dpw@rayssd.UUCP (12/12/84)
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Last Sept. I posted an article about child abuse of Joey Fort.
This was the one that the father was in Oklahoma and was due to have
visitation during X-mas holidays.
I would like to thank all of the net that responded to our plight.
We got a lot of useful ideas and suggestions that were of use.
Joey has been receiving therapy since first of Oct. He is making
progress although he still has good days and bad days.
We were married the 2nd of Dec. (six months and one day after
Ruthann's divorce was final) to conform to Oklahoma law.
Child and Family Services referred us to a lawyer here in R.I. and
we contacted him as soon as possible. The big problem was the Uniform Child
Custody Act. This says in part that a child should live in the a state for
six months before that state has jurisdiction. Which Joey still does not
meet. The lawyer thought an exception to the rule would apply in the case
of child abuse. We filed and Joey's father was served. The mother's lawyer
in Oklahoma said that she was making a grave mistake in trying to take him
to court in R.I. because it would be thrown out of court because R.I. didn't
have jurisdiction and the father would take her back to court in Oklahoma
and she would lose her son. Because the judge in Oklahoma told her lawyer
that if the case came up again that he would give custody to the father.
(sounds like the judge is biased to me. But there again, what can you do?)
After being served the father took almost no interest in the child.
It may have been after we were married that the father's interest droppped
off because it happened about the same time. We now suspect that he was
trying to use Joey in hope's of getting Ruthann back. Joey wanted to talk
to him last Sunday so we called him collect and he almost didn't accept the
charges. When we tryed to give him our new address and phone number he
acted like he didn't care if he got it or not. He didn't ask about
the hearing or why we were taking him back to court. This was very much
out of character for him. He is the type that drills people at length when
things aren't going his way.
The hearing was held yesterday. Joey's therapist was to testify,
however, the father didn't show up to contest the action and after the
judge heard Joey's mothers testimony of events in Oklahoma and about the
sexual abuse further confirmation wasn't needed. The judge removed all
visitation, took absolute jurisdiction, and ordered a permanent restraining
order against the father.
For my wife, 4 and a half years of fear ended yesterday; for Joey
it is the beginning of a normal life. It will be a very merry X-mas for
us indeed.
Thank you again for your help and support.:
Darryl & Ruthayn Phone
Home: 401-849-5730
Office: 401-847-8000 ext 4089
{allegra, decvax!brunix, linus} rayssd!dpw