| Julia had been struggling to raise her son, Jonathan, | | | | hear Jonathan's voice asking, "Why would mom just |
| alone for several years following her divorce. There | | | | stand there and watch two men drag me off in |
| were months when she didn't know if she could make | | | | handcuffs? What did I do that was so bad that they |
| ends meet, but somehow things always worked out. | | | | needed to do this to me?" Her heart broke.Her mind |
| Jonathan was eight when his father, Mike, walked out | | | | would not let her rest. She began to think about where |
| of their lives. For the first several years Julia and | | | | he was going and that she had never had a chance to |
| Jonathan were a team and had a very tight bond. Ron | | | | go visit the place. How could she do this, send her son |
| walked into Julia's life and before long they were | | | | to a place she'd never visited to be with people she |
| married. Though Jonathan was happy for his mom he | | | | had never even met.The next day she received a call |
| couldn't help but feel a void and slipped into | | | | from the escort company telling her things went well, |
| depression.When Rob moved into their home tensions | | | | he had reached his destination. Great, she thought, I will |
| formed. Julia became pregnant and during her | | | | call my son and hear from him that he's OK. To her |
| pregnancy they discovered Jonathan's grades were | | | | dismay, she learned very quickly that speaking to her |
| slipping and his depresdsion was getting worse. Rob | | | | son was out of the question. "But", she said, "no one |
| began to pressure Julia, telling her he had heard of | | | | ever said anything about me not being allowed to talk |
| programs that would help Jonathan with his grades | | | | to my son." The lady on the other end of the line |
| and his depression. Feeling pressure from Rob, Julia | | | | assured her Jonathan was alright and that she could |
| got on the Internet and began researching programs | | | | even see him smiling.But rest assured Jonathan was |
| for troubled teens. With so many websites to choose | | | | not smiling. Instead he was taken into a room where |
| from her head was spinning. They all promised | | | | he was strip searched, beaten for 30 minutes by three |
| wonderful results for her son.She finally called an 800 | | | | large men, and told he'd better learn quickly that they |
| number and found a calm, cool, and collected person | | | | were in charge.Julia was told that in order to talk to her |
| on the other end. She was asked countless questions | | | | son he would have to advance to a higher level in the |
| about Jonathan and was told he was headed down | | | | program. She was told in order for him to advance he |
| the path of destruction. The admissions counselor, | | | | would have to attend and pass seminars, and so |
| Patty, assured her there were wonderful programs for | | | | would his parents. But she would be having a baby |
| her son. Within 24-hours she received beautiful glossy | | | | soon, how could she attend a seminar hundreds of |
| brochures for programs inside and outside the US. Her | | | | miles from home, she thought?Her head was spinning |
| intuition was telling her no, but the pressure from Rob | | | | again. She called her friend, Stacey, and broke down. |
| and Patty was so great that she finally gave in. The | | | | Once Stacey was able to understand what had gone |
| baby would be born within a month and so, as Patty | | | | on, she told Julia she would do some research. It did |
| said, time was of the essence.The following day Patty | | | | not take long before she found countless news |
| called back. She said after reviewing the online | | | | articles on the Internet with allegations of abuse and |
| questionnaire Julia had filled out she believed Jonathan | | | | neglect in the very program where Jonathan had been |
| was suicidal and if she did not act quickly time could | | | | sent. Fearful Julia would go into premature labor, she |
| run out. Julia's head began to spin. How could things go | | | | brought all of this information to Rob, believing Rob |
| from her child's grades slipping to him being suicidal, just | | | | would immediately remove Jonathan for this abusive |
| like that? She felt trapped in her situation and though | | | | program. But Rob told her to mind her own business. |
| her mother's intuition again told her no, she agreed to | | | | She, too, was torn and did not know what to |
| send Jonathan to a program 3,000 miles from | | | | do.Stacey waited until after the baby was born when |
| home.Patty told Julia she felt it would be best if | | | | she finally approached Julia, showing her what she had |
| Jonathan were transported there by a teen escort | | | | found. Julia was enraged that her best friend had kept |
| service. Julia was adamant that she did not want him | | | | this information from her. But, when Stacey told her |
| transported by strangers. Rob overheard the | | | | she had brought this information to Rob and Rob had |
| conversation and said he felt it would be best given | | | | told her to mind her own business, she broke down |
| Julia's condition. She pleaded with him to take Jonathan | | | | and wept and pleaded for her friend to help her.Julia |
| since she could not travel such a distance this late in | | | | left her home and her life with Rob that night. Though |
| her pregnancy. He refused, saying the timing was not | | | | she knew it would be a struggle to raise two children |
| good for him at work. Again feeling trapped, and again | | | | alone, she knew she could not stay with a man who |
| against her own intuition, she agreed.Later that day she | | | | knowingly allowed her son to remain in an abusive |
| received a phone call from the escort service. They | | | | facility thousands of miles from home. She also |
| informed her that due to their travel plans they would | | | | realized he had convinced her to send her son away |
| need to pick her child up at 3:00 a.m. She was | | | | because of his own selfishness, not because he was |
| outraged, saying she wanted him picked up during the | | | | thinking of Jonathan's best interest.Julia took the baby |
| day. They told her that most children in her son's | | | | to stay with her mother while she and Stacey headed |
| condition will resist and will not want to go. They told | | | | to the airport. They had read stories on the Internet of |
| her it would put undue stress not only on Jonathan but | | | | parents who had difficulties retrieving their children |
| on the entire family. She was told they had years of | | | | from these facilities. In one story, a child had been |
| experience dealing with children and assured her he | | | | transported to another facility out of the country. As |
| would be fine. Though this did not sit well with her, she | | | | they read further, this mother told how she was |
| again reluctantly agreed.They faxed the forms, she | | | | unaware she had signed a contract that allowed her |
| signed them, and before she knew it the arrangements | | | | son to be taken out of the country. Julia searched for |
| had been made. Her son would be picked up the next | | | | her contract, a contract she had never fully read. The |
| night. The following day was very difficult for her. As | | | | words jumped at her ... she had agreed the program |
| she tried to go through her day she could not help but | | | | could obtain a passport for her son and could |
| feel she was making a huge mistake. She tried talking | | | | transport him to a facility outside the US. Her heart |
| to Rob about it but he said she was being | | | | sunk as they rushed to pick him up.When they arrived |
| overprotective of her son and that this would be the | | | | they rented a car and asked for directions to the |
| best thing for him and for them. He told her it would | | | | facility. They drove for what felt like a lifetime. The sun |
| give them a chance to start their new family while | | | | began to go down and they were still not there. They |
| Jonathan received the help he needed.That afternoon | | | | had no idea the place was in such a remote area. |
| she took Jonathan out for an ice cream. She wanted | | | | They stopped at a sheriff's office to ask for directions, |
| so badly to tell her son what was about to happen but | | | | since the ones they were given appeared to be |
| she remembered being told he would most likely run | | | | incorrect. The sheriff suggested they rent a hotel room |
| away. She held back the tears as she watched him | | | | and wait until morning to pick up Jonathan. What they |
| eating his ice cream, longing for the days when it was | | | | had read in one mother's story was happening to |
| just her and Jonathan. She questioned herself over | | | | them. Julia insisted he give her directions. He refused |
| and over again, but ultimately felt she had no choice | | | | and left the room. The Desk Officer quietly walked |
| but to send him away.That night she tucked him into | | | | over to Julia and slipped a piece of paper in her hand |
| bed. She went into his room many times before 3:00 | | | | and whispered for her to hurry. The look of fear in the |
| a.m., watching him sleep. Thoughts rushed through her | | | | officer's face made Julia realize that no matter how |
| head of waking him up, getting in the car, and taking | | | | strong the urge to grab her and give her a hug, she |
| him away from it all. She felt torn between her | | | | had better just walk away and get her son.The |
| relationship with her son and her relationship with | | | | directions looked promising as it was evident they |
| Rob.She got no sleep at all that night. At 3:00 a.m., right | | | | were very close to the facility. As they drove down |
| on time, there was a quiet knock at the door. She was | | | | the long dirt road they saw a broken-down sign and a |
| shocked to see two large men standing there, not at | | | | small, dilapidated building. Nothing like the pictures they |
| all what she expected. They assured her everything | | | | had seen on the Internet. Where were the beautiful |
| would be fine. They sat down with her at the kitchen | | | | horses? The rushing stream? The forest of trees? |
| table, going over forms and telling her it would be best | | | | The fields of flowers? The numerous lakes and |
| if she went into her bedroom while they woke | | | | ponds? All they could see was what looked like an old |
| Jonathan up and took him away. How could she do | | | | run-down farm.As they approached the building their |
| this, she thought? Rob stood over her shoulder, | | | | hearts raced in fear - fear that Jonathan would not be |
| assuring her everything would be alright. Her hand | | | | there. They entered the office area where they were |
| shook as she wrote the $1,800 check.Tears welled | | | | greeted by a stout woman asking what they wanted |
| into her eyes as she was escorted to her bedroom. | | | | and why they were there without an appointment. Julia |
| She sobbed as she stood by her door, straining to | | | | swallowed hard as she tried to speak. She said, "I'm |
| hear what was going on. She heard Jonathan scream, | | | | here to pick up my son." The woman told her that in |
| then he was silent. What did that mean, she | | | | order to pick up her son she would have to call ahead |
| wondered? Was he reassured as they said he would | | | | of time and make arrangements. "Didn't you read your |
| be? Or did they do something to him. She couldn't take | | | | contract?", the woman asked. "No!", Julia answered, |
| it any longer and opened the door. Just then she saw | | | | "and quite frankly that's part of the reason I am here |
| them - two large men, one small child - she looked | | | | tonight. Just get me my son!"At this point they saw |
| hard and realized her son was in handcuffs. His head | | | | children walking in a straight line, their chins to their |
| turned and their eyes met. She ran to him, sobbing, but | | | | chests. When Julia realized the third child in line was |
| Rob pulled her away. She was able to swipe her hand | | | | her son, she screamed, "Jonathan, come here this |
| over his face as she yelled she was sorry and that | | | | instant!" Jonathan took one look at his mother and ran |
| she loved him.As quickly as they came they were | | | | as fast as he could. Before the receptionist had time |
| gone. Julia had never experienced pain like she | | | | to call for assistance they were able to hustle him into |
| experienced that night. No matter what Rob said, no | | | | their car and fled from the area, never signing forms or |
| words could calm her nerves. She feared something | | | | retrieving his belongings.Once they were in the car |
| horrible would happen to her son. She laid there all night | | | | Jonathan could not stop talking. Julia later learned the |
| thinking about what had transpired over the past few | | | | children were not allowed to speak but for a few |
| days. She realized it was not her decision to send her | | | | moments each day. Sadly, after they returned home |
| son away but rather it was Rob's persistent coercion | | | | he shut down and would not talk. It took months of |
| and pressure. She felt a deep resentment toward him | | | | therapy before her son would even speak to her |
| as he laid there sleeping, unaffected by the events | | | | again. They are very slowly re-building their |
| that had just gone on in their home. How could he be | | | | relationship.Copyright 2006Isabelle Zehnder is a legal |
| so insensitive, she thought. How could he do this to | | | | professional and a dedicated child advocate. She is the |
| them?She thought about all the times she taught | | | | founder and President of the Coalition Against |
| Jonathan not to go with strangers. "Don't talk to | | | | Institutionalized Child Abuse (CAICA), advocating and |
| strangers ..." ... "don't go with strangers ..."She realized a | | | | mentoring children who were abused and/or neglected |
| complete stranger convinced her to allow two men | | | | in residential treatment programs. She provides a |
| she had never met before into her son's bedroom in | | | | website to educate the public about the multi-billion |
| the middle of the night. How did Jonathan feel, she | | | | dollar for-profit youth industry that, for the most part, is |
| wondered? Like he was being abducted? She could | | | | unregulated. |