Cherish's mom breaks down during custody hearing

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Rayne Perrywinkle broke down during a visitation hearing Friday in a Duval County courtroom, unable to maintain her composure as she seeks to regain custody of her two daughters.

The mother of slain 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle was escorted out by lawyers and health counselors, barely able to stand at times.

After a 10-minute break, she returned to the courtroom and listened to testimony from counselors with the Department of Children and Families who want to reduce her visitation hours with her 4- and 5-year-old daughters in the best interest of the children.

"She was very short with her children, very agitated during her entire visit," said Amanda Shortino, a family case worker. "She wasn't even nice to them at all during her visit. She didn't speak to them until they came to her."

Counselors say Perrywinkle has been agitated, angry and critical of her children. They say she disobeyed orders from counselors who asked her not to talk about Cherish's death without the presence of a family counselor.

A judge reduced Perrywinkle's visitation time with her two daughters from three days a week for two and a half hours each day to two days a week for an hour each. The judge will revisit the schedule in six weeks.


About the Author:

Tarik anchors the 4, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. weekday newscasts and reports with the I-TEAM.