A family custody dispute has erupted into public view as reality television personality Lauryn 'Pumpkin' Efird leveled serious allegations against her former brother-in-law regarding access to her late sister's child.
Efird posted a statement to social media on Sunday evening claiming that Michael Cardwell has prevented her and other family members from seeing his daughter, Kylee Cardwell, for approximately two years. Michael Cardwell and Anna 'Chickadee' Cardwell welcomed Kylee in 2015 before separating in 2017.
The custody arrangement became formalized following Anna Cardwell's death from cancer in 2023. Michael Cardwell received full custody of Kylee, while Mama June Shannon, the family matriarch, was awarded custody of Anna's older daughter, Kaitlyn. Court records indicate Michael Cardwell had also sought custody and visitation rights for his stepdaughter.
In her public statement, Efird accused Michael Cardwell and his current wife, London, of reneging on promises to maintain family connections with Kylee. She further alleged that the couple has ignored multiple attempts at communication from family members seeking contact with the child.
The dispute escalated when Efird subsequently shared screenshots purporting to show responses from London Cardwell. According to the posted exchanges, London Cardwell suggested that family members needed only to request contact information for Kaitlyn. Efird disputed this characterization of events.
Following the public accusations, London Cardwell posted content to social media featuring audio commentary about refusing to apologize, though she did not directly address the specific allegations.
Neither Michael Cardwell nor his legal representative has issued a public response to the allegations. The situation highlights the complex dynamics that can emerge in blended families navigating custody arrangements following the loss of a parent, particularly when those arrangements involve multiple children and competing family interests.
The public nature of the dispute underscores ongoing tensions within the extended family as they continue to process the aftermath of Anna Cardwell's death while attempting to maintain relationships across household boundaries.