A custody fight over two children whose parents died in a Jefferson Parish murder-suicide had taken another turn in court.
Ocean Wilson, the children’s aunt, asked a judge in a new filing to grant her sole custody of the children of Kody and Meridian Woodson.
Wilson’s attorneys argued the children should remain with her instead of their paternal grandmother, Karen Woodson. They claimed Karen Woodson misled the court about how and when the children were told their parents had died.
The filing focused on a May 29, 2026, phone call involving the children’s pediatrician, a child life specialist and the children’s paternal grandparents, Mark and Karen Woodson.
Medical records cited in the filing said the grandparents contacted the pediatrician for help telling the children what happened to their parents. According to the doctor’s notes, the grandparents first asked whether they could tell the children the deaths were an accident.
The doctor and child life specialist advised them to tell the children the truth in a way they could understand, according to the filing.
The filing said the children were told their parents died after an argument and that a gun was involved. The records cited in the filing said the doctor later called Wilson to explain what the children had been told.
Wilson’s attorneys argued that account conflicted with Karen Woodson’s statements to the court. They claimed Karen Woodson gave the court a timeline that made it appear she acted within her authority before Wilson was granted temporary custody.
The filing also raised concerns about the home where the paternal grandparents lived.
According to the filing, a prior consent judgment required strict supervision of Mark Woodson around the children after reports described in the filing as consistent with child sexual abuse. The filing said he was not allowed to be alone with the children or help with bathing, toileting or sleeping arrangements.
Wilson’s attorneys argued Karen Woodson could not be trusted to enforce those rules because, they claimed, she had not been honest with the court.
The filing also pointed to text messages Meridian Woodson allegedly sent Karen Woodson in September 2025. According to the filing, Meridian warned that Kody Woodson was suicidal and unstable. Wilson’s attorneys claimed Karen Woodson failed to act on those warnings or seek professional help.
The filing further accused Karen Woodson of using court filings and discovery requests to pressure Wilson.
It also said Wilson had not used money raised for the children through GoFundMe and planned to put the funds into interest-bearing accounts for the children.
Wilson’s attorneys argued she could support the children without outside financial help. They also said she had a loving bond with the children and could provide a stable home away from the conflict tied to their parents’ deaths.
The filing asked the court to grant Wilson sole custody and keep the children in her care.
The court has not ruled on the request.
READ MORE:New claims emerge in custody fight over Woodson children after parents die in murder-suicide
