A rally held in front of the Salt Lake City courthouse at the last court hearing.

Father fighting to stop the adoption of his baby girl.

Target:

Deciding Judge

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We signed the "Father fighting to stop the adoption of his baby girl." petition!

# 719:

8:42 am PST, Nov 19, Jason Sanders, Wyoming
I am the father of two beautiful children and can't imagine having them torn away from me. I truly hope that Cody is granted custody of his daughter and has the opportunity to raise, love, and hold his little girl. God Bless Your Family.

Absolutely. I think the Buffalo Bullentin should be shown this website and should be doing a huge front page article about how a local buffalo family is involved in this disgusting act!

# 718:

3:30 pm PST, Nov 18, Sandy Cawley, Utah
Cases like this are outrageous. Clearly, trafficking children takes priority over allowing a baby to stay with a father that wants to be a father. This needs to change.

The media needs to break this stuff wide open.

# 717:

8:14 am PST, Nov 17, Lori Antonich, Utah
Anyone, be it male or female, should be entitled to raise their child. I don't understand why the mother has all the rights. My son just found out that he is going to be a father and that the mother wants to put the baby up for adoption. She is 8 months pregnant and we are just starting our fight for my sons right to be the dad that he deserves to be.

# 716:

5:39 pm PST, Nov 16, Michael Cawley, Utah
There is something seriously wrong when a state and religion funded social services becomes a haven for circumventing the laws of the country and laws of other states. And something even more wrong when they deny a God given right to any parent by blood who desperately wants to raise a child. I am not against adoption at all. My sister adopted a child and I'm sympathetic to those unable to bear children. But it is plainly wrong to deny any parent by blood the right to raise their own child. It borders on cultism to assume that any single religion is above the law, above other religions, and entitled to steal the rights of a birth parent. The divorce rate in Utah is no better than that of other states and there's no reason to assume that any child who is adopted will have two committed and loving parents who are absent of abusive tendencies. Any father that fights for their rights such as this young man has earned the title of loving concerned father and as most young men do, he will be married someday to a woman who will lovingly care for his child.

# 715:

8:21 pm PST, Nov 15, Kimberley Ennis, Wyoming
Cody has every right to have is daughter!

Yes. Because maybe if it is put out there, with all legal procedings and petitions, it will decrease the chances of this happening to other fathers in the fututre. As long as the media gets their story straight...

# 714:

12:29 pm PST, Nov 15, Name not displayed, Texas

# 713:

12:48 pm PST, Nov 13, Melinda Dennington, Wyoming
I am an advocate for child rights and am appalled at our country's negligence to provide the same rights for father's as there are for mother's, as well as the right for the child to be afforded the opportunity to live with his/her natural parent/s when it is a safe, healthy, nurturing environment, such as Cody and Tanya's.

Yes.

# 712:

9:07 am PST, Nov 13, Heather Redenbaugh, Wyoming
Cody and Tanya are wonderful parents! I have learned some of the most important parenting lessions from these two amazing people. They deserve to be reunited with thier child so that's why I am signing this petition. Tell everyone you know!

The media needs to recognize the seriousness of this issue. Baby selling is real and it should be stopped.

# 711:

1:58 pm PST, Nov 3, Sean Williams, North Carolina
my girlfriend is currently pregnant and i am in a battle with her not to give it up for adoption i can afford the baby and her and there is no reason for this to happen except she is not ready for it even though ive offered to raise the child on my own

yes

# 710:

9:22 am PDT, Oct 19, Molly Bailey, Mississippi
Hi, my name is Molly and I am concern about Cody's problem. I believe that as long as Cody isn't harmful to the physical being of his daughter then he should be able to raise her. What message are you sending to father both wed and un-wed if you allow his child to be taken? Cody was present in the decision of making the child - whether accidental pregancy or not, so he should have his choice and whether or not he wants to raise her. Lastly, think of how his daughter will feel when she grows up to find out that she was wanted by her natural father, but ripped away from him because she was a product of pre-marriagale sex.

# 709:

8:48 pm PDT, Oct 15, Tiffany Smith, Pennsylvania
I grew up with Cody and know that he is a good person and always cared for his own family and helped his mom with his younger brother and sister. I support Cody's determination and wish him the best.

# 708:

9:37 pm PDT, Oct 14, Kimberly Mackay, Texas

# 707:

5:18 am PDT, Oct 14, Nichole Koch, Wyoming
This is outrageous! If he wants to be a dad let him for god sakes. There are not alot of fathers that are willing to step up to the plate like this and when they do this is what they get?? NO!!!!! He needs his baby!!!

# 706:

5:30 pm PDT, Oct 13, Name not displayed, Georgia
What is being done here is outrageous. How is it possible that a biological father who desires to parent his only child, is denied his parental rights by the deception of the law by the mormon community?

Yes, this is outrageous.

# 705:

9:28 am PDT, Oct 13, Name not displayed, Oregon

# 704:

11:15 am PDT, Oct 12, Angela Spitz, Idaho
It is an absolute outrage that this young father has to fight for what is morally and should be LEGALLY HIS RIGHTS. If the mother doesn't want to raise the child THE FATHER HAS THE RIGHT TO RAISE THE CHILD - IT'S COMMON SENSE. NO STATE SHOULD IMPEDE ON THE MORAL OBLIGATION OF A BIOLOGICAL FATHER.

Absolutely, the media should report on these issues in our society. Raise the level of awareness so that those with brain cells CAN RECTIFY THE RIGHTS OF FATHERS.

# 703:

4:54 pm PDT, Oct 7, Gabrielle Gallegos, Utah
Why keep a caring capible father from raising his child. Why does a unwed mother have a choice to keep the baby but not the father. Children especially girls need their father and will wonder why she was given up. Would she think it fare that Utah wouldn't let her be with her daddy.

Yes, the public needs to know. Maybe educating young men about their rights or lack of rights in Utah will prevent teen pregnancies.

# 702:

11:15 am PDT, Sep 30, Name not displayed, Idaho
I don't know Cody from Adam, and it doesn't matter, because regardless of who he is, if he is a seemingly "worthy" father or not, he has the right to parent his child unless said right has been legally forfeited.

Yes.

# 701:

7:17 am PDT, Sep 22, Steve Kusick, Tennessee
Cody, You are in our prayers. This country is suffering a real lack of plain common sense. Please in return join us in prayer that both our government and judicial system will stop over reaching their original intent.

There are so many issues that warrant reporting, like this one. However the media seems to only be concerned on reporting stories of fear. ( H1N1 Virus, Global Warming, Polls, the latest medical breakthrough which almost always contradicts the next breakthrough, or the death of a celebrity "false idol" who chose to live a life in self-worship ). YES!!! They should! Politians and the media are partners in CRIME, and neither are concerned for we the people.

# 700:

8:06 pm PDT, Sep 18, Kristen Potter, Missouri

# 699:

1:37 pm PDT, Sep 16, Mike McKinney, Tennessee

# 698:

9:38 am PDT, Sep 15, David WHITAKER, Maryland
my hopes and prayers are with u i'm fighting an adoption of my 10 year old daughter so i feel your pain i hope everything works out for the father, and hope this will push states to make laws to help protect fathers rights.

# 697:

10:06 am PDT, Sep 7, Steven Lorenz Vancouver, Canada, Canada
My thoughts and prayers are with you guys.

# 696:

3:59 pm PDT, Sep 4, Veronica Barnas, Minnesota
This is so sad, to think that a parents WANTS their child and yet is not given the choice.... Please stop this craziness and give this poor dad his child. And bless the broken hearts of those who have fallen in love with the sweet little girl, I am sure this will be the hardest thing they will ever endure. I hope Ashley never has a another child, she is unfit.

YES!

# 695:

7:48 pm PDT, Sep 3, Victor Atkinson, New York
This is nothing more than child-stealing. The adoption agency workers should be in jail, and any member of the legal profession that helped to enact this heinous crime should be disbarred. And the many men and women who believe as I do will not rest until this is done.

# 694:

9:58 pm PDT, Aug 25, Joseph Maerkle, California
20 Days to stop an adoption you don't even know about? How completely shameful to assume this law is enough to strip a Parent of their rights. God help us all.

# 693:

4:29 pm PDT, Aug 18, Barbara Duchene, Minnesota
This is a troubling story. Here is a young father who wants to take responsibility and raise his child. A paternity test should have been done right away, and the baby given to Cody! What this poor young man has been put through is scandlous!!

YES

# 692:

6:11 pm PDT, Aug 16, Randall Meeks, Maryland
It's time to recognize the rights of fathers throughout the united states.

Why isn't the media reporting on this unfair treatment of fathers.

# 691:

5:34 pm PDT, Aug 16, David Sommer, Texas
This is almost impossible to believe this has happened. What is wrong with the state of Utah in allowing this to happen?

The media as usual has no agenda for exposing this tragedy. Only the people can overcome this injustice.

# 690:

7:21 am PDT, Aug 16, Nicole Ford, Pennsylvania
this man should have the right to raise his child.

the media should be telling people how terrible this is.

# 689:

7:30 pm PDT, Aug 14, Payton Garner, Wyoming
I know Cody personally and professionally he is a good man that takes care of his family and to be denied his daughter is disgusting.

# 688:

4:57 pm PDT, Aug 13, Price Shearn, Arizona
I am appalled that the Utah courts would so viciously "trample on a Father's Rights". I have always enjoyed spending our winter skiing holiday in Utah, but will have to give second thought to spending my money in a state with so little regard for Father's. Maybe Colordo would be a better choice next winter.

Yes, the media should absolutely be involved in reporting on this particular misuse of power in what is normally a wonderful thing: adoption.

# 687:

2:20 pm PDT, Aug 13, Jennifer Arnold, California

# 686:

11:54 am PDT, Aug 13, Name not displayed, Arizona
There needs to be established laws nationally that protects the fathers rights in these matters. The mother in this situation is being selfish and self centered in not wanting the father to have the child.

Yes the media should be involved. Showing that the mother and adoption centers do not have the best interest of the child at heart.

# 685:

8:20 am PDT, Aug 13, Name not displayed, Texas
Shame on the mother. Shame on the legal system. This man deserves to raise his baby.

The media should get a hold of this case to expose it for what it really is.

# 684:

5:22 pm PDT, Aug 12, Laurie Hanline, Texas

# 683:

12:33 pm PDT, Aug 12, Jerry Lee Redwine, Washington
The child belongs to the parents both the mother and the Father. The Father in this case should be the custodial parent as he appears to be far more mature than the mother. No other man will give the child the love this parent will, it is child abuse to with hold this child from this Father.

# 682:

12:01 pm PDT, Aug 12, Anthony Arnold, Australia

# 681:

6:05 am PDT, Aug 12, Name not displayed, United Kingdom
I am currently being brought up by my widowed father since my mum passed away. Dads CAN do it. This young man wants to be a father. Give him his daughter and stop being ridiculous. Whatever struggles they go through in the future, she will never forget how hard her dad fought for her and she will never forget his love. Do the right thing please.

Yes.

# 680:

5:09 am PDT, Aug 12, Matthew Reed, Pennsylvania

# 679:

4:16 am PDT, Aug 12, John Tarrant, Massachusetts
This is outrageous. This man has a right to be a father to his child. Any judge with a soul would allow this baby girl to go with her father.

# 678:

12:42 am PDT, Aug 12, Mark Lesmeister, Texas
A women's right to choose, whether that choice is adoption, abortion or raising an unborn child, is sacrosanct in our society. The slightest restrictions on that right are met with overwhelming condemnation. Yet here is a man who wants to choose to raise his own child, and he must fight unbelievable bureaucracy to do so. Utah's law, by allowing agencies acting clearly in bad faith to trump the clearly expressed paternal interests, is clearly an example of unequal protection of the law.

# 677:

9:21 pm PDT, Aug 11, Holly Brooker, New York
I am absolutely appalled at the treatment of this young man in this case. This girl was devious and this poor boy is a victim of the worst injustice. I cannot believe that our country, the United States of America, where people are supposed to have freedom and rights above any other country in the world, would tolerate this. It is outrageous! I am absolutely disgusted.

Absolutely! This is an outrage!

# 676:

6:30 pm PDT, Aug 11, Adrienne Bell, California
I feel it is unbelievable that a young man will step up and fight for his child only to be snow-balled into the system. Shame on each and everyone who did not exercise good judgment in helping this young man obtain his goal in getting his daughter. Are we a through away society now? This is embarrassing to be called an American.

# 675:

6:29 pm PDT, Aug 11, Name not displayed, United Kingdom

# 674:

5:38 pm PDT, Aug 11, Matthew Palmer, Texas

# 673:

5:22 pm PDT, Aug 11, Zach Fissette, Massachusetts

# 672:

4:32 pm PDT, Aug 11, Conrad Lawson, California
Cody's story touches me personally as I know that my father felt that his father gave up on trying to get custody of him as a child. My grandfather had been discouraged by the court system and just stopped trying out of frustration.

More people need to know that there are many fathers who actually care about their children. There is nothing good about spreading the deadbeat dad stereotype.

# 671:

3:48 pm PDT, Aug 11, Jason Schwarz, North Dakota

# 670:

12:55 pm PDT, Aug 11, Kathleen Moniz, Massachusetts
father's should have the same parental rights in every state same as mothers!!!!

yes!!

# 669:

8:41 am PDT, Aug 11, Kernan McCoy, California
Everybody professes they want what is "in the best interests of the child" and are willing to set aside one person's God given and Constitutional rights to do what is right for this child. Who decides? Why do we all, the courts, find it appropriate to play God, to decied what is best? This man, this father is the one who care's, who really has this child's best interest at heart. Who are we to say the child would be better off in a wealthier, more established family? This is making human trafficing acceptable. Take away our vanity and desire to play God and you are left with just one truth, one justice: God aready decided this issue. Cody is this child's father. That is where God placed her. Any effort to seperate father from dauther, legal or not, is in fact kidnapping by the law of our Creator.

# 668:

8:35 am PDT, Aug 11, Linda McCall, Texas

# 667:

7:43 am PDT, Aug 11, Paul Chang, Texas
Even laws account for good-faith efforts. The judges determine whether or not those good-faith efforts clearly show the desire/attempts to follow appropriate laws. Obviously, Cody has done so in his [and his family's] attempts to gain access to his child and parent her. Even without knowing the circumstances between Cody and Ashley, one thing is clear, Cody [and his family] wants an opportunity to be involved in his child's life. In a society filled with absentee parents, why would anyone go through so much trouble to deny a family (Cody's family) access to their blood relative? Has anyone, anywhere established [or reasonably asserted] that Cody and his family would be unfit to be involved in the child's life? As a single father with full custody, I don't understand why some people cannot take themselves out of the equation. It's a simple process. Will the baby benefit from the other parent's involvement in their life? If yes, suck it up yourself, and work out a parenting plan so the other parent can be involved. In Cody's case, it should have been easy, Ashley didn't want the child, so give up parental rights and let Cody and his family take care of her. C'mon people!

Thought adoption laws need reforming, the more pressing issue seems to be with paternity laws, and father's rights in general. Let's look at those first, please!

# 666:

7:42 am PDT, Aug 11, David Russell, Texas
It is an outrage that Ashley used lies to deny Cody the opportunity to raise his daughter. I pray for justice for you.

The media should be reporting on adoption law problems like this.

# 665:

7:14 am PDT, Aug 11, Helena Andrews, Texas
The father needs to have a right too keep his baby, if she does not want the baby in her life.

# 664:

6:51 am PDT, Aug 11, Name not displayed, Washington
What is wrong with the country's legal system? A Father has as much right to raise a child as the Mother does. When is the justice system in this country going to protect the children and stop protecting these psychologically challenged women? Give the child to her father, he wants her and deserves every opportunity to raise her. Send the Mother to jail for "baby selling"!!!!

The media should report on women who use their children as weapons. The women should be fined and imprisoned when they violate the Father's right to be included in the childs life. The justice system should send a message to these women by giving the Father's custody and making the women pay the child support. When you get right down to it, the women that treat their children like weapons are always looking for money and control.

# 663:

6:42 am PDT, Aug 11, Name not displayed, Massachusetts
As a "non-custodial" parent who went through a 14 month legal battle for my child and what little rights I have, I find this to be both heartbreaking and disgusting. What kind of a message does this send to fathers and potential fathers all across our nation? Adoption is a fantastic alternative and often times comes under scrutiny and judgment and this is definitely not helping matters. Clearly Cody O'Dea was taken advantage of by both the woman who gave birth to his child, her attorney, and the adoption agency. This is, in every way possible, negligent and disregarding the Fathers rights. Common sense tells you that he would not know Utah state laws, he was acting in the state he was living and familiar with. He is the rightful parent of this child and deserves SOLE PHYSICAL and LEGAL CUSTODY both legally and morally. This attorney is clearly fueled by greed and the thirst for a win, the best interest of the child has not been considered. One day this child will be old enough to know the truth if he is placed with adoptive parents, do you really want to be responsible for those emotional and mental scars?

ABSOLUTELY!

# 662:

6:00 am PDT, Aug 11, Name not displayed, Massachusetts
This is a HORRIBLE situation. The fact that Ashley can get away with what she has done, and not be thrown in jail for this offense, is beyond me, and the dozens of people I have discussed this case with. If gender roles were reversed, a father would be persecuted, and this story would be all over the national news. I am shocked that this could happen in the U.S., and that a fair and unbiased court system would rule in the way they have done. Ashley should be thrown in jail for what she has done.

Yes, without a doubt. This is a terrible crime against parents rights.

# 661:

5:46 am PDT, Aug 11, Name not displayed, Massachusetts
What a remarkable young man for wanting to step up to the plate and be a father. This girl is selfish and that child will grow up and hate her for it. I hope he fights till the end and SHAME on the state of Utah for allowing this to happen. It should be overturned, and they should all be prosecuted. God Bless him for his efforts and someday this child WILL know what happened and know her real father was quite a man. Unlike a selfish, bitter, poor example of a human being her carrier was! (suits her better than mother)

ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!!

# 660:

5:28 am PDT, Aug 11, Julie McLane, Texas

# 659:

5:10 am PDT, Aug 11, Steven Finlan, Michigan
Give this man his daughter and prosecute that woman for selling her child! What is the United States of America coming to? Put that daughter back in her home where she belongs!

and emphatic YES.

# 658:

4:32 am PDT, Aug 11, Jermaine Richardson, Pennsylvania

# 657:

4:13 am PDT, Aug 11, Kenneth Hart, Maryland
That baby needs to be back in the care of a biological parent. The mother is just as mean spirited and hateful towards the father as your disgusting laws and law makers. This truly illustrates that you are not living in a state of pioneers - but a state that operates like broken wagon wheels over a rough trail - your lawmakers just cant handle the heavy stuff - you want the easy path - so just walk all over the father. Disgusting.

To say nothing is criminal.

# 656:

3:53 am PDT, Aug 11, Alan Richins, Texas
I have custody of 2 boys from 2 mothers and had to go through the hardest process. Both times the process had me prove my ability to raise my own sons. I believe that some women think as a child as a paycheck either weekly or monthly. The laws call out " in the best interest of the child" but the law is biased in what that is.

# 655:

1:21 am PDT, Aug 11, Hans Laven, New Zealand
This is another sexist hate crime. Men are rising up in response to the foolishness and misandry being perpetrated by feminist organisations and the governments that have been captured by their false ideology. Those who have committed such atrocities towards men will be held accountable for their deeds. Prepare yourselves for the consequences for they are nearer than you might think.

# 654:

10:51 pm PDT, Aug 10, Joseph Walsh, New York
I beleive that the LDS Church does support family rights, It starts with a Dad and mom. Since the mother vacated her obligation ( both to the sprirt of the child and church teaching ) This LDS group fails to reconized the devine right that is placed upon a father to raise the child and this action should be brought to the bishop and even the Prophet. Please read LDS views towards family. Fight like Joseph smith , with love towards your family and God and do not give in.

The new agencys are the devils tool when they DO REPORT this abuse towards a fathers holy obligation towards his children.

# 653:

9:59 pm PDT, Aug 10, Lori Chalupa, Iowa
I will be praying for you and your child, Cody!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!

# 651:

9:19 pm PDT, Aug 10, Name not displayed, Illinois
The media needs to grab hold of this and expose how corrupt the system really is!

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