The estranged mother of Anna Nicole Smith is requesting that the Bahamian government force Howard K. Stern to give up the custody of baby Dannielynn Marshall Stern.
Vergie Arthur, who had limited contact with Smith in her later years in life, fears that Stern will escape the island with the five-month-old baby amid a controversial custody battle.
Three men, not including Stern, have come forward and stated that they may be the biological father of Dannielynn. Larry Birkhead, a photographer and ex-boyfriend of Smith's, has been claiming his paternity since the baby's birth in September. Since Smith's death, Prince Frederick von Anhalt, the husband of Zsa Zsa Gabor and Smith's bodyguard have also claimed to be possible fathers.
Stern, however, is listed on the birth certificate as the father.
Arthur's lawyers have already been granted that Stern remain in the Bahamas with the infant until the custody matter is finalized.
However, now the grandmother is pushing for the child to be taken out of his care entirely.
Her Bahamian lawyer, Desmar Henfield, said, "Howard Stern's environment - all the media attention, all the uncertainty - I don't think that is a stable and secure place for a baby at this point."
However, an attorney for Smith's estate in the Bahamas, Wayne Munroe, argues that the tumultuous relationship between Arthur and Smith means that the former model would not want her mother to have custody.
He said, "Howard knew and the whole world knew that Anna Nicole did not consider her as her mother."
Currently in Miami, Arthur is requesting that her daughter's body be released for burial in Texas.
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