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Standoff Mom Godboldo Reunited With Daughter

DETROIT (WWJ) - A Detroit mother has been reunited with her daughter, who was removed from her home by force in March after a 12-hour armed standoff with police.

WWJ Pat Sweeting reports that 58-year-old Marianne Godboldo was smiling and understandably elated when her 13-year old daughter Arianna was released from the Hawthorn Center in Northville, where she had been placed by Child Protective Services.

"I'm very excited. I could hardly contain myself. This is something that I'd been waiting for for over a month now," Godboldo told reporters.

Godboldo was charged with medical neglect for refusing to administer drug therapy for a mental health disorder.

Godboldo, who prefers use of alternative therapy, made this comment outside the center, Friday: "I know, legally, they had no reason to remove my daughter in the first place. And I have the question to America... Does the parent not have the right to not medicate their child if they choose not to?"

Godboldo has said the medication a doctor had prescribed for her daughter was doing more harm than good. 

Many in the community have come out in support of Godboldo on this issue.

On May 4th, Judge Lynne Pierce of Wayne County Juvenile Court ordered that the Godboldo/Hakim family and the Michigan Department of Human Services cooperate to take care of all outstanding matters before the court to secure the release of Arianna Godboldo Hakim, or face contempt charges.

Detroit activist Ron Scott described Arianna's release as a "victory for all families."

"Because all families are fighting for the same thing -- the right to make a decision about what to do with their children," he said.

The girl will stay with a family member.

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