I'm not sure there's anyone to feel sorry for. A parent's concern should be the well-being of his/her child. Nothing indicates that the child suffered. Her mother wanted her so badly she stole her and her father doesn't seem overly upset. He also searched for her. I guess, if I'm throwing a pity moment at anyone, it's the father. He was denied seeing his daughter grow up. But, if the custody battle was so nasty that the mother said "Screw this, I'm taking her!", I can't imagine the shared custody, of whatever kind, would have been cordial.