On September 9, 2004, the police in Austin, Texas - acting on information supplied to them from Tom Klatt an investigator with MKD International Inc, and Ted Davis an investigator with the Missing Children Society of Canada - arrested Vera Karpinski and recovered her son Gavin Karpinski-MacIver, aged 7 years. Gavin was abducted by his mother on Christmas Day 2003.
Tom Klatt, a private investigator hired by Cameron MacIver, had been working on the case since Gavin was abducted. Tom Klatt received information from Ted Davis at the Missing Children Society of Canada that led his investigation to Austin, Texas. As a result of this information the Austin Police set up surveillance on September 9 and spotted a woman and child matching the description of Vera and Gavin, and picked them up.
We are happy to report that Gavin is now back with his dad on a full time basis. Criminal charges are still pending for his mother Verna.
Gavin Karpinski-MacIver was born on August 23, 1997 in Ontario. His mother and father were not married but lived together at this time. After they separated Vera repeatedly tried to alienate Cameron from Gavin’s life. She failed to respect the visitation orders that Cameron had with Gavin, and she also accused Cameron of physical and sexual abuse of Gavin. All these accusations were proved to be unfounded.
Due to Cameron’s concerns that Vera would take off with Gavin, Cameron obtained a court order preventing Vera from taking Gavin out of the Greater Toronto Area. They were about to go to trial for custody of Gavin in December of 2003 when Vera abducted Gavin.
Ted Davis comments: ‘Unfortunately, parental abduction is something the Missing Children Society of Canada deals with regularly. Our primary focus in these cases is the needs of the child not the needs of the parent. We are pleased that Gavin has been found, and will do our best to continue to search for all the other children that are still missing.”
Cameron MacIver commented “I am so relieved. I am so glad that Gavin is safe.”