Urgent! Need help for my nephew, Simon--

Marla64

My Fitness Pals -- many of you know me from on here-- check the number of posts-- I've been here a while. Many of you don't-- name's Marla-- mother of 9, mouthy, opinionated-- passionate about my family and children.

I am in frantic need to help a nephew, and desperate times call for desperate measures. I'm going to attach below a message from my brother, Mark. Mark is raising two of our nephews, taken from the home of our brother, Matt. Matt is, to put it bluntly, a psychopath. I suffered at his hands much as a girl and teen, and endured many punches from him-- he is EXTREMELY violent. He also, I've since learned, has a rape in his past-- a 7 year old neighbor of ours, when he was 17. I recently secured her written statement for the custody battle.

Matt is onto his third marriage. His first wife hates him so much, she wouldn't give him any details to attend the recent funeral of their daughter. His second wife, mother of their 16 children-- (yes, 16-- eight biological, eight adopted for the money from the state of Texas, since they were hard to place)-- didn't think she'd get out of the marriage alive. Their home was filled with physical and suspected sexual abuse, and their adopted sons ended up raping the biological daughters.

Bottom line-- Matt, ("Brother Matt, as he is known in the Baptist churches where he drives the church bus, sings in the choir, and fills in for the pastor now and then) is now onto his third wife, and wants my nephew, his adopted son, Simon, back from Mark so he doesn't have to fork over the Texas financial aid to Mark. (he tried to make a financial deal with Mark in writing-- )

Mark is fighting it tooth and nail, has psychologists and social workers and pastors willing to testify that Simon should not under any circumstances go back to Matt-- and Simon, himself, is terrified. Mark needs $2600 retainer, and has not two nickels to rub together-- nor do my husband and I, nor our other brother, Mike. We've been able to raise close to $1,000, but the 8/11 deadline where Matt is coming to pick up Simon approaches. The attorney says she will file a restraining order, but not before receiving the retainer.

I'm so sorry to use this forum as a venue for this plea, but if any of you should have any burden to help with any donation, or loan, to Mark's legal fund, your help is soooo needed. I do not want to put Mark's address on this forum, but please private me, and I'll send you his address. If this offends anyone, I ask your forgiveness. I am a frantic aunt, trying to keep a child out of a monster's hands.

Below is Mark's original e-mail to friends and family trying to enlist help-- if all you are willing and able to do is to lift us up in prayer right now, I thank you so much for that. This has been a troubling time. God bless you all-- thanks for listening.

******************

Dear Friends,

I am writing this to everyone I know and trust, whose email address I have. I will be calling others as well as talking to my church, to raise a fund for legal fees. As some of you know I have been raising 2 nephews. David (18 in Oct) has been with me 3 years, and Simon (16 next Sat) for a year. These 2 brothers were adopted in Texas when they were little and have been abused and neglected ever since. Both boys who were home schooled arrived reading on the 1st grade level and unable to do even basic math, like counting money. David will be starting his Sr year, and on track to graduate with his class, and Simon was finally able to get into a reading program the final 1/3rd of the year that really seems to be working and he is excited about. He believes in himself and his ability to learn for the first time in his life, and believes the reading program is going to help him in all his courses. It's amazing what a little love and encouragement can do. Mike and Marla can tell you how they had been treated.

Matt wants Simon back. We all know this is not healthy for Simon and certainly not what Simon wants. He is happy, relaxed, able to be himself, for the first time. I have trained professionals including a psychologist, and social worker who have worked with Simon who will testify that this would be damaging to Simon. Everyone knows that he is only wanted for the $516 per month that TX pays to support their adoptees, not out of any concern for Simon's well being.

I have contacted an attorney, Scotty Perrin in Johnson City, TN to represent us in a custody case. She requires a $2500 retainer and $100 filing fee get a temporary restraining order, and a petition of dependancy and neglect. She said that if this is drawn out it could cost more, and the judge will appoint a guardian ad lidem that would also have to be paid.

We need your help, no matter how big or small. If you know any one who can help, please share this with them. We have very little time, Matt is planning on coming to get him Aug 11. If you are in a position to donate anything, thank you so much. If you are able to loan us anything, I should be able to pay you off with income tax return, if not sooner, and if you are like me, and the economy has kicked your butt and you have nothing to offer but your prayers, thank you we need them most.

If you'd like to contact Mike, Marla, Doc Betty, or the Atty, to verify the urgency of this matter I would be glad to provide their contact info. We need to raise $2600 in a very few days. Contact me as soon as you can with any help at all.

Thank you so much. I wouldn't do this for any other reason I know, but this is a great kid, that deserves a break.

Mark Sherrard

cparter

Not that I can help financially but I wondering does the pastor of that church know of your brother's back ground? Did the police know of the rape or if so has the statue of limitations exceeded? Sounds like we have a fox in the hen house that has been constantly let off the hook.

❤B☩❤

Isn't there an age where the courts will listen to the child, and what HE wants? If he does not WANT to go back with Matt, then he should feel free to state so. At least that's the way it is in New Hampshire... Or can't Simon file to become an emancipated minor?

I wish I could help, but I am unemployed (for 15 months now) and my benefits are about to discontinue....with no job on the horizon

I will say a prayer that everything will be fine in the end.

I agree with cparter that the church should have done a background check on Matt before being allowed to drive a Church bus. Isn't rape a felony? Especially rape of a 7 year old child. Hopefully his record (as a juvenile) was not expunged so that it can't be brought up now that he is an adult.....AND SHOULDN'T HE BE REGISTERED AS A SEX OFFENDER??????? I would certainly check with a law enforcement agency in his town (or where Simon lives, for that matter).

Marla64

Not that I can help financially but I wondering does the pastor of that church know of your brother's back ground? Did the police know of the rape or if so has the statue of limitations exceeded? Sounds like we have a fox in the hen house that has been constantly let off the hook.

One of his former pastors is finally onto him, but when someone sniffs him out, he moves on. He's very cunning, smooth-- very evil, my friend. And I don't use the word lightly. Statute of limitations is expired-- but statement may be able to used in character witness-- or however they term it legally.

Thank you so much for reading. Please pray, if you're led-- we know it's in God's hands-- and are just frantic to keep this child away from him.

Marla64

Isn't there an age where the courts will listen to the child, and what HE wants? If he does not WANT to go back with Matt, then he should feel free to state so. At least that's the way it is in New Hampshire... Or can't Simon file to become an emancipated minor?

I wish I could help, but I am unemployed (for 15 months now) and my benefits are about to discontinue....with no job on the horizon

I will say a prayer that everything will be fine in the end.

A judge may listen-- but, we'd have to have the money to have legal representation-- so, back to square one. Thanks for reading and for your prayers. Unemployed over here for going on two years as well-- tough times. God bless you.

leavinglasvegas

I don't have any money. But I have prayer support to offer. I completely understand this situation and I am so sorry that I cannot offer any more than prayer.

I wonder if there is anything that CPS could offer for support. Legal aid maybe?

I really wish there was something more I could do. I've seen others who are close to me go through similar things. But they didn't have a butt-kicking Aunt Marla on their side.

I will hold this in prayer, share with my church, send it to Silent Unity, and envision this being resolved peacefully and in the best interest of Simon.

:flowerforyou:

Marla64

I don't have any money. But I have prayer support to offer. I completely understand this situation and I am so sorry that I cannot offer any more than prayer.

I wonder if there is anything that CPS could offer for support. Legal aid maybe?

I really wish there was something more I could do. I've seen others who are close to me go through similar things. But they didn't have a butt-kicking Aunt Marla on their side.

I will hold this in prayer, share with my church, send it to Silent Unity, and envision this being resolved peacefully and in the best interest of Simon.

:flowerforyou:

Thank you, so much-- Matt comes to pick up Simon 8/11-- time is of the essence. Anything you can to to pass this on would be greatly appreciated.

Marla64

Please understand-- I'm going to bump this all day.

PixieGoddess

I will also bump and pray! God be with all of you!

3babybeans

The more prayers you can get for your brother & family, the better, imo. I pray that the financial aspect is taken care of so the REAL issue can be handled quickly. Freakin' money! *bighugs*

Mike

Sorry folks. While this is no doubt a worthy cause, ads and solicitations like this are not permitted on the forums. We have to be strict about this rule and avoid making any exceptions in order to ensure that the forums remain a place for discussion and not for solicitation.

Sorry again for being unable to allow this topic to continue.