN: You don't know
what was going on. It was not my doing.
It was her mother. You still could've tried! You've no excuse!
You've no excuse! I don't care what it says. This man is my father! The only thing
I can thank you for is not causing him
the embarrassment when he was alive! How could you? I came here
'cause I was so sure that this is my father. How dare you? How dare you do this to me? How do you live
with yourself? Truth is what it is. Ms. Andrews.
Ms. Andrews! You have to accept this
and you have to listen, because it's gonna be
difficult to accept. You looked directly at me
and you said, "Today is the day.
I wanna know." That's why you came here. You told me that. (AUDIENCE APPLAUDING) When I open the envelopes, I don't know
what they're gonna say. No way did I
expect the results to turn out this way. I know, honey.
I see it on your face. (SOBBING) I can't believe this. Ms. Henderson, you claim
that you believed Mr. Henderson
was your biological father but at the age of 15,
Mr. Rycraw claimed he is your dad. You are doubtful
and have opened
today's case to get the truth,
is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. Mr. Rycraw, you say you know beyond
a shadow of a doubt that Ms. Henderson
is your daughter. You are here with
her mother's twin sister, who claims that she
too is certain you are the biological
father, is that correct? -Yes, Your Honor.
-So, Ms. Henderson, I'll start with you.
How has life been without knowing
who your father is? You know... It's lonely, um... My kids, they wanna
know their grandparents. And my daughter,
she tells me all the time, "Mom, we're gonna
find your dad." So, you know, I just... I'm just ready,
I wanna be close to somebody,
I wanna be close to them. Um, I'll always
been close to him. But I need to know
the truth. So, Mr. Rycraw,
you say you are certain you are Ms. Henderson's
biological father and you know
beyond a shadow of a doubt. [Rycraw] Yes, Your Honor. When we met, I mean I... I don't know, I just felt it. I just felt that
she was my daughter. [Sharon] And then
just to know that that my sister's
resting in her grave and that my niece
needs to know, who her family really is,
that means, I just need to know too
for sure, so she can get her
peace of mind, so we can all move on but the point is
either way it go... He's been her father,
he's been her father, -and they both agree
may been her father.
-I'll always be her father. And we thank the Lord. Mr. Henderson,
I need to ask you, what was your relationship
like with her mother? We were still good. I mean, that was
my wife and, you know, I treat
my wife like my wife. Regardless what she was doing. And she was your wife, so why was there
any question about Ms. Henderson's paternity? Because she left me
in California, went to visit
her mother in Arkansas. When she came back about a month or two, my other daughter told me
that, "My mom is pregnant." And so when you find
that out, you assumed she cheated or you assumed
this is my baby, she was pregnant
before she left? Well, Your Honor, actually, when I talked
to her, I told it, if it's a girl, it's ours, it's the boy, you got to go. [audience murmuring] Oh, so, you had <i> an inkling,
you had a suspicion.</i> [Walter]<i> That it wasn't mine.</i> -Are you on
the birth certificate?
-No. You are, you are. -[Walter] I am?
-You are. Oh, I didn't know. -[audience laughing]
-Been a long time, Your Honor. Well, yeah, I mean,
especially, if she was married to you,
then you would likely -be on the birth certificate
as father.
-[Walter] Father. [Judge Lake]<i> There you are,
Walter Henderson.</i> Yes, that's me. So, Ms. Henderson,
take me to the day you met Mr. Rycraw. -[Mercedez] Okay.
-What was that day like? [Mercedez] Well,
my aunt called me. And she told me
to come meet my dad. <i> And when we met
and we held each other,</i> <i> it was good.</i> But I asked my mom
after that about him and she told me, she said, "I don't know
why William thinks
he's your dad." Because the last time
I was with him, I was 18. And I had you
when I was 25 or 26. My sister, when it comes
to telling the truth on a certain thing,
they'd beat around the bush. [audience laughing] And like she didn't
answer him when she came back, she didn't tell her
the truth either. Why do you think your sister didn't
tell the truth? Because they both
was in a relationship, they both was married. And then when my sister
called and told me, and I said,
"It's not my place to tell." Okay, so now at what point
did your sister tell you the secret? After she's been here
two years. [audience exclaims] [Judge Lake] What did she say?
How did she say it? She said, I said,
"Who is her daddy?" I said, "You can't lie
to me 'cause we twins. -Who is her daddy?"
-[audience laughing] And she said, "William." So the truth is,
is they were both -having affairs.
-[Sharon] With each other. -With each other.
-[Sharon] Yes, Your Honor. [Judge Lake]
And that's why this thing
went hush-hush. [Sharon] Hush-hush,
under the rug,
as the old folks say at my hometown,
under the rug, swept that dirt. -[audience laughing]
-Yes, ma'am, yes, Your Honor. Ms. Henderson,
the other man, the third man,
the man your mother told you is your biological father. This court was able to get... ahold of those
test results. [audience clapping] As it relates
to this other gentleman, the probability
of paternity was determined to be... 0.00%. He's not
your biological father. [audience exclaiming] [Jerome] Get the medic,
get the medic. [Judge Lake] Someone call
the medic, please. In the case of<i>
Henderson v. Rycraw.</i> When it comes to 33-year-old
Mercedez Henderson... It has been determined
by this Court, Mr. Henderson, you... are not the father. [audience exclaiming] [paper shuffling] The next result reads as follows... In the case of<i>
Henderson v. Rycraw,</i> Mr. Rycraw, you... are not the father. [audience gasping] -You all right, Dad.
-[Judge Lake] I'm so sorry. I'm very sorry,
Ms. Henderson. [sniffling] [audience clapping] -[Mercedez sobbing]
-We love you. [Mercedez sobbing] [continues sobbing] [Walter murmuring indistinctly] Don't worry, okay? -Don't worry.
-[sobbing] Ms. Henderson, do you need
to just sit down, you wanna sit down,
honey? Okay, take a deep breath. [Latoya softly]
It's gonna be okay. You all right, Dad? Huh? You okay? Life deals us blows
that we don't expect. And that we don't deserve. But we got your back. If you need us,
we're here. Okay?
