Neighbor’s Tragic Loss of Daughter in Custody Battle Inspires Attorney’s Public Seminar
HOLLYWOOD, FL – July 26, 2025 – In a powerful and deeply personal community event, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the Cabanas Connection Foundation hosted their first-ever public seminar on divorce law, titled “How to Gain Full Custody of Your Kids.” The seminar was led by Sergio Cabanas, Esq., managing attorney of the renowned Cabanas Law Firm and a man with a tragic, firsthand connection to the subject.
The seminar, offered free to the public both in-person and online, was driven by a devastating local tragedy. Mr. Cabanas revealed that the inspiration for the event was the recent death of his two-year-old next-door neighbor, Melody Duran. In May, Melody was murdered by her father, Jeronimo Duran, in Pembroke Pines following his and the mother’s contentious custody dispute. News reports confirmed that the mother had previously fought for sole custody due to the father’s struggles with mental health. As the next-door neighbor, Mr. Cabanas witnessed the tragedy’s aftermath and provided security footage to the police.
“When a tragedy of this magnitude, a preventable one, happens on your doorstep, it changes you,” Mr. Cabanas stated. “This isn’t just a practice area for me anymore; it’s a personal crusade. We have to do more to educate people on the tools the law provides to protect our children.”
During the seminar, Mr. Cabanas used the heartbreaking case as a real-world example to break down the complexities of Florida’s “timesharing” laws. He provided critical, detailed insight into the legal standards for proving a parent is a danger to their child and the necessary steps for securing full custody when circumstances are dire.
This event was presented as part of the mission of the Cabanas Connection Foundation, Mr. Cabanas’s nonprofit dedicated to empowerment through education. It is the first in a planned series designed to make the law more accessible to the community.
A full recording of this vital and moving seminar, where Mr. Cabanas discusses the case and the critical legal framework for child protection in great detail, is available to watch below.
Watch the Full Seminar: Sergio Cabanas, Esq. on Child Custody
About The Cabanas Law Firm:
The Cabanas Law Firm is a leading South Florida practice dedicated exclusively to divorce and family law. Under the leadership of Sergio Cabanas, Esq., the firm provides knowledgeable, compassionate representation across the State of Florida.
About The Cabanas Connection Foundation:
The Cabanas Connection Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by Sergio Cabanas with a mission to empower individuals through free legal education, connect community members with legal support, and fund the next generation of lawyers through educational scholarships.
About the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven organization dedicated to promoting a positive business climate and fostering community development in Hollywood, Florida.
Sergio has always been a fierce advocate of protecting children in a divorce, but the loss of Melody lit a fire under him to do everything in his power to prevent this tragic situation from ever happening again.
