Wednesday July 16, 2008, 9:26 am
This is such a sad story, but I have to agree with the DA on this one, the charges should not be dropped because this would only give out a message to all parents that it is okay if they want when the court gives custody to the other parent to just kidnap the kids and take them out of the country until they are all 18 years of age. We can not allow that to happen. If she really cared that much about the kids, she should have fought harder to prove that the father was abusing the children and to get legal custody.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 9:35 am
Letter signed and mailed.

TY, Adam.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 9:39 am
I understand your point Michael but watch the video on the site. They show you the medical papers from the little boy's skull fracture. The father was abusing them badly enough to kill any or all of them. Any responsible parent would flee the country rather than see one of their children murdered. If you read the details of the story, she did basically everything she could to prove he was abusing them. If she had stuck with that road, one of them would quite likely be dead today. The system failed this family. The facts have come out now and the DA and anyone who agrees with him need to see that it was a matter of life and death for her and her children. I'm sure her choice was a horribly difficult one to make, but it was also the only choice she really had.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 9:43 am
I can understand why she has done this as I have got children but as stated by Michael there are laws to abide by, I live in the UK and so many fathers have problems seeing their kids because the laws always give the woman the chance to keep their kids before the husband and if he had abused them the authorities would make sure he would not get them, running just makes her look guilty not him, bad move in my eyes, if you do a crime then you must pay the consequences sorry.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 10:01 am
"if he had abused them the authorities would make sure he would not get them"
I certainly wish this were true. I work in the health care field and I have personally seen examples that this is simply overly idealistic as to the functionality of the system. I have also spoken to a number of DCFS (Dept of Children and Family Services) employees who have seen cases of obvious abuse and neglect but the case does not get pursued. Once again, THE SYSTEM IS BROKEN. There are abusive parents (men and women) who do not ever get the punishment they deserve. More importantly, their children do not ever get removed from the abuse until (hopefully) they move out on their own. Even in an obvious abuse situation, the courts put the rights of the abusive parent over the rights of the abused children over and over again. I hope this is not the case in the UK but we're not that lucky here in America. It is certainly true that the law tends to favor the mother in divorce situations and this is wrong. However, that isn't what this situation is about. Once again, her childrens' lives and her own were on the line and the rreality of the situation is that "if he had abused them the authorities would make sure he would not get them" is simply not true sadly.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 10:30 am
I took action.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 10:40 am
signed, keep us posted on the progress if possible..thanks

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 10:47 am
The video was very informative with actual evidence....Its scary and shameful that courts couldnt see what was going on. It makes me wonder what kind of clout the father had that they seemed to sympathize with him despite evidence that he was abusing his whole family. As a mother of five sons...I can understand why she did what she did..and the letter from the children now adults is continued evidence that what she did was right in a humanity and love perspective. Thanks

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 10:54 am
Thank you Adam for e mailing me this sad story of injustice concerning this family. I signed and noted..

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 11:02 am
Oh wow! Thanks for posting this story! Judges placing children with dangerous fathers is a COMMON PROBLEM! I have one friend, Vee, who is the mother of an 8-year-old daughter. Vee caught hell trying to keep her child from being killed by her husband. He was a drug addict who promised to kill my friend, his daughter, and Vee's mom, who also lived with them. We all read about these things actually happening every day, so Vee left her husband, who then went to court and demanded visitation rights with his daughter. Vee BEGGED the court to please don't make her daughter spend weekends with her dad, but the Judge would not listen to Vee, and weekend visitation was ordered.

Vee knew it would probably cost her her life, but when the time came to turn her child over to her dad, Vee went with little Kay to her drug addicted soon-to-be ex-husband's apartment, prepared to do whatever she could to save their child. Vee prayed that if she must die herself, she would at least be able to save Kay. And she did save her. Vee spent the entire day locked in the bathroom with John, the deranged father, with a pistol cocked at her temple. John said, "I'm glad you came, too, Vee. I'm glad you agree the world is just too evil for us to continue to live in it. I'm going to kill you now, then Kay, then myself. Too bad your mom will have to stay here. I really love your mom, and you should have brought her with you."

Vee begged all day in that bathroom that he only kill her and himself, and allow Kay to live. She promised that Kay would have a good life with her mom and family, and even had to make him understand that Kay would be provided for from social security benefits after she and he died. He finally agreed to spare Kay, but told her to say a prayer and prepare to die.

Vee made a new plea attempt. She said it would be psychological damaging to Kay to come into the bathroom and find them both dead. She begged her husband to wait for another time to kill herself and him, when Kay would not be the ones to find their remains. He wrestled with the idea a while and finally agreed, and told Vee to expect to die the next day -- even if he had to come looking for her and kill her unawares. Vee was finally allowed to leave with her daughter, who had been watching Cartoon Network in the living room and never knew what her mom had faced on her behalf.

The next day, Vee skipped work to go to report to police and the authorities what happened, apply for a restraining order, and beg for a discontinuation of John's visitation rights with little Kay. All requests were declined.

It was lucky that Vee skipped work that day, because John came to her job, where I also worked. He was dressed for death in a rented tux, complete with a ruffled shirt and tuxedo shoes! He asked for Vee at the reception desk, and was told that she was not at work. He pointed a loaded gun at our receptionist and again demanded to see Vee. The receptionist showed him the employee sign-in sheet, and he finally believed that Vee was not at the office.

"But I only have this tux for one day," John complained, looking down at his fine outfit. That's when he turned the gun on himself and fired.

Moms get zero protection from most judges regarding protection for their children from abusive fathers. Judges most often consider it a mere attempt on the mom's part to punish the dads during a nasty divorce. Judges are often very wrong. Remember the estranged wife of the Washington, DC sniper? She felt he was killing many people so as to not be the prime suspect when he eventually got around to shooting her -- his prime target.

God bless Holly Collins and her children. I pray that God also helps the child's father -- he is obviously very mentally disturbed. Please stop him before he kills someone. If he was at his right senses, he would likely ask for mental health assistance himself.

Mary Neal
Website: http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 11:18 am
Michael...that is very easy of you to say..that if the mother should really cared that much about the kids, she should have fought harder to prove that the father was abusing the children and to get legal custody.
First of all.I do admire her guts to run away from a man like that.He will do anything to get them back.Second I am sure that a man like that is very calculating in his abuse actions,maybe he is good at hiding the proof or good at lying
I am a mother myself and I rather trust myself than trust justice...you don't know what kind of friends the father has or power.She protected her childern and I say GOOD for her!!
And it happens here in The Netherlands too,that justice isn't served even if the child care knows about it.There has been a lot of childern that are still living at home,beaten up or worse..Too many organisations that don't work together and blaming eachother,if we hear about another dead that was placed in child-care
Thank you Adam,will send it forward to my friends

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 11:56 am
Looks like Michael knows nothing about the legal system. I know of children that have been abused by a father and forced still to spend time with him. f it were my kids I would have done the sam Michael didnt you listen to the children. Didnt you read what they said. Didnt you believe them when the said they were being abused. MAybe you are like the judge, you dont believe a word of it. You see thats why she ran away. Because of people like you that refuse to believe a child. The children said they were being abused. That is enough for me. When a child has a scull fractured by a father, when a wife has bruises and broken bones from a husband, when children are bruised by father, then thats enough for me to say she did the right thing. And the authorities in Holland said she did the right thing. They believed her and her children were in danger. Is why they were given amnesty. Read it--listen to it for Gods sake... She did the only thing she could do to save her children..And many other women have done the same thing.. I think you need to read up on spouse abuse then maybe you will change your mind.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 1:02 pm
This mother and her children have suffered MORE than enough! For those who think that justicecan and will always be served haven't done their homework! Rotton, crapy, evil pond scum get away with this $hit every day in ...YES the good old USA!

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 1:09 pm
I' canadian so can't sign,noted and posted on another site. This is heartbreaking, and clearly it is obviously that many do not know how many abused, often severely so physically, are left with the father, no matter how much proof the mother comes up with. It is $, also if the father is now remarried, has more money, where they living, male domination society, this happens all to often and many you don't even know about. We have members on care2 this has happened too. And if you don't have family support, well there are alot of reasons, yes watch the video and read some eh.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 2:18 pm
Thanks for the story - very important. Noted. Sadly I wasn't able to sign the petition as it is set up for American citizens only.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 3:17 pm
Thank you for sharing that story Mary.
Worst nightmare for a parent

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 3:43 pm
Thank you for taking the time to read my comments, Alicya. My friend and her daughter's crisis ended in a tragic best-case scenario. Unfortunately, if the court had only granted Vee a restraining order or withhold John's visitation rights, Vee and Kay would likely be dead today. John was obviously very disturbed, and he would have kept his promise to kill Vee and his family unawares. John had lost his job, he dabbled in drugs, and he was supper depressed.

Mental illness is at the root of many family violence cases. Often, the abuser has a long history of psychiatric treatment that he/she elected to discontinue. Sometimes, abusers have an undiagnosed problem. Consider the news reports you have heard of whole families being wiped out or groups of co-workers or fellow students being shot dead. AFTER murders, the authorities are all too willing to finally step up to the plate and IMPRISON rather than treat the mental patients who need help. See more on my page and at http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com. Help me to decriminalize mental illness, please.

Mary Neal

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 3:51 pm
We had a man here in Florida who killed his 1 yesr old son last month. He had been arrested for domestic violence & for abusing his 3 children. His wife was in jail ( they didn't state why )but there was drugs involved with both parents. A judge ordered that the children be returned to him & less then a month after the childrens return he beat the 1 year old to death. I wonder how that judge is sleeping at night. The man had a history of abusing his children yet they were returned to him, an innocent life lost.This is a heartbreaking story about Holly as is the one here in florida.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 3:58 pm
It sounds as if Michael Brewster is supporting the abusive father and the hopeless legal system.You doesn't have to be Einstein to see what has happened. I hope he does not have any children, because I would fear for their safety....some people should not be allowed to breed!!!!!!!
My heart goes out to this family and their courageous mother, Holly. This situation should not happen in, a so called civilized society???, in the most advanced country??? in the world.The land of the free?????????

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 4:20 pm
Thanks Adam, I've posted this on my 2 forums...here: http://familycourtactivists.ning.com/profile/EYESWIDEOPENINTERNATIONAL

And here: http://cnbpinc.ning.com/profile/EYESWIDEOPENINTERNATIONAL

I hope it gets some activity. Ron G.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 6:35 pm
It's sad. Our laws need to be flexable enough to see when an injustice is being done. The children should never go to their father. I signed it and sent it.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 7:25 pm
signed and sent. what are the courts doing or thinking. this is a tragedy. thanks for posting this story.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 7:33 pm
Noted & action taken,with pleasure!

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 9:10 pm
Letter sent. Noted. Thanks Adam.

Thank you for taking action to Stop Family Violence.

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 9:42 pm
Oh yell heck yell I would have done the same thing this woman done or even worse. For I tell you the truth and no lies . If this person would have been beating on me no way much less my childern for he would be dead, They would not have to worry about being beat again. I have a daughter who was going through this and I didn't knoww it but, one night for no reason I went to her house with a 9mm under my coat and ready to go I sat there him across from me. I stared into his eyes and I reached into my coat my Grandson Nick came and got on my lap and put his arms around my neck and hugged this was and agles for sure. for this man was going to die. Today he is back in his County for he went to prison for 4 yers for putting a gun to a childs head during a robbery and the child picked out and went to court room against him. So yes this woman done what was right for her childern for I would do the same. No person should ever had this kind of control over anyone ever. And today If this would happen to me I would not take it Nor will my daughter she went through to much if anyone even so much touches her in a wrong way its real bad for she can handel her own now and what she can't I'm right there beside her and she knows it. Always have been and alwys will be until my last breath. This is the love of a true Mother. This man is a monster and the judge must be getting paid big bucks from him. Kick this judge out and let this woman and her childern come back home. Thanks Adam but got to go for Mom and Childern her

Wednesday July 16, 2008, 10:08 pm
Signed. I hope everything works out for the family.
Abuse is a terrible thing to live with.
Thank goodness the mother got those kids out of that situation.
The justice system needs to protect the victims, not the abusers.

Thursday July 17, 2008, 12:34 am
noted adam, and thanks very bitter

Thursday July 17, 2008, 5:09 am
Hello Adam,
I took action. It's very sad that courts often get it wrong.
They often blame the victims or don't help battered women until
it is too late. More must be done in that reguard.

Thursday July 17, 2008, 10:01 am
hello I signed very sad story it happens more than we no Joann

Thursday July 17, 2008, 1:23 pm
The system is falling down badly where children are concerned in my humble opinion. Adam thanx for the post. A very sad situation as it always is where children of an abusive parent are concerned. My heart is sad for the mother and her children and the injustice of it all. I'm in NZ so I have noted and will forward on. Blessings Adam. Peace & Harmony To All.

Wednesday July 23, 2008, 12:03 pm
THANK YOU FOR TAKING ACTION,I SINGED LETTER AND SENT OFF,,,,This is crazy you never can protect your children when people with courts backing the bad guy,stop this and bring them home......

Friday August 1, 2008, 9:04 am
I know this family personally. Michael, she did everything. Everything. For years she worked within the system (that yes, is broken) while she watched her children wear new bruises and heard their crys for help. I was there when Zachary and Jennifer were ripped away from their Mother. She fought and fought utill she could fight no more...then she did what any Mother would do...she protected her children. The law does not always equate justice. 150 years ago it was law that I could buy a human in the US. Those that fought against it were criminals then...now they are heros. Today it is law that you can beat a child. Are those that stand against it criminals, or heros?

Thursday August 7, 2008, 12:46 pm
We need to revise our laws to protect our children and women of abuse. A man beats his wife & child and the mother is the one who has to run to save her children’s lives. This is also the case for men that are abused by their spouse. Our laws protect the criminal and not the victim.

Saturday August 16, 2008, 10:09 pm
Battered American Woman Receives Asylum in Costa Rica.

YUP>>> There's Another One!!!!

Chere fled to Costa Rica in 1996 with her daughters, one of whom she had with her former boyfriend, Roger Cyprian. She did so in order to escape an abusive relationship with the father of the child. However, her actions were in violation of a Texas court order that granted joint custody of the child to Cyprian and Chere and determined that her residence would be in Texas. Later enter the FBI and a grand jury indictment for child abduction. Chere was arrested last year by Interpol and has spent the last 10 months in the El Buen Pastor prison for women. The U.S. has fought for extradition, but the Costa Rican government has decided to grant Chere refugee status and has released her. She can now continue her life with her Costa Rican husband and four children (two of which were born here in Costa Rica through her marriage with Javier Montero).

Costa Rica enjoys a very cozy relationship with the U.S., in general. Now there is talk that Costa Rica's action may disrupt that relationship. Oscar Arias, Costa Rica's president, has praised the action of the Costa Rican justice system in granting Chere asylum and releasing her. He says that he is proud that his country took this action in order to protect human rights in spite of U.S. pressure to extradite Chere. I grew up in an abusive home. I know the fear. It has shaped me in many ways.

Cyprian says there was no violence, but admits to being a "control freak." Maybe he is truthful (I doubt it), but control freaks by their very nature do violence to those who they attempt to control. Chere Lyn deserves the right to control her own destiny. She came to Costa Rica trying to do that. I don't blame her. I came here for that reason as well. She is trying to have a peaceful life. She apparently came to the right place. I too applaud Costa Rica's decision in this case. It took guts. It was a decision that was not taken lightly as the courts debated for some time and were under intense media scrutiny throughout the process. This was simply a decision made, in the face of political and legal pressure from the largest most powerful country in the world, to protect the right of a mother and her child to be free from abuse. It was the right decision.

Demand Justice these heroic women!!!

Wednesday August 27, 2008, 7:14 am
UPDATE:


Hello Stop Family Violence Activists!

There is great news to report regarding Holly Collins – the battered woman who fled the United States with her children fourteen years ago to protect them from their father’s abuse after the Minneapolis family court failed to do so. Since our action alert about this last month, we’ve sent over 6500 messages to authorities in Minnesota, asking them to drop the charges against Holly so that she and her (now adult) children can come back to the US and live their lives in peace.

In addition, Beth Walton, a reporter for the Minneapolis local weekly paper City Pages wrote a terrific and detailed article about Holly’s plight.
http://www.citypages.com/2008-07-30/news/battered-woman-becomes-american-refugee-in-amsterdam

As a result of this pressure, the Minneapolis District Attorney’s office is beginning to change its tune – no longer insisting that Holly be put in jail the minute she sets foot on US soil, no longer insisting that she not have any contact with her children until trial, and now, even offering that they won’t put Holly in jail at all IF she pleads guilty.

It's exciting - but it's not good enough!
Holly should not have to plead guilty to anything! She was acting to protect her children when the State failed to do so!
The only thing she’s guilty of is violating the court order to turn he children over to their father, who had broken Zachary’s skull!

There is ample evidence to support Holly’s claims of abuse – testimony of child abuse experts, therapists, medical records and more – indeed the court order stated that 'The court finds that domestic abuse has occurred between the parties...'

Holly had every reason to believe that the abuse would continue, and because the court turned a blind eye to the dangers, she had no alternative but to defy the court’s orders and flee to protect her children.

It is irresponsible and unethical for the District Attorney to prosecute this case. Their blind pursuit of this prosecutorial agenda harms victims of violence everywhere - sending a message that the legal system is indifferent to abuse and that the abuser's claim to custody and visitation is more important than the safety of the protective parent and their children.

PLEASE keep the pressure on the District Attorney to drop the charges against Holly Collins.

Take action at www.stopfamilyviolence.org/520

BTW – many of you have written personal messages to Holly and her children, which I have forwarded. Here’s a reply from Jennifer:
Dear Irene,
I would like to thank you all on my mother’s behalf for the letters of support and well wishes. Due to the impending charges, my mother has been instructed to avoid making public statements at this time. We are both touched by the sentimental words of encouragement we received. My mother is a soft person and quite frightened by the district attorney’s determination to prosecute her. Your kind messages have helped to ease her fears. Just knowing that there are people standing behind her helps her find the strength and the determination to fight for justice.
Thank You Again,
Jennifer

Wednesday August 27, 2008, 11:25 am
Adam, thanks you for updating this Family Tragedy. I'm glad of the impact we have had. She should NOT have to compromise herself to come home! I'm in total agreement that ALL charges should be dropped and her record wiped clean! I will certainly follow up on this!

Saturday August 30, 2008, 8:18 pm
When will our justice system be TRUE justice. It makes my heart hurt. I will continue to send her love and light. :)

Monday September 29, 2008, 12:05 am
This is Jennifer Collins. I just wanted to let you all know that they dropped all charges against my mother! There is so much debate about our story, but it really is not a “He said/ She said” situation. My father admitted to breaking my mother’s nose 3 times and dislocating her shoulder in front of us kids! He beat my (4 year old) brother so severely that he broke the bones in his skull! Judge Michael Davis even found that he was abusive. The case went horribly wrong when Judge Davis could not understand why my mom was still so afraid of this man after they had been divorced for 2 years. He said “It’s about time you get over the abuse.” It was such a crazy situation. Anyway… it is all over now and we can go on with our lives in peace. Thank you for your support. The next time a child says that someone is hurting him/her, I hope you believe them! Thanks, Jennifer