In a new twist in the Baby Veronica story, her biological father Dusten Brown turned himself in to Oklahoma authorities on Monday morning.  His surrender came after he failed to show up to a court-ordered hearing in South Carolina where he was to deliver Baby Veronica back to Melanie and Matt Capobianco–the white couple that tried to adopt her as an infant. Veronica, a Cherokee Nation citizen who is now 4-years-old, has been living with Brown for the past two years and many question whether the South Carolina court ruling in favor of the Copabiancos is in her best interest. 

Brown refused extradition to South Carolina by turning himself in in Oklahoma and paying the $10,000 fugitive bond to be released. He has another hearing in 30 days. Baby Veronica is currently with her paternal grandparents and Brown’s wife, and the Copabiancos continue to appeal for her return and have accused her family members of kidnapping.

This most recent development comes after the U.S. Supreme Court found that the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) did not protect Brown’s parental rights, and a South Carolina court decided to allow Veronica to be adopted the Copabiancos last month. The case has brought national attention to issues of tribal sovereignty and the complexities of adopting Native children.