Court papers recount the chain of events the grandparents say led to their granddaughter leaving the home she has shared with them for the past 14 years. According to Barbara Mountjoy, attorney for the grandparents, Mary went to live with her grandparents after the death of her mother and has remained there since. “They had ‘possession’ of her for 14 years,” Mountjoy explained. “You get ‘custody’ once you get an official court order.”

The court order Spataro signed Thursday awarding custody to the grandparents was in response to their first formal request for custody.

The court papers report that the grandparents are fearful for the safety and well-being of Mary in light of their son’s mental health.

“The manner in which this child has been taken from the family who has cared for her indicates that the father is not interested in complying with the laws of the commonwealth,” the grandparent’s petition alleges.

There are no documents showing whether Ed Gingerich received notice of the court order to return Mary to his parents.