Marriage of Hite CA2/6

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In 2022, Husband filed for divorce from Kaitlin Hite (Wife). They have two minor sons. When Husband filed his petition, H.H. was nine years old and W.H. was four years old. In January 2024, the trial court held a two-day evidentiary hearing. Wife testified about two incidents where Husband unexpectedly arrived to take H.H. to school in the morning. In the first incident, H.H. became tearful and told Wife he did not want to go to school with Husband. Husband became aggressive and told H.H., “[Y]ou are coming with me.” The next day, H.H. again cried and stated he did not want Husband to take him to school. Husband put his body in between Wife and H.H., told Wife to “shut up,” took H.H. by his shoulders, and aggressively pulled him into the car. H.H. was “kicking and hitting [and] trying to get away,” and Husband “laid his body on top of [H.H.] to hold him in [the car] and put him in the seat belt and close the door.” Wife tried to calm H.H. through the window, and Husband yelled at her to “get away from the car” and told the children, “[M]om caused this.” H.H. testified the incident “scared” him. The trial court appointed therapist Leslie Anderson to…