Md. Firefighter Fights To Get Kids Back From Wife Who Fled Country

BALTIMORE COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- A Baltimore County firefighter has been fighting for more than five years to get his two young children back after his estranged wife took them out of the country. Two of Maryland's most prominent lawmakers have now stepped in to help.

Baltimore County firefighter Stan Hunkovic hasn't seen his kids in years. He says legally it doesn't add up. Now he's hoping something will be done.

"It's surreal. It's just... There's just no words to describe it," he said. "It's just mind-boggling."

Every day packs an emotional punch, a blow that never gets any easier.

"It's like your child dies over and over and over again. There's no closure to it," said Hunkovic.

Since 2010, Hunkovic has been in an international custody battle with his estranged wife.

A Maryland court granted the firefighter sole custody of his children, but that's when he says she fled the country with eight-year-old Gabriel and six-year-old Anastatia and took them to Trinidad and Tobago.

"Why isn't anybody getting this and how terrible this is?" Hunkovic said.

His ex-wife was indicted on six counts of parental child abduction by a grand jury in Baltimore County. The Department of Justice approved a request for her to be extradited, but still, there's been no response.

Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger and Senator Ben Cardin both sent letters to Trinidad and Tobago's embassy, with Ruppersberger saying: "It is my understanding that the extradition request was officially delivered."

Cardin, who WJZ caught up with Wednesday night, added: "We are working with Trinidad authorities to do everything we can to get the children returned."

Ritter: "If your kids are watching this right now or they get a chance to see this, what do you want to say to them?"

Hunkovic: "Daddy loves you so very much, and I miss you and I think and pray about you every day."

Hunkovic urges anyone who wants to help him to write to their local congressmen and women and senators.