New Jersey man, 9-year-old son leave Brazil after 5-year custody battle ends

US dad, boy en route to US after custody battle

RIO DE JANEIRO — A U.S. congressman says a New Jersey man and his 9-year-old son have left Brazil at the end of a five-year international custody battle.

Rep. Chris Smith says David Goldman and the boy, Sean, are on their way to the United States on a charter plane.

They left Rio de Janeiro about three hours after the boy’s Brazilian relatives handed him over at the U.S. consulate on Thursday.

Wearing a shirt with the Brazilian flag, Sean cried earlier as he was led through a scrum of journalists in front of the consulate.

After five years of court rulings and appeals, Brazil’s Supreme Court chief ordered Sean returned to Goldman this week.