February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
A custody hearing has been scheduled in Dublin today as the tug of war between Dylan’s mother, Serena Benwell, and her parents, Tim and Ethel
Blake of Cobh, Co. Cork, continued.
Dylan was taken by his grandparents from his suburban Chicago home on July 22. Police said the Blakes executed a well-planned kidnapping that included forged documents, disguises, and double airline bookings that ended with Dylan being brought to the Blake’s home in Cobh.
Serena Benwell is convinced her son will soon be reunited with her and her five other children and Dylan’s adopted father, John Benwell.
John Benwell is a U.S. sailor preparing for deployment to Iraq. The family was to move from Illinois to Norfolk, Va., this week.
“We’ve bought a beautiful house with five bedrooms, it’s just beautiful and the children can’t believe all the room they’ll have,” Serena Benwell said.
The mother is so convinced the court in Dublin will order the return of her son that she has decorated her front yard with signs that read: “Welcome home, Dylan.” Teddy bears and stuffed animals are piled up next to the signs.
The Blakes helped to take care of their grandson when he was 2 weeks old and his natural father died. Benwell said her parents were obsessed with Dylan “because they’re obsessed with boys” and she accused them of being emotionally and physically unstable. She said she only allowed her parents to visit with her children in July because her father told her he was dying of cancer and wanted to make amends. The Blakes have alleged in court documents that Dylan has been abused.
U.S. officials have filed a Hague petition for custody of Dylan on behalf of Benwell.
Benwell has asked U.S. officials to have Dylan flown back to the United states through Chicago’s O’Hare Airport so he can see his friends before the family moves to their new home in Virginia.