Since the premiere of Season 7 of TLC’s “Unexpected,” viewers have remained concerned about the show’s youngest cast members, Bella Vaughn and Hunter Johnson. The pair were just 15 and 13, respectively, when they welcomed their son, Wesley Kristopher Dean Vaughn-Johnson, into the world in March 2025.
While viewers are just watching the early months of Wes’s life unfold on screen, in real life, the young couple is gearing up for a major custody situation over their 1-year-old son. Read on to discover what’s been revealed.
Hunter Johnson’s Father, Casey Johnson, Has Not Appeared on ‘Unexpected’
Hunter Johnson and his mother, Stacie Riddle, have appeared throughout Season 7 of “Unexpected” alongside Bella Vaughn and her family. However, one family member who has been noticeably absent on-screen is Hunter’s father, Casey Johnson.
According to what was shared on the show, Casey reacted strongly after learning his 13-year-old son was expecting a child. Hunter told viewers that his father said he had “ruined his life” upon hearing the news. Casey ultimately chose not to appear on the series and was not supportive of the situation at the time.
Casey Johnson Raises Concerns About Hunter Johnson’s Well-Being
About a month after his grandson, Wes, was born, Casey Johnson filed for custody of his son, Hunter. According to court documents from April 2025, Casey expressed concerns about his son’s safety and overall well-being, describing his son’s living situation as an “unstable and unwholesome environment.”
While Casey was not granted full custody of Hunter, he did receive temporary joint custody of him in November 2025. Casey also had the court impose certain restrictions stating that Hunter would no longer be able to live with his girlfriend, Bella Vaughn, or her family, or spend the night at their home.
The temporary custody order states, “Neither party shall allow the minor child to stay overnight at a romantic partner’s house.”
Hunter Johnson’s Father Files for Custody of Baby Wes
Casey Johnson is now also seeking full custody of his grandson, Wes. While Casey already had concerns about Hunter’s living environment, with recent episodes premiering, he became even more concerned about his grandson’s well-being.
In the filing, Casey referenced situations shown on “Unexpected,” including a scene in which Bella Vaughn’s parents, Kris and Falen Vaughn, allowed Hunter to assist Bella in the shower after giving birth, during which the teens were left unsupervised. Casey argued that the environment “lacks appropriate supervision and structure necessary for minor parents caring for an infant.”
He further claimed that the household fails to “provide adequate oversight and enforce reasonable boundaries, allowing immature decision-making and conduct without appropriate adult intervention,” which he believes could put his grandson’s safety at risk.
While the custody situation involving baby Wes remains ongoing, viewers can tune into “Unexpected” on TLC at 9/8c to watch more of Bella and Hunter’s story unfold.
