Brazil custody dad ‘discouraged but determined’

Yes, Brazil should do the right thing and give the child to his rightful father! The more time he spends with his Step Father and his family, the worse it will be. Of course the child would want to live in Brazil. He knows nothing else. This poor father deserves his child back and Brazil is getting a bad name in my book for dragging their feet. He was illegally taken under the pretense of a vacation in Brazil may years ago!

I know this sounds bad, but honestly, everytime I hear this story and I hear about that POS, so called wife of his, I cheer when I hear she died giving birth to another man's child. Frankly, it serves her right and good riddance! Figures she would eventually marry a fellow POS!!

I understand the brazillian grandparents own a home somewhere in New Jersey. Someone needs to pay that home a visit if they have not already! This whole thing is heartbreaking. This BS about "let the child testify" is a F*%$ing joke! What child who goes on an all expense paid fantasy vacation (5 years of purposely being spoiled rotten by a rich family) would not want to keep things like they are?

That family is a pit of snakes and scum of the earth period! Come on USA!! Step up for this guy!!

Of course! The Brazilian stepfather is an attorney. Naturally, he would use all of the stall tactics in his arsenal. But, remember, this farce of a legal proceeding is playing out in Brazil. When is someone in their government going to put a stop to this? If Brazil wants to be a major player on the world stage (2016 Olympics), it should stop acting like some corrupt third-world county.

That child has been living with his family in Brazil. To tug at him from different directions is unfair. Let an unbiased person ask HIM where he wants to go, record the conversation of course, and that will be the determining factor. The father seems like his interests come first, not the boy's.

Perhaps what we need is a viral net campaign to stop reservations and participation (as much as a net campaign can) in the upcoming Rio Olympics. With some of the highest murder and robbery rates in the world as well as some of the worst police brutality, Brazil should not be that healthy a place to go to attend a sports function.

malacchio,

You are correct in pointing out that the definition of "family" in Brazil differs greatly from that in the United States. In Brazil, so many prominent people have had children by prostitutes, mistresses, etc that the definitions are very blurry. Children are children sometimes and not others and families are families sometimes and not others.

The child has been living with people who are no blood relation to him. The child's dead mother's inheritance is what is at stake for the kidnappers, not some relationship that developed naturally. According to all accounts the kidnappers have restricted all conversations with the father and have endlessly brainwashed the child, including speaking only Portuguese and not English (when the child came into their custody he did not speak any Portuguese, only English.)

In the United States, the child is seen as a victim of kidnappers who have filled his head with their ideas. The father is seeking custody because he is a blood relative and that is his obligation.

More than anything else, this is an example of what a completely corrupt country Brazil is. I would only place the Philippines as a more corrupt place that I have visited. And, as with the Philippines, I would never go back.

Sh!thole third world uncivilized country...

What is happening to the Goldmans, father and son defies imagination. My heart goes out to them.

I knew there had to be more to this story and at stake; than just a stepfather (who was only married to the biological mother, less than 2 years when she died) wanting to raise the boy as his own and defying custodial and international custody laws. THE DEAD MOTHER WAS AN HEIRESS TO HER FAMILY; NOW, HER INHERITANCE WILL NATURALLY TRANSFER TO THE SON; UPON THE DEATH OF HIS MATERNAL GRANDMOTHER. Well, considering the maternal grandmother owns homes in Brazil and New Jersey, USA; not to mention other holdings and bank accounts; this inheritance can be substantial.

This is why the stepfather is fighting so hard for the boy. The Brazilian Stepfather wins two-fold-He legally retains custody of a child that by all civilized and International Law should be returned to his rightful biological father; and, he is able to financially control the child's potential inheritance! This is why the stepfather is legally denying the biological father even visitation with his own son. The Brazilian family don't want any real opportunity for the young boy to rebuild a bond and relationship with his real, biological father. This delay is foolish; what kind of honest opinion can a small child of nine years old give to a custodial court, when he had been repeatedly denied access to his own biological father and isn't even allowed to speak in his native English tongue?

What justification can the courts give this American Dad for not even allowing regular visitation, even if court supervised; while this custody issue is being addressed? Brazilian Court Psychologists have stated the Brazilian family is creating emotional harm to the boy; by attempting to break his bond with his biological father. How could any Psychologist state anything less when the American Father when he hasn't been allowed regular access to his own child? This American Dad has been fighting to get his own child back since his wife abducted the child at the end of her two week visit to Brazil. This American father had and has a loving interest and relationship with his own child and just wants the opportunity to be a father to his own son again. Brazilian Courts should be ashamed of their actions; allowing this to continue.

If Brazil considers itself a civilized country; it should remember the international treaty it signed regarding this same international custody issue. The Biological mother is dead and the Biological Father is being denied his legal rights to custody and visitation. Enough Said!

If Brazil can't act in a responsible manner regarding this issue; perhaps, allowing Brazil to be the sponsoring country for the 2016 Olympics isn't such a good idea. They certainly aren't honoring International Law or setting a proper example for the honor of Olympic Sponsorship. Perhaps everyone needs to email or mail letters to the International Olympic Committee regarding this issue, or boycotting the Olympics on the principle of International Broken Treaties and Legal Rights! I think its time to rethink Brazil in 2016 under the circumstances!.....

just did my poasting and brought up the same thing good going keep the pressure on

may I point out that the mans senator has put a hold on a bill that gives Brazil and good deal so now we will learn if our government can overcome a corrupt lawyers friendship's.

Agree with you! He should be allowed to bring his son home to the U.S. this year!

Marriages, good ones; are based on trust, common goals as well as affection between the husband and wife. He met her here in the US, she was working here and seemed to be committed to staying. It's not like he arranged for a mail-order bride ... even that would not be cause for your unwarranted supposition.

Read the entire article - all your questions were covered, in detail. The idea of a wife, wanting to visit relatives with her child is so obvious, common that any dutiful husband would be suspect if he didn't allow his wife to make that kind of visit. Whether she was the "girl next door" or a college sweetheart or someone he met on the Internet - at some time in the marriage, most wives want to take their child to visit their side of the family, see how she grew up, show off the baby to her parents, grandparents or friends.

You are not actually seeking to "blame" the father for not sharing his child with the maternal side of the family... are you?

Your 'read' of where he went wrong ... seems to say more about a personal incident than it does of what happened in this case.

It doesn't matter where you marry them from, women are the spawn of satan! I'm going through a custody battle for my son with my ex-wife and thats here in the good'ol USA, our legal system isn't much better. I can't image trying to do this in another country. Delays after delays and the mothers have way too many rights to screw the dads in this country. People would be amazed and are amazed at what she has been able to get away with....most people in this country have no idea how bad the court system is with regard to children until they are involved in it.....then they see.

So, if you married a woman from say Russia and you had children together. Are you trying to tell me that you would never worry or fear that she would take the chidlren to Russia and stay? That thought would never occur to you?

So in your opinion, this was a normal, happy marriage the wife was just going to visit family (why dad didn't go with her to visit and spend time with her family- since no doubt you feel that's so important, who knows) and never came back. If they were not in a happy, healthy marriage then why in the world would he let her run off with his child? Unbeknownst to dad, out of the blue she files for divorce? He had no indication, no hints that obviously this woman was completely out of her mind?

Again ... read the whole article, then ask yourself why a man would not want his wife to be happy?

Tickets to Brazil are very expensive ... I expect that since it was a visit for wife to catch up with family and friends, show off her child... he may have felt that staying home, to run the business and pay for the trip was his priority at the time.

There are a number of american women, probably not you of course; who think that american men should only marry native born women, regardless of reasons.

This guy formerly traveled, extensively in is early career ... its just possible that he found his horizons had broadened through that expousure to other cultures, other view points. Or as the old song went "how you gonna keep'em down on the Farm, after they seen Paris".

I did read the entire article. But you didn't answer my questions, but maybe in not answering them you really did answer them! And despite all of your philosophical rhetoric to the contrary, you know I have a point or two. Are you really trying to tell me that you would never worry that your wife would kidnap your children and take them to her homeland, or if you and your foreign-born wife were having marital woes, you would encourage her to visit her family with your child and you not accompany her!

I bet the airline tickets to Brazil are cheaper than his attorney fees!

I don't think American men should only marry American women, I think men should be smart about who they marry!!

Perhaps in all his cultural exposures, worldliness, sophistication, and hard work ethic, he should have kept her down on the farm!

Enron, thank you for pointing out to me that I was spewing garbage, I apologize, because I certainly don't want to sound as negative and condescending as you do. I didn't mean what kind of [legal] fight, I obviously can read, it was more like what kind of fight did he give her before she even left the country. Did he think, "Oh, we're fighting like cats and dogs here in the states and our marriage is in the ditch, but perhaps if she goes and visits her family in a foreign country without me, she'll surely bring the child home before 5:00?" Enron- the name itself speaks volumes! Need I say more.

Thank God Enron is speaking the exact truth and circumstances. His ex-wife did the absolute wrong thing and Brazil assisted her. I am furious with Brazil and the Step Father. I hope the real father can get through this. I am pulling for him.

Melanie- So you're saying that this is Goldman's fault for not seeing it coming? Even if the relationship was not the strongest, or if they were having problems, I don't think any parent would have seen this coming. Couples fight and disagree, it happens. Sometimes the fights break up marriages, sometimes they don't.

I know I've had fights with my boyfriend, and sometimes the best resolution (at least temporarily) is to take time apart. I'll go to my family's house to have some time away from him, and then I'll go back and we'll work it out. We don't have kids, but if we did, it wouldn't be unreasonable for me to take kids with me to visit my family... but I doubt he would think that I would never come back. Just because her family is in Brazil, and my family is an hour away from our house doesn't make the situation any different.

I'm sure something similar happened here. Maybe their relationship was on the rocks, maybe it wasn't... we don't know. The mother has said she was unhappy, which is why she never returned to the US. I get the feeling she met someone else she liked better (the step father), and decided to stay in Brazil.

What she did is completely unthinkable, and it could never have been anticipated. No one can anticipate that their partner would be so cruel as to deny them the right to see their child ever again. Most partnerships are built on trust and respect for each other. He trusted her, she betrayed his trust. That's pretty much all it boils down to.

Melanie I have a better one for you. Try going to Bringseanhome.org. Then you will get the whole story. You must have really been crushed at some point in your life.

David has been fighting to get his son back from the day his wife called him to say she was not coming home and if he ever wanted to see his son again he would have to sign away his parental rights. He would not do that.

FYI, when there is love and trust in a marriage why wouldn't you let your spouse go home to visit with family and friends? David felt his marriage was strong so why should he worry. It is my opinion that her parents orchestrated this whole thing. They wanted the money and power that would come from their daughters marriage and her marriage to a middle class American just wasn't good enough.

Please go to the site and get all the information. This man should have legally had his son years ago and it is disgusting that a country can hold him hostage.

"it is disgusting that a country can hold him hostage." or even another state. I am going through the same thing only its here in the states. The courts aren't much different either place.....

Melanie

What drugs are you taking? Are you suggesting that a mother should not return to her homeland to visit family?

THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED. She started divorce proceedings there.

Men - stay away from Melanie. Her post describes MELANIE'S CHARACTER.

I originally saw this on Dr. Phil some time ago and learned the couple was happily married! There was no reason Goldman would think his wife would pull such an outrageous stunt like this. She probably met the rich Brazillian guy while home. And knowing he was so well-connected, figured her life would be easy and plush with him. You reap what you sew. She is no longer alive to see her son grow up. Ironic that she died in child birth. My guess is she's begging for some relief from the eternal flames that engulf her.

The Melanie thing...it needs serious psychological diagnostics and then expensive help. Melanie IS INSANE!
Please don't waste time corresponding with it/him/her (at the risk of sounding crazy yourself) . Similar to talking to your desk...

Sean Goldman belongs with his dad. The mother went to Brazil and then met her influential sugar daddy (not hard to find in a 3rd world corrupt sh!thole). The mother deserved death...oh yeah! she got what she deserved, and a painful one at that. Brainwashing a child takes 2 weeks at most. Sean belongs with his dad and will understand all this when he is 22 or so...

not at the age of nine....i would agree. However, when they get older, say like 17, then they should be able to have a say....at the very least be heard by the judge before granting any more delays.....sorry, that's my story...not the one here.

Sam - most courts will hear a child's opinion, but DO NOT RELY ON IT, provided that the child is about 12 years of age or older.

Sean is not even close to that age and should not have any say at all.

I am sooooo disappointed in this family for keeping this child from his natural father, especially when OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL ordered police action to retrieve Elian Gonzalez when that family was keeping Elian away from his NATURAL FATHER who happened to be a CUBAN NATIONAL.

For those who do not know, Americans are not allowed to travel to Cuba or conduct business with Cuba for some reason I can not remember. Nonetheless, that did not stop America from returning a Cuban national to his NATURAL FATHER.

karen in la
goes to show how much "pull" we got with these 3rd world lunatics...

MASmith - you are pathetic.

MASmith - remind me to never be related to you in any fashion.

What lopsided thinking you have. Another female who tries to keep fathers away from their kids.

YOU ARE PATHETIC is right.

MASmith you are a complete IDIOT!!!!

Smith you are a dumbazz, just goes to show you there is always a turd in the punch bowl.

MA.........it became kidnapping when the mother defied a court order to return the child. Seriously, I find your comments somewhat incredulous! The child belongs to and should be with his biological father. The lawyer step-father has already shown himself to be an unfit parent by his endless legal wrangling and manipulation of the Brazilian legal system. End of story.

how would YOU like to be seperated from your child? it sounds like you have no idea how it eats at you

Really....there is a stop sign, may be I should just go through it...IT IS ILLEGAL. I want to be rich and win PowerBall so I never have to work again, but I would still have to pay taxes. MA, lots of people want this or that, but there is RIGHT and Wrong in the world....this sneaky @a$$ mom lied to David and took their baby because she 'wanted to'. If you have never been in a battle of such, you will not know what the agony of some guy in a robe making money to make your life a living hell is like. In this situation, there is nothing right about making that child stay in Brazil, if they would have handled this correctly, David would have probably gone back with Sean to visit on trips, now I hope they all miss out on their favorite things for the next five years and live in agony as well.

if the boy were brought home he'd forget his life in Brazil so fast his head would spin.

i'm sure his father would see too that. once he gets too know his real dad the whole life experience will change for him.it would open up a whole new life for a 10yr.old. you can bet the bank on that.

Gloria, I'm in agreement with you.

Vinca--only superpowers like the US are held to account for enforcing the treaties they sign--the pissant freeloaders of the world always seem to get a pass.

This case was "not" at a Presidential level. That why we have diplomats to handle International disputes.

Besides, you are working off old information - the issue was brought up in the last conversation between President Obama and their Brazilan Emissary - then handed over to The Secretary of State to work out the details, who then handed the grunt work over to the people versed in the details of international law.

These cases are not like, back home - where folks are used to walking into the office of the Mayor of Mayberry to get a STOP sign moved.

Much as it may make you angry - The President and the Secretary of State have bigger jobs to accomplish than handle family court issues. However, once it was brought to their attention - they do have staff that do and do it very well, that's why Mr. Goldman was so relieved when he got the Obama administration involved.

There are some things that can't be settled with beer.

you couldn't put it better the poor guy needs some help and it doesen't seem like the proper channels are the way to go

I believe the "Brazilian family" won't even let Mr. Goldman (the American) see his son while he is in Brazil today......Unthinkable for anyone to hold a child as a pawn as the "Brazilian family" is doing. They should at least let the child see his father every time he is in Brazil. They won't because that helps to brainwash the child. If the child had been seeing his father more, he would definitely want to go home to his father in America. Why doesn't this "Brazilian family" speak out about any DANGERS to the child if he goes home to his biological father? Because I don't think there are any.

"Unthinkable for anyone to hold a child as a pawn" yet it happens every day here in America....with custody battles.

Sam, I'm really sorry for what you're going through. Your "Women are the spawn of Satan" comment would have elicited an argument from me a month ago, seeing as I am a woman, duh. But a dear friend of the family got dumped by HIS wife because he ended up not being rich enough for her tastes and got reamed over by our stupid court system. I'd say our court system is the spawn of Satan--and women DO get burned by it, too. I have had enough female friends get burned in divorce and custody cases, too. The kids end up hurt the worst. It seems like it's more stacked against the decent honest people of either gender than it is against a specific gender at least some of the time. I think that's because the nastier spouse always gets the most ruthless attorney and has no ethics or restraint about causing damage to the kids if it serves their own purpose. Our friend's ex is in the exact same mold of greed and self-centeredness as the wife of the guy this story is about. Unfortunately they had a kid together and the wife is just as likely to defy custody agreements and run off to her sh*thole South American country with their kid. My own mum is a citizen from another country and she would never have done something like this to my dad--but she's from another generation that put their kids first. But it's a different world today.

The rich think that they can buy anything including children---no matter wh they belong to. These people would call themselved good Catholics,I bet,-----where is the church on this? Didn't anyone ever teach these people that " Thou shalt not steal?"

of course it's all corruption. this crapbag, scumbag, family is paying to keep that little boy there.they got the bucks to do it.they're despicable. money turns you evil. that's just what these people are.

if the father can, he should find some experts go in there and get that kid out pronto. that's if he can. my old man used to say where there's a will there's a way.

Agreed, but if I am not mistaken, Elian was here in the USA with blood family. This is very much not the case in Brazil. In either regard the US made the decision to return the boy to his father. Brazil is getting alot of bad press over their mis-guided decision making!

M. Simons

The USA not participating in the Olympics? Would it be fair to so many American athletes with real chances of winning medals to forgo their "once every 4 year opportunity"? Brazil will get a lot of revenue from expectators, even if Americans don't go, the rest of the World will. And they are banking on making a whole lot more money with the Soccer World Cup taking place a few years before the Olympics, which will finance a lot of the infrastructure needed, and nobody has mentioned yet since we don't know how big soccer is to the world.

There are better ways to solve this problem; boycotting the Olympics will only hurt us!