In a significant family court development, former Real Housewives of Orange County star Meghan King Edmonds has reportedly lost custody of her three young children following an investigation by Child Protective Services.
The Custody Decision and Investigation
Meghan King Edmonds and her ex-husband, former MLB player Jim Edmonds, have seen their shared custody arrangement overturned. According to a report from US Weekly, a school employee contacted CPS, triggering a months-long investigation that has resulted in King, 41, losing physical and legal custody of her children.
The former couple, who married in 2014 and divorced in 2019, share three children: daughter Aspen and twins Hart and Hayes. They had previously established a shared custody agreement in May 2021 following their separation.
The recent CPS probe has led to a major shift, with Jim Edmonds now granted sole custody of the children. King has been permitted supervised visitation rights. A future court hearing will determine if this custody arrangement becomes permanent.
A History of Tension and Conflict
The custody change comes amidst an ongoing strained relationship between the ex-spouses. Earlier this year, Jim Edmonds' current wife, Kortnie Nichole Edmonds, called the police on King following an alleged altercation at the Edmonds family home.
The incident occurred when King was dropping off a dress for her daughter. According to a police report obtained by US Weekly, Kortnie claimed that King entered the home without permission and refused to leave immediately. The report stated King "wedged her foot in the door briefly, so she could not shut the door completely."
Although Kortnie initially sought to press charges, she did not proceed with legal action, and King was never arrested. The two women reached an agreement in June after Kortnie filed for a restraining order in May, with King agreeing to maintain distance and refrain from discussing Kortnie on social media.
Support from Former Co-Star
Amidst the custody battle, former Real Housewife Kelly Dodd has publicly voiced support for King. In a recent TikTok video, Dodd claimed that the custody issue stemmed from King giving one of her twins, Hayes, Ritalin, a medication commonly used to treat ADHD.
Dodd passionately defended her former castmate, stating: "I can tell you, she loves those babies. She loves those kids. And I know for a fact she's a good mother. I just pray that she gets those babies back."
Neither King nor Edmonds has made public statements regarding the recent custody developments. The Independent has contacted King's representative for comment.
