Mr. Muhammad, you are
here to prove
that you are the father of the defendant's
two-year-old daughter
Brooklyn. You claim the only reason
she is denying paternity is because she wants
to be in a relationship
with the other man. -Is that correct?
-Yes, Your Honor. Miss Walton, you say
you were secretly
cheating on Mr. Muhammad and had sex
with the other man almost every day
of the month and there is no way
Mr. Muhammad
is Brooklyn's father. -Is that correct?
-Yes, Your Honor. So Mr. Muhammad,
you are convinced
you are Brooklyn's father? -Yes, Your Honor.
-Explain. First of all, I would never
let another man
raise my child. I was always raised to do
the right thing. I was raised to be
a stand-up gentleman. [Muhammad]<i>
I know to take care
of all my children.</i> <i> You can look
at Brooklyn now and see
my face features, everything.</i> I'm here today
to prove today that I am the father. -And you say
it's not his baby, Miss Walton.
-[Walton] Yes, ma'am. I say that because
during my conception date I was having
more sexual intercourse with the other guy
than Mr. Muhammad. And you were having sex
with this other guy behind his back,
is that correct? Yes, ma'am. So, what was
the nature of your relationship with Mr. Muhammad around the time
Brooklyn was conceived. Okay, the nature
of our relationship was, um, Anwar was already
having an affair
with another woman before he had moved in
with me. And, um, during that time, while he was having his affair,
I was having my affair also. [audience exclaims] -[Muhammad] No, no.
-Oh, so you'll
were together but both having affairs. -Yes.
-No. -Well I wouldn't say together--
-No, no, no. -I was, uh--
-No, no.
I wasn't having no affair. We was together. She told me that
this gentleman was her cousin. -I ain't think nothing of it.
-[audience gasps] -She told you the other guy
was her cousin?
-[Muhammad] Was her cousin. -Her cousin.
-That's not true, Your Honor. -He's always known this guy,
who he was.
-I know, I know. That's the other man
she wanted to be with. So you are--
You're saying you were
in a relationship. -In a relationship.
-And you're saying
you were not in a relationship when Brooklyn was conceived. No, we was not
in a relationship.
We was just living together. -Wow, wow.
-And you have an older child
together, am I correct? Yes, four-years-old. So how did you
manage to sneak around
with the other guy behind Mr. Muhammad's back? Well, what happens is,
we were sneaking off
to the hotel and having our,
you know, relations there. -And where were you
supposed to be?
-[Muhammad] Work. Where'd you tell
Mr. Muhammad you were? -Work.
-I told him I was at work. She ain't at work.
She out. She ain't at work. But I did work,
'cause during my pregnancy,
I was working two jobs while Mr. Muhammad wasn't
helping me with anything. She's cheating, Your Honor.
While she says she at work,
she's cheating. Were you still intimate
with Mr. Muhammad
during that time as well? Yes, I was. -[Judge Lake] All right.
-[Muhammad] Wow, wow. -So, you were
sleeping with them both?
-Yes, ma'am. Take me to the moment
you find out
you were pregnant. The moment
I thought I was pregnant I texted, um, the guy
and I tell him
I missed my period. Mr. Muhammad, during that time,
who was living with me got my phone,
looked at the text message, -and confronted--
-That's wrong.
That's wrong, Your Honor. What happened was, I came home, she's asleep,
I looked at her phone, I start seeing a full-fledged
text message about... About having sex,
all that stuff. Y'all having
a full relationship
behind my back. -So you had no idea.
-I had no idea
about this man. Like I said, she told me
in the beginning
that was her cousin. I ain't thinking nothing. I'm thinking
it's a family member. So, can you tell me
how you found about
the man at all. -Just start from the beginning.
-You stop
having sex with me. Your Honor, I know
when you stop
having sex with me, it's a problem, there. -I know that.
-[audience laughs] So, she starts to act funny.
Started to be rebellious. Started doing funny things. So, that drove--
That drove red flags to me. I grabbed her phone,
I started looking
at her text message. I see the conversation
between her and the gentleman. -Okay.
-I confronted her about it. What did
the conversation say? Basically saying
that we having sex, period. Sending pictures
back and forth to each other. They sending
body part pictures,
all that stuff. Okay, so then how did you--
You find out she's cheating. How do you
find out she's pregnant? Your Honor, he found out
through my cell phone. He's the type that like
to go through your cell phone, he even took my cell phone
for two months. -Two months?
-[Muhammad] I never took it. -Yes, ma'am,
and I'm paying the bill.
-I never took it. [indistinct
overlapping chatter] ...and he took my cell phone
and looked at the text messages which I text
the guy and told him. He confronted me
and asked me,
"Why you texting this guy?" And I told him, "Well,
it's a possibility
I could be pregnant." I thought
that was your cousin. No, that's not my cousin.
I've always told you
that wasn't my cousin. But, he, um,
took the cell phone, and he, uh, confronted me
about the text message, and he asked me
"Whose child is it?" And I told him, I said,
"It's his child,
it's not yours." You find out she's pregnant, what's your recollection
of that moment? My recollection though is
I'm thinking the baby's mine. We already have one child,
and like I said,
we was in a relationship. And I'm thinking
I'm the only one
that she's seeing. I did not, like I said,
I did not know nothing
about the gentleman. And, when you look at Brooklyn
and look at me, we look alike. <i> Similar, like,
everything's alike.</i> I feel she got more of
my features, Your Honor. [Muhammad] Everything alike.
She's smart like me. One time I seen Brooklyn
pour cereal, at one-years-old,
pour cereal and milk. What child do you know
that does that at one? That's my genes.
That's my-- Did you pour cereal and milk
when you were one? Yes, I did.
I'm very smart. [Judge Lake]
We want to know about
the window of conception. I know the date,
the date was February 21st, in my mama house,
in the bathroom. We was in the mood.
She was--
She was in the mood. She go in the bathroom,
I go to the bathroom after her. That's the date
that we have Brooklyn. -Do you remember
this day, Miss Walton?
-On the sink. Your Honor, I remember
us having sex at my house, not his mother house. So, Mr. Muhammad, is it your testimony
that you conceived
your daughter, Brooklyn, in your mother's bathroom
on the sink? [Muhammad]<i>
Yes, ma'am.</i> So, when do you
think you conceived? I conceived February 4th. No, the 5th. That's the day of our oldest
daughter's first birthday. But if you conceived
that night -wouldn't that
make Mr. Muhammad--
-[Muhammad] The father. -Brooklyn's
biological father?
-But I was having sex with him and the other guy -that, that, that whole week.
-Look at Brooklyn,
just like me. Lookin' just like me,
look at her. That's my baby.
That's my baby.
That my baby. -[Muhammad] I know that.
-I don't think she's his.
I think she's the other guy's. You've got to be crazy. So, did you ever
ask your doctor about the conception date,
Miss Walton? -Yes.
-What did the doctors say? I took a pregnancy test
a few days after we had, um,
a week after we had sex. The test came out positive. I waited a whole month
to go to the doctor. And the doctor told me
that I was eight weeks then. So he went back
to February 5th. [Muhammad]
I didn't even see... So when the doctor told you
when you were pregnant, -you were eight weeks.
-[Walton] Yes. And then that took you back
to the window of time
right around February 5th... -Yes.
-...which is when
you were having sex. -With both of 'em. Yes.
-Oh, with both of 'em. I was having more sex
with the other guy
than Mr. Muhammad. She want this baby
to be his. That baby looks-- like I said,
I know the baby, I know. I know when the first time
I held Brooklyn. I ain't get to see Brooklyn
until she was six-months-old. First time I held Brooklyn, I already knew
that she's mine. I can just tell
if the kid's mine or not. It's certain characteristics
that's mine. That's the day she was born. [Muhammad]<i> I didn't even
get to see that.
I ain't seen none of that.</i> And did you tell
this other guy
"I'm pregnant." Yes, I told the other guy
I was pregnant. [Muhammad] Never
told me nothing. [Judge Lake]
Miss Walton admits that she was
having sex with both men, you and the other man. -You weren't using protection
with the other man?
-No. -You weren't using protection
with Mr. Muhammad?
-No. You were having sex
around the window
of conception -with both men?
-Yes. -[Muhammad] Crazy.
-This is 50-50,
no matter how we slice it. -[Walton] Right.
-Did you tell the other man "I'm pregnant
and this could be your baby." -Yes, I told him.
-What was his response? His response was, um, he wanted a fraternity test
once the baby was born. [indistinct
overlapping chatter] A paternity test
not a fraternity test. -Yeah, a fraternity test.
-No, "paternity." -Paternity, I'm sorry.
-[Muhammad] Excuse me,
Your Honor, my oldest daughter,
my oldest daughter, Brooklyn looks like
my oldest daughter. If you look at them girls,
look, they're so alike. <i> That's my first daughter,
right there. She's four.</i> [Judge Lake]<i>
They are adorable.</i> Adorable, those are my babies--
That's my babies right there. Look at me and look at them. Those are
my babies right there. Yeah, they may be your babies
but I'm taking care of them. No, I take care
of them, too. -No, you do not.
-I take care of them, too.
I ask you all the time. Listen, listen, I'm trying
to understand the logic. Like, as I listen to
your testimony,
Miss Walton, honestly,
I keep saying to myself well, what reason
does she have to make up this lie? Like, you've got one baby
with the man, so you're stuck with him. Pretty much. If you had
another one with him, you all would just
be co-parenting
and figuring that out. What benefit is it
to you to say the other man
is your child's
biological father, unless you really
believe that. [indistinct
overlapping chatter] Honestly, I believe it
in my heart that he is
the biological father. If it's the other man,
he'll be more
financially helpful. He'll be more
of a father to her. -Oh...
-[Muhammad] Your Honor,
Your Honor. Your Honor,
Brooklyn got my last name. He will be the man to stand up
and take care of his child. Oh, you've decided that
this other man
is gonna take care of Brooklyn better than Mr. Muhammad. -Yes.
-Never, that, never.
That ain't gonna work. So, do you want to
be with this other man, too? Yes, Your Honor. [audience exclaims] Now it makes sense. That's what she wants.
She's trying to make
that baby belong to this man that, I don't even
know this man. -Have you started
that relationship?
-No. -[Muhammad] Ain't gonna work.
Ain't gonna work.
-No. But why? He's married,
for number one. -[audience exclaims]
-[Muhammad] Your Honor,
Your Honor. -He's married,
for number one.
-[Muhammad] Your Honor... [Muhammad] Your Honor,
see what I'm saying? Your Honor, Your Honor,
Brooklyn got my last name. [Judge Lake] I'm here
trying to figure out what's holding him back? What's holding him back? A whole wife! -[laughter]
-A whole wife
holding him back! You bargaining!
You bargaining! -She gave Brooklyn
my last name.
-[audience exclaims] She gave Brooklyn
my last name. [Judge Lake]
You gave Brooklyn-- [Walton] I gave Brooklyn
his last name to keep her
from being embarrassed -later on in life.
-It's my baby, period. -You want your daughters
to have the same last name.
-Same last name. 'Cause you definitely
couldn't give her
the other man's last name. You can't do that.
That's what you get
for messing with marriage. So then your only option
was to give her
just your last name, -so you didn't
want her to get teased.
-[Walton] Right. But you think she gave Brooklyn
your last name because she's really
just trying to be mean -but she knows
Brooklyn's your child.
-Exactly. She know that. So you really want
this other man
to be the father too, 'cause you say
that's who you wanna be with. The only problem is
that he's married. But if you end up
with this baby by him,
that might change. -Yes.
-Ho, ho! [Muhammad] Ain't gonna change.
Ain't gonna change. And you know-- It took me a minute
but I arrived. She don't know
what she talking about. Like, I said,
she does not know
what she talking about. Look at that baby.
Look at her. -That's my baby.
-She looks more like me. I do not see his features. So, Miss Walton,
I need to ask you because... [sighs] You come to Court
to tell the truth -and to get the truth.
-[Walton] Yes. Is it that you don't believe Mr. Muhammad is
Brooklyn's biological child, or is it that
you so desperately want
to be with the married man that you want this child
as another level
of attachment to him, or you want it to be the straw that breaks
the camel's back
in his marriage? No, I'm not a fan
of breaking up happy homes. [Muhammad] She broke up my--
You broke up my happy home! Your Honor, she broke up
my happy home. [overlapping chatter] I'm done. Did you just say
she broke up your happy home? -She broke up my happy home.
-I did not break up
his happy home. [Judge Lake] I'm done. -She broke up my happy home.
-I did not break up
his happy home. Well, I just feel
that he's not the father. We got to
get it together, people. We got to get it together. This is messy.
I see what exactly
is going on now. If these assertions that
Miss Walton has made is true, with the fact that
during the window
of conception she was actively sleeping
with both men
without protection, you all can talk
all you wanna talk, but really,
the paternity question,
it's just up in the air. I've heard enough.
Jerome, let me
get the envelope. -[indistinct chatter]
-[audience applauding] [Muhammad] Thank you,
let me get it. Let me get it,
let me get it. [Judge Lake] These results
were prepared
by DNA Diagnostics and they read as follows. When it comes to
two-year-old Brooklyn Muhammad, it has been determined
by this Court, Mr. Muhammad, you... -Are the father.
-Yes! -[audience cheers]
-I told you, I know what I'm talking about.
I know what
I'm talking about, baby. I know what I'm talking about. I know what I'm talking about.
I know what I'm talking about. I know what I'm talking about.
You hear me? I know what I'm talking about. Right now, you have
two children together. Let's stop
making this a fight. -Do you understand?
-Yes. I feel like everything
between you two is a fight. Your Honor, if she can-- Mr. Muhammad,
you got to learn
when to be quiet. -I mean, really!
-[applause] [Muhammad] All right. You say you smart. The qualities
of very intelligent people is that they learn
that listening is actually
more important than talking. Yes, ma'am. The truth is that doesn't make
people wanna work with you. And when
you're co-parenting, you have to create
a scenario where someone
wants to work with you. Understand. If you want more episodes
of Paternity Court Make sure to subscribe
and click on
the notification bell. Mr. Jenkins, you reached out
to the court to open a case. You believe that you have
a long-lost daughter <i> and hoped to one day find her
to prove you are her father.
Is that correct?</i> JENKINS: <i> Yes, Your Honor.</i> JUDGE LAKE: <i> So, we've located
the woman you believe
is your daughter</i> <i> and she's here
in court today.</i> But she does not believe
you are her father. So, Ron, can you please escort
Ms. Bond into the courtroom? RON: Yes, Your Honor. Thank you. Stand behind
the left podium. JUDGE LAKE: Thank you
for joining us, Ms. Bond. So, before the court
contacted you,
have you ever... Had you ever heard
of Mr. Jenkins? No, I'd never heard
of Mr. Jenkins. None of my family members
have spoken on him. I'd also like to
submit this as evidence that his name isn't even
on my birth certificate. Ron, can you pass me
that evidence, please? So, you don't believe
he's your father? No, Your Honor. Because you've never
heard of him? Never heard of him,
no one's ever
spoken of him. I've never seen
any pictures. My mother never
even spoke of him, brought him up
in no conversations
whatsoever. JUDGE LAKE: So this is
your birth certificate? Yes, Your Honor. And under
father's legal name, <i> nothing is recorded.</i> ANDREIA: <i> Yes, Your Honor.</i> But you were raised by a man
that you believe... You were told
was your biological father. ANDREIA: <i> Yes.
He died in a car accident
in 1999 with my mother,</i> <i> and I believed that
that was my father.</i> <i> So, Ms. Bond, ultimately,</i> you come to court today
completely in the dark. ANDREIA: Yes, Your Honor. You don't have
any information? No information. No one's ever
told you anything? No one's ever
told me anything. JUDGE LAKE:
And, Mr. Jenkins... Yes, ma'am? You have known about
this young woman
all her life. I've been looking for her
over 24 years, Your Honor. Me and her mother
was in college together. And I'm telling you,
she was banging. I mean, it was bad. (LAUGHTER) I mean, she had a nice,
big back porch on her. Hefty side... And she used to wear
this little black hat
with an "X" on it. I mean, you know,
and I was like... She was like
Lena Horne to me. You know, she... JUDGE LAKE: Aw! She was fine.
I mean, she was fine.
Light brown eyes. Ms. Bond looks
just like her. She ended up getting pregnant
while we was living together. JUDGE LAKE: <i> Okay.</i> <i> So, during the time
when we was living together,</i> I was going
to the doctor with her. I'd like to submit this
to the court, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Yes. Ron, can you hand me
that evidence, please? It's an ultrasound picture
that I used to go to... To the hospital with her. You did?
So when you found out
she was pregnant... I was excited. I said,
"I got my first child.
I got a girl!" You know, I was...
I was just blown away.
I was on top of the world. So this is an ultrasound
picture of Ms. Bond... JENKINS: Yes. <i> ...that you saved
all these years?</i> JENKINS: <i> For 24 years,
I've been saving that
picture right there.</i> If you guys were so close
and you were so in love
and everything, why did it take you
so long to find me? I've been doing
everything I can do,
I promise you. Ms. Bond, after your
mom passed, and your dad,
who took care of you? A relative
on my mother's side. JUDGE LAKE: Did you know
she was there? Yes, Your Honor. So, I'd like to hear more
about what life was like after your mom and dad
passed away for you, <i> because now
you're growing up
without your parents.</i> I felt alone. You know, I didn't have
anyone to talk to.
I didn't have anyone. (CRYING)
I lost my mother... Take your time. ...and my father.
And I didn't have anybody. And I struggle.
And I'm still struggling.
I'm homeless. I'm trying to
get my children. And I have no one
on my side and
I just feel so alone. I feel like
a part of me
is really missing. JUDGE LAKE:
How many children do you have? I have two sons. JUDGE LAKE: I can see that
this was very painful for you. I know what life is
like to have to go on
without your mother. I've lost my mother,
and I can only imagine
if it was your mother... ANDREIA: It hurts. ...and the man you know
as to be your father. So you basically
raised yourself with
the help of family. Mmm-hmm.
Yes, Your Honor. But you felt alone. ANDREIA: Always felt alone.
I still feel alone. Cry myself to
sleep every night 'cause I just
don't have anyone. Excuse me, Your Honor.
She got me. No, you don't have to
worry about nothing. See, 'cause I'm your man.
I'm going to step up and
do what I've got to do. My job is to protect you
and love you. To show you how a man's
supposed to treat you,
you know. And I missed that.
I missed that growing up. I didn't have a father figure
to tell me, you know,
right from wrong, type of boys to date. I've made a lot
of wrong decisions and I've made
a lot of mistakes 'cause I didn't have
anyone there to guide me. Well, you got me now.
I wanna love you. I'mma be there for you.
I want to support you. I'm going to teach you
how a man's supposed
to treat you. You know, I'm a man. You know,
I want a man for you
like the man that I am. I still... I still
have my doubts, though. I used to go over
one of your family
member's house. I used to come over there
every Christmas.
I used to go over there. They kept me
out on the porch.
Played crazy on me. Playing like she
didn't know who I was.
I've knocked on doors. I'd like to submit
one more thing to
the court, Your Honor. I have
a Facebook page. If you went
through social media,
you could've found me. I did everything
I could do. I've been looking for you
over 24 years. JUDGE LAKE: Ron,
let me see that evidence. I'd like to submit
this to the court. That's one of your numbers
that I have. I had contacted
Ms. Bond before. I've never received a call. Is that your phone
number, ma'am? It might have been. I have so many numbers,
I don't remember. You don't remember? I've never got a call.
I've never got a text,
a letter, nothing. JENKINS:
I've been googling her. All these different sites,
I've been doing
all this research. I don't understand,
you've done all this and
you still couldn't find me. I just...
I don't understand. I really don't. I've put in the work. So, I want to know more
about... How did it end? It seemed like
you all were in love
and you were having a baby <i> and you've got
ultrasound pictures.
What happened?</i> I also had people
putting stuff in her head,
turning her against me. The more I was
trying to do things...
We was both going to school. I'm sorry, I still don't
believe that's the reason
to break up with someone. Letting outside people
get into your relationship. If you really loved her,
you would have stayed, regardless of
whatever was going on. I did everything... I did everything that
I possibly could do. Matter of fact,
she wanted to get married. She had asked
my mother to marry me. During that time,
I was still in college. You know, I said,
in my head, "Let me get me
a good education." I get a good job
before I make that step, because during that time,
I wasn't ready.
I wish I did. So, you regret that? Yes, I do. So, when she wanted
to get married and you felt like
you weren't ready, was Ms. Bond here?
Was the baby here?
Had you had the baby? JENKINS: <i> I wasn't</i>■<i>
at the hospital.</i> But once she was born, she got in contact with me. Me and my mother
went to see the baby. And that's a picture
of Ms. Bond? JENKINS: Yes, that's it. That's a baby
picture you have... JENKINS: <i> Exactly.
And I've been having
that picture over 24 years.</i> I look at that
picture all the time. You believe
that's Ms. Bond? Yes, I do. Ms. Bond, have you ever seen
that baby picture of yourself? I've never seen that
baby picture of myself. I held her once.
In my life, I held her... And that was it. At about two weeks old. You've never seen
a picture of you as a baby even with this
same onesie on? I've never seen that
picture, Your Honor. So, Mr. Jenkins... Yes? ...did you ever come close
to meeting Ms. Bond? I mean, after being
there in the hospital... I don't even understand,
how did you lose contact? I lost contact,
like I told you, after people got in her head,
took her away from me. I went by there and
left my phone number. And Xavier called me. And when she called me,
I was excited.
I was like, "Wow. "Here I can get my girl.
I can get my girl.
I can see my baby now." I was just excited.
And then I said,
"Where are you?" You should've
saw me regardless
of whether or not she was in
another relationship. You shouldn't have let
anything get in between
you being with her or you seeing me,
being around me,
raising me. JENKINS: I didn't know
where you was at. ANDREIA: I'm here now. I thank God for this here
show right now because this is
one of the ways
that I found you. You know, because,
other than that, I was doing all the footwork.
I was knocking on doors. So, when you left
your phone number... JENKINS: Yes. ...and Ms. Bond's mother
called you back... Yes, she called. ...did you make contact?
Did you see her again? No, I didn't. She would've been
around eight years old. <i> Yes, I...</i> <i> You didn't get to see her?</i> <i> I did get to see her.</i> <i> What happened?</i> I talked to her
on the phone.
And she said, "In the next week or so,
I'll let you see Andreia."
I said, "How's she doing?" "She's doing pretty good." A week later,
I call her back
at that number, and I heard some bad news
that she was in a bad
car accident. JUDGE LAKE: <i> Oh, my goodness.</i> JENKINS: <i> And here we go again
I had to start all over again.</i> She got killed
in a car accident. You could've came
to the funeral. I was cut off from the... I still don't feel
like you're my father,
I'm sorry. 'Cause, well, if you
were really my father, you would have
tried harder. You would've been in
my life regardless of
anything that was going on. JUDGE LAKE:
And do you understand... (APPLAUSE) Mr. Jenkins, I mean,
this is a 24-year-old
young woman and yet there are some
very real feelings that are just
still from a young girl
that's been through so much. I mean, it's hard for her
to wrap her mind
around the fact that there was no way
for you to get to her. I don't believe
that at all. JUDGE LAKE: So you don't
think your family did that,
Ms. Bond? No. So, Mr. Jenkins, do you think
there's a possibility
that Ms. Bond's mother didn't think you were
the biological father? I don't think that,
Your Honor. She knew that
I was the father. I only say that because,
of course, I sit in this
chair day after day. And one case in particular
sticks out in my mind where a gentleman
was in a very similar
position to you. I mean, he came to court.
He knew this young woman
was his daughter. He had a baby picture of her. <i> And yet, ultimately it was
determined he was not.</i> Could it be possible
that maybe there was something
that you just missed? No, Your Honor. Right, 'cause
I'm saying, like,
she never spoke of you. And I'm just trying
to understand if you
were really my father. In eight years,
she's never shown me
a picture, she never spoke of you. No one has ever
spoke of you. This is my first
time seeing you,
hearing of you, so it's just
hard for me to believe
that you're my father. I mean, I didn't want to end
up getting to the point that
I'd get into any trouble, but I pushed it
as far as I could push it. Well, I think that's
one point, Ms. Bond, that I want to help
Mr. Jenkins
articulate better. When you submitted
your birth certificate
to the court, and under father,
there was no name listed, because he was not listed. <i> He doesn't have any
rights to see you.</i> Or to stake any
claim to visit you. Anything. And so, Mr. Jenkins,
let me ask you this. What jump-started,
accelerated
this new search? Now it's been 24 years. And, I mean,
you contacted this court and you were looking
for this young woman
with a... A vengeance. You called this court
every single day. Now, just a while back,
you know,
music artist Prince had died and he didn't have any
estate or nothing to leave
any of his stuff to. So the things that I have,
or the things that I've
accomplished in life, I would like to leave
them to my daughter. I still have... So when you look at
Mr. Jenkins, Ms. Bond, and you look at him,
do you see yourself at all? Do you say, "I kinda feel
like I look like him"? ANDREIA: <i> I look more
like him, to me,
in my opinion.</i> JUDGE LAKE: <i> You feel</i>■<i>
like you look more</i> like the man you believe
to be your father? Yes. All right, well, the only way
to move forward,
that's why we're here, is to get the results,
and we have those for you. Ron, will you give me
the envelope, please? Yes, ma'am. When it comes to
24-year-old Andreia Bond, it has been determined
by this court, Mr. Jenkins, you... ...are her father. (AUDIENCE CHEERING) I love you.
I love you. I love you. (SOBBING) I love you. I love you.
I love you. I love you.
I love you. I love you. (SOBBING) 24 years. 24 years of
doing footwork. And it paid off. JUDGE LAKE: Yes, it did. Thank you, God. I love you. I love you, too. Aw! JENKINS: It paid off. Well, y'all got me
crying now. (LAUGHTER) This is one
beautiful sight. This is exactly
why we do this. Ms. Horton! Yes. Your Honor. You and the man you have
always believed is your dad have dragged
your mother to court
because you say she was never faithful. So neither of you believes that the man standing
next to you
is your biological father. Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: Ms. Conrad... CONRAD: Yes, Your Honor. You claim
you've given the plaintiffs
no reason to doubt that he is
her biological father and today's results
will prove your case.
Is that correct? Yes, Your Honor. JUDGE LAKE: So, Mr. Horton, your daughter is 26-years-old. Why did you decide
to bring this case to court? I think it's time
to find the reason. If she really is mine,
I have no idea, I don't know. She was unfaithful,
all the time, but I raised my daughter
since she was little. But I'm getting slack
from other family members and friends.
They say that she is
not my daughter because she has blue eyes and I have brown,
the whole family
has brown eyes. The mother has brown eyes. There is nobody in my family
who has blue eyes. And at 26 years old,
Ms. Horton, I can see
how much this upsets you. BRENDA: Yeah. And you have the man
you believe is your father questioning your paternity? Yes, Your Honor. (SNIFFLING) You're both here to prove that he's not
your biological father and yet you're hoping
that he is. I am praying, yes. I'm hoping that she is too,
but right here, every day, "She is not your daughter,
why are you taking
care of her?" You knew Brenda
was running around, you knew, blah, blah, blah.
I hear this all the time. You hear this all the time? LARRY: Yeah, all the time. Ms. Conrad? CONRAD: You know
that's not true. I am 150 to 200% for sure
he is the father
of my daughter, Brenda. Now, Ms. Conrad says
she is 150% to 200%, but you say you're 100% sure Ms. Horton is not... I mean,
if you sleep around
with different men and you sleep with me
at the same time... I know when I did. Okay? How can you be sure
you know who the father is? 'Cause I know when I did. So, it is your testimony
that Ms. Conrad was
sleeping around with various men. LARRY: I know it.
My kids can tell you. She can tell you that. One time,
we were in the house I act like I was going to work
and I parked my car
up the street and walked around the back
and snuck in basement. She was sneaking out the door
to go sleep with some guy. One time, we lived
in an apartment. A friend of mine was sitting
in the apartment and I see him
giving her the eye. And as I'm not stupid,
I get up act like I was going to bed I heard the door shut
real quiet. I knocked on the door,
I said, "let me in." "You're not coming
downstairs now." I said, "let me in."
I rip the door... Your Honor. And she was in there. Ms. Conrad, is this true? I have run around
on him, yes, I have. (STUTTERING) My children remember
that because they were
already born when I was... So, it is your testimony
that you did cheat
on Mr. Horton but it was after
your children were born. The timing's wrong. JUDGE LAKE:
The timing's wrong. And so, Mr. Horton,
she says your timing is off. Wrong. In that period of time, there has always
been affairs, always. In my opinion, if as many
stuck out of her as in her,
she'd be a porcupine. That's the way I look at it. (AUDIENCE EXCLAIMS) BRENDA: That was wrong. I just got that. Um, okay. We want to be
respectful in the courtroom. That's why I put it nicely. Ms. Conrad, this is
really upsetting you now, why? Yeah, because it's not true
what he's saying. It is so true! I'm not like that. BRENDA: Your Honor! What part of it is untrue? (CONRAD SOBBING) The disrespect
that he is giving me.
Not true. I'm not trying to disrespect,
just trying to tell the truth. He has said that you've had
many sexual encounters outside
of your relationship with him. CONRAD: How does he know?
Was he there? Well, actually... (ARGUING INDISTINCTLY) No, actually,
you just testified today. Other people, other than who
he really should believe. JUDGE LAKE: Let's move forward
with the testimony because I want to understand
the nature of the relationship
and how it began. You have four children? (CHUCKLES) Yes. Four children, yes, four. And you met when? Supposedly. Take me back. I was 15. JUDGE LAKE: You were 15
when you met? So you were
very young when you met. Yes. CONRAD: Yes, Your Honor. And beautiful. Sorry. You don't ever have
to apologize for saying
your mother was beautiful. So, you all start
this relationship. Yes, ma'am. JUDGE LAKE:
Do you get married? You do.
Eventually, you get married. Your Honor, can I say
something, please? Sometimes
I'll be having doubts because I look at my face and I've been trying
for years, you know,
to get a DNA test but I wasn't able to
at the time 'cause my mom didn't feel
comfortable going, but I understand my mom
because she didn't
want no trouble. And I'm not here to, you know,
make anybody upset
or nothing, but... I see that you feel
pulled between your mother and your father. And when you say I'm not here to upset anyone. BRENDA: Yes, I'm not.
I'm not at all. But we're here for you. I know. You understand that? (APPLAUSE) LARRY: Your Honor. And I tried... (STUTTERING) I've been trying
for years to get a DNA test but I wasn't able
to at the time 'cause I didn't
have all the information. Understood, but that's
why this court exists. This is what is
so valuable about
coming to court and having your side
of the story heard. What I find, especially
as judge of this courtroom is that everyone has a side. And there are parts
of their sides of the story
that make sense. You know, our jury is the DNA. Yes, Your Honor. Which means that's going
to be the deciding factor. LARRY: Look,
I didn't bring her here,
Miss, uh, Judge. I didn't bring
Ms. Conrad here. She's the one who
called the court. BRENDA: Yes,
I'm the one that called! But I want to say this,
a paternity question is
important to resolve. It is. CONRAD: Amen. Because if there is
a question of it, already, this young woman,
26 years old, beautiful girl, she's standing in court,
and upset and crying
over her doubts, my heart breaks
when she says to me "I look in the mirror
and I look at my features." No 26-year-old young woman, trying to navigate
her way through life, should have to look
in the mirror and evaluate
her features. To see if she looks
like her father. (APPLAUSE) I want to get
direct testimony about the time
and the window of conception. Mr. Horton,
during the window of time Ms. Horton was conceived, do you contend,
is it your testimony that there was
a relationship outside
of the marriage? LARRY: I've heard. We lived in
a townhouse at the time. And we had a mailman that had light hair
and blue eyes and a beauty mark right here. My daughter has blue eyes,
blonde hair and a beauty mark
in the same exact spot. It's cute, though. There was
a mailman in your town? Yes, there was. Sir, you brought an exhibit. Yes, ma'am. Okay, step over to it, please. All right. Thank you. My daughter has blonde hair.
The man would have blond hair. The man would have blue eyes,
my daughter's got blue eyes. The birth mark I caught, or beauty mark,
whatever you want to call it, had the same mark
the same spot. I don't know for sure, but I've heard...
That's the only one
I don't know for sure. The rest I could tell you
that I knew for sure. So this mailman delivered
your mail every day? Yes. And has blonde hair,
blue eyes and a birth mark. Yes. The same features
as your daughter. Yes. And so, for how many years
have you heard rumors that she potentially was
fathered by this mailman? I really didn't think
of it first because I didn't
want to think about it. And then, after she got...
My daughter got older
and I noticed, I was sort of like,
"She's got blue eyes." I've got hazel eyes,
her mother's got brown eyes. Nobody in my family has
blue eyes on either side. JUDGE LAKE: You can
step back to the podium. Your Honor. Ms. Conrad, you admitted
in the relationship you had
outside relationships. Yeah, that was
after Brenda was born. JUDGE LAKE: But that was
after the children
were born, you said. But you know who this mailman
is, he's talking about? You don't even remember
this man. Oh, no, Your Honor. This is new to me. That's 'cause there were
so many of them. There was also the milkman.
What happened to the milkman? Now it's the mailman? There was a milkman. Now, it's the mailman. I'm getting fired up
'cause she's lying. It's like a back and forth,
a vice versa thing with him. You know, I don't know
if you can keep
the right story or not. So wait, first, he used
to say it was the milkman? Yeah, and then
it was the mailman. They weren't delivering milk 26 years ago. Thank you. CONRAD: This is about her.
My baby right here, has the right to know. It's been 26 years. BRENDA: Absolutely. He can't even remember
a DNA test that the court recommended... There was...
Did I see any papers? ...when they were in foster
care, let alone... Did I see any papers? ...who I slept with? Excuse me. Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Basically, Mr. Horton believes
that this man... This mailman. CONRAD: Uh-huh. With blonde hair, blue eyes
and a birthmark in pretty much
the same position as your daughter's
could potentially be
your daughter's father? You are saying
that's not true. Yes, Your Honor... And you're also saying that you had a DNA test
performed in the court? Yeah, the court...
When they were in foster care, the, um, Your Honor,
the judge wanted to know because he said the same thing
that he's sitting here
telling you in court. He said to them... A previous paternity test
was performed? Mmm-hmm. JUDGE LAKE:
What were the results? 99 percent his children. Did you bring
that evidence to court? Uh, they gave it to my lawyer
that presented it
to the judge. (SCOFFS) And the judge said it in court
with his lawyer being there. Your Honor. Mr. Horton, have you ever
seen this paperwork? That story was fabricated.
There was no judge
ordering anything. I asked for the DNA test.
I never seen nothin'. I've been questioning
the paternity since she's been born.
And she's even questioned it. That's the reason why
we're here, Your Honor. Since the day
this child was born 26 years ago,
you've questioned
whether or not she was yours? Yes. JUDGE LAKE: Ms. Horton,
I wanna hear from you. I hear this man
you believe is your
biological father saying from the day you were born
he has always
questioned paternity. Have you felt that
growing up? Honestly, no.
Oh, not at all. JUDGE LAKE:
You never felt that? I never felt that
but as I got older,
like when I was turning 25, I kinda did have doubts. But my boyfriend says
I look like him. A lot of people say
I look like him
a little bit. When you started
having doubts,
why did you have doubts? Because I just look
In the mirror and sometimes
I don't see him. You know what I mean?
I just don't see him in me. But my mom's father has
blue eyes, my cousins
have blue eyes. I wanna know, how did this
come about? Who told you this may not be your father. BRENDA: Well... Some people sit there
and say that I'm not his
'cause I have blue eyes. I look different than
everybody else. Your Honor, um... Her older sister,
she told me... She said, "You know that
she used to..." Tell Brenda that she was
the milkman's. Well, let me just say this,
a lot of... That's a joke.
That is like a... You know, a common phrase,
I get that. LARRY: Exactly. Right, Your Honor. What concerns me is this
has gone to another level. Through the years, she may have gotten
bits and pieces of things. The milkman baby joke. "You don't look like Daddy." Her looking at her own self
in the mirror and
what I'm saying is circumstantially she has put
together pretty much a case where she doesn't know
if the man she has always
thought is her father is truly her
biological father. That's what we're here
to find out. My mom understands. That's the reason why
we're here. She's not telling
you the whole story 'cause she don't wanna
say something to her mom. BRENDA: No, I'm being honest. She could tell you stories... So, what you're saying is
she has information that
she hasn't shared in court? LARRY: Exactly. JUDGE LAKE: Look,
children feeling torn in between their parents
on any level, it is hard on
the young person. As soon as this
court case began, Ms. Horton was in tears. Yes. Because this is hurting her. And I've seen her
during this case, look at her mother and say something to her like,
"Mommy, I love you." Or "It's gonna be okay." Then she's gotta turn back
to you. "Daddy..." I mean, I can see
this tennis ball thing. This... I mean everyone
can see it here. Can I give her a hug? JUDGE LAKE: Yes, you may.
Of course, you can hug
your mother. I love you. (APPLAUSE) Just don't let him prevent
me and you hanging out.
Not him. I promise. And what I need you
to understand before we go
to these results, Ms. Horton, is that this is for you. And about you. BRENDA: Yes. 'Cause you're worth it. Yes. JUDGE LAKE: This is not because you did
something wrong. You are just fine... BRENDA: Yes. ...where you are, who you are... ...saying that you need
an answer. That's okay. All right? BRENDA: Yes. (APPLAUSE) JUDGE LAKE: We're about to go
to the results. Ms. Conrad,
is there anything you'd like
to say to your daughter before we go to the results? I just want this DNA
to be proven... BRENDA: Yes. Is there something you'd like
to say to her though? I love you. I love you too, Mom. And I always have
and you're still my baby girl. I know. Yes, you're still
my favorite mom. (LAUGHING) Favorite mom. (LAUGHING) Aw. Are you prepared for
the results either way,
Ms. Conrad? CONRAD: (EXHALES) Yes, truth. You are. JUDGE LAKE: Mr. Horton,
are you prepared? Yes. It's interesting
that you stand here to basically prove that
she's not your daughter but you're hoping that she is. LARRY: Yeah. Praying.
I been praying too. So, I know this is
very difficult for you. I know it is. Both of you are very lucky
to have such an amazing
young girl. Thank you.
Yes, Your Honor. I'm ready for the results.
Jerome? BRENDA: I'm scared. Thank you. These results were prepared
by DNA diagnostics
and they read as follows. In the case of<i>
Horton v. Conrad.</i> When it comes to 26-year-old
Brenda Horton, it has been determined by
this court, Mr. Horton, you... Are the father. Oh, my God. Yes. Mommy, you were right.
You were right,
I love you so much. I knew I should've
believed you, Mom. Oh, my God, it's weird. Thank you, Your Honor. Thank you so much. It's such a blessing. I'm really relieved now,
I can tell everybody
to kiss my butt. Yup. Yup. (LAUGHING) Well, listen. You could've
just said I can live
with this doubt. Let's never get the answer... LARRY: I could have,
but Brenda couldn't. Right. And isn't that at the end
of the day what being
an amazing dad is about? That even though,
you could've
just lived with it. Because she could not, you supported your baby girl in her quest to know
the truth. Even though that truth
could've led you to a different result. You overcame that fear
and supported her. And Ms. Conrad, I appreciate your testimony. The paternity questions
usually revolve around
the sexual activity of the woman. Right. Yes, Your Honor. And it's hard sometimes having to relive issues
you may have put behind you. And yet
the question of paternity
was still existing within the soul and spirit
of your daughter. And because you had
the courage, she now has the answer
she needs.
