From: Char DeWalt
Subject: Update on Jeremy
Date: October 24, 2004

Today it is two years that Jeremy is missing.  We had hoped to have him back with us long before today.  But, it has not happened. In Jeremy's honor we ask that sometime today you take a moment to say a prayer for Jeremy and all the thousands of children like him who are living through the horror of parental abduction.  Let me share with you a few of the things we have learned over the course of the past 2 years.
 
Family abduction happens when a family member, usually a parent, kidnaps and conceals a child for any length of time. It is a serious crime that happens to over 203,000 families a year and yet it is not even considered a felony in every state. The emotional, psychological and physical impact on children is often so significant that family abduction is considered a form of child endangerment and in some states, child abuse.  Here are some things you may not know about family abduction.  I know we did not know them until it happened to us.

While many abducting parents claim that they were driven by love and concern for the child, studies have found the following as the primary motives behind family abductions:

In the past decade false accusations of child sexual abuse have become the weapon of choice for mothers wishing to inflict the most harm on the father that they can.  Increasingly across the country those mothers who are unsuccessful in convincing a court of law and/or jury that those charges are true will run with the child or children.  The statistics are staggering ~ one child every 3 minutes or every day of every week of every month of every year.   Jeremy is one of those children.  

The reality of family abduction is that it is a form of child endangerment. Children abducted by family members are often forced into the nomadic, unstable lifestyle of a fugitive: they are taught to hide their real identities under a false name, and to avoid and distrust law enforcement and authority figures. Family abductors often deprive their children of education and medical attention to avoid being tracked down via school or medical records.

The abusive nature of family abductions goes much beyond the already devastating damage caused by a lack of education and medical attention. The trauma of being torn from familiar settings away from loving family and friends carries on long after recovery and reunification. Even after coming home, children have difficulties establishing trusting relationships with other people.

Upon realizing that his or her child may have been abducted, 90 percent of frantic left behind parents contact law enforcement for assistance before calling anyone else.

Unfortunately, many federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors cited a general lack of knowledge and protocol in dealing with family abductions as the Achilles‚ heel in their ability to quickly and effectively carry out their responsibilities. In fact, 70 percent of law enforcement agencies reported that they did not have written policies and procedures governing family abduction cases, and 63 percent did not receive formal training on the handling of family abduction cases.   In Jeremy's case we were fortunate because law enforcement, the District Attorney and the Judge were all aware of what needed to be done.  We did not have to beg them for help as other families have had to do.  It is an inherent feeling that if the child is with a parent, especially if that parent is the mother, that the child is safe.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Any parent who willingly kidnaps their own child and forces that child into a life on the run is unstable and poses a real danger to the child.

We know that the actions taken by Suzanne and the Kearns that they claim to be done out of love for their grandson are actually done out of malice and contempt. The laws do not apply to them. They make their own laws. In doing so they have deprived Jeremy of his childhood. He is forced into a life of seclusion, changing names, moving frequently, trusting no one but his mother. He is being denied medical care and a formal education. He is being denied friendships with children his own age. We don't even know if he knows how to ride a bicycle, or even if he is allowed to. We don't know if he knows how to throw a baseball, play tag or kick a soccer ball. If he is being kept indoors for fear of discovery I doubt he knows how to do any of the things children his age are allowed to do. He is a virtual prisoner of his own mother's vendetta against his father. This has nothing to do with Jeremy. It has everything to do with Suzanne.

As parents we have a responsibility to our children regardless of their age.  While we all want to believe our children there comes a time when the stories become so outrageous that we need to stop and take a sanity check. As Suzanne's story grew, as a father Ed Kearns was remiss in not questioning his daughter's motives. As a retired Air Force Master Sargeant he was derelict in promoting the allegation that the Navy would cover up for someone who had committed a crime against a child. If this is what he believes he is completely out of touch with reality.  Margaret Kearns decided that she would rather run with her daughter than obey the law. During the course of the investigation it was Margaret who was Suzanne's adviser. Not only was it she who first suggested the child sexual abuse, she supported Suzanne, lied for Suzanne and after everything they attempted to do to destroy Mike failed, she ran with her for almost a year.

Well, as I write this, the Kearns have been brought to justice.  They have both served jail time and will live out the rest of their lives as convicted felons.  Their parole will last another 9 years.  At 74 and 68 years old I would not want to be facing their future.  I suspect they are financially ruined as a result of their actions.   They will have to subject themselves to polygraphs as law enforcement deems necessary and if deception is detected, their parole will be terminated and they will go back to prison for the remainder of the 9 years.  As Judge Robinson stated in sentencing them:

"We cannot in this country have rule of law but when we don't like it thumb our noses at it. I want that hammer over their heads as long as we can keep it. That is the only way we will ever get Jeremy back."

Suzanne and Jeremy are still on the run and the "no contact" order is in place for the duration of the Kearns' parole.   As a parent or grandparent I would find this devastating.  It does not seem to faze the Kearns.  They would rather live out their lives never again seeing Suzanne or Jeremy than cooperating with law enforcement to locate them.  Deep down in their hearts they know nothing happened to Jeremy.  Someday, when they meet their maker, they will have to admit this.  While they will do nothing to help locate Jeremy, they will one day be accountable to their God for their complicity in the abuse they have perpetuated upon their own grandson.

We ask that you say a special prayer for Jeremy today or in the coming days that he is safe.  We ask that you include in those prayers the thousands of children who are in the same situation as Jeremy.   We believe that one day we will find Jeremy.  But, if we do not, we do believe that one day Jeremy will find his father.  The love between Mike and Jeremy is too deep and the bond too great.  Everyone who has seen them together knows this.  In the meantime we will continue the search so that when that day does come we will all be able to look Jeremy in the eye and truly tell him that we did everything humanly possible to find him.  I pray that in some way he knows that now.

God Bless all of you and thank you for all your continued support and prayers. 

The DeWalts,
Mike, Ralph, Char and all the brothers and their families.