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In the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, a marriage teeters on the brink of dissolution as Thomas Vatter petitions for the end of his union with Vanessa Maria Sales-Vatter. Filed on August 28, 2025, the petition outlines the irreconcilable differences that have left the marriage irretrievably broken. Married just under two years, the couple, who wed in November 2023, has a 14-month-old daughter, M.L.V., whose future is now at the heart of the dispute.
Thomas, a 25-year-old Chicago resident, argues that Vanessa has not only failed to foster a stable environment for their child, but has also removed the minor from Illinois under false pretenses, refusing all further contact. This, he claims, necessitates his sole custody and the designation of himself as the primary caretaker. Vanessa, a TikTok influencer, is accused of neglecting her responsibilities, a claim that casts a shadow over her fitness as a parent. The petition seeks not only the dissolution of the marriage but also an equitable distribution of the marital estate, with both parties to bear their own attorney’s fees and costs.
Represented by Rebecca A. Day of the Law Office of Russell D. Knight, Thomas insists that the child’s well-being demands a swift resolution, one that keeps her in his care while ensuring that Vanessa has supervised visitation. The case is now set to unfold in Cook County’s family court, where the future of a young family is decided in the balance.
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