Leesburg, Virginia – Ten years following a tragic event where Michelle Castillo was murdered by her estranged husband in Loudoun County, her close friends, David and Stephanie Meeker, have finally been able to start adoption proceedings for the five children they took in after her passing.
Michelle Castillo had named the Meekers as guardians for her children in a legal document signed back in 2010, a decision that became paramount after her death in March 2014 at the hands of her husband, Braulio Castillo. The Meekers vowed to care for the children and raised them as their own within the foster care system, facing legal hurdles and a lengthy process to make their family official.
The Meekers navigated through the complexities of the legal system while ensuring the children felt at home in their new family. The goal was always to adopt the children, but they faced roadblocks due to Braulio Castillo’s appeals, which ultimately led to the termination of his parental rights and paved the way for the adoption process to proceed.
Despite setbacks caused by Virginia law regarding potential awards from a wrongful death lawsuit, the Meekers persisted in advocating for the children’s rights. Through the efforts of Del. David Reid, a bill was crafted to allow children adopted after a wrongful death to still benefit from possible awards, leading to unanimous approval and quick signing by Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
With the new law set to take effect in July and the adoption papers in progress, the Meekers are now looking ahead to finalizing the adoptions for the four children still under their care. Their journey is one of resilience and determination, ensuring that their family’s story brings about positive change while providing a loving home for those in need.