Woman flees with son to avoid his circumcision

A Florida woman, Heather Hironimus, went missing with her 4-year-old son nearly 3 months ago, going into hiding as her long court battle against circumcision of her son reached its climax.

Some people say she was simply doing what she could to protect a child portrayed as "scared to death" of the procedure, a judge issued a scalding rebuke for her refusal to appear in court, charging her with contempt and issuing an arrest warrant.

Hironimus and the boy's father, Dennis Nebus, have been fighting since her pregnancy. They were never married but share custody of their child, and in a parenting agreement filed in court, the two agreed to the boy's circumcision.

However, the mother later changed her mind thus causing the long legal battle. Circuit and appellate judges have sided with the father, but potential surgeons have backed out after failing to get the mother's consent and being targeted by anti-circumcision protesters.

She was taken into custody Thursday, her attorney Thomas Hunker said, declining to release further details.