The motions hearing was scheduled to ask Misty VanZandt, 26, to return her daughter after leaving the state and allegedly violating the visitation rights of her ex-husband, Tregg VanZandt, after a divorce two years ago. After each visit Tregg VanZandt had with his child, Misty VanZandt claimed their daughter had been sexually abused, according to court records.
Misty VanZandt was apprehended in Texas in October on an Oklahoma warrant. She waived extradition and was previously held on no bond because she had not revealed the location of her daughter, whose whereabouts remain unknown to the court.
VanZandt's attorney, Stephanie A. Marston of Oklahoma City, alleged her client was being held illegally after a $10,000 bond had first been posted, but later changed to no bond by a judge's order via telephone. After another bond hearing, VanZandt's bond amount was changed to $250,000, and she continues to be held in the Sequoyah County Jail in Sallisaw on that bond.
Misty VanZandt allegedly took the child on repeated visits to the doctor for alleged sexual abuse despite no evidence to verify the claim, according to court records. According to court records, the Department of Human Services (DHS) later became involved in the case and felony child abuse charges were filed against Misty VanZandt in May 2003 for subjecting her child to "unwarranted sexual abuse examinations."
