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019: Silenced No More - A mother's battle against the family courts
Season 2
Episode 19
Published 2 months, 1 week ago
Description
Melissa is a Michigan mother and activist whose daughter was taken from her through the family court system. In this episode, she shares her story — from her daughter's father refusing to return her child in 2019, to her daughter disclosing sexual abuse at age three, to a system that repeatedly failed to protect them both.She also discusses the Rowan Act, legislation that would require law enforcement to intervene in parental kidnapping cases even without a custody order.
Topics Covered:
This podcast contains deeply disturbing content, including firsthand accounts from parents and family members who have lost children to familicide—the murder of a child by a parent or caregiver. The stories are raw, emotional, and include details of immense loss, system failures, and trauma. Listeners are advised to take care, and may pause or stop the podcast if needed.
Connect with Hope Hooton:
Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_pain/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.pain
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hopeinthepain
Website: voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com
Support & Subscribe:
If you found this episode meaningful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast to amplify the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves.
Voices Against Filicide Merch Shop:
https://momcast-productions.myspreadshop.com/
The Rowan Project:
https://therowanproject.org/
Production Credits:
Written, Researched, and Hosted by: Hope Hooton
Produced & Edited by: Rachel Holloway
A Momcast Production
Topics Covered:
- Parental kidnapping and police inaction
- Child sexual abuse disclosure and forensic interviews
- Guardian ad litem bias
- How the court system silences protective parents
- Childhelp Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
- National DV Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
This podcast contains deeply disturbing content, including firsthand accounts from parents and family members who have lost children to familicide—the murder of a child by a parent or caregiver. The stories are raw, emotional, and include details of immense loss, system failures, and trauma. Listeners are advised to take care, and may pause or stop the podcast if needed.
Connect with Hope Hooton:
Email: hopeinthepain@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hope_in_the_pain/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hope.in.the.pain
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Hopeinthepain
Website: voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com
Support & Subscribe:
If you found this episode meaningful, please subscribe, leave a review, and share this podcast to amplify the stories of those who can no longer speak for themselves.
Voices Against Filicide Merch Shop:
https://momcast-productions.myspreadshop.com/
The Rowan Project:
https://therowanproject.org/
Production Credits:
Written, Researched, and Hosted by: Hope Hooton
Produced & Edited by: Rachel Holloway
A Momcast Production