Jad Abumrad (host) / main Radiolab host voice

It was a case in which this young American Indian girl, Sierra, wanted to be adopted by this white couple, and Mark opposed it.

Even though in my heart of hearts I knew it was probably not the right thing for the child.

He won the case.

She was removed from the couple's home.

And as Sierra would tell you herself, she had a really rough life.

She bounced in and out of more than 20 foster homes, ran away many, many times, and got into serious trouble with the law.

Mark says even though the tribes have suffered, that doesn't change the fact that if you take a kid out of a loving home, you're going to cause her real harm.

And he says that's why he took this case.

Because the Capo Biancos, you know, they are...

Among the most loving people I know.

He says they did everything you could ask.

They're just amazing people.

They met the birth mother, Christy Maldonado, when she was pregnant.

They got to know her.

She felt a connection to them.

That's Lori McGill.

She's represented Christy since last year.

Yeah, we still have a relationship with Christy.

We love her to death.

Yeah, I mean, the day she was born, I cut the cord.