Megan Everett, accused of kidnapping daughter, denied bond

Prosecutors say Everett kidnapped child because she did not want her vaccinated

SUNRISE, Fla. – A South Florida mother accused of kidnapping her own daughter in 2014 because she didn't want the girl to be vaccinated made her first court appearance in Broward County Wednesday and was denied a bond.

An attorney for Megan Everett, 23, argued in court that she should not be charged with kidnapping her own child because she shared custody of the girl with the father.

Broward County Judge John Hurley disagreed and said Everett's actions were not appropriate in a custodial situation.

During Everett's court appearance, Hurly read part of a letter that Everett left behind for her daughter's father.

"If I let them take her and vaccinate her and brainwash her, I wouldn't be doing what's right," the letter said. "I cannot let a judge tell me how my daughter should be raised. We will miss you but I had to leave."

Everett was taken into custody Aug. 3 in Palatka, about 30 miles southwest of St. Augustine.

Robert Baumann told Local 10 News that Everett kidnapped their daughter, Lilly, from his Sunrise home during an ongoing custody battle in May 2014.

FBI spokesman Jim Marshall said an anonymous tip led investigators to Everett after the abduction was featured on CNN's "The Hunt" with John Walsh.

Authorities arrested Carlos Lesters III last Friday in relation to the case. According to detectives, Lesters visited Everett and Lilly on multiple occasions and failed to report her whereabouts to police.

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About the Authors:

Andrew Perez is a South Florida native who joined the Local 10 News team in May 2014.

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.