E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSAs part of the Dateline report Sean's Story from Friday, April 27th, learn more about how you can help to resolve child abduction in the United States and abroad by visiting the following resources:
Bring Sean Home Foundation:
http://bringseanhome.org/
Bring Abducted Children Home:
http://www.bachome.org/
Child Rescue Network:
http://childrescuenetwork.org/
Forever Searching:
http://www.foreversearching.com/
Leave a Comment:
This is an interesting story, but there is some information missing. Why did the mother "abduct" him? What were her reasons? Also, is it right for Sean's father to exploit his son's image on national television like this? The boy is only 11 years old... He will make up his mind about this as he gets older... he shouldn't be exposed like this... shame on the father.
Most parents who abduct their children do so as a vengeful action against the other parent. In most statistics I have researched over 6 years, the typical abductor is actually the parent who is the one at fault for the marriage or relationship's end. It is less than 12% of these cases that are victims of abuse. One aspect of parental abduction is that they are a majority women. Of these, the men interviewed who did abduct their children typically did so out of fear of losing their children whereas, the women sought to punish the man. Each case is as different and cannot properly determine the outcome of any other case. I suspect infidelity in this case but none the less if both parents are good parents their issues should not interfere with being a parent. The mother's actions proved to be selfish and abusive. The victims of parental child abduction suffer mental and emotional anguish throughout their lives. As for propagating his son on tv. Back in 09 that was his last ditch effort to gain support. Such as in my case and others when all else fails, media support works.
I bought and read your book David and no father should have gone though what you went though all those year's and thank god that you were able take home your son Sean and to begin a whole new live with him here in the US i followed your story and new's about you and your fight to bring home Sean my thoughts are with you and Sean always .
Agreed with you Janet Hawthorne!
My 6 year old son was parentally abducted and missing for over 6 months. The act was legal. PAS was the issue and law agents would not assist. I was able to locate my son over 120 miles away. Much abuse and "brain washing" techniques were used to try to control my son. Years later I created a petition to make parental child abduction illegal. It has gained intererst by celebrities and legislative members. Now Helpspan laws are in Missouri and Texas. Texas is the 1st state to enact Amber Alerts for parentally abducted children. My petition and many years of support by many people pushed this issue into law in Texas on 9/1/2011. My goal is now a national law that protects children unlke the PKPA it will protect abused and... Read more www.helpspan.org Lets get this law in every state ..Support this petition in your state!
It's all well and good that this Father fought so hard and long to have his son returned. Can't blame him for doing what he did. But I don't think we heard all the story here. So many questions and suspicions come to mind. The mother abducted him away from his father and I'm sensing some revenge on the father's part. I'll just bet we could learn a lot from the maternal grandmother. Although there was never really anything derogatory said about the boy's Mom it's very implied that she was the only bad guy. I'm willing to bet she had a valid reason for taking him away. There was some good coaching done for this interview. I don't buy it at all but it made for a good story.
Dear Helpspan,
Thank you for this information. My son's 7 yr old son was allowed to move to Germany with her Military husband since Feb 2011. My son tried to prevent this move, but the courts ruled in her favor (Huntsville, TXcourts). Now her husband is being deployed and she sits there with my grandson . Hence we have not seen my grandson and my son has not seen his son since 1/2011. He has spoken to him on the phone, but cannot afford a plane ticket. She has taught my grandson to call himself by her married last name and not our last name. And she sent an email request to my son asking him to give up his parental rights, and if anything allow her to change his name legally so their whole family would have the same last name in Germany. NO I am not making this up!!
She has made flights back to Texas since their move to Germany, but has not told my son until after the trips so he could not see his son. It only costs her $100.00 to do so with the military discount.
Watching this program this evening was very intriguing to me. I was interested to see how the mind of a young child felt from the absence of his father. My grandson calls me and my husband by our first names now and he calls my son by his first name and when I mention to him that it is he "real" dad, he tells us that my son is not he real dad. So, I was encouraged when Sean said he remembered his real dad as a 9 year old. My son spent time with his son 2 days every week and it changed abruptly once his mother married and moved away when he was 4 years old. He was able to spend vacations with him as noted on "visitations" on the court orders until the move to Germany.
I will check you web site.. my main concern is the mental Abuse and brainwashing that my grandson's mother is doing to him. As a grandparent, I am limited. I am allowed to skype with him only if send him a present for some occasion.. Otherwise, I am not called or sent any pictures. I must make the move to contact him.
Sean is smart, articulate, and mature. All US children to Brazil STAT!!!!!