STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Grandparents Battle for Custody of Jovan Belcher’s Daughter

Both Zoey Belcher’s paternal and maternal grandparents file for her custody.

The daughter of Jovan Belcher, who killed himself and his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, last month, is at the center of nasty custody battle between her maternal and paternal grandparents.  

After the tragedy, Belcher’s mother, Cheryl Shepherd, was awarded custody of 4-month-old Zoey Belcher. Shepherd gave Zoey to Rebecca Gonzalez, the baby’s maternal grandmother, so that she could attend her mother’s funeral.  

“The maternal relatives have now ceased communicating with Cheryl Shepherd and have refused to return her calls or return the child to her care,” wrote Gretchen Gold, Shepherd’s lawyer, in court filings obtained by the Daily News.
Gonzalez filed for full custody of the baby in Fort Worth, Texas, before Shepherd was able to make a custody filing in Kansas City, Missouri. Shepherd’s custody hearing will be heard Jan. 11 and Gonzalez’s on Jan. 22.

Zoey Belcher may inherit over $3 million by the time she is 23.

BET Sports News - Get the latest news and information about African-Americans in sports including weekly recaps, celebrity news and photos of your favorite Black athletes. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.

(Photo: KASANDRAPERKINS VIA INSTAGRAM)

Latest News

Subscribe for BET Updates

Provide your email address to receive our newsletter.


By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive marketing communications, updates, special offers (including partner offers) and other information from BET and the Paramount family of companies. You understand that you can unsubscribe at any time.