A rich American man has to give back a baby that he kidnapped from Italy after he had gained his Sorrento lover, a judge ruled in the American federal court.
Eric Nichols, 50, was instructed to give his baby son back to the mother, Claudia Ciampa, 46, after he had grabbed the boy and brought him to America for 82 days.
Court Papers seen by DailyMail.com Detail how their fairy tale relationship in a beach of the beach in 2011 fell in bitterness in a bitterness – culminating in a heartbreaking international guardianship fight more than a decade later.
Nichols and Ciampa met in a picturesque café in her picturesque birth city Piano di Sorrento, where the American expat had moved to teach English, the statement by the American district judge David O. Carter.
The couple enjoyed a whirlwind in 2011, until they separated and Ciampa eventually married another man, Luigi Porzio, nicknamed 'Gigi' in the Hofkranten.
Ciampa, who still has three children between the ages of 16 and 18, divorced from Gigi and years later with Nichols in Sorrento, where he got her pregnant with her fourth child.
The couple moved to Ohio, where Ciampa gave birth to Italy to Italy the following month on 13 February 2024.
According to court papers, their relationship soon became 'tense' to the point that they separated and Nichols had a visit hours with the baby.
A rich American man has to give back a baby that he kidnapped from Italy after he had gained his Sorrento lover, a judge ruled in the American federal court. Eric Nichols, 50, has been instructed to return his baby son to the mother, Claudia Ciampa, 46
Court Papers Seen by DailyMail.com Detail how their fairytale relationship in a beach of the Napolitan beach in 2011 fell in bitterness – with a heartbreaking international custody as the highlight, more than a decade later (depicted: Ciampa with the baby)
Nichols and Ciampa met in a picturesque café in her picturesque birthplace piano di sorrento (photo), where the American expat had moved to teach English, Court of Papers stands
But the tensions came to a highlight on 30 August last year, when Nichols did not return with the baby – to knock Ethan to California via London.
Nichols initially lied about where he was and told Ciampa that he had taken the boy to 'local beaches, zoos and water park'.
Ciampa 'begged' with nichols to give the baby back 'So that she could breastfeed him because it caused her pain, “says the judgment of Judge Carter.
But Nichols refused to return with Ethan, as evidenced by text messages that the parents shared during the 82-day divorce.
'Eric, when do you bring it back? We have to see each other and hug and kiss. I miss him so much, “Ciampa wrote in one text.
She sent some more with increasing urgency.
'Please bring eric [Baby Ethan] back as soon as possible, [Baby Ethan] Does his mother need and I have the right to be with him too, “said Ciampa, before he adds later,” I can't sleep, you torture me. '
'Hey Eric, please come back with [Baby Ethan]”She begged again in a later exchange.
“I can't sleep, I have heart palpitations. I beg you to come back. We can agree so that you can be [satisfied]And [Baby Ethan] Can grow up with a loving father and also a loving mother. '
Nichols (photo) worked as a English teacher in Piano di Sorrento when he met Ciampa
Ciampa was separated from her baby for 82 days after Nichols had clamped him to the US
Nichols has been instructed to bring the baby back to his mother after he had taken him to California
But Nichols did not admit and forced Ciampa to submit a petition that accused him of kidnapping.
She eventually received custody of Ethan under an emergency order that was submitted in November 2024 and received full custody this month under the final decision.
The Sheriff's Department of Orange County, California, served nichols with papers for kidnapping in November.
He hit back – said that Ciampa had “promised him” that they would move to America, and even her accusations of domestic violence, have no attachment to the baby and try to kill herself and all her children, including Ethan.
These allegations were refuted before the court, according to the judge's decision, and the judge said that a video that nichols submitted as 'proof' of abuse actually showed him 'hers off' while 'aggressively' took her.
Judge Carter said that Nichols believed that the American legal system would act in his favor and that the case embodied the need for an impartial international court.
“This case is an example of the behavior that the Hague Convention wanted to scare off – the kidnapping of a child from their home country by a parent looking for a more sympathetic court,” Carter wrote.
'Father took breastfeeding across international boundaries, convincing that his American citizenship would grant him a more favorable forum.
'Meanwhile, Mrs. Ciampa has endured 82 days of heart -filled separation from baby Ethan. This court will not serve as a refuge for such actions. '
Heart -warming video -posted showed the moment that Ciampa returned to Italy with her baby boy, surrounded by a couple at the airport.
