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