Why don’t you try reading the article a little bit closer. Dad left the state and lost custody. He did it first. He then moved back, and was around for 2 years before he “finally” decides, oh gee, maybe I should be a dad. Give me a break, for EIGHT years he was a LOSER! He did nothing to contribute to helping the mother of his child in making sure this child had a good life. He walked out... because it wasn’t convenient. After 8 years, he finally decides oh gee, I should grow up. LOSER... get it, LOSER... EIGHT YEARS OF BEING A LOSER when the child needed him most.
You still don’t get it. A parent who “loses” custody still has visitation rights. In this case, however, after the dad moved, the mom stopped giving him court-ordered visits and moved herself without telling the dad where to.