The estranged husband of a Miramar woman who went missing in March was in a Broward County courtroom Thursday to ask a judge to dismiss a temporary custody order that would give his three kids back to him full time.
The children of Cid Torrez were temporarily removed from his custody by the court last month, days after their mother, Vilet Torrez, went missing.
On Thursday, Judge Susan Lebow set a dependency trial date of May 29 in the case and said the children will remain with Vilet Torrez's parents, who were given custody of them last month.
Cid Torrez will be allowed more supervised visits, including later this month for two of the children's birthdays. His parents will also be allowed supervised visits, Lebow said.
The judge's initial decision to remove the children from their father's custody was made after a confidential call was made to the Florida Abuse Hotline, according to Florida Department of Children and Families spokesman Mark Riordan.
Vilet Torrez's brother, Javier Blanco, said a family member made the call after Cid Torrez threatened to get a gun and "end it all." Cid Torrez's attorney, Richard Della Fera, called it a "very thin case."
Investigators have said they consider Cid Torrez a person of interest in the March 30 disappearance of his 38-year-old wife.
Authorities have searching canals in Miramar in recent weeks, but haven't confirmed if they're looking for Vilet Torrez.
After Thursday's hearing, Vilet Torrez's brother, Javier Blanco, said he thinks she was killed by her husband.
Della Fera said the Blanco family never liked Cid Torrez and are taking their frustrations out on him. He said his client had nothing to do with Vilet Torrez's disappearance.
