Father fights for son’s return on 5th anniversary

Cinderella:

Great story. Best of luck to David.

Is Christine on vacation?

Cheers,
Fred

David Goldman is a hero to all the other 50 left behind parents that
have children retained illegally in Brazil. Not only has he fought this
never ending battle for his son, he has brought to light the severe
injustice a left behind parent suffers daily. David Goldman never
forgets to mention the other 70 children held illegally in Brazil. That
in itself shows what a unselfish great father he really is no matter
what lies the other family has stated about him. He deserves his
God given right to be a father to Sean. Justice has to be served soon
as the maternal family is doing severe damage to Sean's emotional
well being. This has been well documented in the 82 page court
ruling by the honorable Judge Pinto. Why is Sean still under their care
is a crime in itself. Bring Sean Home Now!

I can't believe in today's world that this is happening. You deserve your son back with you 100%. There should be no questions here. I don't get it... Best of Luck to you sir in your ventures to get your own son back where he belongs... WITH YOU!

BEST OF LUCK YOU WILL NEED IT

I think everyone in the U.S. should boycott all Brazilian products until the son is returned to his father,

Why is it that our State Department is not taking more aggressive action to recover this boy? He is an American citizen, a minor, abducted against his will, and held against his will through illegal Brazilian manipulation of international law. Why is this not regarded as a hostile kidnapping? I don't understand the inaction on the part of our government.

David, I am so sorry you are going thru this. Don't give up!!! We are praying. Justice will be done.

This is the classic example of a devious wife using an American to gain a visa then fly back to her country, where it seems to me, she was caring an affair with her current brazilian husband. There is no way you jump from being a married mother with a loving husband, then go on vaction and then call say I want a divorce and then marry someone else just as quick. I will tell you that it is obvious that her family has munipliated the Brazilian courts to believe that this man is a terrible parent. I can assure you that they can claim that he has not contributed financially etc, but I garuntee you that if he had tried to work with them and go to Brazil, she would of tried to get him arrest under false pretenses. This situation happens all the time. Ask military men who marry women from other countries, alot get trapped in the "I am going to visit my parents' and they don't come back. They then use the law of their home country to try to arrest and keep the other parent away. I hope david gets this poor child back home. My prayers are for him and his family.

The Brazilian Supreme Court got this case right. The natural father must have custody of his own son (his own flesh and blood) back in a loving environment.

David,
I've been following your story since it was first in the media. God bless you in your struggles to get Sean back. I do pray that this gets resolved very soon for yours and his sake. Those Brazilians are crazy nuts. I know a few others that would try to pull off something like that. Take care in your journey.

I say we start a movement that NO one goes or flys to Brazil from the United states until his son is returned to the US.

It can be started on You Tub, FaceBook and general email

Give this man his child, his life, back. The people in Brazil should have no claim over him, so long as he has blood relation alive. Grow up!

These people need to be brought up on charges for what they are doing to this man, David Goldman, and his son, Sean. I am divorced and have put up with some crap from my exhusband and his current wife regarding my sons as well. It all surrounds his selfishness. I will say my boys now know it is his selfishness that drives him and not their happiness or wellbeing. Time will be on David's side, keep up the good fight!!!! God Bless

This is sad. I feel the boy should be returned to his father. Its the legal and right thing to do. I dont think the Brazilian Government should have anything to do with this matter. The mother took him, out of the country, without the fathers consent. He should beable to go into that country and get his son.

Marry a foreigner and take your chances.

This story has infuriated me and I have been tracking it for a while. I really feel for this man and he needs to have his son back. What the mother did by taking this boy to Brazil and never returning him is just wrong and selfish. This case reminds me of the Elian Gonzalez incident. He needs to be with his father and what they are doing is a kidnapping.

Sad story, I hope all goes well!

This is not unique, as I have not had contact with my only child for 15 years now, due to in-laws (out-laws) and the court system who banished me from my parental rights. I am a Parenting teacher and yet, the court chose to believe lies about me and prohibited me from speaking!

I have been trying, but now that my child is in her 20's, her convictions keep her isolated from me. Praying that we will soon reuninte........

Goldman you are selfish, all you care about is yourself. He is 9 years old now and has made a life for himself in Brazil, why rip this child from what he knows just because you are the biological father. You will do more harm to him by taking him away from what he knows now and he is much older, he has a life there not with you. I think you need to give this up and stop thinking of your own darn ego and what is good for YOU. I think that the Brazilian courts should be applauded for not bringing him back to USA because in Brazil they actually care about the kids and their emotional state not like in the USA where they could not give a rats ass for the kids but only what is good for the parent, it makes me sick to my stomach!! Leave Sean alone and let him live his life where he is and if he wants to see you then you go to Brazil for vacations. LEAVE HIM ALONE; STOP TRYING TO MESS UP THE CHILD’S LIFE! All you men think that because you are the biological father the child must be with you no matter how happy they are somewhere else and with loving people. Obviously there is another side to this and unfortunately your late wife is unable to have her say, but to move away from you I am sure she had very valid reasons. I hope the Brazilian courts do not honor the Hague Convention so that Sean can be free to live his life in Brazil.

I have followed this case from the start, and it amazes me how in God's earth, somebody can deny Mr. Goldman's right to have his son back with him. Justice delayed is justice denied, and in this case the Brazilian Supreme Court played footsy with its decision to go back to the lower court, instead of ordering the child back to New Jersey where he belongs with his dad. Mr. Goldman is right in fearing for the damage inflicted already on his son by these undeserving delays in resolving a case, which on its merits should have been solved long, long ago. Good luck to you Mr. Goldman in getting your son back,which you will. And I sincerely hope it's sooner, rather than later.

Brazil is an awful place for father's rights. Why they would want to be known as the child abduction capitol of the world is beyond me.

The boy needs to be with his father and brazil needs to comply. This is completely bogus. They want us to treat there fathers or mothers the same way if the shoe was on the other foot. He is the father send the boy home to him.

This in insane. I am glad our laws for the most part aren't this skewed. Good luck to you getting your son back...

Bad bad display on behalf of Brazil. Do we see the name of the step-father anywhere? Or the grandparents in Brazil?

Hello David,
You are going through a nightmarish period, I hope you are re-united with your son soon. My prayers for this to happen.

Taking away a child from a parent is completely wrong, I hope the Brazilian government realizes this and co-operates in this case!

Wish you good luck.

-Aparna Narendar

This is a risk you take when you marry someone from a different country and should be taken into consideration before marrying. I hope he gets his son back, but there is no happy ending for the child.

This is truly an outrage. This child needs to be returned to his father immediately. I have so much respect for this man for continuing the fight to do what is best for his son. This is doing so much damage to that precious little boy. He needs to be with his dad.

I feel for Mr. Goldman....I hope he gets his son back. What has happened here is terrible.

I do hope that the plight of this man gets a huge spotlight here in the states as this same thing happens right here at home.

I for one love my daughter. I used to see her every other weekend up until Aug 1999. Through legal channels, my ex wife got the visits stopped...and this was after years of her getting the visits halted and restarted because of my ex wifes meddling.

After 1999 I filed for custody...the court decided to keep my daughter with her mom citing my ex wifes home was all my daughter knew. The court then stopped the visits because the judge felt that all of the interuptions in visits and my ex wifes meddling was phsycologically affecting my daughter.

Now, my daughter thinks I just up an left her. Parental Alienation exists and it is real. All these years, my ex wife told her I did not want our daughter. My daughter will not speak to me...nice fathers day.

We should all pray for David and His son and for the thousands of good fathers who want to be in the kids lived but cannot behind nothing more than selfishness of others.

Pray that one day that these children all over this country will one day be re-uinited with fathers who love them.

-Greg

My daughter and I have been following Mr. Goldman's story from the day he appeared on Larry King Live. This boy belongs with his biological father who has done nothing but fight to have his son returned to him and his family. I pray for you Mr. Goldman and for your son that you will be reunited soon. This child was abducted and kept in Brazil against his father's wishes I don't understand the delay in getting his son back. ???

I can't write here what I actually said out loud when I read the follow up to the stories regarding Brazil's waffling about on this case, and the family playing mind games with a young child.

Considering International law, Brazil should be censored in some way for allowing this case to go as far as it has, and allowing your son to be traumatized further...they signed an agreement and should have stuck to it!

This is a horrible situation and is saddening that this amount of time has gone by without being resolved. This is David’s son and not this stepfather’s child. There is right and wrong in this world and people can be so selfish, especially when it comes to children. I could only imagine David’s pain and I truly hope his son is back in his arms soon.

I think that it is uphauling that this man still can't get his son back!! Come on... in the US the government will give a drug addict her child back even after neglect has been proven. I can't believe that there is a government that wouldn't give the next of kin the rights that they deserve!

Keep fighting the good fight! I am very proud of you!

I am a father and I would be destroyed if this ever happened to me. Brasil needs to return his abducted child NOW. This is not acceptable!. This father and son are missing out being the father being the son because of the Brasil court system.

OBAMA ...!! Please Help us out here...!!!!

What a sad and horrible story. The father should have had his son back immediately. I have been through a custody battle in the US and it is bad enough here. What kind of country would not return a child after the death of the other parent is horrible. good luck to you. Fathers like me are praying for you.

There are a lot of men in the USA fighting to see their kids, who are also in the USA. Sometimes another state sometimes the same. Five years is not uncommon. Grandparents often die without ever seeing their grankids. Simply because the 'mother' is a vindictive person and the court is a charade.

This story is so incredibly heartbreaking. This child should have been immediately returned to his true father upon the death of his mother. I can't imagine being in this father's shoes. This child has lost his mother and now the person most related to him by bond and blood is being alienated from his life. It's tragic!

If Brazil expects the Hague Convention to be honored in cases where Brazilian children are returned to them then they should honor the convention and return this boy to his true father. If you ask me, our government should be doing more to help this man. They had armed guards deliver Elian Gonzalez back to his Cuban family - where's the justice for this man and his son?

Horrible! I feel for this guy! This is my total nightmare!

I hope you get your boy back!!!!

This story is so painful to read. I have a 3 yr old, and I absolutely cannot imagine the trauma this is bringing to the father and HIS boy. The legal fight, the fact that there is even a question of whether the boy should be returned or not, seems so totally irrational, so completely unjust, I simply can't even believe it. Return the boy to his biological father so he can begin a normal childhood! It's that simple. Every fact, every measure, every aspect says this boy should be returned to his biological father. Why it's such a legal fight I simply do not understand!? How can he keep it together given this ridiculous charade???

This is so sad! President Obama should send a SWAT Team NOW to Brazil; grab the kid (Sean) and reunite him with his father (David) in New Jersey! Can't our goverment do more to help? Father's Day is Sunday!!!

As horrible as this sounds, it is happening right here in America with the full blessing of our own government.

You deserve to have your son with you in the USA not some stranger playing father. I wish you luch and hope you get to see your son very soon. I can imagine what I would do in a suitation like this.

Praying for you.

Find the Childlren has a reunification program with therapists trained in working with abducted children and their parents. Its 6-8 weeks of free therapy. It was started in 1991 with a grant from the Justice Department and is the only one of its kind in the country. We would be happy to help Mr. Goldman and Sean. Children cannot be reunified without special and long term help.

Karen Strickland
Executive Director
Find the Children

David,
With all our prayers & support, you will be reunited with your son
sooner than you thought. Keep trusting the Lord. He will show you
mighty things you have not known.
"Look up young man, Look up !!!"

There's something that bothers me about this story. I've been reading about it in the news for some time now. Years ago, I dated a man who was abusive. Fortunately I left that situation. He later married a much younger woman (a girl, really) who was from another country. I did a google search on him years later only to learn that he was in a custody battle with this woman who left him and returned to her country of birth with their child because he was abusive towards her. He took the case to the courts in her country and I am not sure of the outcome, but he used the media to portray his innocence.

My concern is if Mrs. Goldman was only back in Brazil for two days before calling her husband and telling him she wouldn't return, this had to be something preplanned, and not for no reason. I don't like to think of Mr. Goldman as abusive and perhaps they did have a wonderful relationship and he had no idea she was leaving him, but we're only hearing his side of the story.

Having said that, a child generally belongs with its parent(s) and assuming he's a good dad and there is nothing in court records about him being otherwise, the child should be returned to him immediately.

David, my family and I are praying for you and your family to remain strong as this dreadful saga hopefully draws to a close. Its hard to imagine a more outrageous situation. This self-proclaimed 'step-father' disgusts me, I can only imagine the frustration, rage and despair you must feel

Hang in there and God's blessings.

Tanya Evans you are not a parent to make the cooment you just made, what if your husband (and I pray you do not have one) was to take your child to another country would you just want to leave your child with his/her stepmother or would you want to getyour child back, he is the child father and he have rights and he want his son and I dont blame him for wanting to be in his child life get over yourself and please dont become a mother you will not be a good one.

I am particularly disgusted by the fact that no one in Brazil is standing up and saying what has to be said - SEND THE CHILD HOME TO HIS REAL FATHER. What is it with them? Do they sell children? Do they approve of destroying a child's lineage and kidnapping an innocent child? Do they think Americans are trash and only wealthy Brazilians with connections have ownership rights over a child? I'm totally disgusted with their entire country - I hear no calls from them as a society to end this fiasco and to send the child home. Apparently all Brazil believes that you can just keep a child that is not yours.

We returned Elian. They should return Sean to his father too.

The child's stepfather is a wealthy well-known lawyer from a long line of lawyers and he and his family know the judges and have the influence and clout to make the judges rule in their favor. The only way this guy will get his kid back is if he keeps international pressure and news on the case and if he can keep American politicians pressuring for the child's safe return. Most likely he is appeasing the grandparents who don't want to lose a "piece" of their daughter–their grandchild. But it is extremely selfish and heartless

I think, at this point in time, that David should seriously consider having a "freelance group" fly to Brazil and liberate that young boy.

Obviously Mrs. or Miss Evans has issues w/ men. The child was 4 when he was illegally seperated from his father. She does not know what caused the wife to do this. His wife may have met an old flame and decided she like that better. The child initially longed to come back to what he knew. If I was the father I would have spent everything I have to get my child back anyway I had to, legally or illegally. I love my children and and the best way to bring the world crashing down on your head would be to mess with with of them..Mrs. or Miss Evans.

Tanya Evans, you sound like a very narrow-minded individual and clearly you must not be a parent. Please educate yourself by reading up on a few child psychology books. Children belong with their biological parents. This child has a life, family and a father who loves him here and he should be reunited.

Good Luck, David, I hope you get to be with your son soon.

.why did the father just not take the kid using force if necessary to the us consul in san paulo or rio or the embassy in brasilia and tell the marine guard that he wants protection. why play by the rides when there are no rules, i don't feel sorry for the kid but sorry for the father, i would never alllow my children to be seperated from me, i travel to brazil multiple times a year and have a 5 year visa, so i know what is real and what is not

This is probably not much worthy, but as support to David, I just canceled my business trip to Brazil planned for next February. I will travel to Brazil only after it reunites David with his son.

wow tanya,

are you an orphan or what?

David,
i have been following this story very closely. Every day I hope to hear the news that you have got your son back. All our prayers with you and hopefully U will reunite with your son soon and bring him back to USA.

To Tanya Evans, your nuts. What kind of heart do you have, go get lost
or go live in Brazil & see if you'll like it there.

best of luck David. I sure hope the courts get their heads straight and return your son to you. It's amazing that this country is allowing this to happen with no consequences to the opposing party (his "stepfather").

Previous Post: By Tanya Evans -> "Why rip this child from what he knows just because you are the biological father. "

One of the silliest posts I have ever read. Laughable.

David,

I wish you all of the best to reunite with your son. ou truly seem to be a stand up father and you deserve to be with your son.

Where is Obama on this? He should DEMAND that Brazil return this boy to his father immediately or risk irreputable harm to the relationship we have with them. Not only that he should demand an invenstigation into all current child abductees who reside in Brazil and who have a legal parent as full custodian living in the U.S. This is an absolute outrage that other countries criticize the U.S. for decision we make but then pull this crap. As far as I'm concerned the entire U.S. should ban all products from Brazil until this boy is home with his father. The family members in Brazil keeping him from coming home should be arrested and tried as child abductors and abusers because that is exactly what they are. I'm incensed with rage just thinking about this story. If I had the means I would see to it that this boy is returned to his father in the U.S. by any and all means. Obama has the means and yet he remains silent. What a coward for a President we have.

This is a horrible story to hear about. I couldn't imagine the pain this father must be feeling right now. As to the person who commented that this man is being selfish, what kind of home life did you have? Every good parent has a right to be with their child and this man is fighting where most would have given up. There is absolutely nothing selfish about this. I was kidnapped by my father when I was young but my mother never gave up on me. My life would have been horrible if she had!! I will keep David and his son, Sean, in my prayers that they can be a family once again, as it should be. I think that if there were a President who would be willing to try to do something for this man, it is Obama. I will keep praying and hoping for you!!!

To Tanya – Why should David be cut off from his son? He did nothing to deserve it. His son was taken. Sean also remembers David – so the bond is still there. So I guess any parent can take their child, and if they manage to fool the courts for a few years – big deal? Come on – show some class.

It's time to start a Brazilian travel BOYCOTT.

I'm writing to the Brazilian consulate and telling them I won't ever travel to their country nor will I spend any money on products that come from their country.

If enough people did that, maybe the Brazilian government would get a clue and do the right thing.

Tanya Evans, may I ask then, what if this was your child? Your spouse bring's the child to another country, and no matter what you do your child is their for 5 year's. Would you say "we'll i geuss it's been 5 year's i might as we'll forget about it". What kind of parent are you? What kind of human are you for that matter. This is not a custody battle, this child was taken without any knowledge to the father and must be going through alot right now. I hope this child find's his way home. If not, we'll this shed's light on the Brazillian Judical system, or lack thereof.

Tanya Evans....you are a cretin.

This man did nothing but want to love and raise HIS son. He had no say when his his ex kidnapped him. You don't know the intimate story, so, don't judge. Sean also had no say. End this tragedy and bring him home so he CAN get on with his rightful life.

Who ever this miss Tanya Evens is i hope you don't have any children of your own, that you would leave such a mean and disrespectful letter to a man who is clearly going the right thing. Here is a man who has done everything the law has clearly asked for him to do. You will be in everyone's thoughts and prayers. KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT.

David...

I've seen you on TV many times and my heart and prayers go out to you. I can't imagine the grief and heartache that you and your family are going through. I hope everything works out for you and Sean.

I feel so bad for the man in this story. As soon as the mother died the little boy should have gone back home. What can we do as citizens to get the boy home? Can we lobby or just pray?

What's even crazier, Brazilians are protesting AGAINST David Goldberg reuniting with his son!

Talk about uneducated people jumping on the wrong bandwagon...

http://www.daylife.com/photo/03gHa0T7kEaZY?q=Bruna+Bianchi

My heart breaks for Mr. Goldman; as Americans we should all boycott Brazil as well as write to the Olympic International Committee to block Brazil from having the Games in 2016. I am quite sure Tanya Evans(previous comment) has no children of her own.

I am heartbroken for you. But it's not over. Please don't ever give up. Your child is yours and he's crying for you, justice will be served hopefully and he can come home to his daddy where he belongs.
Good luck, i'll be reading the news looking for your story.

POTUS AND HILLARY.......................STEP THE H- IN AND GET THIS CHILD BACK TO HIS COUNTRY AND MOST OF ALL HIS FATHER...........................

Sir,
Keep on fighting for your son, God is in control of the situation and
"No Weapon Formed Against You Shall Prosper"! May God continue to bless and keep you until you are reunited with your son again.

Buy NOTHING from Brazil, and BOYCOTT ALL TRAVEL TO BRAZIL

Tanya Evans has serious issues of understanding legal systems. The father has been trying to get his son the entire 5 years that this man has held him in captivity. This child was kidnapped. Are you suggesting that if a child is kidnapped by a woman/man who wants that child and is able to keep their grips on that child for a certain period of time then the parents should just give up?

That's a slippery slope you want to take Tanya and I would suggest that you read the entire history of the case and the efforts this father has been making since he realized his wife stole his child. Once you have accomplished this, then evaluate your statements and come to the conclusion you are an evil person who probably do this to your baby daddy.

Sanction Bazil, period!

Brazilians are jelous of America. They try to take their frustrations out on us anyway they can. Brazil should be considered a hostile country. With friends like the Brazilians, who needs enemies?

Tanya Evans-I pray you DO NOT have a child and this happens to you. You are out of your mind! Look at the postings...do you think he was not investigated prior to Hillary Clinton trying to help? Use common sense-if you have any. As a parent of 4 beautiful children, I am thankful for them every day. I can not imagine their dad would run off with them and they would be better off without me. Sean was 4 when he was taken...THEY KNOW THEIR PARENTS. You are ignorant and more self indulgant than any other person I know. This man not only misses his son...HE DESERVES HIS SON! IT IS HIS CHILD AND I PRAY HE NEVER STOPS FIGHTING AND PEOPLE LIKE YOU JUST GO AWAY QUIETLY.

This is the problem with our government. We have people in congress worrying about steroids in baseball. We have media worry about what Michelle Obama wears out to the garden and yet here is this poor little boy who has been abducted from his father and we, the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, the most powerfull nation in the world cant get this right. I will never understand why we allow other countries to do whatever they want but we dont fight back. There is no reason we shouldnt send someone over there, break down this guys door and take this boy out of there and return him to his FATHER!!!! Thats what we do here, if there is an abduction its an all out search, but NOOOOOOO, we dont want to hurt anybodys international feelings. We want to be everybodys friend. This is BS. When will we as americans quit letting other countries dictate to us what we will do.

To those in Brazil who may be reading this... kidnapping is a punishable crime and from History, we have all learned that wars have begun this reason(Trojan War) and for much less than this. Are you willing to sacrafice your nation's place in the world, your international reputation, and your future for a child that rightfully belongs with his "biological" father?

As one who has his eyes set on the highest office in this land, this issue has better be resolved soon

David, best of luck to you and your son. I am ashamed that our government is not doing more to help you with the KIDNAPPING of your child. This matter should have been resolved within days, not years in my eyes. My prayers go out to you and your son.

Thank you Tiger99. You said exactly what I was thinking.!!! Furthermore, the mother started this whole nightmare. "IF" things were so bad, she should of been woman enough to explain her unhappiness or gone to authorites if there was some abuse or talked to friends (in the states) , before running off. Being hooked into this story, even the friends of the couple had no idea of her plan. Secondly, and most important.. It's great to see a father fighting for his child and his rights to be a parent. There are too many dead beats out there, that don't even acknowledge their own child, that can be living a block away.

Maybe supermodel Gisele Bunchendon (spelling ?) can be contacted and asked to lend her supermodel weight to this horrific issue

There is a Facebook Group already created:

HELP US BRING SEAN GOLDMAN HOME

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=35278616563&topic=7623#/group.php?gid=35278616563

I can't see the video – maybe this was brought up – but what about resorting to one of those security companies that recover abducted children? Although, I'm sure he's thought of this and every other scenario. My heart goes out to him.

my prayers and best wishes are for you David. I am from South American and women like your ex wife give the rest of us a bad name. You are a wonderful dad and although your son no longer has a mother, you will love and care for him in a way that she never did...that b... had it coming....

This is so ridiculous! It goes to show that regardless of the culture, country and situation – FATHERS HAVE NO RIGHTS! When will there be a day that someone in power stands up for single fathers? Even in situations locally here in Florida the mother has to be proven 100% incapable of taking care of the child for the father to get custody. Even if the father provides a safer, more stable environment. If it was turned around then the father would have to hire a PI spend $15,000 on an Attorney and still end up getting every other weekend visitation.

I feel for this Father and can only imagine what he is going through!

David,

As a mother who is a non-custodial parent due to the negligence of our own US Court System, I complely empathize with you and your situation. I have signed your petition and I have joined your facebook group and I will pray every day for you and your son to someday SOON be reunited as you deserve. No child should be kept from their parent or family!

Tori Hoff

This is a disgrace to our American Justice System, Why are we not doing more as A country to help this American born child be reunited with his father.

I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER ITEM MADE, PRODUCED OR FROM THE COUNTRY OF BRAZIL. WHY DON'T WE ALL DO THIS.

God bless you, you will be united.

This is unbelievable. Every time I see this story I can't believe Brasil has the audacity to keep a child from their rightful parent. This story does NOT put that country in a good light at all. Most things in Brasil are insanely corrupt anyway from the top government officials to the local police officers. That country is messed up on so many levels. Good luck to you David; I hope you get your son back.

My brother had a son 29 years ago last month. His wife left him and remarried a man from Switzerland. She left this country without permission with my nephew. My brother struggled from the time my nephew was 4 years old until he was 7 years old to get him back.

After a major battle in court, his ex wife was allowed to leave again back to Europe with my nephew. Why? Because she was 8 months pregnant and didn't want my nephew to miss out on the family moment.

We've never seen my nephew since. This has crushed my brother for years as this was his only son – a son named after my brother.

Not only is it wrong that women are allowed to do whatever they want to unborn children, it's even further more disturbing how the system favors women in every sense and has no regard for a father's love and care for his family.

Why is itt that when a child is kept in Brazil after his mother dies, while the father is in the US, averyone wants him back in the US, but when a child is kept in the US, while his father is in Cuba, people think it would be bad to send him back to Cuba?

The damage being done to this child is by this psycho step-father. No one will EVER take my children without a fight. My husband feels the same way. I understand fully David's drive to fight this out until he has his son.

On another note, I don't understand why the military can't help out. This child was kidnapped! I know if he were mine, I would get him back any way I could...even if I had to 'kidnap" him back to the U.S.

I can't image living in the horror of this situation...Good luck to you David...May God bless you and end this situation soon.

Tonya Evans, how can you say that the David Goldman is being selftish? The mother took the boy out of the country, married someone else and now another man is raising his child.....Not even another man, the parents of the other man. There is no reason in the world that David should not have his son back. He is the boy's blood relative and was very much a part of the childs life. The child should be with his father.

Kidnap your child back...it's not kidnapping if it is legally your son right? I would do whatever it takes and play just as dirty.

I am an American, and I've been fighting in court for 7 years. In an American court, for my american child. This story makes headlines, but it is not uncommon. When money, influence, and politics are involved; there is no such thing as justice.

To Tanya – Why should David be cut off from his son? He did nothing to deserve it. His son was taken. Sean also remembers David – so the bond is still there. So I guess any parent can take their child, and if they manage to fool the courts for a few years – big deal? Come on – show some class.

To those reading in Brazil... For a nation that has a proud History of accomplishments and success, for being a leader in both the continental and international realm, are you willing to risk your standing and reputation on the world stage for a child that belongs with his "biological" parent.
A someone who has his eyes fixed on the highest office in our land, this issue best be resolved soon. The boy belongs with his "biological" father. The boy is a natural citizen of the United States. The last time I check, kidnapping was considered an international crime. Wars have begun for reasons such as this(Trojan War).
To the citizens of Brazil, take a lesson from History.

Tanya,

Before you run your Big Mouth on David Goldman and His son I suggest you do your Homework and get a clue . Try going to Bringseanhome.org and just read what this father has been through the last 5 years and sean as well. Man from the sounds of the post... your a man hater. Take your prozac and take a chill . EDUCATE YOURSELF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am glad that the mother passed, and wish the same for the step father

There's nothing really unusual about this case.. it happens in the United States all the time. My ex-fiancee has full custody of our daughter since custody of a child of unwed parents defaults to the mother in Oregon. Since then, she's had two other children with two husbands and has lived in 5 different states. I can't get partial custody because she doesn't stay in one state long enough to establish residency, nor even do things like get my daughter enrolled in school or taken to doctor's exams. She's turning five and still not potty trained and doesn't know her alphabet. Visitation is at her "whim", amounting to one or two weeks a year as long as they don't interfere with my ex's church functions or camping trips with her parents..

To Tanya Evans, how could you even write that he has no rights, he is selfish and wrong???? Do you have children, do you have any idea what is like to have them taken away from you or you not being able to see them? If NOT, then keep your comments to yourself.

David, keep your faith, and keep the pressure on – infact, turn it up. THis is a nightmare. If it were my child, I would fight at the highest levels, which I know you are doing. All the best to you and your beautiful boy. Let us know how things go.
Lily

I sincerely hope that the State Department keeps the pressure on the Brazilian government, so that Mr. Goldman gets his son back with him; this case is a horrendous example that justice can be bought in Brazil; corrupt judges can be swayed to take a stand, no matter what the law or even common sense says. Upon the death of his mother, Sean should have been returned immediately to his surviving parent, who never abandoned him. Mr. Goldman's struggle on behalf of his son, and on behalf of the other 65 children currently kidnapped by parents in Brazil is amazing and I sincerely hope that he gets Sean back in Jersey soon, and that all those other families will also get the children back from captivity by the Brazilian so-called 'court system'.

Go getem Dave you are in our prayers.

Folks: There are many decent, kind, loving fathers right her in the US living a very similar nightmare. Our own courts have become a bureaucracy that is completely out of control. Sadly, if you are caught in a position where you do not have leverage (in many cases a lot of money) you can lose your children. Kids deserve to be with parents that love them. When are courts across the globe going to recognize the "human factor" in this and do the right thing? Too many kids are going to bed with broken hearts due to the selfishness of others. This has to stop.

Best of luck David, I am certainly praying for you.

Real father stay with his son is the best.

Waste of time trying to fight a legal system in another country when it's very difficult just trying to handle custody battles in the US. What does he think the results are going to be?

I'm surprised he doesn't just put his money together, get some P.I.'s or ex-military with connections that would take the job and plan something to go grab his son then bring him back to the US under cover. He is not going to get his son back playing by their rules.

TANYA EVANS...

I honestly cannot believe what you are saying... If this were a woman you would be singing a different tune... To suggest his ex had a reason... That is ignorant... Unfortunately for men we have no control over our reproductive organs, and courts continue a gender bias for women...
A child belongs with his parents, if the mother is not there then the father should have custody PERIOD!!!
Unless you or anyone else can prove that this man will hurt his son then shut up...
Yes the boy is 9 and has been in contact with his father when permitted... but he was 4 when he left and they had a loving relationship..

THere are too many women like YOu who think they can do as they please with their children without paying any consequences for thier actions...

What is best for the child is to be with his father!!!!!!!!!!
His mother evidentually got the KARMA she deserved......

Tanya Evans your comment makes me sick. You evidently are not a mother, and if you are I feel sorry for your children. This father has every right to have his son back. He evidently loves him very much to go to such extremes to get him back home where he belongs.

David has alot and I mean alot of supporters behind him. If this were my child I would be doing exactly the same thing. Sean will come home Period! end of story !

We are praying for this family. Praying that this son comes home and praying that the healing can take place for this young boy as he comes back to the United States.

good luck to you and i wish you all the best in getting your son back.

@ Tanya Evans
If Mr. Goldman had just left his child for the past five years, I'd believe there might be at least some merit in your comment. However, he has been trying to regain custody of his child for the entire time. Any alienation that may have occurred is because of Brazil's lack of due process.
If your child were stolen in the night, you would want her back. If you found her five years later in the care of a loving family, would you be able to follow your own advice, or would you want her back?

Best of luck to you David...I'm praying for you. Stay positive and never give up – you're an inspiration.

And to Tanya Evans – you should be ashamed of yourself with that comment. I'll pray for you too. You say Brazil cares about the kids and their emotional state...did you even read the story? It says "Hopefully with the [Brazilian] Supreme Court ruling, with the 82-page report from the first-level federal judge ordering my son to be returned home immediately as well as Brazilian court-appointed mental health experts evaluating my son, saying he’s been under psychological trauma, emotionally damaged from this family in Brazil, pointing he needs to be home." UM, HELLOOOO??? He's EMOTIONALLY DAMAGED from being in there. If they cared about his emotional state, why are mental health experts saying this?? As a mother, this story BREAKS my heart – I can only assume with your ridiculous comment, that you Ms. Evans, don't have any children...probably a good thing.

Since I first heard of David's plight to bring Sean home, I have heard David's story told on several media outlets always expecting there to be a catch. There usually is and reporters are pretty competent about fleshing out all the angles. But nothing has stood out to demonstrate David should have seen this coming or that he was not involved in his son's life. On the contrary, I'm impressed by all the pictures and videos that depict a close, loving father. This is not a father who came out of the wood work after years of disinterest. I have actually been impressed with David's tenacity and hope & pray he doesn't lose hope himself after all the years of struggling to get his kidnapped son back. To have ripped the father & son apart and years later say it's the best for the child to remain separated from the father that he was kidnapped from is insane. Actually the brazilian family is quite guilty of any psychological harm the child may have suffered because I understand that for years David was allowed no contact with his son. Not only was David deceived in believing he would see his child at the end of his wife's vacation, so was the four year old son who expected to return home to his dad. I would bet all those years of not being able to see his dad impacted him. I saw the family representative on Larry King live this year and the family's manipulations were evident as displayed through this man. I think it's time for our government to step up on this case. Not only is this child's only surviving parent a US citizen, but so is this child. Some in Brazil will not allow one of our own to come home. Our leaders in congress and the state department need to step up on efforts to get Sean released to his father's custody and brought back home. It really will take a miracle which I am praying and believing for.

David, I feel for you. And you and your family will be in my prayers. I too am a father that had his son taken from him for 12 years. The United States laws are not so different. No lawyers or courts would help me. It wasn't until I had a friend with connections get me the information I needed to find my son. I was reunited with my son in May of 2007. he didn't know me. never talked to me, had never seen me. David I promise you it will work out. I believe it in my heart. I can say this because after 12 years, my now 14 year old son lives with me. His biological father.

Ms. Evans,
You are ridiculous. What about his mother taking his son, who he was caring for, without his consent or a legal proceeding? What will Sean think when he is old enough to realize he was basically kidnapped from his father and not allowed to be seen by him? What about all the lost time Sean has lost with his father? All the memories and bonds to build with his father who cares for him unconditionally? Let us not forget who is to blame here, his mother. His mother put him in this situation. She was the selfish one. We must also place the blame on the Brazilian courts for not taking care of this case according to international law years ago. I do not doubt the love his family in Brazil has for him, but the fact that they are keeping him from the man who is his father and raised him for the first four years of his life, then was forced to fight to have the right returned to him for the next five years is unjust. Our society is riddled with fathers who skip out on their children so how dare you deprive one who has spent his entire being to be with his son. You are wrong.

Unfrigging-believable. David, dont give up, and i know you wont.

This crap doesnt just happen in third-world hell-holes like Brazil. it happens in the good-ol U-S of A too. It is high time for GOOD fathers to get EQUAL rights in this country.

Throw all the BAD fathers in prison. Screw the child-support money. Throw them in prison. Be done with it.

Tanya,

This boy is in a golden cage. Yes, it is golden but it is still a cage. When he grows he will inevitably try to understand why he was kept away from his father. When he does that, it will probably be too late and there will be no way to recover the time lost between father and son.

This is another example of the mistreatment of biological fathers throughout America. Its time we are recognized as equals....More than just a donor to a hopeful mothers cause and child support thereafter.....Its a real injustice as our children need both parents in the lives equally.

bella .. Brasilian men are capable of devious behavior as well, however, I concur with your thoughts. Here's a story of a devious man ....

11 yrs ago my former husband and I planned to move back to his native Brasil with our daughter. I was told by the wife of one of his friends and another one of his friends that he planned to get us to Brasil where he could then put our daughter in school (high tuition schoo), set up household and life, then divorce me, keep the child (because he would have the means and I, not working, did not) in his custody and throw me out. He knew he could accomplish this because of his connections and position. I knew if it was true, he COULD do it because when we lived there previously, he was able to accomplish paperwork that normally took 6 to 12 months for others in 2 weeks ... like magic! I didn't believe the intent, though. Then before we left he made a proposal that I would have everything I need in Brasil (house/penthouse, maids, nannies, country club, driver, women's club, etc) but that he would have his "own life" aside from ours and I was not to question. "This is purely a business arrangement." I realized his friends were right and called attorneys who then put me in touch with this attorney in DC specializing in Brasil/US family law. When I asked about the legalities in this situation, she acknowledged it would be prudent not to go to Brasil if I wanted to keep my daughter because if he was well-connected and divorced me, I could probably return home without my child and possibly not see her again afterward with someone else raising her. I then made up my mind, but then she asked my name ... when I gave it to her, she said, "Meu Dios, I owe my law career to your father in law. What wonderful man. What wonderful family. Forget what I said, I KNOW they would never do that." I then told her we have a "conflict of interest," she agreed and I hung up knowing I could never go to Brasil under those circumstances. I have my daughter. It's been a financial and emotional struggle, but she grew up in a loving and full environment. I thank God that I did not have to go through the type of heartache and suffering that David has and I pray for him and his family every day.

P.S. Tanya Evans you obviously are uneducated, without research, coursework or logic in the areas of law, sociology, psychology and human development.

The Tanya Evans comment proves to everyone that there are many idiots in this world and she is one of them. I hope that this happens to her in the near future so she can feel the pain of losing a child.

I guess we really don't have both sides of the story. What I am interested in is this, he mentions all of these agreements his wife made him sign, all these demands and ultimatums that she made. Ok, so he did sign them though? I mean he signed away his parental rights to her? Where was this desire to be with his son then? Did he get an attorney right away and say no, I am not signing this agreement to give you custody? It does not look like it. If anyone has a link to more info I would be interested to see how this played out at the beginning of this mess.

Tanya Evans,

You are certifiably insane. What makes you think her reasons for leaving were valid? You have no idea, none of us do. There's too many unknowns here to make assumptions so we have to start with the basics. Unless you're a familiy member or a friend of the family, 95% of what you said is speculation and it makes you sound completely uneducated (stupid). Not that it make a difference anyway. Regardless of feelings or the anger she may have been feeling in this sitiuation, she can't just grab the child and bounce. That's why we have this crazy, new thing here in America. It's called the court system. They follow these weird things called laws and if this would've been done the proper way, legal separation followed by a custody hearing and so on then the child would've been much better off.

Thank you for your intelligent comments Tanya, they make complete sense. (sarcasm)

Mr. Goldman, my best wishes to you Sir. If your current approach doesn't find success, there are other ways to go about it.

An eye for an eye.

Re Tanya Evans' comment

Tanya, are you for real, or did you take too much acid in your younger years. You are right out to lunch lady !!!
This is and ABDUCTION !! The kid never wanted to move to Brazil and he certainly did not "make a life for himself" I am sure he did not enroll "himself" int school or took a job, and "established" himself.
Man are you ever stupid !!!!
Get a grip,...better yet,...let's see how you will react once one of your children is ripped away by some guy (supose he is from) Iran or North Korea,...let's see how you would feel after 5 years of trying to get your kid back

C Gaud (Canada)

To Tanya Evans: I just want to say that you obviously do not have any children and if you do, I can't see you being a good mother. I think any good parent who had their child taken from them would fight to get them back for as long as it took, no matter how long it had been since the child was taken. I don't believe that to be selfish at all.

This is not a typical custody hearing where parents often forget to put the children first. This is about a boy who was basically abducted from his father and his paternal grandparents. Imagine if you had a child who was taken out of your house and living with someone and being raised by someone who you had no relation too. Are you telling me that just because 5 years had gone by, you would stop fighting to get them back? That would not only make you a bad parent, but a sick person as well.

I am with Mr. Goldman, let him have his son back. As for some one of the comments, I was quite upset. There are certain people that have not understood thier education while growing up in their childhood. If you cant read, stop using your parents computer for grown-up conversations and go back to school to learn the English language and pray to God that you have the ability to get a job at McDonalds. If you could comprehend what was said (which is seems that you can't) I will break it down Barney style. The Brazilian judicial system was going to honor the Hague Convention, which in easier understanding statements means "He would get his son back". Now as for his son being "happy" with his life in Brazil, again, you need to learn English again because it was stated that he would call Mr. Goldman and cry on the phone with him and say that he wanted to come home to HIM!! Now, with that being said, my belief is that he is NOT enjoying his "new" life and family in Brazil. I will end with this, I am not a person that "Blogs" and this is my first time, but when someone as cold and heartless, let alone cant read and comprehend the English language like Tanya Evans, they need to re-educate themselves and stay in their own lane. Go to the store Tanya, buy a straw, and SUCK IT UP. Let the man have his son, who is living a life he is not enjoying at all, come home to his father!

Tanya Evans and troubled illustrate perfectly, though unintentionally, the knee-jerk reaction many men face when they have to fight for time with their own children: He must be abusive. He must be selfish. There must be something wrong with him.

That reaction is precisely one of the major obstacles fathers face in custody battles and battles over parenting time. Somehow, it comes naturally to too many people to assume the father is the problem, as though he were required to prove otherwise.

It is somehow socially acceptable to jump to the conclusion that a father is abusive, controlling - substitute your own gender stereotype here - whereas it would be socially unacceptable to suggest that look at what a mother actually did, as in this case, and conclude that she is simply self-centered, possessive, or vindictive. For too many folks, like Tanya and bothered here, there just has to be another explanation, one that turns blame back on the father.

Thank you, Tanya Evans and troubled, for illustrating that point for me.

For whatever reason, Brazilian judges seem to have a prejudice towards the American parents of illegally held children. In this case the Brazilian government would rather that the child live with his step father than his real father. The mother is out of the equation as she died a few years ago.

Anyone remember that crap that wend down with Eilien Gonzalas several years back? His mother died trying to bring him to America, where local relatives tried to retain custody of him. He was returned to his biological father in Cuba. Come on, Brazil, follow the proper path and return the boy to his rightful father.

Years ago, there was a case, where the birth mother had changed her mind with in a couple of weeks of the birth, and wanted her child back.
Enter the SCUM OF THE EARTH LAWYER.
If he had given good and true advise to the adoptive parents he would have said that you will eventually loose this case and the child will go back to the parents. It was a pretty famous case and the eventual transfer of the child was on television.
About three years later the adoptive parents lost and they were told to give the kid back.
The kid was screaming and crying during the transfer and it was awful. All this was really caused by the bad advise of the SLIMMY LAWYER.
Both of the parents wanted the child and it took the slimmy lawyers and the 'MOTIONS, AND COURT ORDERS, AND PTO'S, AND OBJECTION" Judges, three years to decide this case.
JUDGES ARE LAWYERS TOO.
The media was swirling around this case and the slant was how evil the parents were that wanted there daughter back.
There is a common thread through these two cases and it is SLIMMY LAWYERS.
The people that spent three years fighting for an adoption that had not been final got bad advise from a SLIMMY LAWYER.
The guy that wants his kid back from a well connected SLIMMY LAWYER in Brazil.
Good Luck
Our Secretary of State made some inquiries with the Brazil government and got NOWHERE. She is also a SLIMMY LAWYER.
This is going to be one real damaged kid at the end of this mess.
One thing for sure is that the kid will be damaged if he stays or if he comes back to America.

Common thread SLIMMY LAWYERS

dave, you have fought so long, so don't give up. i know in the end you will get your son back.

Where is the A-Team when you need them?
The child was ABDUCTED, that was a crime, his mother a criminal. The step-father (even IF they were legally married, which remains to be seen) is an accessory to the crime. He has NO CLAIM to this child. The Grandparents are also accessories to the the CRIME of International Kidnapping, as long as they with hold him. Keeping the child in Brazil, just because he "has grown up in Brazil" is crazy. He is not in Brazil, legally. The Brazilian "justice" system is really messed up and I hope that Mr. Goldman will get his son back soon. Why isn't the American Ambassador to Brazil putting pressure on them to return this child to his father?

boycott brazil!

Mr. Goldman deserves his son back. There's no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Anyone who thinks this is wrong, how would you feel if you lost your own flesh and blood and couldn't get your own child back? You have to put yourself in David's shoes...it's only right for the child to be with his Dad – the father that God designed specifically for him! Prayers are with you David. I hope you get your son back soon...it's the right thing by far!

David: I am praying you will soon be reunited with your son...remember, he is young and so if you obtain custody soon, the emotional damage can be reversed. Hang in there...the angels are with you.

To Tanya Evans:

You are obviously a man hater. And would tramatize a child just for your own benefit based on your comments. It is a 50/50 deal. He did nothing wrong to deserve this situation. This child would not have been away from his father so long if when his mother passed on they returned him to his father to begin with (immediately).

Keep fighting...ask Obama through the media to get involved. This should be a priority for him.

David, I have been praying so much and following your story with all my heart. I am extremely hopeful that you will be celebrating the best Father's Day ever this year, maybe on a slightly different calendar date. Stay strong. If I ever ran into you it'd be hard to keep myself from running up and giving you the biggest bear hug of support...

It's apparent that the courts are useless in this matter. The child will be an adult before they ever grand the biological father custody. Mr. Goldman may do well to just abduct the kid back to the United States. To hell with the courts.

This story brings back memories of my OWN childhood.

I was born in the US from a Brazilian father and an American mother. I used to hold dual-citizenship up until when I joined the Army. I am 24 now but when I was 2 my dad took me to Brazil on a "vacation" and I didn't set food in the US until I turned 18 and was able to leave Brazil without my father's consent.

My mother never tried to get me back legally because she couldn't afford to and also because she never cared much... But my dad made no efforts whatsoever to get me to connect with my family in Boston nor did he ever teach me English. I had to learn on my own. He always talked trash about my family up here and how cold Americans are. Pfftt.

Typical Brazilian, unfortunately.

This child needs to be returned to his father. Brazilians are too damn close-minded to put their child's needs before their own. Sean belongs with his dad in Jersey. End of story.

good riddance she died. she was manipulative and played with the emotions of he family.

I have to agree with Tigger-99. Tanya Evans needs to get a clue. They have 82pages of paper work that says the child needs to be with his father. What more do you need? I to think EVERYONE should write to the Brazilian courts & boycot all products made or imported from there.
Best of luck to you Mr Goldman

Tanya Evans, you can't possibly be a parent making a statement like that. I wish you never have your child taken from you and your rights as the parents stripped. Time does not diminish his rights as a parent. He deserves to get his son back, period. Children are resilient and the child will adjust once he is returned to his father. This is story is utterly rediculous and I am saddened that it is currently happening.

Wish you the best of luck David.

Aneta, everything David has gone through and all the facts of the case are on the BSH website. Please take a look.

http://www.bringseanhome.org

@ Tanya Evans – get a life you heartless wench. You act like Sean just jumped on that plane to Brazil at the age of four to get away from his abusive father. If David had a history of abuse, I'd imagine his late wife wasnt his first victim. With all of the publicity, why havent other women come forward with claims against him? Seriously, you have no clue. Did you ever consider that if he was a bad person that he would have given up by now? The boy was fine before he left, now he is a mess – keeping him in Brazil sounds like a great idea. You are an idiot.

David keep on fighting he is your son. We are all here praying he will come home soon.

Tanya Evans you are an idiot. Where are you from?

He needs to plan a covert operation and steal him back.

I BELIEVE COFFEE IS BRAZIL'S LARGEST EXPORT TO THE US. STOP DRINKING THE BLENDS GROWN OR PROCESSED IN BRAZIL. THAT WILL SEND A WAKEUP CALL. TELL BRAZIL WE WILL NOT STAND FOR THIS.

BRAZILIAN EMBASSY :
WASHINGTON D.C. (202) 238-2805
econinfo@brasilemb.org (Economic and Financial Affairs)

There are counselar offices throughout the US (LA, Chicago, NY, Houston, etc). Check your hometown. Flood the phones and emails. Go to the Brazilian Emabassy website and check contact numbers and email addresses. CALL – EMAIL – FIGHT!!! LET THEM KNOW WE EXIST. THERE ARE TOO MANY CHILDREN STOLEN AT THE HANDS OF BRAZILIANS.

Tanya Evans: It is disgusting that you actually approve of what is going on here...Are you a mother? It seems to me that you are NOT. Would it be ok if your husband (assuming that you have one) left the country with your child to never return?

These people are keeping an abducted child...and that country is allowing it! What kind of society thinks that is all alright to keep a child from his father...when in fact that father had absolutely no say in what was happening. That baby was stolen from him as far as I am concerned. You don't just take a child out of the country with the intent of not returning (I am sure the mother knew what she was doing) and completely alienating the father...This is not right...this child must return home. Its awful that the child was so young and unfortunately probably has no idea what is going on. God Bless.

First of all, I agree the boy should be returned to his father. Just a question, if the situation is reversed: an american wife brought her son back to US and died. Does everybody agree the body should return to brazil with his father just like the cuban kids 10 years ago. I remember there was a national wide agruement if that cuban kid should stay in US or not. Myself is asian. What I can see most of american have right logic they have trouble, but never have good judgement when the things turn to the otheride.

I too have followed David Goldman's story for the last few years and he seemed to be a very nice person (typically I am a skeptic). I think he would have been very sad to have his son live in Brazil with his mother and to see him rarley, but he strikes me as the type of man that would have eventually worked something out with the mother.

Tanya Evans,you are a scary person. You obviously have some personal (rage) issues that are affecting your judgement and sanity. Please do not get behind the wheel of any motorized vehicle. I would not even trust you with a handheld electric mixer! There is a band out there called CrazyTown - you should apply to be its village idiot.

The Congressman helping him out is Chris Smith, from a neighboring district, NOT David Goldman's district. He actually only found out about this story like most of us – watching it on Dateline. He brought it to the attention of Congress immediately and flew down to Brazil with him to help him see his son.

I don't know what if anything his own Congressman did to help him. I live several towns away from David Goldman in NJ and never heard of the story until the Dateline episode.

I think this is a horrible crime that has occured. This is a case of kidnapping pure and simple. The fact that the child has been there for so many years has nothing to do with the facts of the case. The woman that was his biological mother made her first mistake in not returning the child to the US. That is the CRIME that was done. The fact that he has a "life" in Brazil has no import to what has occured. This is pure and simple an example of the "machista" attitued that many South American courts exhibit. The fact of the matter is the child has a father, that loves him, and had his son STOLEN from him by the biological mother. If the father was a deadbeat, or had a criminal record, that would change it all, but from all appearances this is a man that has tried to follow all the right ways of getting his son back, but due to the lack of professionalism in some other countries, he has yet to have that occur. I will not indict all courts, but it seems that in the case of this child, the Brazilian justice system is not concerned with justice, but in some sort of perverted chess game with this young child as the victim.once again.

I am so sorry to hear this struggle continues. It is nonsense. I have heard the argument of this child being uprooted and returned to his father would cause emotional strain to the child. Please don't take this as if I have no feelings for a childs feelings, but we hear so often that when children go thru emotional times "...they are tough and will recover". I have children and many grandchildren and can attest to the truth of that comment. Does anyone ever consider the strain of the adult, the parent, the grandparent? When will they recover if this union never occurs?

Leave him alone!!! Sean is happy in Brazil!! There is documentation from her family of domestic abuse from David & that is why she left with Sean. They also have letters that she sent to David about him coming down to visit Sean & he never did. All he wanted was money. They paid him $150,000 to stay out of Sean's life. That is what he wanted $150,000, they have the letter & the cancelled check. He is not the goody, goody guy that he is making himself out to be. When he found out his ex-wife was dead that is only when he decided to go get Sean. He thought it would be easy, well it is not. He has a loving sept-father who has adopted him. He has a half sister. Sean has told the court over & over & over again HE DOES NOT want to go to the US with this man!!! He wants to stay in Brazil!!! He has gotten Clinton & big named people involved who needs to keep there 2 cents out of it. Leave Sean alone!!! You haven't wanted him from the beginning until it looked like it was an easy way to get your hands on a gold mind. He is happy where he is...leave him there!!!!

The stepdad is a very wealthy lawyer with connections. No matter how far he takes this, and how many Brazilian judges he pays off, the law is the law. It's International law, and Brazil has broken it over and over.

I've read comments on the Brazilian online papers, and there are actually a minority of folks down there that believe Sean should go back to his father David.

Sean Goldman will come back to the US. You'll see.

I think there is far more to this story than what David is telling to the public. Why on earth if they had such a peachy marriage, as he portrays, would his ex wife just up and do this out of the blue? He himself says that she was only there 2 days before she called and told him this, that's not enough time for someone to have such a drastic turnaround. Unfortunately she's not alive to defend herself or respond to her ex's claims. If I recall correctly I saw David on Dr Phil and at that time I believe his ex had said before her passing that there had been abuse in the marriage.

David,
I have followed your story since seeing it on 60 Minutes. I pray that you'll get your son back sooner than later. God bless you and God bless your son.................The time is coming closer that your son will soon be with you on American soil.........We all will keep you both in our prayers.
I commend you on your perserverance and for that...........there will be a happy ending.

Mommouse, MD

We should not ignore the reports from the late mother that she was the only one working and paying all the bills and that the father wasn't helping her.
Also there are reports that he forged her signature on checks she left behind in order access funds from her account.
Lastly he also tried to extort $500,000 from the grandparents of the child in order not to sue them, this was eventually settled at $150,000.
This information was reported on the Brazilian media, which by the shows a view supportive of the return of his son to the US not because he should be with the father but because an American court should rule on the fate of the child per the Hague convention.

This leaves the question, is it money, media attention or his child that he really wants?

I am a Brazilian, married to an American. I strongly support David and hope his son will be back to America with him. I read an article that his son goes to a private school and bla, bla, bla. In Brazil the majority of student goes to private school. There are not such a thing that only rich kids go to private school in Brazil. One has to pay to get some education there. The public school are only for the very, very poor. It is not like in US and Canada, etc. that have great public schools. They can say he lives in a big house. BS... most houses or apartments in Brazil are big. The grandparents in Brazil and this Lins e Silva person are bad people. Sean needs to be with David.
and remember. There are good people in Brazil and Brazil is a great Country.

tanya evans is brazilian, folks.

no american would say such a thing.

@ Tanya Evans I have no idea where your anger is coming from against this father. He is the biological father and has every right to get his son back. The Brazilian courts shouldn't be involved. The child is a US citizen and our court system should demand his return IMMEDIATELY. The child is considered a hostage in my view.

I wonder if you would be so willing to walk away from your child if he/she was abducted by your spouse and taken to another country.

David-

This just breaks my heart. You will get your son back. Never ever give up. I wish the best for you and Sean.

Sincerely,

Mark Johnson

send in the Marines

I wonder, would it have taken this long IF David were the MOTHER and not the Father, I don't think so.

Tanya Evans, you should not be allowed to bear offspring. You are disgusting.

TANYA EVANS:

Oh, stop with the fake patriotism. You are obviously Brazilian and all you're doing here is making our country look worse. Its no news Brazil is a corrupt land where money buys Justice and the law is of no value. This is just one more example of a carioca whore who went to Europe and declared herself a "model" when we all know she was probably just one more Brazilian prostitute who met an American citizen and saw in him the chance to a green card. When she saw herself living a simple life in a suburb of New Jersey, she decided living in Brazil with her rich lover was a better deal. Let's not be naïve here sweetie. I am Brazilian, I am proud of my heritage but I am not blind to the problems of my country and to the type of women who usually come to Europe to be prostitutes or to the USA for a green card and an easy life with a Gringo. Get real. These people are criminals and they need to give this child back to his father.

Isn't it crazy? No matter where the legal system, it is always a roadblock. I wish the best for this Dad, and his son. Unfortunately, we don't need to stray to Brazil for this type of behavior. It is all around us in the United States. Dads get put in the back seat. Divorce is rampant, and Fathers have to fight for their God given right to raise their children. Parents need to unite in raising their children, even through divorce. EVERYONE REMEMBER...you may not like your ex, but they are still a parent. Your child needs equal time with both parents. EQUALITY CREATES STABILITY. Stability is not created by how many nights a child sleeps in the same bed. Equal family input is what gives our children the balance they need from inside their family bubble.

David, I've been following your story since it first appeared in the media (Dateline, I believe?) and you have my full support. You sound like a great dad and you deserve to have your son back. Don't give up! It's unbelievable what the Brazilian side has done...
I hope that soon we'll all hear the news that Sean and youself have been reunited.

Luiz, all those accusations from the family were proven false. Repeating lies many times doesn't make them come true.

If you read Judge Pinto's sentence on the case, you will see he addresses EVERY SINGLE LIE the family spewed...

Precious time is slipping away from David and Sean. Please call your state representative, the white house, Secretary of State and let's show our Government they cannot delay further pressure/action for Sean's return. Sean needs his loving father!

Sara, what I posted above to Luiz, well, the same applies to you.

I have also been following this story for many months now. DON'T EVER GIVE UP DAVID!!!!!!
YOU WILL WIN AND HAVE A GREAT LIFE WITH YOUR SON. HE IS ONLY NINE AND WHILE YOU HAVE A LOT TO CATCH UP ON. YOU STILL HAVE A LOT OF HIS YOUTH LEFT TO SHARE WITH HIM..

AND AS FAR AS MS. EVANS........
SERIOUSLY, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU...???

time to check the back of soldier of fortune and just get it done!!

My Two Cents – There was no abuse – only a lack of fortune. Her family wanted her back in Brazil, and they had the money to offer her a worry-free life. Nevermind she took her son away from his father.

What a message Brazil is sending – you can take your kids to Brazil, and we will help you keep them there if you have enough money and the right connections.

Tanya Evans,

I can't believe what I just read in your posting. What an outrageous and perverted opinion. You should be ashamed.

I am a Brazilian citizen living in the USA, and I am ashame by the rule of law in my country that is keeping Sean away from his dad. being a father myself I would move mountains if something of that natured would've happen to me. I use to watch movies that depict countries where one parent would take their children and the other parent would have to through hell to try to bring their kids back home, I would always assume that these countries would be somewhere in the middle east or a country with no regards to it's citizens or international laws. It's sad to see that these movies could have taken place in Brazil.

I am perplexed as why they still debating if a son should go back to his biological father or stay with a strange that is not related to him. That is called kidnap and should be punish with the full extend of the law.

And a boycott of Brazilian products would be a good idea, maybe they will wake up and realize what wrong they have been doing with this parent and his son.

I am also outraged that the man's child has not yet been returned home. To me, it is such an obvious mistake on the part of the Brazilian government. No amount of red tape or "important people" should delay for one instant the safe return of this boy to his father. For what it's worth, I have written a letter to the Brazilian Embassy.

Folks,

all of that media trash you are talking about is coming from the brazilian media...hello??? Influential family...yada yada yada.

Sean is the biological child of David Goldman....unless there is some proof that he was mean or neglectful to the child, give him back to him!!!

There should be some kind of sanctions put upon Brazil by our good old president Obama and the UN until the child is returned, simple as that. People write your congressmen!!

JMO

Good luck David! we are all with you! and Tanya your heartless, karma will come back around to bite you in the ass!

Ms. Evans,
I am going to have to assume you are like my husband's ex-wife who dangled his child over his head with visitation. He was a good father when she needed a free babysitter, but when they had a disagreement, then would withhold visitation from him. These custodial parents-no single, especially when there is another biological parent who wants to be active in the childs life-continue to abuse their custodial rights. I see this everyday, especially when the custodial parent is a female. The are angry and resentful to the non-custodial parent and play with the emotions all the time. When we were establishing legal visitation, my stepson said, "I want to see my daddy and I don't understand why my mommy won't let me". Through all of our litigations she did not want to share Christmas. In the end, the court read through her B.S. and gave us exactly what we requested.
Mr. Goldman, I know in my heart God will reunite you and your son. It has been a long battle for you, but keep pressing for the reward that you and your son both want-to be together.

Tanya Evans is a plant. It is obvious. The grandparents and the stepfamily have been putting these fake messages everywhere. While I disagree with everything Tanya Evans said, I am going to do the one thing she doesn't want me to do: IGNORE HER.

Sara – can you read or would you prefer not educating yourself on the facts of the case? I would have taken that money as well, and used it toward my legal fees. There was never any abuse. How wonderful is it for people to say that, and everyone just assumes it's true. Where is the proof? Judge Pinto ruled on the facts of the case, and broken a million holes in what has become a certified case of kidnapping.

David – I have a 4 year old son and I have absolutely no idea how you have kept going all this time. If my son was taken from me the way Sean was taken from you, I think I would have been commited to a mental institution so long ago. Just thinking about it make me crazy. I hope you get your son back. I hope you are able to sue this horible Brazilian Family for damages later on. I hope you are able to sue the Brazilian govenment for their failure to comply with the treaties that they have signed.

We all need to demand that President Obama, VP Biden and the White House ratchet up their involvement in this case!! This is truly appalling! Time for our Prez to pick up the phone talk to President Lula and demand Sean's return. If Brazil wants to be our ally, then they need to start acting like one!

Support NJ Congressman's Chris Smith's new bill on sanctions on Brazil -HR 2702 – Call you congress-person today and tell them to support HR 2702

http://chrissmith.house.gov/UploadedFiles/SMITNJ_037_xml.pdf

I agree Tyler, she is the one that is SELFISH for saying such a thing! I pray that he gets is son back!! I mean....ITS HIS SON!!!!! Bring this child back home to his father!!

i can't believe his son has been kidnapped and Brazil authorities will not send him home to his dad where he belongs. it's so sad that neither government can do anything. this is so unjust.

Good luck David!!! Our prayers are with you and let this be a lesson to everyone out there...don't marry anybody from Brazil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is an atrocity! Sean should be returned to his biological father, as the courts and the Hague convention dictate. Had the step-father been cooperative and returned Sean, likely he could have still been a part of Sean's life (and as it is, likely he will need to be since Sean now has a sibling...though if I were Mr. Goldman, I wouldn't bring Sean back to Brazil).

My family had planned to vacation in Brazil this summer and based on this case, and hearing that other children are held there, we will not spend our money in Brazil until Sean is returned. We have also ceased buying Brazillian products. We encourage the world community to do the same until Sean's immediate and safe return to his father, Mr. Goldman.

We are praying for you and your family, Mr. Goldman, that you will get back your beloved son pretty soon. This is injustice to you as a good father and to your son who is missing your fatherly presence and guidance. God bless you.

David, there is nothing else that can go wrong.. you have to and will get back your Sean...! all the very very very best to you David.

David,
Don't give up! Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God sees the injustice these people have caused you and he will intervene. Have faith. The fact that you have spent all of these years fighting is proof that you love your son and deserve to have him back. If only other fathers took on the same take with their children, this world would be a better place.

As heart breaking as this whole situation is it is further proof that 'God' is absent in the world. Common sense dictates that David is Sean's father and he is entitled to know and love his son, to be sure that he is safe and well cared for.
Our world's 'God' is Law and Money, those two things dictate how a person lives their life in this world; even if they are a good person the scumbag with the lawyers and fat wallet are the ones living indiscriminately.
I wish you the best of luck and all the strength you will need, David. Sean will come home, with strength and determination he will come home.
Free Goldman!!!

The story is very sad but also a lot more complicated. The wife and son left with the Ddvids's permission. It was not a kidnap. The fact that David 'had no clue' the wedding wasn't going well is very strange. Everybody knows when the relationship is going sour. Anyway, she files for divorce and gets custody of Sean (most mother's get it anyway). Maybe it should have happened in US court, but it was going to be a tough resolution for the child no matter what, because the parents would be 8,000 miles apart regardless of who got custody. Then the unthinkable happens – the mother dies during childbirth, 2 years after she moved back to Brazil. Sean is adapted in school, attached to his grandparents, family, friends and a little sister. According to the Brazilian press, Sean does not want to come to the US. People don't like change and much less kids. The Brazilian government should and will not get involved. Judicial systems should not be influenced by government politics. We don't want it to happen here and it shouldn't happen elsewhere.

I also agree that Sean should be with his Dad, but how to do this without traumatizing the kid, I simply don't know. Perhaps David should move to Brazil for 6 months or 1 year and try to make this a smooth transition.

Well, maybe the mother had a reason to run from this man.

No woman just takes off from a good marriage. So don't judge, people, as you do not have all the facts.

It's too late now, the boy should stay where he is. Do not uproot his whole life for your ego. He is happy in Brazil, leave him there.

Sometimes you need to stop and ask yourself what would be better for the child, not you!

No sooner had I thanked Tanya and troubled for illustrating my point for me than out pop sara, my two cents, and Luiz to illustrate it all over again.

The gist: Never mind the prima facie case. The basic facts points to a woman who considered the child her property, who was willing to shut the child's father out of his life and committed the crime of abduction in order to do so. No, that is not an acceptable conclusion for these folks. The father has to be to blame, the mother the victim, not matter how thin or fabricated the evidence.

This is, again, precisely the attitude fathers face. It only takes the suggestion of abuse or money-grubbing - enter people like Luiz - to taint him and his case simply because he is male. As long as you can use fabricated allegations to separate him from the children for at least a few months, you then come back and claim they're now established in a new routine and it would be traumatic to reunite. If he shows anger (a normal reaction to an abnormal situation), it's evidence he's controlling has a violent temper. If he pursues parenting time and custody, it's evidence he's vindictive and/or just doesn't want to pay child support. If he backs off, it's evidence he never really cared in the first place.

There are simply too many people who are too willing to accept any version of events that confirm the male-female perpetrator-victim stereotype, never mind the facts of the case. And you cannot win against gender stereotypes as long as there are people like Tanya, troubled, sara, my two cents, and Luiz to perpetuate them.

Tanya Evans: Sean was abducted. Stolen.
A father's heart broke and continues to break as this process continues. Sean didn't chose to go with his mother and stay in Brazil Sean didn't chose to stay in Brazil. A man with no legal authority or authority under whatever religious belief you believe in, made stole this child and continues to withold him from his rightful father. A father who loves him; a father who wants to be in his life and help Sean grow into a good man.
Mr. Goldman did not abandon him or give him up for adoption or get the mom pregnant and abandon her...he chose this chiild and to be in this child's life...Sean's life...he had this child, raised this child and HIS child was taken from him by a shelfish woman and a man who has no legal right to him.
I ask you one question, Ms. Evans: What would you do if someone took YOUR child...?

Dave, God bless and will pray for you. You have a battle ahead as most courts including ours are negated the fundamental rights that male have over their children. You are an example to other like me: a warrior father who does not give up even though doors shut in front of your face. "You will reap what you sow", with your love, tenacity the quest for justice and the American family behind you (with our prayers to God) you shall prevail.

Unbelievable how Brazil has no regard for the law (let alone common sense!). Every American should boycott Brazil. What a shame that this child is being raised in this third world country.

David,
Don't give up! Our thoughts and prayers are with you. God sees the injustice these people have caused you and he will intervene. Have faith. The fact that you have spent all of these years fighting is proof that you love your son and deserve to have him back. If only other fathers demonstrated their love for their children, the way you have, this world would be a better place.

My question is if he wanted the child wouldn't he have been fighting for custody from the beginning when she 1st took him away??? why has he waited so long?... and if there was abuse the child should stay where he is, in a safe environment. If that was NOT the issue the child should be with his father...hard one...

Tanya Evans, Are you insane?

Bottom line – Brazil is holding Sean in violation of the Hague Treaty. All the appeals in the world can not change the fact that David Goldman is Sean's only surviving parent. Sean was born in the US, has a US birth certificate and lived the first four years of his like here.

Records prove that David has fought from day one to get his child back in his country of origin. It's time for Brazil to honor the document they signed.

Luiz and Tanya are freinds or family members of the kidnapping family in Brazil. Pay no attention to them, they just try to spread lies wherever they can. Sickening.

This is very sad for the little boy and for the father.

Let us hope that the step-father is a good man who is treating the boy well. It is possible that the boy has a decent life, although I still think he belongs with his father in the U.S. since he was illegally taken in the first place.

Let us remember in your prayers all those children who are kept from a parent – whether because of abduction to another country or state, or whether by a manipulative parent who is lying to the system to deny the other parent rights. This happens all the time.

My prayers go out to this boy, father, and step-father.

Hey Tanya Evans...

I guess you don't have children. If you do, maybe someone should abduct your child to a foreign country and then never return them and the country's courts uphold this crime. It is a crime, no matter what way you look at it. It was a crime when his wife was still alive and is a crime now.

David Goldman has been fighting since day 1 to have the child returned. There are facts, reports and court documents to prove this. Just because his wife no longer wanted to be married doesn't mean she has a right to determine custody and stop a father from seeing his son. If there was something more going on, like you are hinting at, which we have no factual information about, then she should have followed the proper procedures. There was nothing else going on, just a parental child abduction which happens daily in the US and other countries harbor these criminals!

You need to get a clue! You obviously haven't read all of the facts on this case because Sean is not in a good place with a good life! AND...what has occurred is illegal and this boy NEEDS to be returned to his father who has been fighting for him since day 1!

Good Luck Capt David Goldman! The entire fishing community, especially those from Monmouth and Ocean Counties in NJ are praying for Sean's safe and speedy return to you. We will not stop our fight until he is home!!

What Brazil courts are doing is an outrage to all parents that have there children abducted to other contries. I understand this little boy is living with his stepdad and half sister. No one is saying that he should not still be part of there life however the biological father has rights which were never revocked or taken away. What his late wife did was against the law and wrong. You know who suffers is the little boy. The step father should not fight this matter. My thumbs go up to the biological father. Keep fighting until you get your son.

I hope it's especially hot in whatever part of hell that Bruna is in today....

Please don't make this personal, just because his wife did something really wrong, it doesnt mean that all brazilians are bad or don't care about child rights or anything else.
This boy needs to come back to the US, he is american not brazilian.
My country has beatifull and ugly sides to it just like everyone else's..
Don't judge the whole population because one person, did something stupid!

This whole thing is unconscionable. I think Mr. Goldman needs to hire Blackwater to repatriate his son and "mop up" the opportunistic meddlers who made this mess.

Mike: "What a coward of a President we have". Hmmm, Obama's been in office for what...6 months and this man's battle for his son has been going on for 5 years. Do the math, idiot. The coward of a president was Bush for 4 1/2 years!! I do not understand why people think they have to bring politics and/or Obama into every stinkin' subject there is, especially the conservative right! Is there any subject that you guys don't try to drag "liberals" into or Obama bashing?

Tanya Evans, you need to crawl back under the rock you came out of. This little boy was kidnapped out of the USA, and brought to Brazil. The biological father is a good person and had a very good relationship with his son. There is no mention of child abuse or anything that should say this little boy should stay in Brazil. Sean belongs with his biological father end of story. Shame on Brazil courts system and how they exploiting this issue. Good luck David USA is routing for you to get your son back. Tanya do state your opionion your an idiot

David, everyone is routing for you, keep fighting to get your son back.

This is absolutely outrageous. That boy should be with his biological father. The "stepfather" has no claim on him. How in the world has this been allowed to go on so long? I cannot believe that anyone would say that Mr. Goldman is out for money and/or attention. He wants his son. I cannot imagine his desperation. The government has to do something about this whenever and wherever it occurs.
This is very frightening.

David I am preying this fathers day will be a day you will be reunited with him I know as a father when I had some one try to rip my daughter away because they said all people with mental health disorders are abusers even after she was only 3 days old and still in the hospital, so I know it must be heart wrenching to sit there day after day , but remember to those of the lord his justice is his and his alone and he seeks the best for his children so look at it as this brazil has already now made global outcrys so his justice will be served and you will be reunited

Renee Lucas,

I have no idea why you asked me to read judge Pinto's ruling, which I did some two weeks ago when it was made available in Veja's site. The Brazilian family has indeed lied in many respects, I do agree with that!

I have been following this injustice for a while now and I hope for both you and YOUR son's sake that he is returned very soon to you. I can not even imagine what you have gone through! What are his maternal grand parents thinking!!!!! My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Suzan

This is tragic, but unfortunately it happens here in the US also. My son was taken from me in much the same manor, games & lies in court and those games kept me from him for over 12 years. Now that he's 18, we are trying to make the best of it, but he was denied his father;'s influence, love and affection. Those years and the bond we had are all gone, we only have the pieces left. I pray that you get our son back before it's too late and before he's an adult. God Bless

This is insane! He should return to his natural Father immediately. My prayers are with you and your son David.

It's laughable to think that no matter how decent a man is relating to children and custody, there is always some anonymous feminist loony ready to cry "abuse" because they have no rationale argument as to why a father should be kept from his child.

Every father is not abusive. Is every mother child support hungry?

What's to celebrate here?

Give Sean back to his father David! It's shameful that Brazilian courts have allowed this travesty to go on for 5 long years!!!Enough is enough.

The stepfather, who's not a blood relative to the boy and does not even live where Sean currently lives – the so-called "Brazilian family" (maternal grandparents), should have the decency to plea with the grandparents to stop this nonsense and let the boy come back to his home in NJ. Ah, but he's not the one who's really fighting for Sean...it's the grandma, late Bruna's mother, who insists in keeping Sean alienated from his real father, from his "American family" (paternal grandparents), from his home in Tinton Falls. I guess she's suffering from amnesia, after all hasn't she forgotten that Sean was born here in the US? That her grandson lived 4 lovely years in the care of both David and her daughter? She even wants to rename Sean, to Joasinho. Give me a break!

I am lighting 5 candles tonight, for David and Sean, for all the years lost. I just hope I don't have to light another one next year.

Bring Sean Home and the other children held illegally in Brazil!!!

to tanya you must a cold heartless person if you say child should stay in brazil what if that were your child. you should be locked up for even thinking like that

Tanya Evans – You are out of your mind. This child should have never been taken away from his biological father in the first place. It was the mother who was the selfish one. I was appauled when I read your comment.

This is a game that plays out throughout the world. Brazil does not boycot enough product to the U.S. that it would be likely to make a difference. If, however, we sieze all Brazilian assets and embargo all of their products, that would get their attention. A similar plan for other so-called "friendly" countries that do that.

My prayers are with you David. I have followed your story every since I first saw it on the news. I had always dreamed of visiting Brazil before I died, but you could not give me an all expense paid trip for even (1) day since this story broke. I have (3) beautiful grandsons and if anyone tried this with any one of them I would hire someone to go there and kidnap them. I would advise everyone to ban ever going to Brazil, buying anything made there, and the US Government to stop trading with this very country. I wish you all the luck and I wil continue to pray for you and Sean everyday.

Well have we learned anything yet? Don't marry outside of the U.S. this is what happens it is very sad but other countrys are not like the U.S. We can't protect in another country!!!!!!!

We need to get him back the same way they kidnapped him. He is an American citizen, go after him, take him, bring him back.

Diplomacy is being disregarded at this point, so show them our true strength.

This is an American child being held against his will. We are not doing everyting in our power or he would be back already. We are the most powerful nation in the world and can't manage to bring an American child back home. Very sad. I think someone needs to step up to the plate and start making demands.

I haven't been able to see my son in almost two years and have to deal with the courts in North Carolina to try to get the custody order enforced. I can't imagine how tough it is to keep going back and forth to Brazil... Best of luck to David and his son.

Excuse me. I miswrote. I meant to say Brazil does not export enough product to the U.S. that a boycott would make much difference to them.

Wow! Talk about Karma! She takes the child to another country and alienates him from his father and then dies later on in childbirth. What goes around comes around!

Time for Black OPS Delta Force to just "get 'er done."
Money wasted on lawyers and due process could be put to much better use. Do governments wait 5 years to act in response to irrational ,illegal, and unjustified behavior?

My .02

I was wondering the same thing, Alice.

"Why is itt that when a child is kept in Brazil after his mother dies, while the father is in the US, averyone wants him back in the US, but when a child is kept in the US, while his father is in Cuba, people think it would be bad to send him back to Cuba?"

God Bless you on your journey to bring your son home. I pray that both of you will be reunited soon. Best of luck and I will keep the prayers coming for both of you.

I hope David gets his Son back. Unfortunately, some countries do not have any legal agreement with USA for child abduction. So if the children are abducted by another parent and takes them to those countries, it'll be no way for American parent to see or hear from their children.

Another thing is if Sean has duo citizenship. For example, I am Thai, married my American husband. My children can have both Thai and American citizens. In this case, my children can live in both countries permanently and lawfully until they turn 18 since, by then, they'll have to choose just one citizenship. If Sean falls into this scenario, then the court in Brazil has a high chance to turn down the appeal because of Sean's Brazillian citizenship.

Another thing is about the marriage between David and his ex-wife, Bruna. If they were not legally marred in Brazil, Bruna was still legally single back then. Legally speaking, Mother does have more legal right in children than father, married or not. I think that is why Sean has been there for 5 years and David cannot do anything until Bruna died.

Hey Tanya,

Clearly, your frontal lobotomy was a huge success.

Here's the email to Brazilian Consulate. Email them and support David.

ambassador@brasilemb.org

We're all praying for you.

David, I am so sorry you have had to endure this. There is simply no way Brazil can justify not returning your son. We are all praying that Sean will be returned as soon as possible. Another moment is a moment too long. With prayers of many, justice will prevail. God bless you.

Lully ... you're stand on this issue has empowered me! way to tell it like it is.

and Sara who has the info on David's abuse & wanting money, where did you get that from? I'm sure you witnessed this first hand right? i mean you must have to make such bold accusations and sound like Mr. Moron Evans

What is our President and Secretary of State doing about Mr. Goldman's situation? Surely they are putting pressure on the Brazilian government? What are they doing about all of the illegally abducted and held children?

What is the most sad here is no matter what Sean will always have to carry this emotional damage that has been done to him. Its no wonder the courts are having a difficult time here, because what is right?

Sean should have been sent home to his father years ago, if he had been then the life he has in Brazil wouldn't exist and there wouldn't be so much conflict over sending him home to his father.

Sad fact is that now, no matter the choice, there will be damage. Rip him from his home now and give his father his rights or leave him in Brazil where he now leads a life? Its a sad, sad world. It angers me that this was allowed to go on for so long, now there isn't an out for the child.

I'm praying that god puts this child in the hands that will best help him heal, no matter what that means for his family in Brazil and his father in the US.

This is absolutely absurd! I cannot believe our "power" country cannot get this man his son back. Have we lost our backbone when it comes to demanding other countries abide by the law? Every day that goes by that this man misses his stolen son is a blemish on our country. We need to stand up and get this man his son and press charges on those people who continue to hold him hostage. Parents should not have to fight for years to get their children back! This country is behind him and want to see his son back in America.

David, your son should be so proud to call you DAD. I wish you both all the luck in the world. You all are in my prayers. By the grace of God and all our prayers I know that you and Sean will be united very soon. Your story has really woken me up to realize that our children can be here today and gone tomorrow. I know that your son will be the pot of gold at the end your rainbow. God Bless You!

Hopefully this kid will stay were he is !!! this goldman is a dead beat dad has not paid child support and needs to move on this kid has a life with this other family . U.S . needs to mind its own business

I dont get it ?! our government during the Gonzales incident went in guns drawn to regain custody of Elian and return this child to a father back in his homeland with a similar situation all be it his mother didnt die during child birth. Why isnt this father getting his son back?
just another incident and the pusification of America. Lord knows we cant let the world see us be agressive when it comes to these situations but when it comes to business (oil,and revenue) we dive in head first shoot first ask questions later. U.S.A. has done nothing but turned itself into the laughing stock again. All we need now is for PETA to start training suicide bombers and were done for !

will you have followed the law and the law did't help you , so my advice to you , find a mafia grope who can kidnap your son and bring him to the USA land then let the court of USA deal with it !!!

David, it is not a fair fight – we all understand it, but don't give up on Sean.
God bless you.

Tanya Evans: I am glad to see how passionate you are about this case. Maybe that will help you understand why we (the supporters of David and Sean) are so passionate as well. Before posting you need to get all the facts straight. To each statement you have made there are court documents proving exactly the opposite. Court documents from BRAZILIAN courts.
It appears that you have an animosity towards men in general who want to be fathers to their children. Is this founded by a personal experience of yours?
Most importantly you must understand that David has not just come out of the woodworks to claim his son after Bruna's death. He has been fighting this battle since June 18th, 2004. As far as Bruna's reasons go, we only have to look as far as her documented statement in court. She claimed that David is a great person and wonderful father. She said this under oath. No LOVING mother should be allowed to rip her child from its environment without trying to work things out first. She admittedly had never attemted this step, but skipped it right to taking Sean with her to Brazil.
So who's selfish now???

If that was my son, I would have been down there long ago with guns blazing on anyone who stood in my way of my getting him back. Outrageous.

as a father I feel for you, I would have gone there kick some ass and bring him back no matter what..... Keep your head up They day will come when you will be with him again, And when he gets older he will know how much you had to fight for him to get him back and it will show how much love you have towards your son

Need a hit man ? not serious but best of luck to David.

David, you deserve your son back, morally, legally and just because it is the right thing. I hope and pray you get your son back soon. VERY SOON!. Take care and keep praying as we are praying for you!

They need to pass a law that a child can not travel overseas if they have a foreign parent. . American parents married to foreigners need to be cautious and forbid their children to travel overseas if they ever hope to see them again.

I personally am starting a campaign on Twitter/Facebook and wherever else I can to help this Dad reunite with his son. This is a poor excuse for justice! This child has RIGHTS, he is a US citizen! I am baffled that the goverment has not sanctioned this ridiculous excuse of a country.

I am only 1 person but if this FATHER can get up everyday and continue his FIGHT I will be doing my PART! How he can keep going is amazing! I watched on tv when he flew to Brazil and was told in the hotel room he would have to fly home without Sean. It broke my heart. Please cehck back for the twitter info.

Letter writing campaign, email, fax whatever it takes. If we can save the trees and the Barton Springs Salamander then I say Texans / Americans lets get together and save this little boy!

I dated a brazilian woman for three years. this is exactly why I would not marry and subsequently have children with her. I wouldn't have put something exactly like this for a second. it looks to me like the only reason david has a shot a getting his son back is that the woman died. not the typical scenario in a situation like this.

moral of the story – buyer beware. when dealing with a foreigner, you are playing with two sets of rules. and more than likely both sets are not the order and structure of the US. brasil is not even a third world country but this doesn't surprise me for a second.

I have been following your story closely David and I am embarassed that the U.S. will not do more for you. I have been a single mom for 29 years, my kids father has chosen not to have anything to do with them. You are a wonderful dad and you deserve to have your son back! I wish you all the best and I am confident you and Sean will be together soon, I won't stop praying for you!

Tanya Evans is repeating practically verbatim the majority opinions in the Brazilian press – leading me to believe that she is Brazilian herself. That's not a crime, but for a country that's only just shedding its reputation as a haven for European bank robbers, retired Nazis and such, it's certainly working hard to become the nation of official kidnappers.

I can imagine how the Rio family is 'working' on the poor boy with the mantra of the Brazilian higher class. That his house in the US won't have a pool or a maid, he won't go to beaches on weekends, he'll freeze in winter and grow fat eating burgers and so on. That's why they call the real father selfish. After all, who would want to leave their sybaritic life to 'suffer' in America. Except that if it was the other way round, the uproar would be about America throwing its weight around and stealing their children with impunity.

Tanya Evans, ask the 8 street kids assasinated (by the police) in front of Candelaria cathedral if Brazilians love all children – or just the rich ones. Every one deserves to grow up in the loving care of their own parents.

I am from Canada, and support David fight. The U.S. is Brazil's largest Importer. There are also many U.S. companies that import many of their raw materials from Brazil (sugar, cocoa....)

An organized boycott could affect many large American Companies.
Many of those products then get imported to countries like my own.

Concerned – David started his legal battle in 2004 – right after Sean was taken. Educate yourself.

Its amazing how easily some will belive the lies put forth by that Brazilian family. Your own courts proved that all of those were lies and forgeries. Not only should Sean be returned but the all family members involved should be placed in jail. Then again, from the coments I have seen here from Brazilians im not too surprised nothing has happened to them.

To the deluded Tanya Evans: it's clear you don't have children and thus don't have any idea about the parent/child bond that forms as soon as the child is born. No biological parent who was duped like David Goldman was will stop trying to bring their child home. It's a natural instinct. If anyone deserves a "Shame on you" it's the stepfather that's holding this child against international law, and it's you– the childless idiot who really doesn't understand how important our children are to us. You should probably not have children.

This post is in response to the post from Tanya Evans. I am wondering if you have any children of your own, if you do I feel for your children because what you are saying is that if your child or children were taken from you to another country by their father you would leave them there and not fight to get them back. I could understand if Mr. Goldman hasn't fought to get his son back or hasn't made an attempt and then all of the sudden 5 years later he decides he wants him back, that is different, but he has been fighting to get him back for 5 years now since he was taken. What is the difference between a child being with their biological mother or father, each has equal rights to the child. I commend Mr. Goldman that he wants to get his child back, because there are so many parents, both mothers and fathers, that do not care. A REAL parent would have fought from the day the child was taken until the day the child is back with the parent and that is Mr. Goldman. By the sounds of it you would not do that and that is ashame.

Tanya Evans (previous post) – you are a confused individual. You should be ashamed of your comments. If I knew you personally, I would be embarrased to admit it. You are truly a deplorable person. I think you have mental issues. Look in the mirror and ask yourself if you like the person looking back at you. I'll bet the answer is "NO". Not a single person in these hundreds of posts on this story likes you. What does that tell you? Loser...

If this kid's step dad wasn't some well known Brazilian lawyer from a powerful family this kid would have been returned to his father years ago!!! I for one and all for this Brazilian boycott until Sean is returned.

Mr. Goldman, I too am a father, and my heart goes out to you sir. I have been following your story for some time. I know you won't ever give up. You have literally hundreds of thousands of people wishing you the very best. I hope your prayers are answered.

This is so outrageous and unspeakable. I can't even imagine the heartbreak, or the psychological repercussions for this child. Good luck in your efforts!

I am sure when you are reunited it will be wonderful! You deserve to get your son back... and he will know for the rest of his life how much you love him because of how hard you fought to get him back. I love my daughter and couldn't imagine your pain. You are a strong man...and your strength will provide security when he is in your arms again! I have been captivated by this story since it broke... You will get him back.... please don't stop trying... Warmest, Sue Demeritt

We should all email the Brazilian ambassador Antonio deAguiar Patriota and demand that Sean be returned to his father. I looked online and the email address is: Ambassador@brasilemb.org, also email his Human Rights office at: Humanrights@brasilemb.org.

WOW..I know your pain. But instead of my husband running of with our daughter off to Brazil, this happened here for me in the USA.

It took 9 years for me to get her back. She was 4 when he ran off with her. She is 14 now. We were reunited last year after 9 years.

DON'T EVER GIVE UP! Keep fight, and fighting and praying. GOD answers prayers he really does. Don't ever give up!

Dee

You should stop letting the legal wranglings of two countries keep you from seeing your son.
There are people who can get your son back for you and it will cost a lot less that the lawyetrs you have been paying and it will be swifter.
Man up and go get your son.

God speed

Please note that there are posts by two different people with the same name "Luiz."

Brazil should have followed the Hague Convention long ago and returned Sean to his father David. It's about time to end their story and to take care of the more than fifty other cases of children who remain illicitly in Brazil.

To Joseph: so the child is atually being held for ransom? If David pays child support does he get his child back? Rubbish. Why should he pay when he's as much a victim as the boy? Apparently they wouldn't even let him see his son for a couple of years.

By the way, if Sean is blonde and blue-eyed, then get ready for an even longer fight. Children who look like that absolutely FASCINATE Brazilians. I simply can't see them making this much fuss over a Black child.

I would have been more sympathetic toward Mr. Goldman if he had not sue the Brazilian family for $500,000 and settled and received $150,000. The Brazilian courts have a problem handing over a child to a father that had never been able to financially support the child or the mother when they were living in the U.S. It would not surprise me if after being able to bring the child back to the U.S. Mr. Goldman sues the Brazilian family for child support. I'm dissapointed that CNN did not reported only the sensational portion of this story and withheld the not so glamorous side of Mr. Goldman's greed. I do not know any of the people involved but I do know how to seek balance journalistic information.

Dear David,

I have been following your story for quite some time. I just don't understand how the Brazilian Government can justify holding your son. The American Government should be doing everything in there power to make this reunion happen. I hope that your son is home for good very, very soon!!

As for Tanya Evans,

Do you have children? Can you even understand what it must be like for this man to be seperated from his son? How his parents must feel knowing they have a grandson somewhere BUT are not allowed to see him? Would you be willing to fight for five long, drawn out years to have your child back in your arms? Would you drain your savings, borrow money from friends, contact government officials, give up a career, ANYTHING to make your dream of seeing your child again a reality. I know that I would move mountains for my children.

I Pray for you to get your son back, so many brazillians come to this country to marry and just to get their papers, this is a terrible thing to take this boy away from his biological father.
All I have to say is please please give this boy back to his real father.

I feel for this Father almost the same thing happen to me but the country was Germany and they did strip my last name from my daugther certificate. It was not way according to them that my daughter could retain my last name it was awufull. I left Germany when she was 2 years old, now she is 14. I have been back to Germany to visit her for the last 12 years twice a year plus paying child support. I and my ex wife we are kiind of friends now and things have been always decent and my daugther granparents are ok too. But I miss her everyday is not a day that goes by that I feel like craying. This is not fear Mr David keep fighting I was chicken I said to everything yes to avoid hurting my daughter. My prayers to you Sir.

Boycott Brazil? What kind of dolt thought that one up?

I do wish you and your family much luck through this ordeal. YOUR son belongs to YOU -

I pray for your son's safe return like all of the other people posting on this site. However, I disagree with many who are chastising "Brazilian people"....in one person's post they are called "nuts". Seriously? Come one people...you can't generalize about Brazilian people any more than you can generalize about all Americans or any other nationality. This is a VERY unfortunate story that needs quick resolution, but blaming all Brazilians for this is what's nuts.

It's funny how this is a big deal to CNN, even though the kid is being treated wonderfully and loves living with his mother's family. Meanwhile, on the other side of the Atlantic, Noam Schalit has been trying to get his son, Gilad Schalit back for just as long, and unlike this boy, Schalit is critically wounded and is beaten every day by his Hamas captors. Why does CNN not care about that story?

Joseph,

You are obviously Brasilian and most likely associated with this family or campaign against International Law. NOT the US ... International Law. Children are not like dogs or animals in which they can move and adapt from one environment to the next. You obviously do not have children, OR you may be one of the "elite" (cough, cough) who prefer to leave the upbringing and care of their children to the nannies who rarely have more than a 4th or 5th grade education, rearing them with questionable or dual morals and ethics. The children (and subsequently adults) learn that their needs are what is important, NOT that of others (children) which is why Lins e Silva cannot see what is right and relinquish custody to David. He, like so many of the "elite," is just another spoiled bratty Brasilian who wants his way and will do anything to get it ... wrong or wrong. Don't tell me I don't know. I've lived there several times amongst that kind. Funny how those from other countries can see it, but most Brasilians can't.

Oh Joseph...You need to understand...Sean IS our business...he is a US citizen. David is a US citizen. That, sir, makes him and this situation VERY much OUR business.
David did not abandon his son, which is what makes a deadbeat. His son was abducted. Do you pay money to the person who has kidnapped your child, especially when you are not allowed to see your child? Would you abandon your child if he or she were abducted?

joseph June 16th, 2009 3:46 pm ET

Hopefully this kid will stay were he is !!! this goldman is a dead beat dad has not paid child support and needs to move on this kid has a life with this other family . U.S . needs to mind its own business

Is there anything we can do as the public to assist?

My wife took my son without warning and moved 1500 miles away, but still in the US. I can try to speak with him each night (he's two and not into phone conversations at this point). Given how bad this hurts, I cannot imgine how hard this is for David. God bless and best wishes for the safe (and soon) return of your son.

Wake up folks! The U.S. will not even help out the good dads who have kids here. The court system is extremely prejudiced against dads in this country when it comes to divorce or any other matters. This country is so quick to punish the bad dads and even the President speaks out against them. Well what about the good dads who love their kids and want to be a part of their lives? No one helps us out when an ex takes them away. We are supposed to be great full that we get one day a week a total of four hours and every other weekend with them. How is that justice? Oh and the courts and lawyers always say, "its whats best for the kids".

Tanya. I'm not sure what you are taking but it has to be illegal. I hope you do not have children because as a parent you would really suck. You know nothing about Mr. Goldman, i.e., what kind of parent he was. His child was kidnapped. His good-for-nothing mother knew what she did was wrong because she wanted guarantees he wouldn't have her arrested and wouldn't fight for custody. That should tell you right there she knew she was 100% wrong. Again, if you don't have children please keep it that way. If you do have children, please give them up for adoption!!

I hope the child is returned to the US. How many other children are being held captive in foreign countries other than Brazil...I am thinking Saudi Arabia, Iran (read the book Not Without My Daughter), Turkey, Syria? Marry a foreigner? No way! My dad's patient abducted their daughter to Iran in the mid 70's. She never saw her again.

I can't imagine how awful this must be for this father and all the other fathers and mothers that this has happened to. David, NEVER let anyone or anything stand in the way of your fight to re-unite with your child. Best of luck.

I totally understand where this father is coming from, as I'm starting to have the same problem with my ex and my daughter. I met my ex about three years ago, and we ended up having a daughter that I have been seeing every weekend for two years. Also, I have been paying child support every two weeks, and i'm always there. If my daughter goes the hospital, she is sick, she needs medicine. I've been there. My daughter knows me as daddy, she runs to me everytime I go to pick her up. Well, my ex was married to someone that was in prison at the time. My Ex, and him just reconciled about 2 months ago. The problem is even though my daughter is Biologically mine, which has been proven with DNA test. The court system says otherwise. Mind you my name is on the birth cert. My Ex is threatning to keep me away from my daughter, I don't know why, but she is. When I take her to court, she will have a choice to make, and I cannot do anything about it. She has the right to tell the court that I'm not the legal father, as my daughter was born in to her marrige (DNA does not matter – as I will be a considered a sperm donor). I'm praying everyday that she makes the right decison.. I love my daughter and I cannot imagine not being able to see her anymore. Its the same kind of thing that happend to this guys son, even though this guy did not even get a chance to meet his son.
http://theloveofmylife.org/

Why are men treated like this? What are we protecting?

To Tanya Evans

Why don't you mind your on business, unless you have had your own biological child, who has been abducted, whom you love more than life itself, and someone else gets to raise your child their way. shut up . YOU probably take up for all the DAD"S who won't help raise and support their kids, behind on child support payments but can afford to pay for you. PLEASE GET A LIFE

Tanya @ 1237 – your post shows your own bias.

Troubled- I don't think you can claim that "she must have had a reason" to pre-plan leaving. If you read the story, she had a Brazilian husband before coming here! Sure sounds like she planned it.

et al making the "you take your risk marrying a foreigner" – that shows absolute ignorance.

I cannot believe our government hasn't put pressure on this case long before now. You have an American citizen, a minor, willfully kidnapped. The kidnapper's location is known. Upon the death of the kidnapper, the child should have been returned. Period. Even had this been an inter-country custody dispute, the mother's death should have ended it ESPECIALLY when a non-related individual is reportly abusing him. It's appalling! What the h*ck is Brazil thinking? The child has been significantly traumatized! Being forced into a new culture at the age of 5, and torn away from his father? With someone who reportedly does not care for him and is abusing him? The poor child!

Parental rights in general need to re-looked at here in America as well. The system is weighted against men. Look at the cases of men being forced to pay child support for children that aren't theirs. Or those who know and are forced to watch their children be alienated against them, or be abused. I know someone who watches his child exposed to Marijuana; he went to pick her up, smelled it, and called police who refused to respond. We need significant reform.

David, your son has endured many losses: the loss of you, his father, his mother, his life in the United States and many others. God bless you for endeavoring so long to get Sean back home, safe and sound. My children were abducted by their father when they were 1 1/2 and 3, and I know what it is like to endure the emptiness, worry and desvastation of not having your children with you. Life as you once knew it is changed forever. My heart goes out to you and to Sean. My prayer for you is that you bring him home soon.

I am praying for you and your son. Please do not give up there are many many people praying for you to have your son back. What is the point of keeping the child? This gives Brazil a bad name. What kind of people are they? I certainly don't hold them in high regard. Please hang on!!!!!

I have followed this man's story from the beginning and have watched him age considerably under the stress of it all. If anyone thinks that David's motives are anything but for the betterment of his son I ask you to search inside yourself and let God touch your heart to soften your view of the world. Bad things happen to good people and I can only pray that when it's time for me to find a husband and father to my future children that I find someone as loving as this man is. Brazil is on my banned list until this is resolved. Good luck David and Sean.

It's ridiculous that this takes 5 years. Our government needs to quit lolly gagging and get serious with their Brazilian president. It's his blood son and he should get him back. Isn't that universal in our world unless you are hurting the kid? I wish we would simply send in a tactical extraction team and take the boy back.

Here's a lawyer joke:

How do you keep a lawyer from drowning?

–Shoot em.

Coming from a family of 9 sisters and brothers and their multiple marriages, divorces, step-kids, half-siblings, etc., I've seen it from both sides. It always seems the 'custodial' parent is the one who keeps the 'non' custodial parent in a constant state of despair. It's wrong all on sides. Children have a right to know both parents without having to be traumatized to make that happen. Parents need to GROW UP, or better yet, really get to know who you are having children with before you have them.

David, hang in there just a while longer. I truly believe you will get your son back.

Tanya Evans- You obviously are a bitter, ugly human being.

First as a parent and then as a decendent of a Brazilian – I am shocked and appalled at the decision of the Brazilian appellate court. Now I take the place of a single mom who tried for 4 years to engage the father of my child in her well-being and up-bringing. Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! someone do the right thing and reunite this boy with his father. Put the political b/s behind us and just do the humanitarian and moral thing and reunite the bioligical father with his child. As a NJ resident – come on, where are our policiticans on this. My hats of to Ms. Clinton in the efforts she has made. To the biological Dad – while we (your supporters) do not have the power of the media behind us, nor the celebritiy status attached to us; please know that you have tons of support behind you – stay strong and stay firm.

I dont understand why the usa allowed this to happen....I am married to a brazilian and she thinks that this is horrible.and For whatever we believe in yoU must realize that we Cant Kount on our government for anything. you Can Not Not do anything we must pray for this family

Wow, this is so sad. I cannot believe what this man is going thru...not to mention his only son. Why must his torment continue..., someone needs to help this man get his son back, along with many other families that should have legitimate custody. I hope the courts can dismiss the step-fathers appeal and return the boy to his real father.

God Bless you David and i wish the Best Of Luck. I wish there was something more i could do to help, but i will pray for you. Its not over until God decides it is...

Tanya Evans must have her brain fried with drugs! What intelligent woman would think a young boy would be better off living in a strange country away from his biological father who loved and cared for him the first four years of his life? Obviously she's not a mother and if so...I really feel sorry her kids. Best of luck to you David!!!!

Yeah, "joseph", because the first thing I would do is send money to the abductor who is ILLEGALLY RETAINING my child. Get a brain – you really think someone who illegally takes a child to another country should get CHILD SUPPORT??? You've got some serious issues, man. Also, I am sure the guy was spending every cent he had on legal fees in both the US and Brazil since he's been fighting this atrocity for 5 years now. You really can't be serious expecting someone to pay the abductor of their child to make it easier for them to keep up the illegal nature of their actions.

Tanya Evans you are either illiterate or have no compassion in the least. ALL the articles and the court documents conclude that the people holding him are the ones doing him GREAT harm...how did you not read that part??? This man is this boys father, he has done not one thing wrong and you need to take a pill or something.

David,
My daughter and I have been watching your story since it was first brought to public attention. I am so sorry for the injustice you and your son are experiencing. I am disgusted with the steps our US government has taken to correct this situation. I agree with the others that it is time for the American people to speak up and boycott Brazilian products and discontinue relations with Brazil until your son is rightfully returned to you. I am a mother of three and it brings tears to my eyes every time I read about your situation. I cannot imagine being separated from my children and being dragged through such governmental red tape to see them again. I will continue to keep you in my prayers and I hope our government steps up to the plate and shows justice will prevail.

@Tanya Evans: How can you say that a 9 year old CHILD taken against his will to Brazil when he was 5 has "made a life for himself"? He can make that decision when he's more mature, but right now he deserves a shot at growing up with his biological father. Besides, the point is that the boy was KIDNAPPED. May be arguable if the mother is still alive and caring for him, but since she's not, the father (who seems to be a good citizen and a dedicated dad) should have legal custody. By keeping the boy in Brazil, people are just making excuses for kidnapping.

For all of you who are trashing Brazil or Brazilians – Are you guys idiots? The country or its people have nothing to do with this woman or family who has done this crazy thing.
David should have the kid back, the US government should do something, and I am ok boycotting Brazilian products or trips, but to generalize and say that the country or people there are this or that, this is ridiculous!
If that's how it goes than we should be okay being labeled as a country where every kid has some mental disorder and like to shoot people considering the number of school shootings we have... you guys are being ridiculous accusing the country and the people... it is not their fault that this lady was crazy enough to do what she did to David!

To all the dads who have commented about how society views them on custodial issues....My husband has the ability to raise our children just as well or better than me. If I died I would only worry about them missing me NOT about whether he had the ability to take care of them physically and emotionally. There are fathers out there who nuture their children as well as the mothers.

Tanya Evans, you must be another one of those men bashing exwives that thrive on making all other men pay for the miserables of your past man. This man has every god given right to fight for his son to be brought back to him, the wife was wrong to flee the country with him. If she wanted a divorce and wanted to share parental custody she should have done it the right way. This boy is much older now onlybecause this foregin country has made it this long and he still isnt with his father. What gives you the right to say he should give up on his own child and say, "oh well lets just make another one", because that is what you are saying. Not all men are bad and the majority if they they are going thru this much trouble really truely want their children home safe with them. And how do you know this poor little boy isnt being abused and raped etc such as other foregin countries do? You know in Zimbabwe they rape newborn little girls thinking they will cure AIDS. The thought of such things happening to children is sick and would scare me if my child were there away from his own flesh and blood. Lady you need a reality check and maybe you hate men because you are so miserable! To you sir, god bless you and best oflukc getting your son home soon, were he belongs.

People, don't waste your time responding to Tanya Evans. Her comments sounds like she is on drugs.

Here's the information for the Consulate General of Brazil [MA]:

Email- cgbos@consulatebrazil.org
Website- http://www.consulatebrazil.org/noproen.htm

Here's the Brazilian Embassy (D.C.):

Email- humanrights@brasilemb.org
Website- http://www.brasilemb.org

I encourage everyone to flood these agencies with protests and boycotts. Anyone else have any good links??

My favorite is that the only lesbian cowards who dont think he should get his son back refuse to even reveal their names on the chat. And much as we'd love to get the government involved, I think it goes against Joe "VAWA" Biden's morals to help a father in need in this country, but I do hope we have the common sense and decency to help this poor man get his son back!

Tanya Smith – you are a heartless, selfish, ignorant bottom-dweller who has no business judging Mr. Goldman. To even imply that he is selfish because he "only Sean's biological father" shows how ill-bred you are. If you are so disheartened by the USA then feel free to leave. You clearly do not have children or you would never take such a dreadful position. If you do have children, may God help them.

Dear Troubled-

There was no abuse here. I have seen other stories on tv about this case where they hae itnerviewed a number of people; all surprised by the mother's departure. THey met as students in Italy; came back to America and married and had their. It seems like she just really wanted to go back to her country of origin and felt he wouldn't go along with it so took matters into her own hands. No one has ever accused him of anything but wanting his son back which is unbelievable even after the death of the mother. THis is a very rich, influential family in Brazil. Keep fighting it, let Sean become older and hope everyone gives up but his father is never giving up on his son.

This is such a sad story but I hope and pray it has a happy ending. It is not very often you find dads such as David adn when you do they treat them in this horrible manner. I would have loved for my children to have a dad as wonderful, caring and amazing as him. I hope the courts start thinking about what they are doing and give David his son back.

In regards to his ex-wife, it is sad she passed away but Karma. You should never something to someone if you don't want it coming back to you. So all I have to say about that is karma.

David, I hope and pray that you get your precious son back soon.

haha check out Joe C's post he capped certain letters to funny... God Bless the Goldman Family

I agree with an earlier posting. The Americans should boycott Brasil in every way conceivable.

Tanya Evans...tell me one thing....How would you feel if your husband takes your kid to another country. Marries another woman -before divorcing you- suddenly dies and the new "wife" tries to change your kid last name, refuses to send it back to you despite many court orders?. Are you telling me that you would just leave the new " wife" to keep your kid? your own flesh and blood. If you are a mother I do hope your kids read your comment so they know you would just stop fighting and abandon them. Yes Tanya...with your comment that is the kind of "mother" you are appearing to be.

For Sean's sake, I hope he will be provided with a way to spend equal time with his maternal and paternal families, or whatever visiting arrangement is most comfortable for him, and that his right to maintain his attachment to both families will be upheld and respected. Prayers for Sean and his father and all of his grandparents. It is very sad about his mother's tragic death, this has surely been a terrible loss for Sean. It is also sad that Sean's mother is not present to provide information to the court. Maybe she took her son with her because she thought Mr. Goldman would deny her custody when she left him or the United States.

Batyah, et al. –

Read the Pinto decision; visit bringseanhome.org and get some facts straight.

Far from being any kind of extortion, the $150,000 was a way for the Ribeiro/Bianchi family to buy their way out of culpability – nothing more than yet another instance of wealthy/powerful people thinking once again that they are above the law. That $150,000 doesn't even begin to cover the cost to David in both legal fees and travel expenses, so I have no idea where this idea that David is trying to profit off of his child's kidnapping comes from. Every allegation to that effect has been smashed into a thousand pieces, one lie after another being exposed for what they are.

The Pinto decision took a very close look at David's expenses and income and determined he has every means necessary to care for his son. READ IT! Stop buying the lies being spread by the abductors!

When you have your son back please be careful not to alienate him by overwhelming him with your love. Sadly it might take 20 years to rebuild what has been lost but it will come. Brace up, pray and one day he will open his arms and run to his daddy.

I have a dream that both parents are created equal

Brazilian government are responsible for not following the case properly. I say BOYCOT BRAZIL until Sean Goldman is back with his son in USA. People do not understand that children will grow up and ask questions my husband did not see his two daughters for almost 15 yrs because they were abducted to Argentina. After they turned 18 they came to visit and found out what had happened, but the pain of not having a relationship with their father is forever there. Sean will grow up and his grandparents will have to answer as to why he was kept away from his father. No money in the world can buy love. I'm deeply sorry for the Goldman's.

Sean is David Goldman's son........What is wrong with the Brazilian courts? This man should never have had to fight for five yars for HIS SON. I wish him the best and hope it's over soon.

My heart goes out to you and your family to have to bear all this if front of the nation, but know that love, faith and prayers will keep you strong and I firmly belive in love, faith and prayers, and that you will get your son back, I have a four year old and could not imagine the pain and surffering you have had to deal with, God bless you and keep you in his arms and I know you will have him back, Best wishes and good luck, I know you will get him back, GODSPEED!

Batya,

Perhaps you think that money grows on trees but the legal fees incurred by David Goldman to retrieve his kidnapped son have reached more than 360 thousand dollars, and this figure keeps rising (one of his lawyers reputedly charges 400 dollars per hour...). David Goldman has done nothing wrong and he has the law on his side, and yet the burden of paying for such high expenses has fell on him. I can only applaud him for keeping his head high and for going straight ahead, even though countless others would have given up by now.

David,
My prayers are with you. I hope you get your Son back soon. Sincerely,
Joe Kemme

In regards to Tonya's comment (attached below)
you are apparently a man hating basher who doesnt believe in a father trying to be true to his son; not just himself. I've followed this story for an ample amount of time now; David has been fighting to get this child back since the mother left and took him to Brazil... STOP AND THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE CHILD DID LIVE WITH HIS FATHER FOR 4 YEARS PRIOR TO THE MOTHER ABDUCTING HIM!!
I understand that it has been 5 years since the child has resided with David; but that doesnt mean that David doesnt care; in response to your comment that David should just leave him there and fly to Brazil to see him on vacation.... what the hell is wrong with them coming to the states to see Sean while he resides with his dad. Pull your head out of you rear and think about things before you open your mouth!

June 16th, 2009 12:37 pm ET

Goldman you are selfish, all you care about is yourself. He is 9 years old now and has made a life for himself in Brazil, why rip this child from what he knows just because you are the biological father. You will do more harm to him by taking him away from what he knows now and he is much older, he has a life there not with you. I think you need to give this up and stop thinking of your own darn ego and what is good for YOU. I think that the Brazilian courts should be applauded for not bringing him back to USA because in Brazil they actually care about the kids and their emotional state not like in the USA where they could not give a rats ass for the kids but only what is good for the parent, it makes me sick to my stomach!! Leave Sean alone and let him live his life where he is and if he wants to see you then you go to Brazil for vacations. LEAVE HIM ALONE; STOP TRYING TO MESS UP THE CHILD’S LIFE! All you men think that because you are the biological father the child must be with you no matter how happy they are somewhere else and with loving people. Obviously there is another side to this and unfortunately your late wife is unable to have her say, but to move away from you I am sure she had very valid reasons. I hope the Brazilian courts do not honor the Hague Convention so that Sean can be free to live his life in Brazil.

I’ve gone through somewhat of the same ordeal. I agreed to my ex wife going to Canada with my 3 sons. After a year she denied me visitation for over a year while the case worked its way through the court, Maryland, US and Ontario, CA. I also had an issue with parent alienation. The judge in Canada was able to see through the mind games she was playing with my youngest son and the doctors. He awarded more visitation based on my son’s wishes. In fact he is coming to live with me in August. He is 14 now. I wish you the best during this painful ordeal. Jim

1.- It is not fair to judge a woman who is already dead. Let's hear her part of the story.. Either aprove that she took the kid. No parent deserves to be away form their kids, but she must have strong reasons.
2.- "you were happily married, at least you thought. Your wife goes away for a couple of weeks"
According to whom was a happy marriage?
3.- To Bella... also american guys marry foreign women because they think they will have a free maid... that is why they leave, why they would like to get a green card if they are more happy and come back to their countries? You idiot...
4.- You can not compare a nice social high class life of a latin country with a mediocry average living in US. THe American Dream for you is just YOUR dream... it is so far from being a nice dream life for any wealthy latin girl... we come to LA, NYC do shopping, vacation in Disney that's it.
5.- It is not right they keep the boy away from his biological father. But it is not fair to accuse the mom's family if you don't have a f. clue. They love the kid also and have rights. No the step father but their grand parents.
6.- "he’s being psychologically and emotionally damaged by them"... this means "her family doesn't like me and they talk bad about me "... For me sounds more like soul poisoning? From both sides... what a shame poor kid.
7.- Poor kid, I hope that when he is 18 he ends up kicking out of his life both sides ... that is what I would do.

The boy was only 4 at the time of the breakup, children separated from their mothers at such a young age can often suffer emotional problems later in life, it is a recognized cause of PTSD for example. I feel terrible for what Mr. Goldman and his parents went through, at the same time I have to admit we have not heard the mother's side of the story. She might have known that if she left without her son, the father could claim abandonment, or find other ways to deny custody, or that it might have taken years for her to get a custody arrangement through the courts and for her son to be reunited with her, critical formative years for a young child. We have no way of knowing why she really left and took Sean. It's a complicated issue and we only have one side of the story. I do pray that the Goldmans get to spend more time with Sean very soon! Mostly I pray that the boy gets a choice in how the custody and living arrangement will be. It seems more logical that the child should at least be with his maternal grandparents in the meantime, rather than with a stepfather, especially if his mother's marriage to this man was of a relatively short duration.

It's encouraging to see so many people in favor of Father's having time with their children. All too often this simple right is denied. Please, if you know of any parent that has turned a child against the other parent, please speak to that person - let them know that a child needs both parents. You could make a difference in that child's life.

Thank you

My friend brought this case to my attention a few months ago as she lives in the same town as David Goldman. I know you do not know what goes on behind closed doors, but my god, the pictures and videos show them being such a happy family and he being such a doting dad. I cannot believe the courts are letting this happen. I hate to say it, but I do believe if the situation were reversed, that is the child separated from his mother, custody would be granted very quickly.

I believe in Karma and his "ex-wife" did something horrible when she left and took the child and then died giving birth.

I hope that I will soon turn on the news and see this happy reunion,

I say we send Ms. Tanya Evans to Brazil in exchange for little Sean! You are one heartless cold woman (in which I'm using the word "woman" lightly in referring to her ). We all have to answer to GOD someday. Hopefully he will see YOU for what you really are. My prayers are with you and your son Mr. Goldman.

I have a 4 year old son who I share joint custody of and this would be the most crushing, devestating thing I could ever imagine. And to Tanya Evans, you are obviously not human! And you should have your V-JJ sewn shut before it's too late!

Tanya, to answer your question,

We should rip this child away from brazil and reunite with his father because the father knows best. The boy has the fathers DNA and that DNA contains his past and his future. The child has heredity only the father can explain. Stolen property NEVER becomes legal property of the thief. The father deserves to have his child back. The child knows who his real father is and knows he is being kept from him. That's cruel to the child.

As for you Tanya, you're an ugly person and I hope all the bad things in life happen to you and nobody else but you!

So...in Brazil...if a Mother has the right to just take the child away from his Father just because she wants too does that mean they believe in the "I brought you into this world, I can take you out" saying too? Sounds like it. Thank God I don't live in, visit, or know anyone in Brazil!

My thoughts and prayers are with you David – keep the faith! God speed!

Tanya Evans – I'd be ashamed. I know if I knew you I wouldn't admit it.

Women in the USA steal children from men all the time and it doesn't raise an eyebrow. Our courts enforce the child support provision of court orders but ignore the visitation provisions.

I haven't seen my children in 9 years. They live 14 miles away and their mother won't let me see them.

To Tanya,
If one day you have a child and your significant other leaves you and takes the child to Brazil never allowing you to see him/ her, then let's see if you dare post a comment like the one you made.

Tanya Evans you are a world class jerk – maybe you should go to Brazile, the US would be much better off without the likes of you.
You could not possibly have children, or you would not have made such stupid statements.

I am with the rest of you who believe we should BOYCOT Brazile anything and everything till that young man is reunited with his father....

David, I am so sorry to hear about your story and I hope this gets to you some how. I am a mother of one son and can't imagine the pain you must experience everyday. I am hoping and praying, along with many others I am sure, that you have your son back in your arms soon. My heart goes out to you and I can't wait to hear a story about how your son is back with you and adjusting well.
With Hope –
Sarah

Enough already. Sean should be returned to his father. He's not even living with his step-father. What a self righteous jerk! To think he has any claim on Sean.
David, I hope you and your son are reunited very soon.
Off now to send a letter to the Brazalian gov't.

Tanya Evans: Are you a mother? I hope not, I would hate to be your kid. WIth a mom like you, I would want to live in another country.

Kiran

Thank you for telling David Goldman’s story but this is but the tip of the iceberg. Tens of thousands of good parents, mostly fathers have their children taken from them by the other parent. Far too often, they legalize this parental abduction by moving to another state and then filing false charges of domestic violence with the court in the new state or worse yet, they file false charges of child molestation which the courts accept with no prove.

I contend that when an accusation is made in a court in another state from where the other parent resides, all due diligence must be taken to ascertain that this was not a parental abduction. Yet as the director of Shattered Men, I have seen far too often that if it was a mother that has abducted the children, little is done to rectify the situation.

Although I contend that equal custody is the best way to go, if either parent makes false accusations about the other parent, they should lose all but supervised custody. I also believe that anyone who willfully accuses another of a crime they know they did not commit, that person should face the same level of a crime as that whom they have accused.

If we were a National Socialist Government, we would have simply went to Brazil knocked the door down, arrested the step dad, and took the kid back to his father. Instead these animals in Brazil have found every loop hole in there loopholed law books to keep this kid in Brazil immorally and illegally. The United States needs to start acting like the world power we are and stop getting pushed around.

I'm surprised he didn't go down there and pump the guy full of lead. I would.

BOYCOTT BRAZIL AND ITS PRODUCTS...... THEY DO NOT ABIDE BY INTERNATIONAL HAGUE AGREEMENT.... PERIOD

i see total injustice here to Mr. Goldman. I am surprised that that Brazilian court does not see this. First off, it does not make sense that his wife leaves and marries another person in 2 days and she is delivering another baby in 10 months. Not just that, she wanted unconditional divorce from Mr. Goldman and full custody. I CANNOT believe there are ppl from Brazil who are such heartless.

To add insult to injury, now the Brazilian court does not recognize the boy's birth father. it totally does NOT make sense. This is total money power influencing justice in Brazil. Any person with even the slightest of common sense would know that the boy goes to the father. I am further surprised that the Brazilian court does not have that.

To further, his son has been staying in Brazil already for 5 years and to add to it he will end up staying further until the case is resolved. It is very obvious that he will get used to Brazilian family environment. Unfortunately, in short, every passing day is getting his son farther away from him.

BEST OF LUCK TO Mr. Goldman.

amazing how the US government used a SWAT Team to get ELIAN ,to return him to CUBA... a child who was NOT even a us citizen...and now that they are NEEDED to RESCUE a CHILD OF THE USA , no one does nothing, ane in the mean time, this poor child is living with a man that has NO BLOOD RELATION to him... this wonderful government who only does special things for those who could already do for them selves ....

Tanya Evans, your post is one of the most ludicrous things I've read on the internet. Please stay out of the gene pool.

I have been loosely following this story for some time now. HOW is it still going on?? This man deserves his son. It is truly absurd. If it were me, i would get my son- the old fashioned way- and be on a beach in the Bahamas right now. Literally. The time has come, make the move.

How about having custody of your son,Mother abandoned us,Yet the Orange County D As office had me pay for support for 12 years to the mother .Dads get the screw job. How about a deadbeat mom

As sad as this situation is, the Tanya Evans' of the world are sadder. Obviously she has man issues and her comments are so vile and without merit that she needs to be pitied and helped with her mental state. It is right and just that this man and his son need be reunited. They are a family and the deal dealt to them both is a travesty. The Brazilian courts should be ashamed. I agree that we need to boycott anything from that country; any country that has such terrible human rights laws, in fact. Also, what is wrong with the US for not fighting harder for this man? It is shameful.

Tanya is the only person here thinking about the wellness of the boy, if all of you were right, then, what for are the adoptions?
All people, put yourself in the place of the boy….
And this goes to Erik, why are you calling Tanya a lesbian? and if she is a lesbian… so what , we are in the 21 century, we are not in the dark ages anymore…..

I have four things to say about this:

1. Regarding the comment about the biological dad being selfish in wanting to take his child from the home he now knows: lady, you don't get it or you don't have children. Way to pour lemon juice into this grieving father's open wound!

2. Regarding starting a boycott on traveling to Brazil: do what you want but I'll still travel there. It isn't every single Brazilian citizen's fault that this boy hasn't been released to his father. It is the result of corruption in the system. My husband's family lives in Brazil and we love visiting every chance we get. His family enjoys visiting the U.S., too.

3. I think that President Lula would do something about this if he thought that this case was making him and his government look bad. I don't personally care for Lula but I don't think he's dumb enough to risk ruining diplomatic relations with the U.S. I think Obama and his people need to get involved in this.

4. I will pray that the biological father will be lead to the right people who can reach beyond the corruption that has kept his son away from him. This boy is also an American citizen. That should count for much!

I wish my kids dad was half the man David Goldman is. He left the state and moved to the other side of the country and has very little to do with them. Sean may be psychologically damaged but he knows that his father has not disserted him and that his father loves him, this alone will make a huge difference in his life. He and his son will be in my prayers from now on.

Sara @219, and those who think David might have abused Sean... let's reiterate. It was a BRAZILIAN first level judge who stated in a report that Sean is being abused in BRAZIL and is NOT happy, and debunked in an 82-page report just about all the claims by that same "loving" family [who's currently abusing him] about the money, etc. So please quit espousing all their lies! Also, according to the BRAZILIAN media polls, most do NOT support Sean staying in Brazil.

Poor kid... Mother has Brazilian lover before coming to U.S., takes him away from his father, kidnaps him to a foreign country, remarries immediately, has another baby a scat 10 months later, and leaves him with a family that abuses him.

******************** CALL TO ACTION! ********************

1. Contact the Brazilian Consul/Embassy, as well as the Brazilian Tourism Board (that's where they get our money and will hurt!) Tell them that until Sean and the other 65+ kidnapped children hostages are returned, that you will:

A. NOT purchase any products from Brazil
B. NOT visit Brazil for vacation
C. CANCEL or NOT attend any business trips in Brazil
D. Forward recommendations of the same to everyone you know!

2. Email everyone you know this story, links to the Consul and Tourism Board (previous listed), and your recommendations.

To Aneta;

Mr. Goldman did not sign anything. He never signed his rights away and that is what his ex wanted him to do, she used that boy and tried to get him to sign all rights away. He wouldn't do it and they refused to let him see his son the whole time and he has been fighting for 5 long years to get his son back. Your information is wrong.

i just wish that David Goldman will have his child back...
im brazilian, im only 19 years old and i would never go back to brazil, its just not safe there..even tho its my home town i only wanna go back to visit my family...the brazilian gov has to understand that David's kid is american and not brazilian...that is just my point of view of the whole story...

Madeleine, this boy is NOT adopted by his stepfather. Instead, when his wife of TEN MONTHS died, he simply tried to change Sean's birth certificate to have his name replace David's. TEN MONTHS is nothing compared to the four happy years that Sean had with David. And even if it was longer than that, it wouldn't matter. Sean was taken illegally, then illegally retained there by his stepfather after the mother's death. End of story.

To Madeleine...where does adoption play into this story? Adoption is for children who are not wanted by either parent...that is obviously not the case here as David has been fighting to get his son back since the mother kidnapped him. The mother had no regard for the child in this scenario...only her own power struggle...she is guilty of international kidnap, child endangerment, parental alienation, adultery if within 10 months she was already giving birth to another child, etc. At the very least David should be getting some sort of visitation through all of this until it is resolved but the other side is not allowing it and THAT is the real crime. You and Tanya need to be quarantined to a deserted island where you can not procreate...you are a disgusting insult to every parent that truly cares about their CHILD!

I have been following this case very closely and pray every night that Sean is returned home. He belongs with his daddy. He may be going through a hard time now, but one day he will look back and thank god that his father fought so hard for him. His mother and her family should be uttlerly ashamed of themselves for depriving Sean of a relationship with his Daddy, who is so obviously a loving and devoted father. They clearly do not care about David, so they will never be ashamed of their actions as it pertains to him, but what they have done to this child is unforgivable. One day soon, Sean will see that David has done nothing but love him and the others have done nothing but to deprive him of that love. Contact the International Olympic Committee and urge them to not consider Rio for the 2016 Olympics, most notably because the Olympic Games are a symbol of international peace and cooperation; clearly, Brazil has no regard for its fellow mankind that live abroad.

Madelina,

What world are you living in!???! How would you sent an America Swat team to Brazil ?

What happen to the boy from Cuba was very different from what is happening to this American/ Brazilian kid. Sean has dual citizenship, therefore, Brazil has an obligation to look after his citizenship rights and best interest on basis of such. 2/ Mother was given custody of the child in Brazil after the father repeatedly refused to show up for the court hearings in Brazil. The family apparently filed papers with the American embassy asking for him to show up for he hearings, but again, he continuously refused . 3/ The child have been living in Brazil for 5 years and has been having an outstanding development. 4/The child has an extended family, a biological sister , school, friends, etc. As far as the evidences are concern, Mr. Goldman is the one who decided not to be involved.

The cuba case

The Cuba case could not be more different from Sean's case. The Cuban kid was here ( in the states, Miami) for few days, when his father asked to have him returned to Cuba. Now, if the Cuban father would wait a year or even five years to go after his kid in Miami, the situation would be very different. Other words: No court in America would let this Cuban kid go back to Cuba. SO,why are we making such a big deal about Brazil?

I hope that Sean will stay where he is right now. And in the meantime, I hope that Mr. Goldman will stop the drama and make some type of deal with the Brazilian family, and join them in the efforts to continue look after the best interest of this kid. This child ain't isolated, alienated, or whatever Mr. Goldman and all those other father rights fanatics ,are trying to perceived. This kid is absolutely fine in Brazil. Later on if Sean's change his mind , he always can came to America. But for now, he is in the right place. He wants to stay in Brazil close to his sister, family, friends and most of all , near to the place where his mother was placed to rest.

As far as Mr. Goldman he needs to understand that no everyone is buying his angelical look and behavior. He smells trouble! This guy ain't no angel; that's for sure!

David Goldman, I think of you and your son Sean every day. My son fought for his parental rights for almost 5 years, and would still be battling it out in court today except for the fact that his child's mother died. She made up endless, outrageous lies about him to deny him access to his child, so that each time he took her to court he ended up defending his own character.

We found the U.S. family courts to be profoundly biased toward mothers over fathers, and lost all hope for fairness. Because she lived in the same jurisdiction, however, he became immediate sole custodian upon the death of his child's mother. I feel that same ache for you, now, that I felt for my son during his five years of anguish.

I believe that guilt, over the lies she knew she was telling about our son, contributed to her terminal illness. Such a shameful way for a mother to behave toward the loving father of their child, who only wanted to share equally in their daughter's upbringing.

And double shame on Sean's maternal grandparents, who are now trying to become Sean's permanent legal guardians. They had their shot at parenthood, and didn't do a very good job. They are, in fact, the headwaters of that very polluted stream...

"BELLA"
Isn't that so terrible. Poor American males..... This guys go out to the world looking for vulnerable color women in poor nations, just for the goodness of the heart. Our man just want to save their countries and their women sexual behavior!!! Therefore, when those women get beaten, raped, abused by their husbands, they should think twice before alleging being a victim of abuse, right ??!!! They are just foreigners!!! No one should believe that there are abusers in America?! NO..........hell no!!! Those foreigners women are crazy!!! They just alleging being abused by an American citizen because they are seeking a green card ! POOR AMERICAs!! POOR US!!!! I wish I could agree with you, Bella..... But it is too bad that I can't. As a matter of fact I am deeply disturbed by your personal perspective about foreigner women. I mean, it's sad and disturbing!

Shanel,

please ................................Do not be naive. Our system is twice as worst as Brazil. We have an average of 100 thousand Americans kids removed from home and place for adoption like animals, each year ... Our family court system is zoo..... Money dictates what we do in our judicial system, Shanel. Our America court system is all about money and corruption. Wake up and smell the coffee.... Friend. Our system ain't good. Almost two years ago, I spent 8 weeks visiting the family courts in Brazil ( Rio de Janeiro for 6 weeks and Sao Paulo two) , and I could not believe how organize and focus on the best interest of the kids their Brazilian family court system are. Their foster care programs are top notch! I was embarrassed to say that I was coming from America. Their system was too good to be true . So, I feel sorry for some of you who are writing things that you are not close to understand or have a clue of how the judicial system works, ( both in the United states and other parts of the world) ,and how efficient and superior some of those countries conduct their business, compare to ours. It is is what it is.....

Braden,

You are truly ignorant! Truly!

to S. caplan...

you state,

"She might have known that if she left without her son, the father could claim abandonment, or find other ways to deny custody, or that it might have taken years for her to get a custody arrangement through the courts and for her son to be reunited with her, critical formative years for a young child. We have no way of knowing why she really left and took Sean"

It makes NO DIFFERENCE what the mothers side was. According to International LAW she had NO RIGHT to keep Sean in Brazil. It makes NO DIFFERENCE WHY she left, but when she did she became and international child abdcutor..period. Soon after she left, David was granted custody in a New Jersey court and she was ordered to return Sean which obviously did not happen.

As for Seans formative years with his mother being of concern, what about the formative years with his father?? David was Seans primary caregiver, not Bruna! Do you HONESTLY believe that children have gender bias at the age of four?? Give me a break! Sean spent more waking hours with David than with his mother. Did ANYONE show concern for him when he was removed?!

As for Ms. Evans, Beyhati, and the other tripe who are posting here about paying kidnappers and money, you are obviously well paid by that family to be here and no one is buying your garbage so go peddle it somewhere that people actually will listen and believe you all....like under the rocks you all came from.

Tanya Evans, I have noticed that there have been dozens of responses to your rant...NONE of them supporting you and your war on fathers.

Suppose someone steals your car and keeps it for a year. I guess they should be able to keep it if they changed the oil and filled it with gas because the car sounds perfect in their care/

Since when should those who violate the law and kidnap a child be rewarded with being able to keep that child? Even if this mother were still alive, that child should have been returned to the father because it was parental abduction.

It appears that many in our society thinks that a good father is someone who keeps his mouth shut but keeps sending the support checks. Odd is it not that if a man wants to have a close relationship with his children after a divorce that feminist groups say he just want to keep abusing them but if he does not try, he is a dead beat?

In reality we see a whole lot different story of why men do not have a close relationship with their children, often while they are still married.

According to a Redbook survey

Only 11% of mothers value their husband's input when it comes to handling problems with their kids. Teachers & doctors rated 45%, and close friends & relatives rated 16%

From other sources we find:

37.9% of fathers have no access/visitation rights

40% of mothers reported that they had interfered with the non-custodial father's visitation on at least one occasion, to punish the ex-spouse

77% of non-custodial fathers are NOT able to "visit" their children, as ordered by the court, as a result of "visitation interference" perpetuated by the custodial parent. In other words, non-compliance with court ordered visitation is three times the problem of non-compliance with court ordered child support and impacts the children of divorce even more

It is not just the courts in Brazil that will not assure the rights of fathers, it is almost every family court in the United States. They enforce the child support laws to the letter while ignoring that 3/4's of the fathers are not able to see their children as the court as ordered.

Read this to get a little idea of what it is like to have your children stolen from you legally

http://shatterdmen.com/Fire.htm

Dads...do not look for any help from Washington...this is what they call being responsible fathers

http://shatterdmen.com/Irresponsible%20fathers.htm

This is happening all over america, and the courts are allowed to do whatever they want, and get away with it.
The family court system is a joke, and a big money maker for the lawyers and the judges. They are arm thougs,who will be the first to violate your rights, without due process. I know this first hand.
Please visit http://unitedcivilrights.org/ to get the facts, and to learn how to protect you and your kids from a broken down system.

David is not the person he is trying to portray. From what I read on Brazilian news is a fake an his big interest is not the child but MONEY. According to legal records he never looked for the child while the mother was alive and only did so after raising money through a TV station sponsorship. On today's news papers (Brazilian) there are copies of telegrams from David's lawyer, one making an appointment for visitation and another one canceling the visitation (the second one was sent after the arranged visitation time). Politicians are trying to take political advantages on this issue, The US congress has issues a lot more important and urgent than this one. About comparing the US and Brazilian legislation about fathers rights in a divorce it's a very bad taste joke, just ask any father that went though a divorce (I think anywhere in the world). And finally, David should think a little bit about his son and not on self promotion, This will not help his career.

Flavia,

You continue to float these CNN blogs just to spread your lies. The court sentence for Judge Pinto is available online in both English and Portuguese, and every single allegation you spew has been PROVEN untrue. David IMMEDIATELY did everything in his legal power to have Sean returned, from the moment Bruna told him she and Sean were not returning. How do you explain a dozen DOCUMENTED trips to Brazil for legal purposes??? GO READ THE COURT DOCUMENTS AND STOP BEING SO IGNORANT.

Also, I have a feeling if you were really so entrenched in "American" culture as you claim to be, you'd have a better handle on English grammar. It's obvious to anyone with a brain that you're a plant sent here by someone from the family holding him ILLEGALLY in Brazil.

Joe, David Goldman is not after money; he simply wants his son. He has been trying to have his son returned since 2004 and has spent well over $350,000 in legal fees and travel expenses to do that. The reporting in Brazil has been so slanted, it is ridiculous. If you have seen pictures of videos of David and Sean, you'd see their deep love and affection for each other.

Flavia, David Goldman has tried to negotiate with the Brazilian family. But how do you negotiate with someone who refuses any and all offers made?

Tanya
always seems to appear on some other blogs as well , talking like a hick from down under. she is a classic case of manure. and Ya can't fix stupid.
David Has alot of supporters , and sean will be home soon. Please read Bringseanhome.org.

I bet Tanya is one of those mothers that would leave a toddler home alone, or let a boyfriend beat the child. It is people like her that make this world a sicking place to live in.
I only wish I had a father as dedicated to his child as David is to Sean. Oh yeah, and Brazil can KISS MY BUTT!

It's unfortunate and telling that people like Flavia and Joe continue to defame David Goldman's character. This despite the fact that all these slanderous allegations have been disproved by a Brazilian court of law. The comprehensive 82-page decision handed down by the honorable Judge Rafael de Souza Pereira Pinto left no ambiguity whatsoever that David is a fit and committed father and ordered the return of Sean to him within 48 hours. Unfortunately due to some legal wrangling by associates of the well-connected Brazilian family, a stay was issued suspending the order. These abominable tactics should give the American public insights into what David has been dealing with for the last 5 years that he has been fighting to have his beloved son Sean returned to him. It is a travesty of justice that father and son continue to be separated from each other.

Maria and Luciano ...

I re-read my comments and must apologize to you and other like-minded Brasilians who ARE socially conscious citizens (of any country), considering the welfare and legal implications of Sean, David and all those involved. I did not mean to imply that all "elite" Brasilians (not knowing your social upbringing in Brasil) are
"just another spoiled bratty Brasilian who wants his way and will do anything to get it … wrong or wrong. Don’t tell me I don’t know. I’ve lived there several times amongst that kind. Funny how those from other countries can see it, but most Brasilians can’t."

There are many "elite" Brasilians who see the current issue as it truly is ... social, legal and humanly flawed. For the most part, however, whether or not these elite Brasilieros acknowledge at the expense of their social standing is questionable.

In any event, I apologize to those ethical, legal and socially conscious Brasilieros supporting Sean and David Goldman's reunion and life together again.

Joe –

Your post is full of misinformation and contradictions.

First, as previously mentioned, David has incurred over $360,000 in legal and travel expenses. There is no "TV station sponsorship". If you think he's in this for the money, you are delusional.

Second, I don't know the circumstances of the "visitation" issue, other than the fact that as of 5 years ago it never should have been an issue as custody/visitation rights would have been decided/negotiated in the court of local jurisdiction (New Jersey)... but the mother decided to illegally abduct Sean to Brazil instead. Now, maybe David had intended to visit with Sean, but had to go to Brasilia for the Supreme Court (STF) hearing; maybe he had to return to the States for work... whatever. The fact is that for the LeS/Rubeiro/Bianchi cabal to raise as some evidence of his "letting Sean down" one cancelled visit... after refusing to allow David to see or speak to Sean for 4.5 years is nothing short of a cruel joke.

Last, David has been fighting to repatriate Sean since day one, not -as you allege – only since the mother died. Immediately after the mother illegally kidnapped Sean to Brazil, David filed all of the proper paperwork to initiate a move back to New Jersey where – under the auspices of the Hague Convention to which both the US and Brazil are signatories – custody should have been decided. The documents (as well as all others pertinent to the case) may be viewed at bringseanhome.org.

The bottom line and the single undeniable fact of this case is that the mother initiated this entire mess by breaking the law. She had every opportunity to file for a divorce and seek custody in New Jersey, but she instead took Sean to Brazil illegally. The rest has been a continuous miscarriage of justice by the Brazilian courts and the LeS cabal who seem to know very well how to manipulate them.

In the end, though, it will be the careers of both father and son Lins e Silva which will suffer, as their reputations in the legal community will be discredited and mocked internationally – it is happening even as we speak. Judge Pinto's decision of June 1 dismantled any legal claim the LeS/Ribeiro clan tried to make on Sean. It exposed the lie after lie spouted by these people and leaves little doubt that Sean will – sooner or later – be reunited with his father in New Jersey.

Joe,
David's last visit to Brazil was for the court hearing in Brasilia, a THIRTEEN HOUR drive from where his son lives in Rio. He has already spent thousands of dollars on plane tickets and accommodations, so it's absolutely understandable that he wouldn't be able to fly to Rio and stay there for another few days. He does have to work here in the US to pay for all these legal fees just to bring his ILLEGALLY RETAINED child home.

Joe and Flavia, are you family member's or just friends of the kidnappers? You both should be ashamed of yourselves, how about we come over there and kidnap one of your children? How would you feel then? You are just as sick as that awful family. You cannot kidnap and keep someone elses child. How you could come on here and try to defend such a crime is beyond words, you both are very sick.

Andrew,

I am sorry if my writing skills ain’t good enough for you... See, I am fluent in few languages ( Portuguese included) ,and sometimes in the heating of the moment the writing and composition skills get's out of place. So, I am assuming that you're monolingual; therefore, I excuse both your arrogance and ignorance about these phenomena.

For few years I provided legal advocacy services to East Asian women (victims of sex and labor exploitation) who were /are seeking for custody of their children illegally held in the United States of America. My job exposed me to many different cultures, languages and countries; therefore, I have a personal knowledge and unique perspective about the court system in America and few other countries. Furthermore, I was born in Portugal, educated in Rio de Janeiro, Spain, Italy, Hong Kong, Lebanon, and at last in America, where I finally settled.). So as you can see, I am well entrenched not only in an America culture, but in many others as well.

Flavia -

Well, congratulations on your worldliness; you certainly have been around. I share your outrage at some things that have gone on under the eyes of my country's watch. As you are familiar with East Asia, I would cite the situation in the Mariana Islands and the sweatshops allowed to operate there.

But taking some of your experiences and projecting them onto David Goldman is absurd. To post here anything about an American preying on dark-skinned innocents is patently offensive, a vile thing to bring into this conversation. Far from being an innocent, helpless third-world waif subject the evil Gringo's magical spell, Bruna was a very worldly woman; a student of design who met David in Italy, for Pete's sake.

She was also savvy enough to understand the ability she might have to call on influential friends/lovers to get away with an act of illegal international child abduction. Sorry – you can't refute that, and everything comes back to that fact. She broke the laws of both her native and adoptive nations in stealing Sean away to Brazil. Everything else you post is just so much fluff in the wind.

If you're so amazing at languages, including Portuguese, then GO READ THE RULINGS OF JUDGE PINTO – Go read the DOCUMENTED PROOF against everything you spew in hate. Take the time to actually do your research instead of writing here and spreading your ridiculous lies.

Oh, and I appreciate your concern for my "arrogance and ignornace", as you put it, but I am trilingual, so no need for you to worry about me there.

Also, I find it hard to believe that someone with such a VAST legal background, as I myself have, could ignore such a sweeping decision where every single argument you write here has been completely disproven. As I said before, go read the legal documents that are all included in Judge Pinto's ruling; they are readily available for your consumption.

Where the hell is Janet Reno when we need her?