Syesha Mercado Reunites with Son Amen’Ra 6 Months After He Was ‘Legally Kidnapped’
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic Reading Time: 2 minutes
In a new Instagram video, American Idol alum Syesha Mercado announced that her son Amen’Ra is back home. He was put in foster care in March after a visit to the hospital to help ween him off of breastmilk. This news comes after Syesha was reunited with her daughter Ast in August. The newborn was taken by Manatee County police during a roadside wellness check.
Syesha Mercado is Reunited with her Son Amen’Ra
Tyron Deener, Syesha’s partner, held the camera to show Amen’Ra in his car seat. The toddler laughed as his mom sang to him. Amen’Ra was 15 months old at the time he was taken from his parents for concerns of malnutrition. Ast was a little over two weeks old when she was taken. The intense standoff with police was documented on camera and has since gone viral.
Syesha’s fight to get her children back gained global attention. The couple raised over $465,000 on GoFundMe to help bring their children home. Though Amen’Ra is finally home, Tyron told everyone that “it’s not over with.” The couple will undergo six months of supervision and oversight by CPS. Someone will be coming to their home frequently to determine if the couple is “competent and able” to raise their children.
Tyron thanked everyone who has been a part of the fight to get the children back. He hopes to help other families reunite with their children who have been taken by CPS and law enforcement. In her Instagram stories, Syesha posted photos of other parents and their children that have been taken from them. The couple is advocating for an organization called Protect the StarSeeds to help support these families.
Tyron Shared a Message to CPS
“My message to the system, CPS, the whole child welfare system — you better start listening to the needs of the people,” Tyron said in the video. “Start being civil servants and doing what you can to help people.”
Tyron also said that he and Syesha hope that the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office “will be held accountable.” He maintains that “intimidation tactics” were used against them by judges and social workers to “modify” the family’s behavior. They were only allowed visitation with Amen’Ra after he was taken. They felt like the cards were stacked against them throughout the case.
Amen’Ra could be heard cheering in the background as his father spoke about the case. Tyron flipped the camera over to Amen’Ra who clapped his hands. Tyron said that he and Syesha want to “focus on being present” with their children before thanking everyone one last time for their support.
