Mama June Shannon Claims It Was Anna Cardwell’s “Dying Wish” For Daughter Kaitlyn To Live With June; Says Michael Cardwell Only Wants Custody for the Money

Mama June Shannon has spouted some very bold claims this week regarding her late daughter Anna Cardwell’s “dying wish.” 

As The Ashley previously told you, Anna passed away in December from cancer, leaving behind two young daughters– 11-year-old Kaitlyn and eight-year-old Kylee. After Anna’s death, Kylee went to live with her father, Michael Cardwell, while June was preparing to take custody of Kaitlyn. However, Michael–- who has been Kaitlyn’s consistent father figure since she was an infant but is not biologically related–- is fighting June for custody of Kaitlyn as well.

June told The Sun this week that Anna’s dying wish was for Kaitlyn to live with her instead of Michael. In fact, June even claims that Anna informed Michael’s mom of her custody decision the day before she died. June also insists that Michael only wants custody of Kaitlyn because he’s interested in “money.”

“The Michael thing is about money, and Kaitlyn ain’t a money symbol,” June said, adding, “Kaitlyn wants to be raised by her biological family.”

As The Ashley previously told you, Michael stated in his custody lawsuit paperwork that he is against June taking custody of Kaitlyn, stating that she has been “inconsistent” in Kaitlyn’s life, due to Anna’s long periods of estrangements from her mom.

He also claims that he has been Kaitlyn’s consistent father figure since she was an infant. (As The Ashley previously reported, Anna and Michael split in 2017, but Michael would take both girls— not just Kylee– during his custodial visits.)

Michael stated that Anna encouraged his continued relationship and visitation with Kaitlyn, and that he has continued to pay for Kaitlyn’s schooling, despite his and Anna’s divorce years ago. 

“Both [Michael and Anna] understood, acknowledged, accepted and behaved as though [Michael] is a parent of the child and accepted full and permanent responsibilities as a parent of the child without expectation of financial compensation,” the documents state.

“..[Michael] has been a stable and consistent part of the minor child’s life since she was eight months old and has continued to do so even after years from his divorce from Anna,” he wrote. “[Michael] is the only living person that has shown a constant and continuous interest in the child’s minor child’s well-being…”

In her new interview with The Sun, June said she is doing what Anna wanted by getting custody of Kaitlyn.

“We are following her wishes,” June said. “At the end of the day, I wish [Anna] would have [decided who got custody of Kaitlyn] when she was alive but she didn’t. It was a hard thing for her.” 

(Anna never revealed who Kaitlyn’s biological father is and there is no father listed on Kaitlyn’s birth certificate.)

June said Anna didn’t make her wishes regarding custody legal while she was alive because it was too hard for her.

“She couldn’t face that she was going to pass away so early, because she was so young,” June said of her daughter, who was only 29 at the time of her death. “…She struggled, but she let everybody know how she felt, especially at the end.”

In response to June’s claims, Michael’s attorney told The Sun he was not made aware of any such statements made by Anna regarding her “dying wish.” 

“I have not heard anything to that effect,” he said. “I have seen no documentation as far as any final wishes for Ms. Cardwell.” 

One day after Michael filed his lawsuit, June filed for permanent custody of Kaitlyn. Interestingly, she claimed in her court paperwork that she was “not aware of any interested parties other than herself that would have standing to seek custody of the child.”

However, The Sun reported that June was actually served with Michael’s legal papers one day earlier, so she was absolutely aware that Michael was seeking custody.

While Anna’s cancer battle will be featured on the upcoming season of ‘Mama June: Family Crisis,’ it is unknown if June’s battle for custody against Michael will also be shown.