LEGAL MOVE: The mom of NFL killer Jovan Belcher (above with Kasandra Perkins and daughter Zoey) signed this paper giving guardianship of the baby to Perkins’ kin. (
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FORT WORTH, Texas — She gave up the million-dollar baby.
The Long Island mother of the Kansas City Chief who killed his baby’s mother and then himself signed a notarized agreement giving up guardianship of the couple’s child, who stands to inherit nearly $3 million in life insurance and NFL benefits, The Post has learned.
By signing the document, Jovan Belcher’s mother, Cheryl Shepherd, severely damaged her chances of winning control of baby Zoey’s estate, legal experts said.
Both families are currently locked in a custody battle for the 4-month- old girl, who was orphaned last month when Belcher killed girlfriend Kasandra Perkins, 22, then drove to the Chiefs practice facility and killed himself.
And it’s not clear that Belcher was Zoey’s father. His mother told police and NFL officials that there were questions about Zoey’s paternity, The Post reported last month.
Shepherd wrote and signed the agreement on Dec. 3 — two days after the murder-suicide — giving Perkins’ family “temporary guardianship” allowing Zoey to attend her mother’s Texas memorial service.
“I, Cheryl Shepherd, who has custody of child Zoey Michelle Belcher . . . hereby grant temporary guardianship . . . to Sophie Deon Perkins” — Kasandra’s cousin, states the letter obtained by The Post.
“This temporary guardianship will be allowed until the requested paperwork for joint custody between Cheryl Shepherd and Sophie Deon Perkins has been determined through the court system.”
The letter was signed by Perkins, Shepherd, a witness and a notary.
It allows for visitation privileges. Zoey traveled to Long Island for her father’s wake, and Shepherd flew to Texas to visit last weekend, lawyers said.
The letter was discussed yesterday at a Fort Worth court hearing, where a judge decided that all future proceedings will be held in Kansas City, Mo. The next is Jan. 28.
“Ms. Shepherd seems to think she is the legal custodian of Zoey,” said Perkins family attorney Jon Michael Franks, saying the letter shows otherwise.
Belcher’s family revealed yesterday that Shepherd signed the document because she doesn’t think she can win custody.
“She feels like the mom’s side always wins with this type of issue or situation,” said a Long Island cousin of Belcher.
Legal experts agree.
“What she’s doing is giving the maternal [family] a statement, which, in essence, says, ‘I think you are capable of taking care of the child. I think you will love the child,’ ” said top New York matrimonial lawyer Marilyn Chinitz.
John Sampson, a family-law expert at the University of Texas, said the letter shows the two families decided Sophie Perkins is the best person to raise Zoey.
“The court is going to make a determination of the best interests of the child,” Sampson said. “Now ‘best interest’ is in the eye of the beholder.”