WBRZ - Baton Rouge

HEBER SPRINGS, Ark. - Mindy McCready's ex-boyfriend is speaking out against her recent release from rehab.

Billy McKnight says she threatened to kill herself earlier this month after she lost custody of her sons, but was somehow released from rehab days before apparently following through on her threat.

McKnight, a former longtime boyfriend who shares a son with the country singer, says the mother of two stayed in court-ordered substance-abuse rehabilitation for about 18 hours before checking out.

McKnight said Monday by phone from Tampa, Fla., that it was a "big mistake" to allow McCready to leave rehab, in light of her fiance David Wilson's recent suicide and the loss of her children.

McKnight is working with authorities to get his son Zander out of foster care.