One Lakeville, Minnesota father says his depression over potentially losing his home and being forced to live out of his van is what caused him to leave his 11-year-old son and head to California.

The man left in the middle of the night four months ago. He left a note for his son telling him to ride his bike to a neighbor's home where they would take care of him. Now, the man is charged with child neglect and is fighting for child custody of his son.

Shortly after the man left for California, authorities were notified and child protection services put the young boy in a foster home. The father has asked to see his son, but a judge denied the request. Another hearing is scheduled for December where he will make the request a second time. In the meantime, he will undergo a psychiatric examination.

The father said he was struggling financially and emotionally and had no relatives to turn to. His home was about to be foreclosed and he couldn't bear the thought of his son living with him in a van. He went to California to find some of his relatives, but not knowing their names, was not able to locate them.

The man has been raising the boy all his life. The boy's mother gave up custody of her son ten years ago when he was one years old. Growing up, the father always lied and told his son that his mother had died.

The boy has been reunited with his mother and is currently staying with her sister. While she is involved in the case, it's not clear whether she will remain in the boy's life.

Source: Star Tribune, "I still want to see my son," Heron Marquez Estrada, Nov. 3, 2011