May 18, 2000

The courtroom saga of Christopher and Kyndra Fink ---the couple who starved and kidnapped their little boy-- has now played itself out.

A judge today told Kyndra Fink what price she will pay for her involvement. News Specialist Stacey Butler reports from the Matheson Courthouse.

Today a third district court judge told Kyndra Lee (formerly Kyndra Fink) that she lacks maturity, is heavily influenced by her ex-husband Christopher Fink, and serving more jail time would not be appropriate for her.

The judge let her off with probation and some fines.

The story received national media attention when she and her husband kidnapped their son from Primary Children's Hospital and fled to the Montana wilderness.

Kyndra's oldest son, David, and her baby, Elijah, who was born in Montana, are both in state custody. Kyndra says she's relieved to be free.

Kyndra Lee/Sentenced today: "I KNOW THE PAIN OF LOSING MY BABIES WILL NEVER GO AWAY, BUT I'M JUST SO GLAD THAT I CAN GO FORWARD. I AM JUST SO GRATEFUL."

She has already spent three months in jail. Her defense attorney says any more time behind bars would have served no purpose

Ed Brass/Kyndra Lee's attorney: "I DON'T KNOW WHAT MORE SHE'D GET OUT OF SPENDING MORE TIME BEHIND BARS OR WHAT SOCIETY WOULD GET BY PLACING SOMEONE BEHIND BARS WHO BASICALLY HAS THE SAME EMOTIONAL MATURITY AS MY 9-YEAR-OLD SON."

Today, the judge suspended any more jail time as long as Kyndra follows the terms of her probation. She has to pay restitution to the nurse at Primary Children's Hospital who was injured during the kidnapping, and several hundred to the state of Utah.