Editor’s Note: BDN reporter Nick Sambides Jr. and photographer Kevin Bennett are on assignment in San Angelo, Texas, preparing an in-depth report on the events surrounding the killing of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Michael Severance, 24, of Lee. The BDN will notify readers when their series will be published.

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Leslie and Frank Severance expect to return home to Lee, Maine, tonight from a tiring trip, but they will have Shane with them, and that makes it special, they said Sunday.

The Severances expect to land at Bangor International Airport at about 9:45 p.m., fresh from a civil court victory Friday that awarded them 60-day custody of the 9-month-old son of slaying victim Michael Severance.

The decision restricted visitation rights of Shane’s mother, Wendi Mae Davidson, who is awaiting trial on charges she poisoned her 24-year-old husband on Jan. 15 and dumped his body in a pond owned by a Davidson family friend.

“We’re not vindicated, no, because we have a long way to go yet,” Leslie Severance said Sunday.

After the 60 days, Davidson’s parents, Lloyd and Judi Davidson, will resume custody of the baby, but will share it with the Severances, the court ruled. Wendi Davidson will get supervised visitations of two hours a week, on Saturdays.

The Severances expect the baby will be able to travel and hope that a doctor’s appointment about two hours before their journey will ensure that Shane’s tendency toward ear infections will not inhibit his ability to travel by air, Leslie Severance said.

If the doctor’s appointment delays them, they think they will catch a flight later Monday, Leslie Severance said.

“I can’t wait to get home,” he said. “I am exhausted.”