‘I was told my daughter died - then I found out she was put up for adoption’

Brandon was ready to see his newborn daughter in the hospital, then he received a shocking message from the child’s mother. 

An American man is fighting to get custody of his daughter after he was told she died, only to learn she had secretly been adopted out. 

Brandon Marteliz, a business owner from Florida, found out his partner was pregnant in January 2021. He was thrilled and ready to start a new chapter of his life. 

Although they weren't a couple, together they had picked out a name for their child, prepared a nursery and had everything ready to go.

When Brandon last saw the mother of his child, he thought everything had fallen into place. But a few days later, his entire world was shattered. 

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Brandon was preparing to welcome his daughter to the world. Source: ABC Nation

Dad told his daughter passed away, but she was secretly adopted out

The day before his daughter was born, Brandon sent a message to confirm if the mother would be at the hospital and if he could visit when his child was born. 

He received no response. He tried again, to no avail.

Then he received news that broke him apart. 

“I was told that my daughter passed away,” the devastated man told ABC Nation, explaining his daughter had reportedly died of SIDS. 

For nearly three weeks, Brandon was convinced his daughter had died, but in his gut, he knew something was wrong. 

“I couldn’t accept it,” he said. “I needed to see. I’m going to hospitals, and they’re calling security on me because I’m in here looking for my daughter. And I can’t find her.”

Then he received another text from the mother. “I have her,” the message read. “I got the baby.” 

But when he asked to see the child, the woman disappeared again. Out of frustration and desperation, he called Child Protective Services (CPS) to find out what was going on. 

“I found out from a CPS lady that there was a baby that was born, a newborn that was alive,” he said. 

That was when he learned his daughter had been put up for adoption. 

Brandon was desperate to get access to his daughter and wanted to “prove” he was the newborn’s dad.

“I’m the father, I’m her dad,” he said. “I can take a test, I can prove I’m her dad; my daughter’s alive.”

However, according to ABC Nation, the child’s mum didn’t list Brandon as the father on the newborn's birth certificate. 

Instead, she named the child herself and instantly put her up for adoption, referring to Brandon only as a “man who may have interest in the minor child.” 

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Brandon is fighting tooth and nail to get custody of his daughter. But it won't be easy. Source: ABC Nation

Dad “willing to do anything” to get his daughter back

Because Brandon isn’t listed as the dad and isn’t married to the child’s mum, he has a slim chance of getting custody of his daughter. But he’s not going to stop the fight to get her back. 

Speaking to the adoption agency that is rehoming his daughter,  he was told his child was “going to a great home.”

“I couldn’t hear that,” he said. “I cut [the caller] off; I said, ‘No she’s not. Over my dead body, she’s not.’”

Records stated the child’s mother argued Brandon had “not paid a fair and reasonable amount of living and medical expenses”, therefore the mother didn’t have to name the biological dad on the birth certificate. 

Brandon flat-out rejected these claims. “I am willing to do whatever it takes to be given custody of my daughter and be in her life,” he hit back in court documents. 

“I am willing to pay whatever form or support or cost it takes.” 

The Florida man was ready to become a father and had already prepared her bedroom. Now, he can barely spend time in there. 

 “I had books for her, a few toys, tons of clothes,” he said. “I’m getting ready to give them away because I know they’re not going to fit her anymore.” 

It is going to be an uphill battle, Brandon admitted, but he isn’t backing down and has sought legal help in his fight.

“She should be here in this house,” he said.  “I’m the one who can love her. Nobody can do that like I can.”

Originally published as ‘I was told my daughter died - then I found out she was put up for adoption’