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