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The natural mother of Mitchell Steinberg, the 16-month-old boy who lived in the home where 6-year-old Lisa was allegedly beaten to death, is to appear in Manhattan Family Court this afternoon to attempt to regain custody.
Sources close to the case said the woman is to appear before Judge Jeffry H. Gallet to ask that Mitchell, who was found tethered to a chair in the Grenwich Village apartment of Joel Steinberg and Hedda Nussbaum, be returned to her.
Lawyers involved in the case identified the woman as Nicole Smigiel, 18, of Massapequa Park, L. I. She and her family have refused repeated requests to comment.
Nussbaum's attorney David Lansner, said that his client will oppose Smigiel's request and that the mother had signed an irrevocable document giving the boy to the Steinbergs.
"She signed an irrevocable surrender giving up her rights {to Mitchell}...