Brad Pitt Child Abuse Investigation Gets International Headlines

Categories: Child Custody, divorce

It would be an understatement to say that Brad Pitt is having a horrible week. His wife filed for divorce. And if that wasn’t bad enough, the FBI was informed of a “child welfare” incident between Pitt and his son. Child abuse claims were made due to what happened on a private flight that the entire family was on last week. The story broke to national media outlets on Friday.

This is going to be the most talked about custody battle and divorce of this year for a variety of reasons. News articles in the last 24 hours about the allegations of child abuse bring to light how often when one party files for divorce allegations of child abuse or neglect are raised. Often the person filing for divorce is the person that raises them. It does not appear at this juncture that Jolie Pitt called and reported anything to police.

Koochiching County, Minnesota, Sheriff Perryn Hedlund told The Associated Press on Thursday that Brad Pitt was on a plane that landed at the International Falls, Minnesota, airport near the Canadian border on Sept. 14. Sheriff’s deputies were not called to the airport. International Falls police were also not called.

Many times child abuse or neglect allegations have little or no merit and are used as a tool to gain power in a divorce. Sometimes, however, there is truth to them. Often a third party reports concerns either because they are required to as a “mandatory reporter” or feed a need to. (Certain professionals, including doctors and therapists are required to report when they think there is child abuse going on.)

The FBI continues as of today to gather information before determining whether to open an investigation. FBI Spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said the agency hasn’t made a decision on a formal investigation into what occurred on a plane ferrying Pitt, his wife Jolie Pitt and their six children.

News outlets reported that a child welfare agency in Los Angeles is investigating the well-being of the children. Their six children include 15-year-old Maddox, 12-year-old Pax, 11-year-old Zahara, 10-year-old Shiloh, and 8-year-old twins Knox and Vivienne. The incident on the plane involved Pitt and his 15 his year son Maddox.

Jolie Pitt filed for divorce Monday and her lawyer told the Associated Press that Jolie Pitt came to the decision “for the health of the family.” She listed their separation date as Sept. 15, the day after the alleged plane incident, and the actress is seeking sole custody of all six of the children. Jolie is using the same attorney she used for her divorce from Billy Bob Thorton.

It was the second marriage for Pitt, 52, who previously wed actress Jennifer Aniston, and the third for Jolie Pitt, 41, who was previously married to Thornton and Jonny Lee Miller. Pitt hired attorney Lance Spiegel who has worked with celebrities like Charlie Sheen and Michael Jackson. He also handled Eva Longoria’s divorce from Tony Parker.

Pitt and Jolie Pitt were together for 12 years but did not marry until August 2014. They met on the set of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, a movie in which they both starred. They married at their French chateau in the Provence hamlet of Correns with their children serving as ring bearers.

(Attribution of some facts and information to the Washington Post)

Tags: Angelina Jolie, attorney, Brad Pitt, child abuse allegation, divorce

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