LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — An American woman who sent her adopted Russian son back to Moscow has been ordered by a judge to answer questions from attorneys for an upcoming child support case in Tennessee.
Torry Hansen has refused to talk to investigators since April 2010 when she sent her then-7-year-old adopted son to Moscow with a note saying he had psychological problems and that she didn't want to be his mother anymore.
No criminal charges were ever filed, but her adoption agency filed a lawsuit seeking child support in Bedford County, Tenn., where Hansen was living.
The Shelbyville Times Gazette reported Wednesday that Circuit Court Judge Lee Russell ordered Hansen to give a deposition to an adoption agency attorney on Feb. 20. The judge set a new trial date for May 17 (http://bit.ly/zyFNJ8 ).
Larry Crain, an attorney representing World Association for Children and Parents, filed the motion to compel Hansen to answer questions.
"We believe it is time for her to respond," Crain said, adding that they only received an affidavit from her this week.
Crain also asking for financial documents from the woman, but the attorney for Hansen, Sandra Smith, said her client is still searching for the necessary papers. Russell gave them 15 days to produce the documents.
The judge had set a March trial date, but pushed it back to May because Hansen's attorney told the judge she would not be ready to go to trial in March.
"We believe it is time to take this case to trial," Crain said.
Smith said her client could answer questions over the phone, but Crain said he wanted to do the deposition in person or by web conferencing if that is not possible.
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Information from: Shelbyville Times-Gazette, http://www.t-g.com