Man, woman face off for parental rights of twins

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- There is an unusual custody fight going on in downtown Houston. A mother claims she is the mother of twins, even though they are not genetically hers.

The father says the woman who gave birth to the twins is actually just a surrogate and has no genetic link to the babies. However, the woman says she gave birth to the infants and she never agreed to be just a surrogate, that she wanted to co-parent the twins with McMurray.

Cindy Close never expected to be in court, battling for parental rights to the twin boy and girl she gave birth to earlier this year.

"They're trying to say I'm never the mother of my children, and I am their mother. No matter how it turns out, I am their mother. I gave birth to them, I loved them when they were inside my body. I planned to raise them," Close said.

But Monday afternoon, Close and her lawyers faced off against the children's biological father, Marvin McMurray. McMurray's attorneys say since the children were fathered by him with donated eggs, Close has no genetic link to the children, and is not their mother.

"My children are involved, and they're minors and we're in litigation," McMurray told Eyewitness News.

"But you don't think Ms. Close should have any relations with your children?" we asked him.

Attorney Sarah Arvidsson stepped in and said, "We're not going to give any comments at this time, just due to the very sensitive nature of these proceedings and that we're in the middle of litigation, thank you."

The case is drawing national attention because the basic argument hinges on what the definition of a mother is. Close says even though she and McMurray had no romantic involvement, they had agreed to co-parent the twins. But McMurray's attorney disagrees, though she won't discuss her arguments to us.

"These are children, live human beings, and nothing says that their best interest would be served by being in the media," McMurray's attorney, Ellen Yarrell said.

Both sides are arguing their case in Judge Bonnie Hellum's court. But to Cindy Close, the argument is a simple one.

"If they decide I'm not the mom here, it could affect could moms everywhere who want to use donor eggs," she said.

After a four-hour court hearing, Cindy's claim of motherhood remained in limbo, with only the promise of another day in court.

"We'll know next month. She doesn't know her status with the kids she gave birth to," Close's attorney, Grady Reiff, said.

For now, Close visits the twins daily at the home of McMurray's partner.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local, miya shay

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Parental rights lawsuit may be landmark case in motherhood

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's a fight for parental rights, but this isn't your ordinary child custody case. A woman claims she's the mother of twins, even though they aren't genetically hers.

Now, she's fighting to keep the eight-week-old babies and the court decision could be a landmark case.

The biological father of the twins says she was merely a surrogate. But she says they had a deal to share custody and raise the kids together.

A lot of people in the legal community say this is really a first and it could broaden or narrow the definition of what a mother is and whether biological connection to a child has anything to do with it.

"This is my lifelong dream. I've always wanted to be a mom," Cindy Close said.

Close is at the center of what could be a landmark case in motherhood.

"I love them. They're wonderful, and I wish I could spend more time with them," she said.

On July 27, she gave birth to a boy and a girl.

"My son is much quieter than my daughter. She's a little diva. She's wonderful," Close said.

But Marvin McMurrey, the man who fathered them, says Close is not their mother and he's filed suit asking the court to agree with him and strip her of any rights to see them.

"I hope that we can settle this in the courts, and that I'll be able to bring my children home, and raise them with his help. That was always the plan," Close said.

That plan was hatched five years ago, when Close says she and McMurrey agreed to have children together despite no romantic relationship. But they learned she couldn't have children and so years later, with his sperm and anonymous eggs, she was impregnated.

Close says in court documents it wasn't until the day the children were born that she learned McMurrey was gay, was planning to raise the children with his partner and that she was just a surrogate.

"He's known for years that my only dream in life was to be a mom," Close said.

She says there was never a surrogate agreement in writing and despite no genetic link to the kids, they are hers.

"The law is, in our opinion, clear. Because she gave birth, she is therefore the mother of her two children," Close's attorney, Grady Reiff, said.

McMurrey's attorney declined to discuss the case with us but an independent attorney tells us she thinks Close is legally the mother.

"Under Texas law, when a woman gives birth she is either surrogate or mom. And in this case, it seems like she would be mom," attorney Sarah Frazier said.

Incredibly, if Close wins she still wants McMurrey to be in the children's lives.

"He is their father, just like I am their mother," she said.

On Monday, both sides are expected to appear in court to ask a judge to decide whether Close is actually the mother by law. If she is, then this will become a custody case.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

local, tom abrahams

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