Bergen County Let Me Down: Violence against Women Ignored and 4 Women a Day Die

BettyJean Downing Kling

Today as I sat in court awaiting my case I was shocked to see no less than 7 DV cases go unheard because the women did not take the case forward. Whatever happened to the state proceeding without the woman because she may be afraid to testify? I saw officers agree to allow the state to drop the case.
Some abused women came in but said they did not want to proceed, a few called in saying they wanted to drop the charges and some simply did not appear. A parade of men came and went in and out without a care in the world, allegedly having violated the women they are intimate with.
What a horrible shame on two counts. First that the women let these men get away with violating them physically, but what about these punks that hit women and walk in here as if they are not the least bit ashamed of their behavior. I saw one man fondling and kissing her after the court and thanking her- she didn’t look happy about it at all. I saw another woman sitting there looking scared to death and she didn’t leave his side for a second. I could not help but look at these gems and think – gee what a prize that lady just saved from his consequences so he can be free to hurt her again!
On the other hand, I was there to see my case through. Having procured a final protection order from the county seat a few months back after the Judge found him guilty of terroristic threats, I was surprised to learn another county division downgraded the threat to kill case to a simple harassment and sent it back to Lodi to be heard. Funny no one spoke to me about that to be sure I wouldn’t drop the charges – or to be sure how much danger I was in. Did they think a protection order would keep me alive from a lunatic? In any case I was blindsided by that move but I proceeded to trial.
The defendant, my son, was found guilty but because the charge was downgraded he got what amounted to a slap on the wrist and a minimal fine compared to the seriousness of the crime he should have been found guilty of. The judge could only find him guilty of the charges before her and no more.
Downgrading a threat to kill to simple harassment is a serious injustice against me by the county. I did not get my day in court- and if anything happens to me – it is blood on their hands. I did not drop charges – I followed through – the county let me down. This is the reason 4-5 women a day are found dead in the USA- even when they don’t drop the charges and they are willing to show up – they do not get the justice and protection they deserve. Wake up America- a protection order is not a guarantee on saving a life!

Loretta E. Lynch saves the day: Pedophile Andrew Goodman Arrested On Federal Charges

Andrew Goodman almost got away with a slap on the wrist from the idiot Judge Martin P. Murphy but Loretta E. Lynch will have the last word! let’s show her our support!

Andrew Goodman pleaded guilty to multiple felonies, including oral sex and anal sex with the victim. He could have been sentenced to dozens of years in prison. Instead, Judge Martin P. Murphy refused to allow the victim’s parent or the A.D.A. to speak, and instead sentenced Goodman to 2 years in prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. With time already served, Goodman would be free in September                         .

The outrage by his victims and the general public has finally found a shero in Loretta E. Lynch, the  Brooklyn pedophile – has been arrested by federal authorities.

Defendant Allegedly Took Victim to Atlantic City

A complaint was unsealed this morning in federal court in Brooklyn charging Andrew Goodman with transporting a minor in interstate commerce to engage in sexual activity.¹ Goodman’s initial appearance is scheduled later today before United States Magistrate Judge Cheryl L. Pollak, at the U.S. Courthouse, 225 Cadman Plaza East, Brooklyn, New York.

The charge was announced by Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Janice K. Fedarcyk, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office.

As alleged in the complaint, in February 2010, Goodman traveled with the then 15-year-old victim to Atlantic City, New Jersey. While there, Goodman sexually abused the victim in a hotel room.

“The prevention of sexual exploitation of children is a priority of this office,” stated United States Attorney Lynch. “Those who would take advantage of children are on notice that they will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.” Ms. Lynch extended her grateful appreciation to District Attorney Charles J. Hynes and the Kings County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this case.

FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Fedarcyk stated, “Those who sexually exploit children will be held to justice for all the crimes they commit under both federal and local laws. In this case, Mr. Goodman allegedly transported a minor across state lines with the intent to sexually abuse a child. The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to protecting children from predators.”

If convicted, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment.

The government’s case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tyler Smith.

Denise Rotheimer: Nominated for Renegade Moms

BettyJean Downing-Kling

Denise is a TMU W.O.M.E.N. Coalition member and is eligible for the Renegade Mom Competition. She was a guest on TMU W.O.M.E.N. ‘s Radio earlier this year and told her story and the difference she is making!  You can use a copy of her story below and take a few minutes of your time and help us make sure she is highly visible. Denise is a renegade mom if ever there was one!

Thanks in advance, below is a sample of a 150 Character max. Nomination entry statment

Following the rape of her then 11-year-old daughter, Jasmine, she proposed legislation in 2003 to prevent other victims from becoming further victimized by the system. she has spent nearly ten years working to amend victims’ rights laws and make victims’ rights enforceable. In 2011 a law that she authored and named after Jasmine became effective in Illinois and doubles sentencing for child sex offenders where alcohol is involved. Jasmine’s Law makes alcohol an aggravating factor. Denise has assisted numerous victims whose children have been victims of sexual violence by providing them with support and information they need to ensure justice. Currently, she is working with the County Board to implement a Human Rights Commission and complaint form for individuals whose rights are violated throughout the criminal justice system. Denise also started writing a book entitled, “American justice and politics” to raise awareness of my experience through the criminal justice system, the State legislature and opposition on legislation authored from victim advocate groups. Ms Rotheimer founded a grassroots organization in 2008, Mothers On a Mission to Stop Violence momsv.org. She hosted and produced an hour cable show entitled, “Enforce justice” enforcejustice.com. Her goal is to continue raising awareness of the unfair treatment victims receive throughout the criminal justice system and working to make our laws enforceable to ensure justice for victims of violent crime.

You can reach Denise Rotheimer  by e-mail denise@momsv.org   or phone 847-406-8566

Anderson Cooper is taking nominations for Renegade Moms. If you would like to nominate her click here http://www.andersoncooper.com/be-on-the-show/695.

Modern-day Mengele may be experimenting on daughter in D. C.

By:  Jocelyn Andersen

Life-saving treatment is being deliberately withheld from nine year old Ariana-Leilani, and a petition demanding that she receive immediate medical treatment is currently being circulated.

In a BlogTalkRadio interview, conducted yesterday by Betty Jean Kling, Ariana-Leilani’s mother, Dr. Ariel King, and her attorney, Roy Morris, disclosed that they believed Ariana-Leilani’s father, Dr. Michael Pfeiffer, was not only refusing to allow his daughter to receive life saving medicine but, for unknown reasons, might also be deliberately causing the very condition that is threatening her life.

Ariana-Leilani is a dual German-American citizen who resides in Washington D.C. with her father, who is a German citizen employed by the V. A. hospital there. The child is allowed no contact with her mother or her mother’s family. She has been diagnosed with a life-threatening but easily treatable disease called, Severe Chronic Neutropenia, but though the medicine for her disease is covered by insurance and is even being made available free of charge, her father refuses to allow her to receive the treatments she needs.

A simple infection could easily kill her.

Neutropenia is not contracted naturally. The disease is a common side effect of some chemotherapy drugs, but cancer has been ruled out in Ariana-Leilani’s case, as have most other common causes. King says, “We believe it [testing] will show that it is an induced condition. You don’t get it [neutropenia] out of no where.”

One routine, and very simple, step in the testing process has been neglected—not overlooked—but overtly neglected. Toxicology testing is routine in cases of neutropenia in order to rule out drug induced neutropenia.

Morris commented that every professional who looks at the case asks why toxicology testing has not been done. In fact, toxicology testing has been requested on numerous occasions by Ariana-Leilani’s mother, but the father refuses to have her tested.

There is a history of control and abuse issues within the marriage. King has filed restraining orders against her husband who was able to have them removed via ex parte hearings. She and her husband are currently estranged with divorce proceedings pending in Germany. King currently resides in Germany. She stated that she constantly fears for her life, and in order to help her daughter she must keep herself alive.

Gender bias in family court and old fashioned cronyism appear to be playing dual parts in Ariana-Leilani’s dilemma. Dr. King maintains that her daughter’s physician is a colleague of Pfeiffer’s and refuses to heed her requests to prescribe medicine or to order toxicology testing.

The German Embassy issued a request, to Pfeiffer, that a second opinion be gained and offered to pay for that along with independent testing for Ariana-Leilani. Pfeiffer refuses to comply with his embassy’s request.

King reports that, “Something is destroying the neutrophils in Ariana-Leilani’s body. Tests have shown that she is making enough, but something is destroying them.”  

Toxicology testing would rule out drug induced disease in this child.

During last night’s interview, Betty Jean Kling asked “What kind of father would refuse a second opinion or free medicine for his daughter?”  Kling concluded that only a father “with something to hide” would behave in such a way. Morris, who has been advocating for Dr. King on Ariana-Leilani’s behalf pro-bono for some years, concurred. He replied that Kling’s explanation was “the best he could think of.”

A listener to the show called in to ask if Dr. King thought it was possible that her estranged husband was administering drugs to Ariana-Leilani that could be inducing this disease. King answered in the affirmative. She said, “My husband’s specialty is actually Human Drug Experimentation … when I know and understand that my husband’s specialty is Human Drug Experimentation … some of the drugs that cause neutropenia he has actually written about in his PhD thesis … do I think there is a possibility, yes I do … and it would be nice to rule that out…”

King claims to have a recording of her daughter saying, “Papa gives me green medicine to make me sick …” 

According to King, there is some question about Pfeiffer’s credentials as well. She said, “He was going to work in Florida, but they actually had to check out his medical credentials, and he didn’t want that, so he stayed in D. C..  D. C. did not give him a medical license because he could not show that he actually went to medical school, but he was able to get one in Virginia because they were told he had one in D. C., so there are a lot of issues going on here.”

Washington D. C. is one of the few areas that permits doctors to self-prescribe and to prescribe drugs for family members even though the American Medical Association condemns this practice. As repugnant as it may be to contemplate, it is possible that there is a modern-day Dr. Mengele experimenting on his very own child in Washington D.C., and nothing is being done about it.

To rule this out, Ariana-Leilani needs toxicology testing immediately.

Dr. King has written to the State Department to ask for help in getting her daughter medical treatment. Dr. David Dale , an expert on neutropenia, wrote to the German Embassy requesting their help. In addition to his many other efforts on behalf of Ariana-Leilani, Morris has written to President Obama as well. So far, all is to no avail.

Morris and King have given up on the legal system to come through for Ariana-Leilani and have turned to public opinion. They are asking everyone who will to fight with them for the life of Ariana-Leilani by signing the petition demanding that this child be helped immediately.

Time is of the essence.

 The show hosted by BettyJean Kling and  Jocelyn Andersen can be heard and downloaded to any listening device on demand: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/freemenow/2012/03/22/the-majority-united

WOMEN: A Coalition of Women Organized Mobilized Empowered Nationwide

BettyJean Downing

Women and children are facing brutality and injustice at the hands of family, friends, intimate partners, agencies and the justice system at alarming numbers, it’s a pandemic. Brave individual and independent groups are struggling to be heard, large bureaucracies need the limited funds to fund the bureaucracy while the folks who really need the funds often find the funds depleted to operational costs.

Independent unfunded volunteer groups are springing up more often than not find themselves jockeying for attention to our desperate plight rather than working together for the desperate plight of all women. Rather than being divided on which issue demands more of our attention women need to understand all injustice toward all women and children must be stopped. The injustice of domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, rape, family and divorce court reform, sexism, misogyny, media sexualization and pedophilia, to name a few, affects every woman and child directly or indirectly one way or the other. Women and girls are under attack from every flank, and yet all these groups stand alone rather than uniting nationwide demanding justice for all of womankind in this the great America claiming to be a beacon of women’s rights!

At The Majority United, our only issue is “Women’s rights are human rights.” We know that as citizens of the United States we too have inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and we too have the right to a representative government and equal justice and we are not getting it. TMU has formed WOMEN as an umbrella group inviting all groups to unite under the umbrella individually so the majority can show a united front while each group remains itself independent and dedicated to its own cause but bolstered by the strength of a national united women’s non-partisan non- issue group.

Whatever battle women are facing, we know that we are stronger when we have an organization behind us. We are stronger when that organization has no single issue partisan ax to grind but instead is fighting only for human rights and Justice. We know we stand a greater chance of being heard and taken seriously when we are strong. And we know we are stronger when we are united than we are when we are fighting alone! We invite your group to join our women’s coalition of groups united in solidarity of Women Organized Mobilized Empowered Nationwide (WOMEN) working toward justice and human rights for women and children in the United States.

 

Join us: https://www.facebook.com/groups/MajorityUnited/

 

We need Volunteers and Board Members and Officers

 

The Domestic Violence Empire; Billion dollar industry in need of reform

 

Maria DiBari | Like TCCC on Facebook

 

Since the enactment of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1994, the federal government has channeled over a billion dollars into organizations that are required to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence. The VAWA Web site does post figures on grants awarded to specific organizations and the amount of each grant, but does not detail how the funds are expected to be spent. Womensenews, Regina Varoilli.

 

The goal of the domestic violence reform movement is to ensure that all victims are afforded equal protections and services regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age and their perpetrator’s occupation. Victim resources and public policy must provide services and laws that address the needs of all victims including: women, men, teens, LGBT, officer-involved victims as well as immigrants so equal protections and services for all.

 

Currently, victims of violence on a local, state and national level are being failed by our funded resources.  The problem is that domestic violence shelters and agencies get funding based on the need for services and the number of hotline calls or heads in the shelter, not the cases they solve or the needs they meet.  You or I may call the shelter with a question, and that is then counted as a statistic for their agency.  Whether they help you or I or not, we both become a statistic for the agency and in turn, the agency will get rewarded with funding and grants. 

 

The most effective way to approach the reform issue is to spearhead this movement at the local and state level, while simultaneously gaining national support.  Our local and state resources are flawed and victims are unable to obtain appropriate services from shelters and agencies.  Some problems with the current support system include:

 

1. Crime victim’s compensation is difficult to obtain for domestic violence related injuries.  Emergency relocation is nearly impossible to obtain due to the lengthy application process and documentation required to proceed with the request; providing an emergency service should be a fast process, not one that takes weeks to complete with the risk of being denied services. 
   
2. Pro bono legal representation for divorce and family law cases are lacking. 
   
3. Pro bono surgeries after domestic violence are difficult to access for victims.
   
4. Career services for victims of domestic violence is a needed resource that should be provided by all shelters.  Helping women re-enter the work place and teaching victims how to be financially independent is vital. 
   
5. Transitional Housing is in high demand for victims of domestic violence. 
   
6. Victim transportation to court, case related appointments and to and from work while residing in a shelter is needed for all victims to maintain stability, financial independence, and make necessary appointments. 
   
7. Stalking resources are non-existent in every shelter.    
   

 

The list goes on; however, these are the most immediate resources that need to be addressed on a national level.

 

 A lack of funding for domestic violence is not the problem.  Many DV executives are making six figure salaries and beyond, and work 35 hour weeks.  Safe Horizon, the richest shelter in the US located in NYC, gets nearly 42 million dollars per year, while less than 1 million dollars is allocated towards direct services for victims in 5 boroughs. The top executives at Safe Horizon make hundreds of thousands of dollars each year with bonuses of 50K per year.  Even at the local level, executives running the county shelters make top salaries to serve a small population, and even then, many victims are being left behind.  There is nothing wrong with getting paid for a job well done and hard work, but getting rewarded while victims’ needs go unmet and while domestic homicide is on the rise is illogical. 

 

Each year, Mary Kay donates millions to the NNEDV, and this is not surprising since a Mary Kay representative sits on their Board.  This agency does not provide direct services to victims at any capacity.  How do I know that? I was denied services and support by the NNEDV as a victim in need of resources, and I am not the only one.  One of their missions is to empower victims of DV.  I was never empowered by this group.  The NNEDV did provide a victims fund “Amy’s Courage Fund”, which was sponsored by the Mary Kay Foundation, but that fund has closed because the resources were in high demand and the funds were exhausted.  This is a clear example of what victims need most: emergency funds for survival. 

 

In fact, many large corporations sponsor local shelters and national coalitions and agencies each year.  Many sponsors rely on statistics provided by the agencies and truly believe that victims are getting the services they need and are benefiting.  The reality is not as bright as the statistics portray, and, instead, many go without, find it impossible to get help, are denied shelter and services, and even die trying to get assistance. 

 

“Funding needs to be reallocated to lawyers and trained consultants that work one on one with victims of domestic violence, and provide follow-up on cases to ensure needs are met.  National, state and local domestic violence agencies need to be held accountable through proper oversight, which does not exist today.  Follow-up is poor, training is lacking and there are no incentives for agencies to provide victim services throughout the entire victimization cycle” Alexis Moore, Director of Victim Outreach for Tri-County Crisis Center, Inc.

 

Victims need real services.  The most critical point in any given victimization cycle is the point at which the victim picks up the phone and reaches out for help.  At that point it is critical for the victim in need to have access to direct services such as pro bono representation, career services, counseling, emergency funds, housing and shelter, transportation and basic necessities.  Without these services, victims are lost and are unable to survive the cycle of violence.  Without proper follow-up and attention, victims fall between the cracks and are put at risk.  These problems can be solved and should be tackled at the local and state level first, and then the movement must continue nationally with the support of organizations and individuals such as National NOW, NCADV, NNEDV and public officials. 

 

Maria DiBari | Like TCCC on Facebook

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George Hartwig admits to firing shotgun into sister-in-law’s face

 I need support. My son-in -law George Hartwig,  bludgeoned his estranged wife, my dying daughter Denise Richardson in the head before she died of cancer then returned  and shot my other daughter Louisa Richardson Rodas  nearly killing her. He tried to kill my son but the gun jammed before he was taken down by my grandson and subdued until the police came.

He pleaded guilty yesterday to 8 counts and threw himself on the mercy of the court asking for a minimal sentence based on his incapacited condition of drug induced actions. Instead of consecutive sentences of 60 + years he wants 20  which will have him out in about 12 years.  My daughter will serve about 40 – she is permanently in solitary confinement having lost half of her head from the shotgun blast. She remains completely healthy except she cannot sit, stand, speak, see, eat, or recognize her own children. She will live a long life of nothing! Why should he get less? He has had a long life of creating misery for everyone who has ever come in his path.

Please consider how you might help by wring a short respectful letter to the judge regarding plea deals and how women pay the ultimate price for lower that full sentencing. We urge significant and effective sentences, we must eliminate or reduce plea deals and strictly enforce laws for Violence against Women. We ask she do so in this case as George is a repeat offender and his pleas are just another con job on the court.

The Judge Liliana DeAvila-Silebi is a fair jurist, please send respectful letters of support for full and consecutive sentencing regardless of the prosecutors request for 30 years in return for a plea deal. The defendant has always wanted to plead guilty and was not in need of a plea deal ! He did not accept the conditions of the plea deal therefore it is not incumbamt on this Judge to give him the 30 years – she can and should give him consecutive sentencing.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/HARTWIG.html Comments would be appreciated in support of full and consecutive sentencing.

Europe to America: Voters are a multitude of fools; You’re idiots!

BJ Downing

I recently got an email with the following so called “BEST QUOTE OF THE DECADE – from the CZECH REPUBLIC” bashing the American people over our current POTUS.

“The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting an inexperienced man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama Presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their President.

The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince.

The Republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools who made him their President.”

Well, I cannot say that I disagree but it reminds me of the last ‘BEST QUOTE OF THE DECADE’ that one from the Brits. Remember this?

 Brits to America: You’re Idiots!
Well, 51 percent of you, anyway.
By June Thomas Posted Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004, at 8:07 PM ET

Americans who think post-election anti-red-state recrimination is a U.S.-only phenomenon should check out the cover of Thursday’s Daily Mirror: Over a picture of President George W. Bush, the paper asked, “How can 59,054,087 people be so DUMB?” Inside, the left-leaning British tabloid headlined its editorial, “WAR MORE YEARS.” In a clear demonstration of the trans-Atlantic culture gap, the paper’s description of the president’s beliefs—clearly intended to strike Mirror readers as a radical agenda—is simply an accurate, if crude, précis of his platform: “Mr Bush opposes abortion and gay marriage, doesn’t give a stuff about the environment, is against gun control and believes troops should stay in Iraq for as long as it takes.”

Great quotes both – but- as far as I am concerned the best quote was written by one of our own when we formed this country long before we the people lost our marbles and sold our souls to one party or the other over a few radical issues none of us has any damned business dictating to the other of us!

“I never submitted the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party of men whatever, in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in anything else, where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction is the last degradation of a free and moral agent. If I could not go to heaven but with a party, I would not go there at all.” ~~~ THOMAS JEFFERSON, letter to Francis Hopkinson, Mar. 13, 1789

Any given Election year a paltry few percent of fools ( last few elections were won by 51-53%) will vote for one side or another over some radical issue be it religious vs. Liberal  (abortion/gay rights) or Republican vs. Dem (Green vs. drill baby drill or gun control) issue. Issues which apparently are more important that the waste, fraud, and abuse going on under our very noses. They are draining us dry while they are getting rich and making their cronies rich.

Here is some interesting information: Our representatives are MILLIONAIRES

The current salary (2011) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $174,000 per year.
Who are the wealthiest members of Congress? Here’s a look. Next
If you stayed up nights wondering whether members of Congress would be able to weather the Great Recession of the late 2000s, this bit of news should finally put your mind at ease.

Overall, members of Congress saw their personal wealth grow by more than 16 percent during the worst economic downturn in the United States since the Great Depression, according to financial disclosures submitted by lawmakers. See more: Even in Recession, Congress Pay Grew

The median personal wealth for members of Congress grew to $911,510 in 2009, up from $785,515 in 2008, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Nearly half of the members of Congress are millionaires.

We should be focusing on jobs, economy, energy independence, education, infrastructure, equal representation by women in our government, media bias, court reform, earmark reform, term limits, terrorism, immigration, voter fraud, caucus fraud, corruption and tax reform instead of the divisive issues.

While they keep us looking at those divisive issues that keep us at each other’s throats they are abrogating our very democracy and getting away with it. We are battling each other while they just spend our money to get elected and re-elected. They spend it to play golf and to fly around the world visiting dignitaries for a day then vacationing for the rest of the week with the family members they brought with them; they vacation and buy homes on tropical islands all on our dime. They exempt themselves from our laws and health care reforms. They give themselves raises while they ask the citizens to pay more in taxes, they preach tax reform but they intend (just like HC reform) to hold on to their own loopholes. They believe they are above the law and are blatant about it (Kerry and his R.I. Yacht scandal)

“The Boston Herald reported that the Massachusetts Democrat had berthed his yacht Isabel in Rhode Island and suggested he was seeking to avoid paying about $437,000 in sales tax and an annual excise tax of around $70,000 that would be levied if he berthed the vessel in Massachusetts. Rhode Island has no sales tax on yachts.”

The Republicans with their family values are repeatedly found short of family values too numerous to list here but we know what they are. Suffice it to say, both parties claim the other party does not suit our values and they are both right – NEITHER does! Both are corrupt! Both are lying through their teeth.

Both QUOTES OF THE DECADE are true, the one about fools voting for Obama and dummies voting for Bush. We are a nation of sheeple who are getting dumber and dumber every day and paying the dishonor to do so. The once great and proud America will fall like every great empire and like the great republic of Rome if we do not wake up soon and stop voting for a few issues, which both parties offer like carrots on a stick but never really deliver anyway but rather keep alive as bait to keep us hooked to their party.

WAKE UP.

BTW- I have no idea who really wrote the quote attributed to the CZECH’s – it doesn’t really matter  does it? Read instead our founders and our Constitution.

The Holly Collins Case: Why battered women stay with their abusers!

Written by Jennifer Collins H/T Maria DiBari

Why do Battered Women Stay with Their Abuser? – The Holly Collins Case

Zachary, Jennifer & Mom in usa 1992LOOK

It is incomprehensible that as a result of the Order For Protection, which was granted and forbade Mark Collins from abusing his wife and children, the father was simultaneously granted unsupervised visitation with the very children he abused. This girl, barely a woman couldn’t understand the ramifications of the family court system. Holly Collins sought out the Child Protection Investigators who forced her to take her children away from their abusive father and went directly to the Child Protection office in a panic begging them to protect her children. “This is why I stayed” She wept “At least I could protect the children MOST of the time. Now my children have to go alone with him and there is no one there to protect them.” The child protection desk agent was sympathetic but explained that once this battered woman took actions to protect her children and left her abuser the case was then transferred from Juvenile Court to Family Court and it was her duty as a mother to get the family court judge to protect her children.

In the meantime Holly’s young children would return from court ordered visitations battered and bruised. Holly’s little boy was treated by their pediatrician for injuries sustained from his father’s abuse. The doctor’s report documents the bruises to the young lad and clearly states “Mother will be alert for abuse potential situation.” For 5 more years Holly Collins was alert and vigilant to protect her children but time after time and one court hearing after another Mark Collins somehow managed to convince the judge that Holly was trying to “Alienate” him from his children’s lives. Eventually a family court judge instructed Holly to take the children to the Boston Children’s Hospital to be evaluated by the Child Abuse Trauma Team and he simultaneously ordered a custody evaluation. Both Dr. Eli Newberger and the entire investigative team at the Boston Children’s Hospital found that the children and their mother were severely abused by the father. Back in Hennepin County the Family Court Investigator also confirmed domestic violence but conceded that Holly’s fear of her husband was (although unwittingly) indeed interfering in the children’s relationship with their father. And just like that custody was reversed to the very man who terrorized, beat and battered this woman and her children.

Holly eventually fled the country with her children and was the first American citizen granted asylum in the Netherlands. After 14 years in hiding she was found by the FBI. After a lengthy investigation ALL international and domestic kidnapping charges were dismissed. When questioned by reporters in the lobby of the Minneapolis Court House Holly Collins responded that the biggest mistake she ever made was leaving her abuser.

Is this really the message we want to send to abuse victims?

Holly Collins – The REAL Story is Released!

Garland Waller has produced an amazing short documentary about what REALLY happened in our case. Her web site No Way Out But One and the original documentary can be found at: http://www.nowayoutbutone.com/

 The web site for the powerful new documentary film No Way Out But One tells the remarkable story of one woman’s effort to save her children from a life of abuse.

In 1994, Holly Collins ‘kidnapped’ her children and went on the run. An international fugitive who was wanted by the FBI, she eventually became the first American to ever be granted asylum by the government of the Netherlands, based on claims of domestic violence.

Holly Collins’ story is unique, but her struggle is a representative symbol for the thousands of women who must deal with the maddening injustices of a family court system that sentences an estimated 58,000 children a year to live with or visit with their abusers.

The web site has the 13 minute short version of the film. Work is now underway to do additional filming and to expand it to a feature length film. The site also has helpful links to a wide variety of resources for those who may find themselves in a similar custody crisis.

Take a look, let us know what you think. If the link above does not work, just copy and paste this address into your browser: http://nowayoutbutone.com/

 For more information about our case you can follow my web blog:  www.americanchidlrenunderground.blogspot.com

Detective John Falcone: casualty of blatant disregard for women.

BettyJean Kling

They not only owe Detective Falcone a parade of sorrow – they owe Jessica Welch one too and we women outnumbering the officers should be marching in it!

There is a pandemic, 4 women a day are slaughtered at the hands of an intimate partner who has been beaten before and who the law has released onto the streets to kill her. Friday afternoon Jessica Welch was murdered by her husband in the City of Poughkeepsie. One of our TMU WOMEN coalition members Maria DiBari was given an opportunity to voice our position and restate the need for one of many law’s we true advocates of victims have brought forward to no avail.

I urge you to read the article, create a login and lend your support to Maria and to Linda’s law. We have finally been given an opportunity to be heard on what has become a national story and where no other women’s group has shown any interest. Please back up Maria and by extension you will be helping TMU and the WOMEN coalition show we are there for the women’s issues that really matter and are not being addressed. The stunningly deafening silence, if continued, will result in the continued increase of preventable deaths of women.

And women will die – ho hum and occasionally an officer will die too and there will be grand honors for the hero while herstory is lost and no one admits the officer died as a result of failure to protect her in the first place. The officer was a needless casualty of the blatant disregard for women.

They not only owe Detective Falcone a parade of sorrow – they owe Jessica Welch one too and we women should be marching in it!

In summary:

Mr. Welch had previously assaulted his wife, violated a stay-away, was charged with third-degree assault, was jailed on $1,000 bail which he posted himself, three days after that, confronted his wife, was charged with a felony, was jailed with $20,000 bond on Friday Feb.20, was also freed on bail on the same date and drove to Poughkeepsie where he killed his wife and an officer.

When are we going to stop reading about these tragedies in the paper? When will we actually take action and have time for domestic violence issues in this country, in this state, and in this community?

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110220/OPINION03/102200378/-1/opinion03/Domestic-Violence-Reform-in-NYS

MajorityUnited wrote:

We need Maria DiBari involved at the state level in domestic violence issues and solutions. Obviously those currently in power at domestic violence state and local agencies have not adequately addressed these important issues.
4 Women a day die at the hands of their intimate partners but very few make national news because it is a ho hum story until a police officer is also murdered. Why isn’t there just as big a parade of sorrow for every young mother who is sacrificed to her husband or lover?
We need survivors who are more interested in results than politics or paychecks in this positions, Maria is one such woman who has been fighting for justice for women.
Yes there was an officer killed and yes they came from all over the country because he put his life on the line, God bless our officers, Let’s not let him die in vain –Let us all stand up for the innocent women and children worth dying for as this brave officer saw fit to do. And let’s hire Maria and others to do the job.

Please support Maria and leave messages at: http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20110220/OPINION03/102200378/-1/opinion03/Domestic-Violence-Reform-in-NYS