Things just got a lot more complicated for Jenelle Evans and her husband David Eason.
As we’ve been reporting, David is facing felony child abuse charges after an alleged late September incident involving him and the Teen Mom 2 alum’s 14-year-old son Jace Evans. And now, Jace’s biological father is back in the picture once again after 13 YEARS away!
Related: Jenelle Evans’ Former BFF Charged With First-Degree Murder!
According to the US Sun, Andrew Charles Lewis returned to North Carolina last week for the first time in a long time. Lewis is Jace’s biological father. He’s the one with whom Jenelle was romantically involved at Jace’s birth, which was of course documented more than a decade ago on 16 And Pregnant. But Jenelle and Andrew didn’t work out, and the then-teenage dad split for good about a year into Jace’s life. Since then, he hasn’t seen the boy — until now.
That outlet reports that Andrew and Jace had an in-person reunion for the first time in 13 years last week. And obviously, considering Jace was so young when Lewis first left, it might as well have been the first time they met as far as the teenager was concerned. But while the reunion itself is interesting enough, the legal moves being made around it are really noteworthy.
One source explained in the news org’s Monday night report how Child Protective Services officials have pulled Andrew into their case as they investigate David and try to figure out what to do with Jace:
“Andrew was brought into Jace’s Child Protective Services case since he’s his father and could potentially have a claim for custody. Since he’s involved in the case, he’s been given access to Jace and has been having regular conversations with him over the past several months.”
Whoa!
So they met in person for the first time last week, but they’ve been talking long-distance for a while. Interesting! They’ve definitely been building some kind of bond, then. And that’s not all. The 38-year-old Lewis is already said to have really thrown himself into Jace’s life to the point where he is striving to be “involved in the outcome” of Jace’s CPS custody hearing:
“Andrew has really gotten involved in Jace’s life and has shown a vested interest in being part of his life moving forward. Andrew has made a real effort to be involved in the outcome of Jace’s custody.”
Damn!! For what it’s worth, insiders told the outlet very clearly and in no uncertain terms that Andrew is NOT looking to gain custody of Jace for himself. That ship has sailed. Instead, he supposedly has enough of a vested interest in the situation and enough of a bond developing with Jace that he could have some sway over whatever ends up happening. However, sources do not yet know whether Andrew wants Jace to remain with Jenelle, to move back in with his grandmother Barbara, or to live with another caretaker altogether.
Still, this is definitely a major development in Jace’s life — and Jenelle’s world, as well. And Andrew’s presence could end up being a major influence on the final custody determination for the teenager. But for now, Jace continues to remain in CPS custody as a North Carolina court works to figure out a long-term solution.
[Image via Jenelle Evans/Instagram/Teen Mom/YouTube]
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