Court Documents & Evidence
Complete case record — court filings, orders, counselor reports, deposition testimony, medical records, and Adele's own words.
Case Timeline
Joint Custody Implementation Plan — 50/50 custody, no domiciliary parent designated.
Melanie ordered to pay $500 attorney's fees. Both parties to attend Better Options Initiative. Parenting coordinator Jenny Moore designated. Written judgment never filed into the record.
Intake 10/3/2019 with Melissa Cavanaugh, LPC-S, RPT at Counseling & Recovery Guidance. All three parents (Jason, Melanie, Keri) attended intake. Presenting issues: adjustment, school struggles, blended family conflict.
Adele moves into Todd's home. Household: Adele, Charli (Melanie's), Amelia (Todd's), Morgan (Todd's non-bio). Diagnosis changes from adjustment disorder to generalized anxiety disorder.
Clinical interview of Adele (age 8). "Generally reported happy, but grades were reported as good. One instance of threatened but not actual self-harm was reported." Follow-up rating forms were never completed.
Adele self-harming (hitting and scratching herself) and passively alluding to suicidal ideation. Counselor discussed inpatient hospitalization protocols. Buffer behaviors taught. Parents informed and supportive.
All four parents (Jason, Keri, Melanie, Todd) met with Cavanaugh. Topic: Todd pulling Adele's hair. Todd "kind of chuckled" when Cavanaugh used the word "traumatized" and said "she's not traumatized." Cavanaugh: "things didn't change much after that."
Cavanaugh: "excessive crying, isolating in her room, extreme anxiety the day before transition to Mom's, panic attacks at school, inability to focus." Panic attacks personally witnessed by counselor. Sessions increased to every other week. Melanie and Todd question why she's still in counseling.
Joint session with Cavanaugh to introduce Peyton. Adele preferred in-person sessions; Cavanaugh had moved to California. Peyton's letter: "Adele has not indicated any change of her desire to live full-time with her father."
In a counseling session, Adele told Jason: "I don't care. I want you to file for custody. I can't do this anymore." She said "the worst that's going to happen is that the judge says no and she just has to wait until she's 18."
Jason's sworn statement detailing: food insecurity, forced melatonin, parentification (caring for Charli), Todd entering bathroom, no locked doors, corporal punishment (kneeling on rice, hair pulling, slapping), blocked phone access, academic neglect, dental neglect.
Both Melissa Cavanaugh and Peyton Corwin issued written reports. Cavanaugh: recommends co-parenting counseling + family therapy for Adele & Melanie. Corwin: Adele consistently wants to live full-time with father.
Three requests: (1) modify physical custody schedule, (2) designate Jason as domiciliary parent, (3) reconciliation counseling for Adele & Melanie. Jason intends to call Adele as witness per Watermeier.
92-page sworn testimony. Key: personally witnessed panic attacks, confirmed self-harm history, Todd's dismissive behavior in session, Adele's anxiety "tremendously gotten worse," co-parenting described as "parallel parenting not co-parenting."
Hearing Officer Vanessa Randall: Jason designated domiciliary parent. Alternating weekly schedule continues, but Adele stays with Jason during Melanie's work days. Melanie ordered to enroll in Best Moms Program by 12/1/2024. Judge Susan Theall presiding.
HOC recommendations become temporary judgment. Jason is domiciliary parent with authority over all decisions. Set to expire June 2, 2025.
Dr. Valerie Dugas, LPC appointed for mini-evaluation (without psychological testing) after Richard Burleigh was unreachable. Each party pays half. Judge Theall signed.
Extended because custody evaluation has not been completed. Jason remains domiciliary parent. Full force and effect until further order of court.
Deposition Highlights — Melissa Cavanaugh, LPC-S
Sworn testimony, August 14, 2024. 92 pages. Cavanaugh treated Adele from October 2019 to February 2024.
On Adele's mental state (Page 39)
"She was very emotional, very sad. We worked through multiple panic attacks in session and worked on emotional regulation... her mental state was she seemed highly anxious and very depressed, and it was starting to affect her school. She was having panic attacks at school."
On self-harm (Page 39-40)
"She was self-harming. She was hitting herself and scratching herself, and she had passively alluded to suicidal ideation... we had to talk about buffer behaviors... I had to go over my limits to confidentiality and what I have to do ethically if a client is threatening to harm themselves, i.e., sending her to a hospital for inpatient."
On Todd's response in the four-parent session (Page 25-27)
"Todd kind of chuckled when I used the word traumatized and said she's not traumatized and, you know, if you weren't — something about like her feelings, like you're fine... I don't know that he fully agreed with what I said simply because of the chuckling and like she's not traumatized... I know things didn't change much after that."
On Todd and the bathroom / melatonin (Page 32-33)
"Todd would come in and give them their Melatonin while they were in the bathtub... Adele did not like that. She wanted her privacy and she wanted space to herself, and that wasn't received well there as Todd felt like it was his house, so she didn't have the right to like lock the doors."
On Adele's consistent preference (Page 34-36)
"She talked about it a lot. But her fear was hurting her mom... she just couldn't take it anymore and so she asked for a session with her dad and she told him, I don't care. I want you to file for custody. I don't — I can't do this anymore. And the worst that's going to happen is that the judge says no and she just has to wait until she's 18."
On whether issues were isolated (Page 54 — Cavanaugh pushes back on Guidry)
"I would disagree. I think that the Melatonin issue happened repeated. The lack of privacy happened repeated. The amount of conflict happened repeated. This was week after week after week after week after week. That was continuously discussed in our sessions, so I don't think it's accurate to say that they were isolated events."
On Melanie's reaction when Adele tries to communicate (Page 63)
"She's told me, and I've also witnessed it in session, her telling her mom that she feels that way. And Melanie got very upset and cried and said she feels like a bad mom... which deterred Adele from continuing to communicate with her mom out of fear of hurting her mom more."
On co-parenting (Page 83)
"What this family engages in is not co-parenting. They engage in what we call parallel parenting."
On Adele's desire to be heard (Page 69-70)
"Adele has specifically requested to have someone listen to her verbatim because she feels like her voice is valid, and she has reported that she is ready to share whatever she needs to share because she's at this point."
Adele's Voice — In Her Own Words
From Adele's therapeutic journaling (court exhibits) and handwritten notes.
What I Want at Mom's House
Therapeutic journaling prompt: "If Mom could do these things — I would want to be there"
- 1. "If she would listen"
- 2. "When she is around she will not act like I am not her child"
- 3. "She will not look through/take my stuff"
- 4. "She will not lie to everybody in our house and actually tell the truth"
- 5. "She will not yell at me"
Why I Want to Be at Dad's
Therapeutic journaling prompt: "5 things I don't have at Mom's"
- "They put ME first"
- "I don't get the love and care"
- "Things to do besides chores and eat and take baths"
- "I don't get as much LOVE"
- "I don't have to wake up at 4:30/5:00"
Adele's List of Grievances
Handwritten list from Adele, undated (court exhibit)
Journal Entry — January 26/27
Adele's handwritten notes from a specific incident
Academic Decline — LEAP Test Scores
Adele sent her dad her test scores with the message: "Dad I think I need help in school like I'm actually gonna cry"
| Year | Grade | ELA | Math | Science |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 3rd | Basic (740) | Mastery (786) | Mastery (755) |
| 2022 | 4th | Advanced (802) | Advanced (796) | Mastery (766) |
| 2023 | 5th | Mastery (771) | Mastery (772) | Mastery (760) |
| 2024 | 6th | Basic (747) | Mastery (788) | Basic (749) |
Adele went from Advanced in ELA and Math (4th grade, 2022) to Basic in ELA and Science (6th grade, 2024). The decline correlates directly with the worsening home environment documented by both counselors and Adele herself.
Medical Records
Current medications: Rizatriptan (MAXALT) 5mg for acute migraines, MigreLief (B2-magnesium-feverfew) for prevention. Past medical history includes allergies and migraine with aura.
Rash on stomach diagnosed as pityriasis rosea (previously misdiagnosed as ringworm). Noted recent treatment with Azithromycin for bronchitis/possible walking pneumonia.
OLL Women's & Children's Emergency Department. Jason listed as guarantor. $100 paid in cash.
Jason notified Adele's neurologist of the temporary custody order, requested records be updated to direct all communications to him as domiciliary parent. Nurse confirmed changes.
Guidry & Horaist Orthodontics. $5,500 treatment. Melanie paid $150 initial, Keri's card $150 + $194/month auto-pay for 20 months. Jason is responsible party. Both parents financially contributing.
Work Day Exchanges — Nov 2024 to Mar 2025
Under the temporary order, Adele stays with Jason during Melanie's work days. Jason tracked every exchange notification and arrival time.
Brownsville TX Trip — August 2025
Trip during both parents' custodial time. 2 unexcused school days missed. No cell phone access for Adele. Destination: Linda Frances Sommer, 382 Sugar Grove Lane, Brownsville TX.
Key People
Jason's Side
- Jason James Choplin — Father, IT analyst (remote), 14 years at Champagne X
- Keri Choplin — Stepmother, married Jason 2017
- Jennifer Barber Valois — Attorney, Barber Valois Law Firm
Melanie's Side
- Melanie Reinemann Rogers — Mother, L&D nurse, Lafayette General (3x 12hr shifts/week)
- Todd Rogers — Stepfather, detective
- Randy M. Guidry → Danielle Thompson — Attorneys
The Children
- Adele Rose Choplin — DOB 7/22/2012 (age 13)
- Charli — Melanie's daughter with Trent Walker (born 2019)
- Amelia — Todd's biological daughter
- Morgan Miller — Todd's non-bio daughter (moved out)
Professionals
- Melissa Cavanaugh, LPC-S, RPT — Adele's counselor 2019-2024
- Peyton Corwin, PLPC — Adele's counselor 2024-present
- Dr. Jean Boudreaux, PhD — Psychologist, evaluated Adele 5/11/2021
- Dr. Valerie Dugas, LPC — Court-appointed evaluator 2025
- Judge Susan Theall — Presiding Judge, 15th JDC
- Vanessa D. Randall — Hearing Officer
Adele's Messages — Two Relationships, Two Patterns
Analysis of 412 pages of iMessages: "Delly Away" (Jason↔Adele, 216 pages, Dec 2023 - present) and "Momacita" (Melanie↔Adele, 196 pages, Dec 2023 - Jul 2025). These messages were sent while Adele was at the other parent's house.
Messages with Dad (Delly Away)
- Communication: Near-daily, substantive exchanges — multiple messages per day
- Initiation: Both initiate — Adele proactively shares her day, photos, problems
- Depth: Discussions about health, grades, friends, feelings, activities, fears
- Dad's engagement: Researches her interests, tracks grades, teaches French, plans activities, provides first aid advice, discusses Instagram safety
- Tone: Warm, playful, deeply connected — "strong dada," joke-telling, shared interests
Messages with Mom (Momacita)
- Communication: Sporadic, shallow — multi-day gaps, 2-4 messages then silence
- Initiation: Melanie initiates almost all — Adele only texts for practical needs
- Depth: Surface-level "Wyd" check-ins, pet photos, one-word answers accepted
- Mom's engagement: Formulaic openers, rarely follows up on answers, no homework help, no emotional processing
- Tone: Polite but guarded — "Good," "Yeah," "Ok," minimal volunteered information
Adele's Own Words — The Contrast
Jan 19, 2024 — sick at Mom's
"Daddy it feels like there's fiberglass all through out my body and it hurts really bad am I coming home tomorrow"
May 8, 2024 — afraid to call Dad at Mom's
"I can't call cause I have to shower and I'm going to get in trouble if someone hears me"
Jun 29, 2024 — at Mom's
"I just want to come home."
"Yeah we just keep getting fussed at."
Sep 11, 2024 — Todd yelling
"I want to come home rly bad."
"Mr Todd is yelling at us and me and Amelia are cleaning the room rn"
"But I don't like getting yelled at :("
Aug 10, 2024 — confined by Todd
"Better but Mr Todd said he doesn't want me out my room until tomorrow."
No fever. She wanted to see her friend Finn.
Oct 20, 2024 — at Mom's on weekend
"And no it's not a good weekend anymore cause I'm getting yelled at"
Nov 17, 2024 — unprompted, at night
"I wanna come home rly bad nothing happened but I just rly miss you and mom and I want to come home"
"Mom" here means Keri. Unprompted. Feels need to explain "nothing happened."
Dec 17, 2024 — phone confiscation is routine
"They haven't taken my phone yet and I can't sleep cause I want to come home."
Phone confiscation is EXPECTED. She's using the remaining window to text Dad.
Feb 12, 2025 — phone taken
"Yea sorry mom took my phone"
Direct confirmation of phone confiscation cutting off Dad contact.
Nov 8, 2024 — migraine with neurological symptoms
"I can't feel my left arm again... I'm scared I told Mr Todd and we are on the way home now"
Jason coaches her through treatment remotely. Mom is at work.
Jul 25, 2024 — academic distress
"Dad I think I need help in school like I'm actually gonna cry"
Jun 2024 — at bedtime
"I'm home and in bed love you thank you for taking care of me and loving me with all your heart good night daddy"
Typical exchange — repeated dozens of times
Mom: "Wyd"
Adele: "Nothing much wyd"
Mom: "At work miss you"
Adele: "Miss you too"
[Conversation ends]
Apr 28, 2024 — vulnerability
"Mom do you think I'm pretty??"
Asked twice. No direct reassurance visible in the thread.
~Oct 2024 — learning Python
"A while ago dad wanted to learn python with me but I didn't want to and he learned it so I'm surprising him for his birthday by learning it cause I want to know"
Adele plans a surprise for Dad based on their shared interest.
Apr 2024 — unprompted from Melanie
"I hope you know that I love you more than life. You are half of my heart. I may not be a perfect parent but I do try"
No one asked. Defensive and unprompted.
~Aug 2024 — contact name guilt
Mom: "Do you have me in your phone as MR?"
Adele: "Yeah I'm not sure why... I think dad put it like that"
Mom: "Oh. It's kind of hurtful."
Puts emotional weight on Adele over something minor.
Melanie calling Keri "mom"
"Yeah me mom and dad watch it all the time" — Adele referring to Jason and Keri
Adele naturally calls Keri "mom." Melanie does not react.
Jun 30, 2025 — panic attack
"Hard I had a mini panic attack"
Melanie asks "Why what happened?" — appropriate concern shown.
Key Patterns from Adele's Messages
The child's own messages tell the story the court needs to hear.
Adele is not coached. She is not performing for either parent. She texts Dad about her fears, her pain, her desire to come home. She texts Mom with polite, guarded one-word answers. The contrast is documented across 412 pages of her own words.
Todd Rogers — The Third Parent
Analysis of 98 pages of iMessages between Melanie and Todd Rogers (Jan 2024 - Apr 2025). Todd is a detective with the Scott Police Department. These messages reveal his role in the custody dynamic.
De Facto Co-Parent
- Makes medical decisions — manages neurologist referrals, ER visits, pursues ADHD evaluation
- Controls exchange locations — demanded Scott PD (his workplace)
- Manages school issues — monitors grades, contacts teachers, tracks excuses
- Purchases Adele's trumpet ($505) — "We should go together"
- Plans custody strategy — formal summer custody bid sent to Jason
Detective Tactics in Custody
- Police station exchanges — implied intimidation of law enforcement environment
- Meticulous documentation — demands specific receipt formats, builds paper trail
- Information withholding — Jason says: "This is the third time I'm presented with information that's completely new to me"
- Legalistic messages authored for Melanie — precise custody schedule breakdowns inconsistent with her style
- Controls narrative — manages what info Jason receives and when
Key Todd Quotes from His Own Messages
Jan 19, 2024 — police station exchange demand
"That's also halfway and you can't deny meeting me at a police station or you can come get her from here."
Scott PD is Todd's workplace. Uses law enforcement authority to control exchanges.
~May 8, 2024 — strategic custody bid sent to Jason
"I'd like to discuss our plans for the upcoming summer break. I believe it would benefit Adele to be in my care during the hours that you are at work."
Formal language from a stepparent proposing to take custody time from the biological father.
Feb 28, 2024 — building phone/screen narrative
"She is ALWAYS on it over here and talking to her friends... possibly a distraction too."
Building a narrative that Jason allows too much screen time. Same phone Todd later confiscates for 2 weeks.
Apr 2025 — interrogating Melanie about doctor visit
"What were your general concerns in reference to Adele's health that warranted you scheduling her an appointment with her primary physician Dr. Corel for today?"
Adversarial, interrogative tone toward his own wife about a routine doctor visit. Repeated the question 3 times.
Dec 14, 2024 — taking Adele's phone for "attitude"
"Having her phone is a privilege. Having an attitude, being disrespectful, and ungrateful results in a lost privilege."
Phone confiscated for 2 weeks through Christmas — cutting off Adele's communication with Jason during the holiday.
Todd Rogers is not a bystander. He is a strategic actor in this custody case.
He makes medical decisions, controls exchanges, authors formal messages to Jason, withholds information, confiscates Adele's phone, and uses his position as a detective to manage the custody dynamic. The court-appointed evaluator, Dr. Dugas, should assess Todd's role thoroughly.