Former ‘Survivor’ producer seeks custody of 2 children with slain wife

Producer seeks custody of children with slain wife

LOS ANGELES — The parents of a former “Survivor” producer whose wife was found slain in Mexico are seeking to terminate temporary guardianship of their grandchildren since their son has returned to Southern California.

David and Juanita Beresford-Redman, who were granted temporary guardianship of their son Bruce Beresford-Redman’s children during a hearing last week, filed an ex-parte motion in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Bruce Beresford-Redman said in the motion he wants to resume parental responsibility of his two children, and he has been living with the children, Camila and Alec, since Sunday.

“As Camila’s and Alec’s biological parent, it is my desire to immediately resume full custodial and parental responsibility of Camila and Alec, and I am capable and fit to do so,” he said in the documents.

Later Thursday, Monica Beresford-Redman’s sisters Carla and Jeane Burgos filed documents opposing the grandparents’ motion to terminate temporary guardianship of the children and saying that they feared Beresford-Redman would take their niece and nephew out of the state if he were granted full custody.

Carla Burgos has been seeking guardianship of the children, claiming their paternal grandparents are unfit.

The body of Beresford-Redman’s wife and the children’s mother, Monica, was found April 8 in a sewer at the Moon Palace Hotel resort in Cancun, where the couple and their children were vacationing.

Bruce Beresford-Redman has been considered a suspect by Mexican investigators who said his wife’s body showed signs of asphyxiation and a blow to the right temple. He had been ordered to remain in that country while the investigation proceeded.

His attorney Richard Hirsch said his client, who has not been charged with a crime, had no legal obligation to remain in Mexico and he insists he is innocent in the death of his wife.

Beresford-Redman’s attorney said last weekend he returned to be with his children and attend to family and personal matters.

Beresford-Redman has said his wife went out shopping and never returned.

The children were subsequently taken back to California where they have become the subject of the custody battle between relatives.

Carla and Jeane Burgos also have filed documents opposing the grandparents’ request to shorten the time for a hearing to terminate guardianship, and the grandparents’ request to modify a visitation schedule, claiming that would prevent the children from attending a memorial service for their mother Sunday.

Bruce Beresford-Redman and his parents want to change the Burgos’ visitation rights from Sunday to Saturday, saying “it is contrary to Camila’s and Alec’s best interests to attend Monica’s memorial service.”

“Psychologically, it would be healthier for the children to participate in a small, quiet and private memorial for their mother more tailored to their needs, as opposed to a large public service that will likely attract media attention,” Bruce Beresford-Redman said, citing discussion with the children’s therapist.