Just recently, I was in a discussion with some folks about fathers in the U.S. or Canada--typically immigrants--who manage to strip child custody from impoverished mothers still living in so-called "developing" countries (usually countries like Mexico or other countries in the Carribean basin). So I decided to tally up how many articles we have collected here at Dastardly that fall into this general category.
As you will see, sometimes the father's custody is phrased as the mother "willingly" giving the child to the father so the child can have a better life. But really, what kind of choice is that? These mothers have no resources to feed their kids, no way to immigrate themselves, no way to receive financial support. In short no way to better their lives or the lives of their children, no way to fight back in the legal system.
Here are some examples of kids who came to the U.S or Canada., only to be seriously abused/murdered by the custodial dad and/or the new step:
Charlenni Ferrera - Murdered in Philadelphia, PA by custodial dad and/or step.
Mom from Puerto Rico via the Dominican Republic: http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/02/dhs-not-at-fault-for-abuse-death-of-10.html> http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2009/11/charlennis-tragic-journey-actually.html> >
Manuel Gonzalez - Miami, Florida father who had sexually abused his daughter, and then stabbed her and her infant son, killing the son. What is often not reported in this case is that he was custodial--the girl's mother is from Guatamala: http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/05/estranged-wife-of-stabbing-suspect.html
Naticia Laurent-Murdered by custodial dad and/or step in Beauford, South Carolina.
Mother in Haiti:
http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/05/stepmom-accused-of-homicide-wants-to.html>>
Unnamed girl sexually abused, neglected by custodial father in Miami, Florida. Mother in Dominican Republic:
http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2010/04/custodial-dad-molests-teen-daughter-dcf.html>
Randall Dooley, murdered by custodial dad/step in Toronto, Canada.
Mom in Jamaica:
http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2009/09/custodial-dad-stepmother-want-new-trial.html>
And finally dad Melvin Ortiz in Ponciana, Florida. He and/or the step murdered his son while he was visiting from Puerto Rico. Mom still had custody back in Puerto Rico at the time: http://dastardlydads.blogspot.com/2009/07/custodial-dad-charged-with-killing-5.html