Brazilian family says it won't appeal ruling returning boy to U.S. dad

[MaryAnnDVC]

That is great news for that father.....lets hope the same can be said in the near future for the father of Liam McCarty-- this poor boy wasn't even in the custody of relatives who love him- he has been stuck in an orphanage in Italy and they will not return the child to his father....the story also took a dire turn in Nov. when his mentally unfit mother re-kidnapped him from an orphanage- they have not been seen since....this poor father!!!!

http://www.lacp.org/2009-Articles-Main/113009-LiamMissingAgain.htm

I saw that on the news the other night. Why can't these children be protected? This reminds me of the case depicted in the documentary "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about his Father". The documentary was riveting, but unfortunately ended sadly.

 

[Missytara]

I saw that on the news the other night. Why can't these children be protected? This reminds me of the case depicted in the documentary "Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son about his Father". The documentary was riveting, but unfortunately ended sadly.

I saw the documentary you spoke about a few months back and it just made me almost sick to think that mother could get away with what she did. She was a coward for taking Andrew's life and away from his loving family; then taking her own life, as well as Zachary's. She robbed the Zaxby family of any hope of Andrew living on through his son.....

My thoughts go out to David Goldman and Sean; it may be a very tough adjustment, but I hope they make the transition well through the holidays and Sean feels the love his father and his family truly have for him in their hearts.

 

[tasha99]

Wow. I had not followed this, and I have very mixed feelings about the whole situation. I think it may not be so simple--the child has spent more than half his life in Brazil, making him in my mind at least, culturally Brazilian. I think the boy also wanted to stay in Brazil, though he's a little young to make that sort of decision himself. I hope all is well for him, and that he adjusts well to his new life in America.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Wow. I had not followed this, and I have very mixed feelings about the whole situation. I think it may not be so simple--the child has spent more than half his life in Brazil, making him in my mind at least, culturally Brazilian. I think the boy also wanted to stay in Brazil, though he's a little young to make that sort of decision himself. I hope all is well for him, and that he adjusts well to his new life in America.

He was basically kidnapped. His mother took him from his father, and told him it was over...her relationship with her husband, and her son's relationship with him. His father spent 5 years trying to get him back. To drag out the legal case and then use the argument "this is the only home he's known, etc" just doesn't cut it. As I said previously in this thread:

These kidnapping cases get me so riled up! I hate when a child is taken, and the legal system (wherever it may be) drags it on and on and on, and then the kidnappers (ie, Sean's mother, step-father, step-father's family, maternal grandparents) claim that the child is too settled where he/she is, that to uproot him/her now would be damaging, that it's the only home he/she knows.

There will certainly be adjustments, but it's not up to the child to decide where he wants to be.

I get a little irked by the "what's best for the child" argument. (Not saying you, PP.) I guarantee you there are better parents, or a better lifestyle out there than what I can provide for my children. But THEY ARE MY CHILDREN, and I have a right to raise them, unless I've done something wrong to lose that right. As does David Goldman, who has done nothing but love and fight for his child who was STOLEN from him. It would be cold day in hell when I'd EVER allow someone to just kidnap my child and not fight back.

Sean will be fine. He has a loving family who will make sure of it. He's where he belongs.

 

[DianeV]

Thats pretty much how I feel. They chose to keep him from his dad for 5 years and now they want sympathy that poor Sean belongs here and only knows here. Of course because you kept him there and you shouldnt have!

A child belongs with his blood parent and this never should have went on so long. It wouldnt have if the step-dad wasnt rich and influential in Brazil and that is so sad

 

[bookgirl]

Sean and his father are on a plane and heading home.


But not until after his step father and grandmother parked over a block from the consulate and walked Sean through the crowds of newscameras and sightseeers. Sean was understandably upset, but calmed down after having lunch with his dad.


The consulate offered the "family" a private entrance so that Sean would not have to be photographed. But in thier effort to make it an "easy" transition they dressed him in a Brazilian Olympic shirt and subjected him to the media frenzy.

Personally I think the step father and family (who are a famous lawyer firm family specializing in family and custody matters) did not want to lose in court because it would look bad for them. This little stunt was just ridiculus.

http://www.sphere.com/world/article...-with-father-david-goldman-in-brazil/19293326

 

[tasha99]

Thats pretty much how I feel. They chose to keep him from his dad for 5 years and now they want sympathy that poor Sean belongs here and only knows here. Of course because you kept him there and you shouldnt have!

A child belongs with his blood parent and this never should have went on so long. It wouldnt have if the step-dad wasnt rich and influential in Brazil and that is so sad

I couldn't disagree with the bolded part more. I took my kids home on vacation ten years ago and never looked back. That's why I think there may be more to this story than meets the eye: what kind of mother would take her kids and leave so suddenly unless something pretty bad happened behind closed doors that others didn't know about? Maybe she was just being selfish, but maybe she was being protective of herself and her child. If I were to die, my parents would fight for custody and their grandson knows them much better than the dad he hasn't seen for 10 years (due to my ex not bothering to exercise visitation even once in all that time). I'm not saying this case is necessarily an abusive situation, but the way the grandparents wanted custody so bad makes me wonder.

 

[DianeV]

Did you ever see Not Without My Daughter? Believe me there are people who take their kids to their 'home' country all the time when the other parent doesnt want them to be there. Doesnt mean the dad was abusive or anything. The maternal side are the ones who sound a little nuts

 

[Bluestars]

I'm so glad the son was finally reunited with his father. His step father and their family are very selfish people. Justice finally happened.

I would think that if there was even a hint of abuse going on between the natural father and his son when he was little, that wealthy step father would have mentioned it.

I feel so sorry for the natural father. He has lost so many years, but hopefully he will have many more years with his son. It's nice when there is a happy ending.

 

[JoiseyMom]

I couldn't disagree with the bolded part more. I took my kids home on vacation ten years ago and never looked back. That's why I think there may be more to this story than meets the eye: what kind of mother would take her kids and leave so suddenly unless something pretty bad happened behind closed doors that others didn't know about? Maybe she was just being selfish, but maybe she was being protective of herself and her child. If I were to die, my parents would fight for custody and their grandson knows them much better than the dad he hasn't seen for 10 years (due to my ex not bothering to exercise visitation even once in all that time). I'm not saying this case is necessarily an abusive situation, but the way the grandparents wanted custody so bad makes me wonder.

If you had followed the story, you would see that her family in Brazil was rather wealthy. Here in NJ she was a teacher and lived your avg middle class surburan life. She didn't like that anymore and wanted the lifestyle of money in Brazil. So instead of discussing it with her husband..she lied to him, abducted their child and left the country. Then she refused to let him see or speak to their son.

If there had been any issues..she would have said something for the first 4 years to win custody legally instead of just breaking the law. Her parents would also have used anything thing "wrong" in their fight over the past year to keep Sean.

There was nothing funny here...just a selfish family not caring about a little boy!! The fact that they didn't care about Sean's best interest was played out today in the transfer. That was disgusting and just horrible.

I have been watching this story play out for a long time, David lives in my county a few towns over so it has been in the local papers for ages. I am so happy that the justice system finally let David and Sean win!!

I don't think the adjustment will be as hard as some think. English was his first language, and I am sure with him being so young it will come back quickly. He remembers his father and loves him and will be back in his room in his house surrounded by a large extended loving family!!

I just hope the media leaves them alone in Florida and when they are back home in Jersey!!

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Exclusive: Vieira sits down with David Goldman

Posted: Saturday, December 26, 2009 2:16 PM by Ian Sager

In an exclusive interview, NBC News’ Meredith Vieira will sit down with David Goldman in his first interview since regaining custody of his son, Sean. The interview will air on TODAY, Monday, December 28, and in a special two-hour Dateline, Friday, January 8 at 8 p.m. ET.

The Dateline special will include exclusive footage of the reunion of Goldman and his son as well as their trip back together from Brazil and their first days in the United States. The special will also feature Vieira’s previous interviews with Goldman and NBC News’ extensive coverage of this story.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Bumping in case anyone wants to watch the interview on the Today Show Monday morning.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

This story's been in the news awhile, the custody battle has been going on for five years and not once has there been any published accusation at any time that David Goldman is an abusive parent, not even by the ex-wife or her family. Their only assertion was that the boy should stay in Brazil because he'd already been there five years and shouldn't be uprooted. If the Brazilian family had that card to play, they would have played it.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

This story's been in the news awhile, the custody battle has been going on for five years and not once has there been any published accusation at any time that David Goldman is an abusive parent, not even by the ex-wife or her family. Their only assertion was that the boy should stay in Brazil because he'd already been there five years and shouldn't be uprooted. If the Brazilian family had that card to play, they would have played it.

Exactly.