Legal Question in Family Law in Iowa

Re: Custody

If there's no formal custody agreement he's the father and he has some parental rights. If he took the child it would depend under what circumstances he did so but it could constitute a criminal offense, particularly if the intent was to deprive the mother of custody and he had effectively abandoned the child. It sounds to me like someone's threatening someone. Best to start the wheels turning for a custody order, and contact the county attorney in your county to advise them.