LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10 (UPI) — Officials have cleared actor Brad Pitt in a child abuse investigation that has hung over the international superstar for months, USA Today reported Wednesday.
The Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services has reportedly concluded that Pitt, who’s been going through a contentious divorce with actress Angelina Jolie, did not abuse his 15-year-old son aboard a private plane on their way from France to the United States in September.
News reports cited unnamed sources close to the investigation, who were not authorized to comment on the matter, in reporting the case was closed within the last few days.
“It was a full and thorough investigation and the determination has been made that no charges should be brought,” a source told People magazine.
The L.A. County DCFS is barred by law from disclosing details on family investigations.
The accusations said Pitt, 52, was verbally and physically hostile to the couple’s son, Maddox, on the flight. Jolie, 41, filed for divorce and sought sole custody of their six children five days later. Pitt has been seeking joint custody, which makes Wednesday’s news a major victory for the Oklahoma-born film star.
Multiple sources told NBC News Wednesday that investigators made the determination when interviews with family members, including the children, failed to substantiate the allegations.
The source said the next likely step will be determination of custody in family affairs court.
A representative for Pitt declined to comment Wednesday, but a rep for Jolie did.
“The job of the DCFS is to make sure the children are in a safe and secure situation. As we said earlier this week, childcare professionals encouraged a legal agreement accepted and signed by both sides that was in the best interest of the children,” the representative said in a statement to People. “Angelina said from the beginning that she felt she had to take action for the health of the family and is relieved that after their 8-week involvement, the DCFS is now satisfied the safeguards are put in place that will allow the children to heal.”
The FBI has also been involved, but it’s unknown whether their review of the case is complete.
Maddox, son Pax and a girl, Zahara, were adopted by the couple between 2002 and 2008, before they had three biological children of their own — Shiloh, 10, and twins Knox (son) and Vivienne (daughter), both 8.
