On May 12, 2025, Matt and Tuckey Hernandez faced an unjust criminal trial in Georgia, beginning with jury selection. Days before the trial began, a two day pre-trial hearing took place. During this Daubert Motion, the state attempted to block EVERY medical expert critical to explaining Emma’s health. The state successfully excluded one of the four doctors. Throughout the trial, the prosecutor, Caroline Yi and Judge David Dickinson worked to suppress fact witnesses, character witnesses, and parental fitness testimony. Despite this, defense attorneys Stephen Wasley and Catherine Bernard fought tirelessly, overcoming relentless obstacles and judicial bias.

The judge allowed the state to discuss DFCS (Georgia’s CPS agency) matters but when the defense mentioned DFCS issues, the judge stated it was irrelevant, even stating, “This is Superior Court. We’re not here for the best interest of the child.” Meanwhile, court-ordered therapists and counselors, who spent over 100 hours with the family, were ready to testify to Matt and Tuckey’s exceptional parenting—yet the state sought to silence them.

Thanks to investigative reporter Rebecca Lindstrom of 11Alive News and Jeb Kicker of Prop X Productions, nearly every moment of the trial was captured on video and audio under Rule 22. On day 10, despite the state’s efforts to suppress evidence, the jury found Matt and Tuckey NOT GUILTY on all four charges, sparing them from a potential 80-year prison sentence for a crime that never occurred.

We are deeply grateful for the courtroom supporters, the prayers, and the unwavering dedication of attorneys Wasley and Bernard. Matt, Tuckey, and their girls are forever thankful for this victory and the community that stood by them.

After almost a full year, Arya and Emma were thankfully placed with their loving aunt and uncle. Which means no more moving around from foster home to foster home. The Department of Family & Children Services requested to be removed from the case if the girls were placed with family. They no longer wanted to be responsible for "resources to help the family". The judge placed the girls with their family and agreed to let DFCS off the case. 

The parents lost all phone/video calls with their girls and are no longer allowed at any doctor appointments. This is because of the no contact bond condition placed on the parents against the aunt and uncle. Matt and Tuckey see their girls twice a week now at a visitation center that is fully supervised. They are in charge of paying for: court ordered visits, court ordered therapy for Arya, couples counseling and court ordered child support to the aunt and uncle. This totals to $3,600 per month.

The parents have tried to get the no contact bond modified three times. This would help a lot with being able to communicate with the caregivers regarding the girls health, daycare, school and visits. Plus, it would allow the parents nightly phone calls to their daughters.

The first time this was attempted, the judge only allowed the bond condition between Matt and Tuckey to be dropped. This was huge blessing as Matt and Tuckey had suffered through this horrible nightmare without being able to speak to one another. Which resulted in Tuckey being homeless. (Matt had stayed in their family home because only Tuckey was arrested when this all started. The hope was Matt would stay in their home and get his girls back. Sadly, seven months later, Matt was indicted through a grand jury) So, after ten months Matt and Tuckey had their no contact order dropped and Tuckey was able to move in back home and they could finally lean on one another for emotional and physical support during this time. 

The second time the parents went to court, the translator didn't show up. She emailed the court that morning that "she was sick". It was rescheduled to three weeks later where the translator didn't show up because "she got into a car accident". It has now been rescheduled again three weeks out. 

The aunt and uncle thankfully have had more control over Emma's health now that caseworkers are no longer able to interfere. We hope to update more on Emma's health when the time is right. 

The parents must prove their innocence in criminal court now. This includes paying multiple criminal attorneys. Locating and paying expert witnesses to go over Emma's records, write reports and testify in court. All of this is sadly very expensive but, also very necessary. 

Thank you to everyone for the continued prayers and financial support.