That money could have been used to help her go underground, get the fake id, and help protect her child! Maybe she felt that it was a last resort, because maybe she felt that the authorities would not beleive her daughter was being abused, and maybe felt she needed to take matters in to her own hands.
The husband really gave me bad vibes. He acted like he was guilty of something, by being EXTREMLY RUDE to the media, and by acting all HIGH and MIGHTY! I would put my life on it that the mother felt like she was protecting teh daughter, and that tehre was some form of abuse going on with this child. I will bet you my life that thats what this boils down to.