My Story: A Mother Fighting 251 Days to Bring Her Daughter Home

My name is Daniela Cueva. I am a mother of three, and I have been fighting for 251 days to bring my five‑year‑old daughter, Angelica, home.

What Happened

On October 31, 2025, Angelica's father was supposed to pick her up for a visit. But he never confirmed he was coming. Because of a no‑contact order he had filed, there could be no in‑person exchanges—so there should have been no visit that day at all. I messaged him to ask whether he was coming. He ignored me completely. He wanted me to believe he was not showing up.

Instead, he was planning something else. He knew I would be at her school that morning for the Halloween party. He coordinated with police, lied to them about our communications, and ambushed me at the school. I was arrested in front of my daughter, her teachers, and other parents. He took Angelica and never brought her back. I have not seen her, heard her voice, or held her since.

The Truth About the Order He Hides Behind

Angelica's father claims he has "sole custody" under a stalking injunction he obtained in Orange County. That injunction is six pages long and does not mention Angelica anywhere. It gives him no custody rights. It never has.

On May 27, 2026, the Orange County judge himself issued an order confirming that the case is stayed —meaning the injunction is not being enforced. The judge wrote that all motions in the case are "abated until the stay is lifted." There is nothing in that order—or any order—that prevents him from returning our daughter.

He is not holding Angelica because a court told him to. He is holding her because he wants to. He is holding her in defiance of a valid Clay County custody order that grants me majority timesharing. He is holding her in defiance of the judge who explicitly ordered him to return her on March 5, 2026. He is holding her because of his own delusions and paranoia.

Who He Is

Angelica's father has a long, documented history of violence and lies. He strangled me twice while I was pregnant with her. He has a 39‑year history of intravenous drug use and multiple involuntary psychiatric commitments. He has filed three fraudulent protective orders against me over the years to cover up his own crimes. And in May of this year, the Sixth District Court of Appeal sanctioned him for citing fake cases "in an attempt to mislead the Court." Three appellate judges unanimously found that he deliberately tried to deceive them.

Where We Are Now

I have been fighting across multiple courts—family court, criminal court, and two appellate courts—mostly on my own, without a lawyer. I have filed emergency motion after emergency motion. I have presented over 600 photographs and videos of his abuse, his drug use, and his death threats. I have his notarized confession from 2020, in which he admitted that his prior accusations against me were based on "delusions and paranoia." I have done all of this while he has spent 251 days denying our daughter school, therapy, and any contact with her mother.

In less than two weeks, on July 21, 2026, a judge will finally hear three of my emergency motions: an order to bring Angelica home, a drug test and psychiatric evaluation for her father, and protection for my medical records. This is my chance to present everything I have gathered over months of relentless effort.

How You Can Help

I am fighting pro se—representing myself—because I cannot afford an attorney. Every dollar donated goes directly to filing fees, evidence preparation, and the legal battle to get my daughter back. If you cannot donate, sharing my story is just as powerful. Someone in your network may be able to help.

Angelica's bedroom is ready. Her siblings are waiting. I will not stop until she is home.

#BringAngelicaHome #JusticeForAngelica #251Days