i haven't ever been given custody of zander. the state has custody of zander. zander. to be honest, i don't think that's part of the problem. i don't think mindy has ever processed the fact that we don't have any rights. we can't make decisions. we're sad because we don't know what the outcome of this is. we know there's been a lenient judge that has given her so much grace sxwb you know, the fact that she's pregnant, we just would plead for mercy. >> did you ever imagine that she would take zander? she's made the allegation that she was worried about his safety with you. she's made the allegation that he was abused. i want you to respond to that. again, did you ever imagine that she would try to take him? >> i'll respond to the allegation. there was absolutely never any abuse in this home. and we're sad that she made that allegation. she's been here and she's been with him and there's many tapes and videos and there's been a lot of scrutiny as far as dcf workers are here continually. they come by. this case is an open case. he's been going to school since he w

when is the last time you talked to mindy and to zander and what did she say? >> i talked to zander about 7:30 last night and mindy later on about 9:00 last night. she sounded upset with the situation, she thinks she has a case against florida and that she was going to stay hidden, they'd have to find her. >> you said once you decided to talk to the press she decided, mindy didn't want to talk to you anymore? >> her phone has been off since last night so i haven't been able to talk to zander today. >> what's your understanding of the situation? she's saying, yes, she may have had her problems, but zander was being mistreated and abused by his grandmother. that's why she's done this. can you explain whether you think that's true or give us a better sense of what happened? >> well, he's been down here for four years. i've gotten a really good relationship with gayle and mike inge and every week or every other week we exchange zander. he's never had bruises. he's rarely ever sick. he's very happy. he loves being there. he loves being with me, so i can't see that.

court deadline to give 5-year-old zander back came and went yesterday.eady says the child has been with his mother the last month and she's fearful about his safety. we invited mccready to join us again tonight but she declined. the child's father, billy mcknight is here. billy, people sore curious about the story. when is the last time you talked to mindy and to zander and what did she say? >> i talked to zander about 7:30 last night and mindy later on about 9:00 last night. she sounded upset with the situation, she thinks she has a case against florida and that she was going to stay hidden, they'd have to find her. >> you said once you decided to talk to the press she decided, mindy didn't want to talk to you anymore? >> her phone has been off since last night so i haven't been able to talk to zander today. >> what's your understanding of the situation? she's saying yes she may have had her problems but zander was being mistreated and abused by his grandmother. can you explain whether you think that's true or give us a better sense of what happened? >>

court deadline to give 5-year-old zander back came and went yesterday.resentative for mccready says the child has been with his mother the last month and she's fearful about his safety. we invited mccready to join us again tonight but she declined. the child's father, billy mcknight is here. billy, people sore curious about the story. when is the last time you talked to mindy and to zander and what did she say? >> i talked to zander about 7:30 last night and mindy later on about 9:00 last night. she sounded upset with the situation, she thinks she has a case against florida and that she was going to stay hidden, they'd have to find her. >> you said once you decided to talk to the press she decided, mindy didn't want to talk to you anymore? >> her phone has been off since last night so i haven't been able to talk to zander today. >> what's your understanding of the situation? she's saying yes she may have had her problems but zander was being mistreated and abused by his grandmother. can you explain whether you think that's true or give us a better sense

zander saved my life.time i have just wanted to let go and just give in, i remember what he did for me. he saved my life. >> reporter: mindy has found a new love. she has twins on the way and is making new music. her next custody hearing is next week. and we've learned she's been in contact with zander. he's in a foster home and reportedly doing well. >> that's most important. as we keep emphasizing. i know you're going to have so much more tonight on "20/20." >> you heard the news reports, mindy was hiding in the closet when the marshals came. she wants to set the regard straight on what happened. it's surprising. emotional. it's heartbreaking. and it's a reminder of the power of a mother's love and what a mother will do to get her child back. >> amen to that. thanks, andrea, so much. you can see the entire interview with mindy mccready on abc's "20/20" tonight at 10:00, 9:00 central. >>> let's get over -- we haven't said happy friday yet, to sam champion. >> happy friday, everyone. does it seem like to y

marshals found mindy and her son, 5-year-old zander, hiding in a closet.s free and has not been charged with kidnapping. like the country song she sings, mindy mccready's story of heart ache has taken a happy turn. >> i can't talk about it, but i tell you all i'm a happy girl. >> reporter: mindy, who says she's seven months pregnant with twins, did little to explain why she's smiling, but she praised the arkansas judge whose court was closed to the public and who issued a gag order preventing any explanations of why she was set free. >> i love judge harrod, i'll tell you that. >> reporter: u.s. marshals found mindy and her son zander hiding in the closet of an arkansas cabin on friday night. she had been on the lam after allegedly kidnapping her son from her grandfather's home in florida. for now mindy will not face any kidnapping charges, which has mindy's mother thankful but confused. >> i'm going to love you no matter what. i'm your mom and there's nothing you can ever do to keep me from loving you. >> reporter: but in a sworn affidavit obtained by nbc

. >> reporter: she's been locked in a custody battle with her own who is zander's legal guardian, whoeen abusing the boy. her mom denies that. not clear if the mess came to a tidy end in arkansas. >> any case involving children in foster care in the state of arkansas they are closed proceedings, i guess my best response would be i have no comment. >> reporter: mccready suggested everything went her way. in a text message to hln she wrote, we won. zan stays. ♪ >> reporter: she climbed to the country charts in the '90s, but then stumbled through a rough patch that landed her on the vh1 show, "celebrity rehab." in arkansas authorities took zander into foster care. >> it is very hard to believe that a court after listening to all of the evidence, that she literally takes the child from florida is found hiding in a clos net arkansas, somehow the judge is going to say, fine, here you go. you now have custody. >> while the courts decide to who gets permanent custody of zander authorities in florida and arkansas could decide to arrest mccready and charge her with kidnapping her own son. scott

she doesn't have the right to have zander with her. the father had temporary custody. she showed up at the father's house, zander was take any cross state lines into tennessee. now you could charge her with a crime, i mean it is a crime, she is as guilty as some one who takes a stranger the now whether the fbi gets involved with it or federal authorities, i have my doubts. >> because they know it is a family. >> very severe, she has substance abuse problems. the grandmother got custody for awhile. the father doesn't hatch custody. so i think you are going to see tennessee courts and florida courts looking at this trying to decide what is in the best interest of the child. >> and then, obviously they have to, get her. how would they if they find her, find him. forcibly remove. those things are disturbing and upsetting for the child. >> it will be a horrible situation for zander, the house staked out by the press, tennessee police must be looking for the child. they're going to have to take him away from the mother. they're going to have to bring him back to florida. the

she doesn't have the right to have zander with her. the father had temporary custody.e showed up at the father's house, zander was take any cross state lines into tennessee. now you could charge her with a crime, i mean it is a crime, she is as guilty as some one who takes a stranger the now whether the fbi gets involved with it or federal authorities, i have my doubts. >> because they know it is a family. >> very severe, she has substance abuse problems. the grandmother got custody for a why. the father doesn't hatch custody. so i think you are going to see tennessee courts and florida courts looking at this trying to decide what is in the best interest of the child. >> and then, obviously they have to, get her. how would they if they find her, find him. forcibly remove. those things are disturbing and upsetting for the child. >> it will be a horrible situation for zander, the house staked out by the press, tennessee police must be looking for the child. they're going to have to take him away from the mother. they're going to have to bring him back to florida. the flo

the boy's grandparents have legal custody of zander and he will be returned to their home in florida.ccready took the child from her partners home earlier this week. it's not clear whether she will face any charges. avery friedman, civil rights attorney and law professor in cleveland. good to see you. rich herman, law professor from las vegas joining us as well. still not clear there's any charges. one would expect among those charges, if it were to happen, would be kidnapping, because mccready's parents had full custody of this child, zander. >> yeah, i think so. the judge's order that was entered this week, fredricka, simply required the return of zander, the 5-year-old. but the question the prosecutors now will face was the behavior was so blatant, i think she'll need 10,000 angels. she'll need help. she should face kidnapping charges. all she had to do was petition the court on the custody issue, what does she do? she takes off and says i can't come back because i'm seven months pregnant. she just took off with her child and she's seven months problem. she's got a big problem and

she was a huge country music star and had a drug arrest and during that time, she gave zander to herother. she was featured on "celebrity rehab"recently and she denies tonight that she has a problem with alcohol or drugs and she is a fit mother and should have another chance to get her child back. traditionally, courts like to reunite children with their biological parents. if she can prove she straightened up her act, there is a good chance you get him back. >> thank you for joining us and we will look for "20/20" tonight at 10:00 fall by our newscast and 11. >>> today, kris humphries gave his first tv interview since his wife kim kardashian was filing for divorce. he was asked what impact if any being found for a reality show may have had on his new marriage. >> i can't say for sure. it is the only time i've been married. i have been in the nba since i was 19-years old. it is a different level but for me it's all about moving forward then i he refused to directly answer questions about his divorce or reports that he is seeking an annulment. he says he is focusing on his nba career

police say the singer who lost custody of zander took him from his legal guardian, her mother. the adduction landed her in front of a judge, but monday she emerged from court with a huge grin. >> i cannot talk about it. >> the custody case is sealed but things are moving in a good direction according to mindy mccready. >> she was on celebrity we have last year. she says she is pregnant with twins and hence a new love. she says her new life will not be complete until zander is with her, and bringing him to arkansas was a risk she will not regret. >> what i did was to protect my child. not a person in the world will tell me that is wrong. >> the tories will not say where the little boy is right now, but say he is safe. >>> police in prince george's county want to find the person behind this and usual mass. he walked into a bank in fort washington, passed a note to a teller, demanding money. the suspect got away with an undisclosed amount of cash. >>> a giant food store is alerting shoppers for a recall for of all bend's whole grain white rice garden vegetable package. if you stil

. >> i was concerned about mindy and then zander. >> and where and how investigators tracked them down. we begin with new reaction to the suspension of herman cain's presidential campaign. cain making the speech in atlanta and his wife gloriia at his side. five-days after a woman claimed she had an affair with cain for 13 years. that followed a string of allegations of herman cain following harass am. there is speculation over whether he would stay in or drop out. >> as of today with a lot of prayer and soul searching. i am suspending my presidential campaign. cain told the crowd gathered outside of the georgia campaign office. the accusations have hurt his family and denies wrong doing. some praise coming from a candidate whose popularity has surged. former house speaker newt gingrich. campaigning with him was positive, and optmistic and positive and we'll miss him on the campaign trail and i can appreciate why in the current she decided to go back to being a private citizen. >> live for us, you have been there all day long. bring us up to speed. >> it is a long road to get here. but

in 2007 her estranged mother was named zander's guardian. now pregnant with twins and said she was visiting zander around thanksgiving and decided to leave because she said he wasn't safe. >> she said her son has experienced abuse at her mother's house while living there over the last few years. >> i can't explain it. >> reporter: nbc news spoke to mccready's mother who denies all allegations of abuse. as for mccready, her personal troubles have been well publicized. suicide attempts, dui arrests, a month in jail after resisting arrest after an altercation with her mother. >> she had a voice of honey and sold a lot of records. then her personal troubles seemed to spiral out of control. her life became like a bad country album. >> it was really scary. >> reporter: last year mccready was on celebrity rehab as she battled her addictions, even singing on the show "i'm still here "which she said she wrote in jail for zander. >> there is a full story i'm dying to tell. >> reporter: she spoke to "access hollywood". >> i may be in the lowest point b

why her father says zander belongs with her? >>> miracle meal. a car smashes into a crowded restaurant all caught on tape. how everyone survived this stunning crash landing. even the man caught right on the hood. >>> a "w" for tiger woods for the first time in more than two years! >> we remember that fist pump. tiger woods back in the winner's circle. is this the beginning of his comeback? >> first victory anywhere in two years, three weeks. >>> a fog on a monday morning. >> a little eerie here in times square. >> hope everyone had a good weekend. >>> a growing military mystery. iran claiming it shot down one of the u.s.'s most advanced spy planes. is top secret intelligence in iranian hands? >> they've claimed. haven't shown anything yet. >>> check this out. this could be the most expensive car crash ever. eight ferraris, a lamborghini, two mercedes, even a prius. they were all speeding on major highway side by side. >> i love how you add the prius in there. >>> and a rare interview with angelina jolie. and why she stepped behind the camera for

zander stays with his grandmother. but can only see mccready on supervised visits. at some point during a visit on tuesday, mccready took zander and fled to nashville. her ex-husband told hln, he's worried about his son. >> tell us what you know object what happened to your son and why. >> zander is used to being here in florida with me and with her mother. and i'm worried about, you know, him being moved around. >> reporter: the country music singer's spokesman says mccready and her son are safe, happy and comfortable. a judge ordered her to return her son by thursday afternoon. but she made clear she had no intentions of meeting that deadline. she is 7 months pregnant with twins. and says she doesn't want to travel because she needs to rest. now, mindy mccready has given no indication if and when she plans to take little zander back to florida. she could now face felony charges for bringing him across state lines and violating that judge's order. authorities say they are now fully focused on finding that little boy. robin? >> all right. >>> now, for more on this c

there are scars on zander's back. there are scars on his bottom and her legs from the spoon. >> mccready told abc her mother has strange religious beliefs. >> my mother believes that she is a prophet sent from god. they see dead people in their home all the time or spirits, demons, ghosts. >> gayle inge, mccready's mother, denies the charges and says she feels badly for her daughter. >> i don't believe for one minute that when she did this that she b thought that would be the consequence. i know she would never want to go to jail. >> reporter: she's been there before, imprisoned twice for parole violations. the 36-year-old has struggled with drug abuse and domestic violence. she's now pregnant with twins and says she's in a committed relationship. her mother says mindy is not out of the woods. there are some underlying problems and, you know, the only time a person really gets help is when they want to help themselves. >> reporter: a famous mother in a very public battle for her son. for "today" janet shamblian, nbc n

but will she get to keep little zander? ♪ all i want for christmas >>> and all these sailors want for christmas. the viral video made at sea to mariah's christmas hit. even the superstar responding this morning. and wait until you see what happens next. ♪ all i want for christmas, is you baby ♪ >>> get it? sea-sons greetings. >> josh is so happy, he keeps make the cold open. >> absolutely. and that reminds me of one of my favorite christmas movies, "love actually." >> i love that. >> great, great movie. these sailors had so much fun with it. we'll get to that in a little bit. we have a lot more to get to this morning, including newt gingrich. what a surge. we have a brand-new poll overnight, showing he's opened up a huge lead in iowa. president obama calls it the big mo momentum. his opponents, especially mitt romney, under pressure to climb back. that could lead to drama in our debate saturday night. >> you and diane will be there in iowa. >>> and a dramatic showdown coming in the penn state scandal. abc news has learned a

officials say that zander is in foster care where he is safe and healthy.ow her half brother tells abc news that she has not been completely honest. >> don't understand that she gets away with telling all lies and she does something like that and i don't understand how she can get away with it. >>shepard: she has faced domestic abuse and drug charges since topping the charts in the 1990's. and it is my understanding that a judge now will make a decision on what happens to the child? >> he will probably send the boy back to florida but mccready right now is still inside an arkansas courtroom and has been for sell hours but question not tell you what is happening these are juvenile cases to protect the minor. mccready took zander without permission and could be charged with abduction although she may have felt justified because she claims her son and her half brother, sky, you just saw, have both been abused by the grandfather, an accusation she denies as well as mindy's stepfather. >> mindy has said we have abused her child and sky and he is right here. he c

and zander is supposed to be in an approved placement, here in link county, and he's not.nd until he is home safely, we will continue to work with law enforcement in order to bring him home. >> and that was nick spineto reporting. mccreedy's father released a statement saying that they are cooperating with the court and his only interests are the safety, health and well being of his grandson. >>> a small setback on wall street. dow couldn't keep the wednesday gains going. the dow was down 26. s&p down 22. -- two. nasdaq up 6. let's go to alexis christoforous with the cbs money watch update. >> reporter: stocks pulled back one day after the market's best showing in two and a half years. investors reacted to some discouraging news on jobs. the number of people applying for unemployment benefits rose for the second straight week. it's a sign the job market is recovering but at a slow and uneven pace. it comes one day before the government releases the november employment figures. >>> americans return to auto show rooms last month. chrysler sales jumped from a year earlier. an

if i have to go to jail, so be it, the grandma just wants little zander home. >> absolutely.bsolutely. i would like her to bring him to our home and, you know, and be with us. >> do you think it's going to happen any time soon? she sounds very defiant. >> well, you know, i don't -- i can't say for sure. you know, i mean, i'm always looking for change. >> mccready had a 5:00 deadline last night to return zander to florida. clearly she missed it so right now law enforcement nationwide are on the lookout for the singer and her son, shep. >> shepard: in essence they are in hiding somewhere and wanted? >> absolutely. if they go out publicly and a cop sees them, they are instructed to apprehend the boy right then and there her mother, the grandma says she doesn't know whether she is actually in nashville, tennessee or maybe in arkansas where she has been living. however, if she is listening to tv, watching this, she is, her mom, the grandma wants mindy mccready to hear this. >> you know, i would just have her know that we love her and that we would want her to submit herself to the

mindy's grandmother alleges zander's guardian holds cultish beliefs and zander would be hit with a wooden spoon for punishment to the point she was worried she would break his bones. they tell nbc news they are both ministers but have gone into no greater detail. they deny all allegations of abuse and say state social workers have visited their home regularly and found no reason to remove zander. mindy, whose singing career has been on the skids, was featured on the tv program "celebrity rehab 3" for everyone to see as she battled her demons. a pill addiction and several attempts to commit suicide. mindy lost control of her son when he was only a baby, and now experts say this custody fight is especially hard on a 5-year-old. >> that is a trauma that is going to take a very, very long time, if ever, for him to work through. i can tell you now that he's going to need a lot of long-term therapy. >> reporter: it's unclear if zander will now be returned to the home here that he's always known. meantime, the federal authorities, that's the u.s. marshal service and the fbi, tell nbc news while

but will she get to keep little zander. ♪ all i want for christmas >>> all these sailors want for christmasif viral video made to mariah's christmas hit. even the superstar responding this morning. and wait until you see what happens next. ♪ all i want for christmas all i want for christmas ♪ >>> get it? season greetings. >> josh keepsaying it's making the cold open. >> absolutely. and that reminds me of one of my favorite christmas movies, "love actually." a great, great movie. >>> we have a lot more to get to this morning. newt gingrich. what a surge. we have a brand-new poll overnight, showing he's opened up a huge lead. president obama calls it the big moment momentum. that could lead to drama in our debate saturday night. >> you and diane will be there in iowa. >>> and a dramatic showdown coming in the penn state scandal. all eight of jerry sandusky's alleged victims are set to face him in open court next week. it will obviously be emotional testimony. >>> and the controversial hit show that goes inside the world of very young parenting, "teen mom 2." we'll meet some of the teen moms t

that her mother was an abusive guardian to her son. >> zander was being beaten with a wooden spoon. there are scars on zander's back, there are scars on his bottom and his legs from the spoon. >> abc reached out to mccready's mother. she denies those allegations. >>> texas police now have a new weapon to battle drug dealers and human smugglers along the border. arm gun boats, the fleet will be used along the rio grande and lakes. the price tag here? each boat more than $500,000. it comes equipped with night vision cameras and machine gun turrets. >>> breaking news just in, a sentence decision has been reached in the home invasion trial in connecticut. we'll take you there live, next. back then, he had something more important to do. he wasn't focused on his future but fortunately, somebody else was. at usaa we provide retirement solutions for our military, veterans and their families. from investments... to life insurance... to health care options. learn more with our free usaa retirement guide. call 877-242-usaa. >>> as we mentioned, we're getting an update, break being news into c

she has been in a heated battle with her mother, who had become zander's legal guardian.hree days, police and u.s. marshals searched, eventually finding them hiding in a closet at this empty house north of little rock. they took her son into foster care, but did not arrest her. authorities have not ruled out pressing charges, both in florida and in arkansas. authorities in both states tell me that because this is a sealed case, they can't tell us where the little boy is this morning. but they assure us he is safe. and the two agencies are working together until this dispute is resolved. robin? >> that's most important. that he's safe. >>> going to turn to our legal analyst, dan abrams. you're watching yunji's piece. and thinking what did she win? >> what does a win mean? it's hard to believe that a court, after listening to the evidence, that she takes the child with her in florida, is found hiding in a closet in arkansas, the child is taken into foster care. that the judge is going to say, here you go. you now have custody. that's hard to believe. it's more likely that s

. >>> also this morning, country singer mindy mccready was found in a closet with her son zander. the legal battle is far from over. what is next for her and her son? this bizarre custody battle is increasing. >> she is pregnant with twins. >> complicated issue. >> a lot involved there. >>> and later at half-hour, history is made in scotland where two pandas arrived from china. talk about a party -- they got the royal treatment. even a parade. >> panda watch. monday morning style. >>> first on this monday, though could one of the most cutting edge american spy planes being in enemy hands this morning? well iran is claiming it shot down a new generation of u.s. drones inside its borders and it is vowing now to retaliate. >> but if it's true, the bigger threat could come from what secrets the drone might reveal. here is abc's martha raddatz. >> reporter: the claim came on iranian state television, quoting sources saying iran had shot down an unmanned spy plane in the eastern part of the country which borders afghanistan. but what was most disturbing, the iranians said it was an rq-1

in a visit last week, she took zander and left the state.ourt order, she refused to return him to his legal guardian because she says, he's been abused. >> mindy says we have abuse d hr son and skye. >> she gets away with telling the lice and does something like that. i don't understand how she can get away with it. >> reporter: but mccready's father, who is divorced from her mother, says he should be with mindy. >> you ask him. he's most comfortable with his mom. >> reporter: depeending on what the judge decides later, zander could be back in florida by tend of the day. meanwhile, mindy mccready could face felony charges and criminal trespass charges as well. >>> now to the latest on gary giordano. he spoke out again on sunday to our dan harris here on "gma," that, after his appearance on "gma" on thursday. leading to more questions about the moment when robyn gardner disappeared. dan has the latest. >> reporter: since his release from jail in aruba last week, gary giordano has been on a high-profile, hotly contested media tour playing out

the singer who lost custody of zander in 2007 him him from mccrede's own mother.the abduction landed her in front of a judge. on monday she emerged from court with a huge grin. >> i can't talk about it. >> reporter: the custody case is sealed but she said things are moving in a good direction. >> hey's a good man. -- he's a good man. i love judge harris. >> reporter: at just 18 years old, she shot to the top of the country chart, selling millions of records. but her downward spiral landed her on celebrity rehab. she said she's in a good place, pregnant with twins. bringing him to arkansas was a risk she said she will never forget. did you knowingly break the law? >> i do not, to this moment and will not ever think that me taking my own child that i carried for nine months, that i gave birth to in the hospital by myself would ever be breaking the law. what i did was to protect my child and there's not a person in the world that's ever going to tell me that that's wrong. >> just a teasee1 but you can catch the entireÑi interview on tweeñrÑiñr --Ñi onqçóÑi "20/20". a