Sean Goldman - UPDATE: "He called me Dad..."

[MaryAnnDVC]

David Goldman and his lawyer said that they have video of the stepfather (a lawyer) training people to interview kids to get the answers they want in cases like this. The stepfather and step-grandfather are so corrupt. Disgusting.

I just found this online...I had never heard of this case. It was posted July '09. What a horrible outcome. But there's still one child left.

As the media circus continues, another story has highlighted the real issue, at least from the American perspective: Brazil’s consistent failure to live up to its treaty obligations, and not just in the Goldman case. Folha de Sao Paulo has been covering the shocking case of Sascha Zanger, an Austrian father whose Brazilian wife took their two children back to Brazil in January 2008, and then left the children in care of their aunt. Zanger’s legal efforts to get them back under the Hague Convention were stymied by Brazilian courts. Then his daughter, Sophie, who had turned four, died on June 19 of head trauma. The mother’s family stands accused of abuse.

 

[scrump]

David Goldman and his lawyer said that they have video of the stepfather (a lawyer) training people to interview kids to get the answers they want in cases like this. The stepfather and step-grandfather are so corrupt. Disgusting.

I just found this online...I had never heard of this case. It was posted July '09. What a horrible outcome. But there's still one child left.

The family is incredibly influential and affluent and spans three generations of prominent lawyers and run a firm specializing in international family law, among other horrible ironies. I was not aware of such a tape, but am NOT surprised.

The Zanger case is heartbreaking. Sean is not the only one. I hope this case paves the way for other children to come home to the US.

 

[emer95]

I'm eagerly awaiting the Today show to start. They've been following the case pretty closely. I'm SO hopeful that David and Sean will be home in New Jersey for Christmas.

I keep wondering what their reunion will be like. I'm sure Sean's Brazilian family has poisoned Sean against his father. Will Sean be terrified? Angry? Does he speak English? I think they'll have a long road ahead of them to rebuild their relationship, which is a shame. It never should have needed to be rebuilt in the first place.

At least Sean will know that his Dad never, ever gave up on him.

 

[Jennasis]

The family is incredibly influential and affluent and spans three generations of prominent lawyers and run a firm specializing in international family law, among other horrible ironies. I was not aware of such a tape, but am NOT surprised.

The Zanger case is heartbreaking. Sean is not the only one. I hope this case paves the way for other children to come home to the US.

Maybe not so ironic. I bet Sean's mother contacted that firm to help her when she first went to Brazil and kidnapped the kid. She likely then fell for her lawyer.

I will be anxious all day until we hear that theplane is in the air with the both of them.

 

[anniemae]

Has the father been able to see his son in Brazil, or will this be the first time they have seen each other in 5 years? This is going to feel almost like another kidnapping to this poor boy. My heart just breaks for both of them.

Oh how I cannot wait to hear they are in the air and on the way home to NJ. This poor boy will need so much help and I am sure his dad will do everything to make the transition smooth.

 

[beattyfamily]

It's looking like it may be for real this time!

I saw on the news that the family says they will no longer appeal.

Praying that they are reunited BEFORE Christmas and in the air SOON!

Smooth transition as well....

 

[Imzadi]

I really hope the family isn't going to hide the boy. He was kidnapped once already & the Brazilian government essentially condoned that action.

 

[scrump]

Maybe not so ironic. I bet Sean's mother contacted that firm to help her when she first went to Brazil and kidnapped the kid. She likely then fell for her lawyer.

I will be anxious all day until we hear that theplane is in the air with the both of them.

Jennasis, I've only been following this story for a little over a year, but the timeline of their relationship is always fishy when discussed by the Brazilian family, but it is pretty well established that everything (the abduction) was very well planned prior to her two week "vacation". They were very likely already involved at that point. The mother had legal papers ready for David to sign the day she arrived in Brazil - this was not a spontaneous decision.

Has the father been able to see his son in Brazil, or will this be the first time they have seen each other in 5 years? This is going to feel almost like another kidnapping to this poor boy. My heart just breaks for both of them.

Oh how I cannot wait to hear they are in the air and on the way home to NJ. This poor boy will need so much help and I am sure his dad will do everything to make the transition smooth.

David was able to see Sean for the first time in four years this past February, I believe. The Brazilian family did not allow contact prior to that meeting and only granted that one because of a court order. It's a horrible story, and documneted in the previous Brazilian judge's ruling back in June when David was granted custody. This family was held in contempt of court because they had violated David's visitation rights in every way imaginable.

I will be very happy when David and Sean are together. I believe David will be a great spokesman for all the other children out there who are trapped abroad.

 

[scrump]

There is talk of the grandmother wanting to accompany Sean on the flight HOME (to NJ!), but "can't find a plane ticket". Really, I think that's the least of her problems right now.

I hope she is not on that plane - let David and Sean's healing start as soon as they are reunited!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

There is talk of the grandmother wanting to accompany Sean on the flight HOME (to NJ!), but "can't find a plane ticket". Really, I think that's the least of her problems right now.

I hope she is not on that plane - let David and Sean's healing start as soon as they are reunited!

Too bad for her (and thank you NE blizzard that has made the flights so full as to cause her trouble.).

 

[Ohiodislover]

I've been lurking on this thread. Just saw this breaking news and thought I'd share. A happy ending..hopefully. At least this part is over.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34583825/ns/world_news-americas/


Dad and son reunited in Brazil after 5-year fight
Supreme Court has ordered mother's family to hand over boy

updated 2 minutes ago

RIO DE JANEIRO - A Brazilian family has delivered a 9-year-old boy to his American father in Brazil, ending a five-year custody battle.

The boy, Sean, was brought into the U.S. consulate by his maternal grandmother and his stepfather, making it into the compound's front door as scores of reporters and cameramen tried to get close. His U.S. dad, David Goldman, was waiting for him inside.

Brazil's Supreme Court chief justice two days ago had ordered the boy handed over to Goldman.


The pair were expected to fly back to the Goldman's home in New Jersey within hours.

The case began in 2004 when Goldman's then-wife took Sean to her native Brazil on what was to be a two-week vacation. Instead, she divorced Goldman, remarried, but died giving birth last year.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I've been lurking on this thread. Just saw this breaking news and thought I'd share. A happy ending..hopefully. At least this part is over.


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34583825/ns/world_news-americas/


Dad and son reunited in Brazil after 5-year fight
Supreme Court has ordered mother's family to hand over boy

updated 2 minutes ago

RIO DE JANEIRO - A Brazilian family has delivered a 9-year-old boy to his American father in Brazil, ending a five-year custody battle.

The boy, Sean, was brought into the U.S. consulate by his maternal grandmother and his stepfather, making it into the compound's front door as scores of reporters and cameramen tried to get close. His U.S. dad, David Goldman, was waiting for him inside.

Brazil's Supreme Court chief justice two days ago had ordered the boy handed over to Goldman.


The pair were expected to fly back to the Goldman's home in New Jersey within hours.

The case began in 2004 when Goldman's then-wife took Sean to her native Brazil on what was to be a two-week vacation. Instead, she divorced Goldman, remarried, but died giving birth last year.

I'm so glad it seems to be resolved. I'll be thrilled for them when they reach the U.S..

 

[beattyfamily]

 

[beattyfamily]

I'm so disgusted by that abduction family and how they turned over Sean...parading him through the press like that.

How can they say they love him and then do that to him.

I'm SO very glad they are at the airport and about to leave that country.

 

[summerrluvv]

Reading that update just absolutely made my day! Merry Christmas to them!

 

[Jennasis]

The family is absolutely shameful. How could they USE that little boy like that?? Parading him through a crush of photographers. It's just abhorrent. Some day that whole family will get their comeuppance.

They are about to board a plane right now. David has been the picture of grace, dignity, determination and fatherly love throughout this ordeal. I wish him and Sean well as they forge their new relationship.

 

[anniemae]

Thank goodness!! I am so happy for father and son. It is a shame they lost 5 years together. May the healing begin.

 

[DWGal210]

What a wonderful Christmas present! I wish both of them the best!!

 

[nuke]

I've heard that they are on the plane home. I actually cried when I read that this morning. David has been through too much and Thank God he got his boy back.

 

[SamRoc]

What a wonderful thing to read this Christmas eve morning! I can't wait to hear that they arrive home here in the US!