Judge says internet adoption twins cannot go back to parents

The twins who were "adopted" over the internet by Welsh couple Judith and Alan Kilshaw will not be returned to live with their parents.

St Louis Circuit Judge Steven Ohmer terminated the parental rights of their mother, Tranda Wecker, and their father, Aaron Wecker.

He determined that would protect the best interests of the two-year-old girls, Kiara and Keyara.

"We'll still have ongoing hearings to decide ultimately where they should be placed. My goal is to find a permanent home for them," Judge Ohmer said. He said the twins are living with foster parents and "doing great".

The Weckers, who are separated and seeking a divorce, each had separately sought custody of the girls. Both are from the St Louis area and share custody of one other child.

In 2000, a California couple, Richard and Vickie Allen, said they paid an internet broker $6,000 (€5,800) to adopt the girls. They said Tranda Wecker took the children for a visit and never came back.

Then the Kilshaws said they paid the broker $12,000 (€11,700) to adopt the same children in Arkansas and brought them to Britain.

An Arkansas judge annulled that adoption and the twins were placed in the state's care.

Tranda Wecker will appeal against the decision, according to her lawyer.

The twin's father, however, was "delighted" with the decision to terminate his parental rights, said Aaron Wecker's attorney Bernhardt Klippel, because he approves of the foster couple's care.