Chapter One
Christina is a stay-at-home spouse in a small bay community. Everyone in the community knows each other. St. Eves is a sunny beach community to raise a family. Being able to sit the porch and see the ocean is one of the joys in life. She looks forward to waking up every morning having coffee with her husband Clint. Client is a professional investment broker. His job requires him to make business trips to New York. They have two children a six-year-old daughter named Haley and a seven-year-old son name Maverick. The family has a prestige reputation in the state.
Clint considered running for Senate in the past. He met Christina at a charity event. She was the host. It was a fund raiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, founded in 1962, is a pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children’s catastrophic diseases, particularly leukemia and other cancers. The hospital costs about $2.8 million a day to run, and there is no cost to the patient to be treated. Christina’s nephew Chis was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of two. Treatment depends on the type of cancer. Treatments can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes immunotherapy. Sometimes a patient receives more than one of these treatments. The treatment of children with leukemias and lymphomas is complex and requires the coordinated care of experts including pediatric oncologists, surgeons, radiation specialists, radiologists, nurses, and other professionals. Chris received his treatment at St. Jude. Every year Christina organizes a Spring Banquet dinner to benefit St. Jude. The restaurants in the area provide the meal.
Client decided to have a family instead of running for Senate. He focused on his family and building his business. He started as a real estate agent and continued to be an investment broker. He had a passion for the business and enjoyed traveling. The business trip allowed him to travel and meet exciting people. Christina became more involved in the community. She is on the board of directors for the Project Paws Alive. Project Paws Alive mission is to provide vital K9 equipment such as stab & bullet protective vests and first aid field trauma kits to law enforcement, fire, search & rescue, and military K-9s throughout the United States. Guardian Ad Litem for children were needed in the county. Christina became a volunteer.
While working as a Guardian Ad Litem she was assigned the case of Molly. A “guardian ad litem” (GAL) is a person the court appoints to investigate what solutions would be in the “best interests of a child.” Here, we are talking about a GAL in a divorce or parental rights and responsibilities case. Molly was a six-year-old girl both of her parents were arrested for drugs and sent to prison. Molly was left to be placed in a foster home. Christina recommends to the court that Molly be placed with her grandmother until her parents were out of prison. When the parents were released from prison, they would have to prove a safe environment could be provided for Molly. She was required to spend one hours a week with Molly to determine if she was adjusting to the unfamiliar environment. Molly loved her grandmother and spent time with her before being placed in her custody. She missed for parents but enjoyed being with her grandmother. One day when Christina was visiting with Molly at her grandmothers, Molly’s dad Matt called from prison to talk to her. Molly talked to her dad on the phone. After she finished talking to him, she wanted to see him.
Christina had to determine if the phone calls were too much for Molly to manage or if they were a benefit to her. She talked with the Grandmother Alice to see how often he called. How Molly acted after every call. He always called every night between five and six. He only talked to Molly sometimes. He used the phone call to talk to Alice. Matt requested to speak to the Christina to discuss what was going on with Molly regarding the court system. Matt wanted to know if he would be allowed to have custody of her when he was released.
Over a period of months Matt built a friendship with Christina. Matt knew it was to his advantage to be friends with her. Christina could recommend the court return Molly to him when he was released. Clint was working long hours and started having longer business trips. This worked to Matt’s advantage. Matt called to talk to Alice at the same time every night. Matt noticed that every time he called Christina was there. Christina was spending time with Molly. Christina was visiting with Molly every day. He was concerned about it. He asked Alice what was going on. Alice stated they have become friends. She has children around the same age as Molly. Molly and Haley have become friends and spend time together.
Christina started taking Molly and Haley to the movies together. Molly would spend the day with Haley on the weekends. They would play together after school. Haley had a birthday party and Molly spent the night with Haley. Five time when Matt called Molly was with Haley. Matt asked Alice to let Christina know he wanted to talk to her, and he would call tomorrow. Matt asked Christina if he could call her house to talk to Molly. She agreed. She sent her telephone information to Classification. The paperwork stated she was the Guardian Ad Litem for his child. She also requested to visit as a legal representative for his daughter. Stating she needed to discuss issue with him regarding Molly. Her request to add the telephone number to his telephone contact list and her request for visitation was approved.
Christina drove six hours to visit Matt. While processing Christina in to visit, she made a point to inform the staff on duty of her Guardian Ad Litem status. Christina did not bring Molly with her for visit. The staff was alerted that she was the Guardian Ad Litem but did not bring Molly for the visit. Christina and Matts visit was normal with no abnormal activity. Matt returned to the dorm after visitation and started telling his friends, Christina was appointed by the State as a representative for his daughter. Her input in the court could decide if he would gain custody of this daughter. His wife Julie was also in prison. Both were arrested at the same time.
