Boy Found in Secret Room in State Custody

Child Abuse Secret Room Grandma Says Keeping Boy Hidden in Her House for 2 Years Was Right Thing to Do...

by CBS/AP

Published: Tue, September 08, 2009 - 1:55 pm CST Last Updated: Tue, September 08, 2009 - 1:57 pm CST

(CBS/AP) A child whose mother is accused of hiding him in a crawl space in his grandmother's home for nearly two years during a custody dispute with the boy's father remains a ward of the state.

But a southern Illinois judge made it clear Tuesday that the goal is to reunite 6-year-old Ricky Chekevdia with his father. The father was awarded temporary custody two years ago.

Judge Kyle Vantrease set a Nov. 23 hearing on the custody issue. Before then, the judge says he expects the father to have some visits with the boy and for the child to have counseling.

The judge didn't grant visitation to the child's mother, Shannon Wilfong, 30, who sobbed during the hearing and interrupted to insist she'd done nothing wrong.

In her first court appearance Wilfong was advised Tuesday of the charges against her and told the judge that she plans to hire her own attorney. Her preliminary hearing was scheduled for Sept. 23.

Wilfong is charged with felony child abduction and is being held on $42,500 bond. The grandmother, Diane Dobbs, is accused of aiding and abetting.

Dobbs, 51, who is out on bond after being charged Friday, told "Good Morning America" that she was right to hide the boy.

Dobbs said Monday that authorities haven't fully investigated allegations that Ricky's father, Mike Chekevdia, sexually abused him, and she was trying to protect the boy from his father. She said she doesn't plan to plead guilty.

"We were on our own and we had to do what we had to do and that was make sure our grandson was safe," Dobbs said.

Chekevdia, a 48-year-old former police officer who's a lieutenant colonel in the Illinois Army National Guard, has denied any wrongdoing.

"I was investigated three times, and I complied with everybody's desires and wishes in those investigations, and every one of those investigations were unfounded," Mike Chekevdia told "Good Morning America."

The boy has been staying with one of his father's relatives while state child-welfare workers continue to investigate the abuse claims.

Authorities have said the boy, who turns 7 on Sept. 14, was in good spirits and physically fit.

Dobbs said Ricky and his mother didn't live in the crawl space full-time at her rural home in southern Illinois' Franklin County, about 120 miles southeast of St. Louis. She said the pair spent less than 5 minutes there during the past two years.

"My grandson had the run of the house, when we were outside we would go fishing, we would do weenie roasts, we've done fireworks on the Fourth of July, he's helped me plant my flower garden in the back," she said.

She said Wilfong had been home-schooling Ricky, who she described as a "very bright child."

"He's the light of my life," she said. "I've been there ever since that little boy was born."

No published telephone listing for Diane Dobbs could be found Monday by The Associated Press.

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jeffsmith Says:

Wed, Sep 09, 2009 at 9:37 am

Never know, maybe the state is trying to send the kid back to a child molester.

rmseek1234 Says:

Tue, Sep 08, 2009 at 2:22 pm

What an adorable child! I hope everything will work out for him and he will have no lasting effects of whatever ordeals he has been through.

On another station though,there was an interview with one of the officer’s that found him,and he stated when the child went outside he was in awe,running around, all excited,like he had never been outside before. Not sure what the true story is,but I hope this child will have a wonderful life from here on out.