You were three years old when this started, when was the last time you visited your father:
April 2002, my 7th grade spring break

Was he abusive towards you on your last visit:
I found sex oils right next to my Kotex and I know he put them there on purpose.

How does your father explain to people what he has done:
He insists that he has not done anything wrong. He tells people that I have PAS (Parental Alienation Syndrome), so I claim some sort of "abuse". He denies molesting me.

More importantly, how does he justify his behavior to you:
I have never confronted him about the bathing. I yelled at him for the verbal abuse and he said that because he is an adult he is allowed to say whatever he wants to me. When I told him I hated him, he told me that love and hate were the same thing.

Your father says he is a victim of "Parent Alienation Syndrome" and that he never molested you. What does he hope to accomplish by saying this, certainly he realizes that you KNOW what he did? He can possibly escape prosecution by using this PAS as an excuse, however, does he expect that YOU will forget this if he does:
He says I have PAS, I think he just wants to get attention focused on him. PAS is not an actual medical syndrome, and the "genius" who came up with it, Richard Garner, thankfully committed suicide this year after a boy accused of having PAS killed himself. I haven't confronted Ed personally about the molestation, although he emailed me soon after I went public. I told him I hate him even more than he thought I did for what I have had to go through for 14 years. He acted like nothing happened, denied that he didn't do anything, blatantly in the email! If he thinks I will ever forgive him, he's got another thing coming. I have told him that I will never forget nor forgive him for the abuse I suffered at his hands. I stay true to that statement. Nothing can unring the bell as my Daddy says, I will never forgive Ed for what he has done, I will certainly never forget it, and I hope that when he dies he will be sorry for what he did.

As you well know, the system has failed MANY children in the past. Is there a Judge WE the public can write to and try to make him listen and understand that YOU are not making this up and that you are in real emotional and physical danger:
The judge with jurisdiction over this case is Judge Stephen W. Rideout of Alexandria Virginia, although he is too stubborn and pig headed to listen to me. I think it is like the firing squad: the judges refuse to see kids in their courtrooms (even though they are in Family Law), because they refuse to see the victims they are literally KILLING by forcing them back into their abuser's hands.

What are your plans for the future:
Well, my HOPES are to get Ed out of my life, permanently, without his parental rights. I want my Daddy to adopt me. He is legally my stepfather but I see him as my daddy because he deserves that title more than Ed ever did, does, and ever will. My PLANS are to go to PreMed, then off to Medical School (Hopefully UCLA or maybe even US), and I plan to be a Pediatrician. The way I see it, I know a lot of problems that kids might have; maybe they will go through the things I have. I want to be able to help them in any way I can; be their buddy, not just their doctor. I am considering Neonatology, working with ill or premature babies, although I do not know if my heart could take that.

My sincere appreciation goes out to Desireé for taking the time to answer these questions for me. I have found her to be one of the bravest young people I have come into contact with. She is going through so much and it can't be easy for her to deal with the fact that a judge won't listen to her.

Back To Desiree's Story

For information about preventing child abuse in the state of Virginia, click the links below. If they can't help you, ask for someone who can. NEVER give up looking for help for an abused child!

Stop It Now

Department Of Social Services


Call this number to report child abuse ANY WHERE in the United States!
1-800-4-A-Child  1-800-422-4453






My sincerest appreciation goes out to Diane Trembly for allowing me to use one
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