The father of a girl who disappeared from primary school seven years ago has claimed her mother – to whom he was married for 34 days – is hiding her daughter.
Ava Grace Baldwin, now 14, disappeared when she was six years old and David Hopper believes his “perfect little girl” may not even know she is considered a missing person.
Hopper, who lives in Oklahoma, received a call from his daughter’s school in September 2015 saying Ava had not been in class for 21 days and asking if he had any idea where the child was could.
At the time, Ava was living in San Antonio, Texas with her mother, David’s ex-wife Kathryn Baldwin.
Police believe the mother took Ava after discovering her home address led to an empty property.
Ava and her mother Kathryn Baldwin, who her father believes kidnapped her
David Hopper (pictured with Ava as a child) believes his “perfect little girl” may not even know she is classified as a missing person
Kathryn’s Ford Escape was found abandoned in a park in April 2016 – seven months after she and the child disappeared.
Baldwin and Hopper had been married for just over a month, and the father spent $45,000 fighting in court for a custody agreement when their daughter was born.
Although CPS caught Kathryn having solo sex with then-2-year-old Ava in bed behind her, David only got partial custody.
He drove hours to pick her up during the summer holidays – and enjoyed fond memories with his daughter.
Tina Fullbright, Ava’s aunt, said of Kathryn, “She would just leave the counties. “She got into trouble in one county and just moved to another county.” According to police, records show Kathryn uses nearly a dozen pseudonyms.
Fullbright said of her brother David, “It’s hard to watch my brother go through this.” This is his only child. “It’s all he ever wanted: a family, and he deserves to have his daughter in his life.”
Kathryn, who has a warrant for her arrest for child custody interference, also has a history of alcohol and prescription drug abuse.
When Hopper filed for sole custody, Kathryn and Ava disappeared in 2015.
Hopper, who is searching for his daughter, told NewsNation, “When we sent police to the location of our last address, it turned out to be an empty lot.”
“And that’s when we realized something was going on here.”
He has since been given sole custody of Ava – but police have no idea where she might be. They are investigating the case as a non-custodial child abduction.
David Hopper is still trying to be reunited with his daughter Ava
Ava Grace Baldwin, now 14, went missing when she was six, and David Hopper believes his “perfect little girl” may not even know she is a missing person
He added: “There is reason to believe that Ava is alive.” There is a case in Florida where we know the couple she tried to give Ava to. They contacted us and that was in 2016.
After internet sleuths believed they had come across Kathryn and Ava on TikTok, the case was revived in the public interest – as David continues to post letters to his daughter on Facebook in the hope that she will see them one day.
Hopper told NewsNation, “They ask me if she’s still alive.”
“Sometimes I have my doubts, I am honest with you, but when you ask me I answer with confidence because I believe that God is true to his word.”
“That he said he would take care of her, that he would protect her, that he would keep her safe.”
“And that one day he would bring her home.”