- A couple from Afghanistan is suing Marine Major Joshua Mast, and his wife Stephanie Mast.
- According to the couple, the Masts conspired to illegally kidnap their baby.
- The Masts deny the accusations and claim that they adopted the baby legally.
According to a federal court lawsuit, a Marine accused of kidnapping a couple from Afghanistan who fled to the USA as refugees last year.
Jane and John Doe are the couple that accused Major Joshua Mast (and his wife Stephanie Mast) of conspiring, fraud, false imprisonment and unlawful abduction in connection to what they call the unlawful abduction and identification of Baby Doe. The allegations and lawsuit were first reported by the Associated PressThursday
The Forensic proceedingsBaby Doe’s parents, five siblings, and four of her siblings were killed in September 2019 in a US Special Military Operation in Afghanistan. Baby Doe was two months old at that time. She sustained serious injuries but was able to survive and was taken to a military hospital.
According to the lawsuit, Joshua Mast was a Marine Corps Captain stationed in Afghanistan. He “fraudulently” obtained a custody order in Virginia for the child. But, the US government failed to take action to release Baby Doe from the Masts. Unnamed officials from the State Department told AP that they believed that the baby belonged in Afghanistan and not the US. international humanitarian lawThey had to search for her next of the kin.
According to AP, the officials voiced such opinions six weeks after the baby had been rescued by the Red Cross and Afghan officials at the U.S. embassy.
Mast continued to try to adopt the child, but he was still in Afghanistan. Her family was eventually located. The baby was eventually released to John Doe, her first cousin, and Jane Doe, Jane Doe’s wife. Jane Doe assumed legal guardianship.
According to AP, Masts also attempted to get the baby to the US through Vice President Mike Pence. The Masts even attempted to reach out via Mick Mulvaney to President Donald Trump, who at that time was the White House chief-of-staff.
John and Jane Doe eventually got in touch. The lawyer for the Marine told them the couple that they wanted to make sure their baby received proper medical attention, but didn’t disclose their true intentions to adopt the baby. They claimed that they had communicated with the Masts for more than a year.
August 2021 will be the same month. US forces abruptly withdrew their troops from AfghanistanJohn and Jane Doe travelled to the US to get Baby Doe medical care. The lawsuit stated that Joshua and Stephanie Mast then took her from her only parents, whom she had known for the majority of her life.
Jane and John Doe said to AP that the Masts helped coordinate their trip to the USA. When they arrived at an airport in Washington, D.C., they were shocked to see Mast produce an Afghan passport for the baby — with his own last name printed on the document, the AP reported.
Insider received no response from the lawyers for John and Jane Doe or the Masts.
Last week, the Masts filed for bankruptcy. Motion to have the lawsuit thrown outThey have denied the allegations and maintained that their adoption of Baby Doe is legal.
“Joshua Mast and Stephanie Mast have done everything to ensure she gets the medical care that she needs, at great personal sacrifice and expense, and provide her a loving and safe home,” said the motion.
In emails sent to military officials, viewed by AP, The Masts also claimed that the baby’s parents were not killed in a special military operation. Instead, they claimed the suicide bombing was responsible. Jane Doe has denied this accusation. The Masts also questioned whether the couple were related to the baby. Red CrossAP reported that a group called reuniting relatives in war zones identified the couple as the next of kin and identifies the couple as the baby’s next-of-kin.
The claim of the Masts was also refuted by Justice Department lawyers, who described their custody documents from Virginia as “unlawful,” according AP.
The couple from Afghanistan told AP that they were devastated by the loss of Baby Doe. “Right now we are just dead bodies. We are devastated. We don’t have any plans for a life without her. Jane Doe said to the outlet, “Food has no taste and rest gives us no rest.”
A FlyerAccording to AP, the Masts shared their story at a service in Ohio on February 27th 2022. The service was not streamed online and the flyer gave few details but stated: “Unforeseen circumstances gave the couple an unexpected chance to stand up and defend innocent life. See how God’s powerful hand enabled a remarkable rescue.
Are you a journalist with a news tip? Send a news tip to this reporter at kvlamis@insider.com.
