A person of interest in the May 27 disappearance of nursing student Michelle Le made a court appearance Tuesday related to a custody battle with her child's father. Giselle Esteban, a high school friend of Michelle Le's who grew up with her in San Diego, has been facing accusations of "manic behavior," stalking, and threats involving the use of a gun by her baby daddy, whose name has not been released to protect the identity of the child. He was in a Fremont court Tuesday arguing before a judge that Esteban should not have access to her five-year-old daughter, and that he didn't feel she provided a safe environment for the child. He already has a restraining order against her. The man was also a friend of Michelle Le's, and in an early television interview following Le's disappearance, Esteban made a statement to the effect that she didn't like Le and blamed her for the demise of her relationship with the man, but that she knew nothing about Le's disappearance.

Esteban has since gone silent and refused to speak with reporters.

The judge Tuesday ruled that Esteban could see her daughter, but only in the presence of a professional counselor.

Police apparently do not have sufficient evidence connecting Esteban to Le's disappearance, however they are now considering the case a homicide. Le's family holds out hope that she will turn up alive somewhere. They're offering a $100,000 reward and they've set up a website to help find information. As of July 31 they posted an update saying that Hayward Police were getting closer to making an arrest in the case. Anyone with information is asked to call Hayward Police at 510-293-5051.

[Tribune]