Tiffany Render reports that Child Protective Services continues to hold custody of her 15-year-old daughter Layla with Dwight Howard, following a court petition and amid family disputes. This update comes after Render's recent emergency custody filing, with new details on Layla's emotional distress and a clarifying video.
Tiffany Render, mother of Dwight Howard's 15-year-old daughter Layla Howard, stated on Instagram that Child Protective Services (CPS) still maintains custody of Layla. In a recent video from LiveBitez, Render, seen with Layla near a shopping area, confirmed the daughter has not yet returned home.
The situation stems from an incident on March 5, 2026, described by Render as Layla's 'breaking point,' leading to Layla filing a petition with the Superior Court of Gwinnett County to live with her mother. The affidavit cites Layla feeling unsafe, emotional distress, sadness, loneliness, and neglect reported to counselors and coaches. Render accuses Howard of transferring Layla from her original high school, changing her phone number, and removing her from volleyball and basketball teams in response.
Render stated: 'When a child cries out for help, they deserve to be protected, not dismissed & hidden.' She criticized the new school—Howard's former pre-K through 12th-grade institution—as an attempt to create a 'false and fake happy family narrative.' Render affirmed her commitment: 'Baby girl mommy will always fight for your voice to be heard.'
This follows Render's emergency temporary custody filing earlier in March, as previously reported, after Howard was awarded primary custody in 2024. The disputes tie into broader tensions at Howard's Georgia home, including body cam footage from March 6 showing estranged wife Amber Rose Howard (aka Amy Luciani) outside the gate, and related 911 audio mentioning CPS involvement (disputed by Howard's representatives). The situation remains ongoing with legal proceedings.
