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Monday January
8, 2007
Burger King incident on Shelburne
How I feel about Sunday January 7, 2007. I am in shock of what transpired
yesterday. I mentioned earlier to my mother how it could have ended
in Robert Meek hitting me with his car and me getting injured or
killed. My brother sustained his TBI by getting hit by a car. Robert
Meek put me in a lot of danger. The severity of it seems to be coming
to the surface of my mind now that I have had a chance to think
it over. It also leaves me with many questions. Mainly, why did
he show up to intimidate and scare us and why did he try to hit
me with his car? Robert Meek had sped from “out of nowhere”and
screeched on his brakes coming to a quick stop behind my mother’s
car. He jumped out of his car aggressively toward my brother. My
brother jumped back and he had every right to. If someone that big
was coming at me in that manner, I would try and get away too. He
then yelled and swore at us and we taped it because my mother had
a camcorder in the back of her car. He verbally assaulted and was
very threatening with his behavior. I asked him “Why are you
hiding her?” and his response was: “I ain’t hidin’
nothin’”. He accused my brother of abusing children
by screaming it across the parking lot. Larkin Forney does not abuse
children. And he is good with his daughter. Robert Meek does not
have a right to yell lies and behave in the manner that he did in
the presence of my 4 year old niece or in the presence of children—and
there were many at Burger King. And he didn’t seem to care
that I was videotaping it. His behavior was dangerous and out-of-control.
He reversed his car wildly and quickly. Thankfully, there was not
a child in the parking lot at that time. My niece had been standing
in that very parking lot (by herself—her mother was about
25’ away next to her car) only moments before. My niece was
witnessing this scene from the backseat of Ashley’ car which
was parked in the parking lot further away.
We were at Burger King because the mother of my niece told Larkin
that they were going to meet at Burger King and that would be the
way---no discussion, or no visit. This would have been the first
visit my brother had with his daughter since before December 3,
2006 (the day Ashley was arrested for assaulting her father and
brother.) And she refuses to give him her address or telephone number,
even though the court requested that we get it since Ashley moves
and doesn’t tell us or anyone where she is. And she doesn’t
show up to the scheduled court dates.
She claimed I caused a scene at her work in December 2005, when
the only scene that was caused, was caused by her. And I left as
soon as she mentioned calling the police. I was concerned about
the whereabouts of “Molly” and how she was. Ashley’s
father kicked her in the stomach when she was 5 ? months pregnant
with her other daughter, and he also slammed her head into a solid
object when she was pregnant with my niece.
At Burger King yesterday, as soon as I showed up, Ashley (the mother)
terminated the visit. In the parking lot she verbally threatened
to hurt me and was very aggressively yelling in my face demanding
that I get away from her car, in the presence of “Molly”.
She verbally assaulted me and then drove off angrily with my niece
in the back.
My brother and I went back inside and about 10 minutes later we
came outside and stood around my mother’s car talking. We
did not notice that Ashley was parked in the farther part of the
parking lot with my niece in the back seat probably wondering what
was going on. I was certainly not expecting what happened next,
to happen.
Robert was waiting for us to come out to intimidate and verbally
assault us in the presence of my niece. Ashley had apparently called
Robert (her sometimes boyfriend) …and this is what resulted.
The mother has no regard for her daughter being around this type
of violent, aggressive, threatening behavior (that she herself also
exhibits) . She says she doesn’t care when I ask her if she
thinks this type of behavior is ok around a child. “Molly”
had backed away when her mother was carrying on right in my face—
This is the first day that I have seen “Molly” in two
years and she remembered me and her eyes lit up when she remembered
and she hugged me twice. I repeatedly asked her how she was doing,
while also asking Ashley why she was hiding “Molly”.
I asked if I could have a hug and she willingly and happily gave
me one. I did not request a hug the second time. She hugged me after
she hugged her dad (my brother). “Molly” wanted to stay
and “play with her friends” and she wanted to eat. Ashley
ignored her repeated requests to eat. They walked out into the parking
lot and I did not have a chance to interact with “Molly”
at all.
There is no reason I should not be allowed to be around my niece,
except that Ashley is trying to hide something. I have seen “Molly”
lose the sparkle in her eyes. I have to believe that she is subjected
to this behavior constantly and most likely other inappropriate
behavior around or to children. Yesterday was a dangerous situation
that could have ended in tragedy because of Robert Meek and Ashley
Terjelian’s blatant disregard for the safety of others.
“Molly” has been moved around from place to place and
her mother was recently arrested on charges of domestic assault
for assaulting her father and brother. I have been concerned about
my niece for a while and now I am more concerned due to the events
of Sunday January 7, 2007.
At the Burger King, moments after Ashley went out the door with
“Molly”, I thought, “there is no reason Ashley
should be behaving like this.” I then began to think how she
looked much thinner and had dark circles around her eyes. She did
not look well. I’m sure Ashley was not expecting to see me
on Sunday. And clearly, she did not want me to see her or “Molly”.
Why is she hiding her from me? She started demanding that I get
out of her face. And I pointed out for Ashley to “look what
you’re doing with her.” She said, I ain’t doing
nothing to her….and basically “flips out” on me
again.” The last time was March 10, 2005. At this time I also
pointed out to her how she was acting in front of “Molly”
and, again, she said she didn’t care.
Yesterday was a repeat of 2005. Only scarier.
I had a tape recorder with me in 2005 and I had one with me yesterday.
Here is what transpired. (Additionally, there is a video of Robert’s
behavior toward us and him almost hitting me with his car. This
was not on the audio tape. The video tape is at the So. Burlington
Police Department.)
In my opinion, based on the scene that I just saw, I believe that
my niece is in a very dangerous situation. There are also many signs
and symptoms that abuse is occurring to “Molly”, including
sexual abuse. It is not safe for “Molly” to be around
this male and her mother who creates this type of environment for
her. Robert Meek and Ashley Terjelian need to get help before they
hurt someone. Also, Lisa and Paul Terjelian (Ashley’s parents)
lie constantly and are trying to hide something regarding the treatment
and environment of this little girl.
Kim: Today is Sunday January 7, 2007 and I am going to be attempting
to visit with my niece “Molly”, it is a little bit after
noon and we are at the Burger King on Shelburne Rd.
I walk in and Larkin making a motion with his arms. Ashley had seen
me and demanded that I leave or the visit was over.
Kim: what?
Larkin: What’s your address?
Kim: Ashley, the court asked us to get your address.
Kim: Hi Sweetie, remember me. Remember Aunt Kim.
Kim: Ashley, why won’t you let me see her?
Ashley: Come on Madison.
Kim: Why won’t you let me see her.
Ashley: Let’s go.
“Molly”: Where we going mommy? (Very sad like she didn’t
want to leave).
Mommy.
Kim: Ashley, do you think this is ok to do to a child?
Madison: I want to eat.
Ashley: Kim, get out of my face.
Kim: Ashley, why…
Ashley: Get out of my face. I am not going to do this in public.
Kim: Do what?
Ashley: Get out of my face.
Kim: You aren’t going to do what in public?
Ashley: Now! Get out of my face.
Kim: Why?
Madison: Mommy, I wanna eat.
Kim: Why are you hiding her from us, Ashley?
Ashley:
Madison: But I want… to play with my friends.
Kim: Ashley, why are you hiding her from us?
Kim: She wants to play with us.
Kim: Do you remember me, sweetie? Remember Aunt Kim? How are you
doing? How are you.
Madison: Mom (almost inaudible), I wanna eat.
Ashley: We will eat (pause) when we get to Mommy’s house.
Kim: Can I have a hug, Madison? Can I have a hug? Yeah. You know
I love you, right?
Ashley: Come on Madison.
Kim: Hi sweetie. Aww. How are you?
Larkin: Here’s the court order, Ashley.
Ashley: You know, you can take the court order and you can shove
it up you’re a-- , Larkin.
Kim: Bye Baby
Larkin: Bye Mad--
Larkin: Ma—Madison.
Kim: Ma—Madison, give daddy a hug.
Larkin: I love you.
Kim: I love you, sweetie, ok.
Larkin: I’ll see you soon. Ok, can I get a kiss?
Madison hugs Larkin and then hugs Kim.
Ashley: (barely audible) Come on Mad.
Kim:Bye darling. Bye bye sweetie.
(They leave)
Kim: Sorry.
Larkin: No problem.
Kim: Do you want me to foll—
( I turned the tape off here…we walked and then I turned it
back on---wasn’t thinking that I was going to go talk to Ashley
in the parking lot when I turned it off---I turned it on in the
parking lot, right after I say, “Madison is in the middle
of the parking lot. I think I’m in a state of confusion regarding
Ashley’s behavior and am shocked at it---want to know the
truth about why she doesn’t want me to see Madison (or her).
Larkin: (are you) ---sure?
Kim: yeah.
Madison: in background (inaudible)
Kim: Bye Madison, Bye sweetie. How are you? Huh?
Ashley: Step away from my G%$- /&*# car, Kim, now.
Kim: This is a public place, Ashley.
Ashley: Kim. Get away from my, car, now.
Kim: It’s public. This is my niece and I’m concerned
about her well-being.
Ashley: Get away from my car. Now!
Kim: I’m concerned.
Ashley: Get away from my car now. How many times do I gotta f%$#@
ask you to just stay away from me?
Kim: Do you think this is ok---
Ashley: I don’t care
Kim: ----behavior in front of a child?
Ashley: Get away from me.
Kim: Do you--
Ashley: Now. Before I HYPERLINK "mailto:f#@$%ing" f#@$%ing
hurt you.
Kim: Do you--- think this is ok behavior in front of a child, Ashley?
Kim: Look what you’re doing to her.
Ashley: I’m not doing nothing to her.
Kim: This is not ok Ashley, you need some help.
Ashley: You’re not ok, and neither is your HYPERLINK "mailto:f$#@%ing"
f$#@%ing brother, now get away from my g$_ $#@% car.
Kim: You…need some help. This is a public place.
Ashley slams Madison’s door.
Kim: You need to get help, Ashley.
Ashley: I don’t need help.
Kim: you’re very angry.
Ashley: You’re whole family needs help. Thank you.
Kim: You are very angry and violent, Ashley.
Ashley: Yeah. I’m HYPERLINK "mailto:f$#@$ing" f$#@$ing
violent, I’m the one that burns houses down and HYPERLINK
"mailto:f$#@##in" f$#@##in gets behind the wheel of a
car drunk…
Kim: That’s not—that’s—
Ashley: I’m f$@@#ing violent.
Kim: That’s not the case, Ashley.
Ashley: ok
Kim: And you know it. Look how you’re acting.
Ashley: callin’ the kettle black, alright.
Kim: Do you still have the high chair I painted for her?
(Ashley gets in car and slams the door.)
Kim: Or did you throw it away? ….Bye Sweetie, I love you.
Love you baby. Ashley drives off very angrily.
Larkin asks if she is in a car seat
Kim: I don’t think she is, she’s in a tiny, little seat
Larkin: good-bye.
January
12, 2007
John
Saulter:
I am sending an audio tape and a written account of the tape that
describes an encounter that my mother and I had with Ashley Terjelian
on March 10, 2005 and the scene caused by Ashley Terjelian (the
mother of my niece) on January 7, 2007. A scene that could have
ended tragically. Sunday January 7, 2007 was my first attempt to
visit my niece in two years. I am extremely concerned about this
child, or any child in the care of this mother, her parent’s
and other males she invites into her life. Ashley’s behavior,
to say the least, is alarming.
The first part of the tape takes place at 323 Waverly Circle. Ashley,
kicks my mother and I out of Madison’s life in an out of control
rant and rage. My mother and I were trying to visit my niece, Madison,
on March 10, 2005, after having not seen her since December 2004.
I was concerned about Madison and her well-being and safety due
to the behavior I was seeing by the mother, Ashley Terjelian and
also that of Ashley’s mother Lisa Terjelian, and father, Paul
Terjelian. I saw bruises continuously and whenever I or my mother
visited and played with Madison, they never interacted with us.
They lie continuously and allow violent, aggressive, threatening
and dangerous people around my 4 year-old niece.
The second part of the tape describes a scene that took place this
past Sunday. On Sunday, Ashley caused a scene that ended up with
someone (me) almost being intentionally hit by a speeding car in
front of my niece. I have written other things and recently sent
them to your department, so I will not go into any more detail in
this letter. Please contact me if you have any questions or would
like me to explain the situation further. I look forward to hearing
from you regarding my niece. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Kimberlee Forney
One Childs Story
January
25, 2007
It
has been over two weeks since the boyfriend of my niece’s
mother nearly ran me over with his car in front of my niece. It
was the first time in over two year’s that I attempted to
visit my 4 year-old niece or have any contact with her or the mother.
On Sunday January 7, 2007 Ashley Terjelian, the mother, demanded
that the visit between Larkin Forney and their daughter would be
at the Burger King on Shelburne Road in South Burlington, or there
would be no visit. (This would have been the first visit in over
a month.) I decided to go to Burger King because I am VERY concerned
about my niece and wanted to see her and make sure that she is ok.
Upon seeing me, Ashley immediately terminated the visit that my
brother had with his daughter—a court ordered visit. This
little girl is in danger. There is no reason for Ashley to have
reacted the way she did other than she does not like me having concerns
about or contact with my niece because she is trying to hide something
that is happening to/around my niece that is abusive. Shouldn’t
everyone have concerns about others—about how they are doing—especially
a child? And certainly having concerns about the care and treatment
of a child should not cause for that child’s “caretaker”
to want to harm or kill you.
Because of what happened on Sunday January 7, 2007, I am fearful
of the prolonged and escalating violence of Ashley Terjelian and
what might happen if swift, appropriate intervention is not taken.
I am concerned about the physical appearance of Ashley (Ashley had
dark brown circles around her eyes and has lost a large amount of
weight --over 70 lbs in less than two months—according to
her). I am concerned about the appearance of my niece (who has lost
the sparkle in her eyes-- is pale, sullen and withdrawn.) I actually
had not thought about it until now, but I never described to David
Elin (from DCF—Dept. of Children and Families)— how
my niece looked and I’m only just realizing that as I write
this. I described to him how the mother looked and her rapid weight
loss but I was never asked how “Molly” appeared.
For the majority of this violent incident, I was paying close attention
to Ashley because her behavior was irrational, violent and out of
control. In the few moments I had with my niece (upon first entering
BK), as she sat ready to eat with her father, I kneeled down to
her level, looked into her eyes and said “Hi “Molly”.
Do you remember me? Do you remember Aunt Kim?” and she looked
me in the eyes, thought for a second and then her eyes lit up and
she shook her head up and down and may have very softly spoken “yeah”.
Ashley said sternly, “Let’s go, “Molly”!”
“Molly” requested numerous times that she wanted to
stay, and that she wanted to eat and play with her friends. Ashley
ignored her. Ashley ignored my repeated question as to why she won’t
let me see my niece---or why she won’t let my niece see me---just
as she ignored the same question on March 10, 2005.
Why the situation this child is in has not IMMEDIATELY been investigated
thoroughly is beyond me. I also do not understand why someone is
not and has not been appointed to watch over this child’s
safety and welfare. “Molly’s” well-being and safety
is clearly not the mother’s priority. My brother has brought
forth his concerns (and evidence to support the concerns he has)
about the behavior exhibited by the mother (and others brought into
his daughter’s life by choice of the mother) and concerns
he has regarding his daughter’s behavior and other situations
that have occurred surrounding this little girl. And yet he has
been repeatedly ignored by the family court, Judge Crawford, and
DCF---those agencies, or persons in positions of power which are
supposed to help ensure the safety of a child. Ashley has not shown
up to the last two family court hearings and my brother has only
had 35 visits (1hr per week) out of over 60 that he should have
had with his daughter by now. He has expressed his desire to have
visits where Paul Terjelian (Ashley’s lying abusive father)
is not present, and his requests have been ignored. In December
2006, Larkin was attempting to visit with his daughter and Paul
was the only one present (which is a condition against the understanding
the court had with Ashley—someone else is supposed to be present
during the visits, besides Paul.) When Ashley lost custody of her
daughter during the first year of her life, temporary custody was
given to her parents, Lisa and Paul Terjelian, Lisa and Paul are
liars. Paul is an abuser. He kicked his 5 ? month pregnant daughter
(Ashley) in the stomach. He also smashed Ashley’s head into
a door while she was pregnant with my niece. Ashley has requested
that her father “get his gun and shoot (her) in the head.”
Shortly after not completing anger counseling and not participating
in family counseling ordered by the court (due to “Paul being
unable to attend.”), therefore not meeting the requirements
of the court, custody of this baby girl was given back to her mother.
!!!!
Everyone I have spoken with about this agrees that my defenseless
4-year old niece needs to be taken out of the “care”
of this mother and away from these people (the Terjelians). Ashley
needs a lot of help. Her long-term violent behavior clearly shows
that she needs help and that the violence is escalating. I saw it
in her eyes when she came within an inch of my face and screamed
at me. She is filled with rage and anger and has no control over
her behavior. She is aggressive, threatening and violent toward
others, including her own family members such as her sister, brother
and father (this is documented in the several affidavits written
by police over the years). In high school, she caused for another
student to transfer schools because the student was that much afraid
of her. And Ashley is not a small female—even with this recent
weight loss. Ashley has instilled fear in her sister and I’m
sure her brother. Ashley was trying to hurt and/or frighten me,
but I am frightened for my niece.
When Ashley was yelling and screaming wildly in my face in the parking
lot to “get away from my f#$%ing car!”, my niece was
looking frightened and stepped back away from her mother. I asked
Ashley, “Ash--Ashley, do---do you think this type of behavior
is appropriate around a child?” “I don’t care!”
she screamed . “Get away from my car before you make me have
to hurt you!”
Where is the justice for my niece? Where is the justice for my family?
Where is the justice for my brother who has been trapped in the
criminal “justice” system for many years—a person
who has survived and (in my opinion) thrived in spite of many traumatic
experiences. Some of the traumatic experiences he has had to live
through are: 1) being hit by a car giving him a traumatic brain
injury at the age of 8. 2) severe mistreatment (if not outright
abuse by peers and authorities as he grew up with no help or treatment
for behaviors and deficits that were caused by the head injury)
3) a nearly successful suicide attempt via gasoline which resulted
in my parent’s house burning.
[The mounting problems in his life, including being led to believe
(by Paul Terjelian) that his daughter had been aborted, and being
“in trouble” with the law because he slept with an underage
female (who lied to my brother about her age) eventually led him
to make that desperate decision that nearly ended his life.] My
brother is a caring and compassionate person, who is concerned about
helping others and helping our society to become more just and less
violent.
For a time leading up to his suicide attempt, my brother would have
been described by the “authorities” as violent and out-of-control—and
yet help was never given to turn the situation around.
My brother turned his life around through his own will and actions—not
due to any punishment he was given.
Now, my brother is watching as the level of violence, aggression,
and out-of-control behavior of his daughter’s mother continues
to escalate with no intervention from authorities. He wants his
daughter in safe care, and he wants Ashley to get help. However,
until Ashley gets help, she is in no condition to “care”
or even be around a child. She said it herself--she doesn’t
care about her violent behavior around her daughter. She said it
in a violent outburst in front of her daughter on March 10, 2005
and she said she it again, in another outburst of violence that
escalated to the point of someone (me) almost being intentionally
run over by a car driven by Ashley’s violent boyfriend, Robert
Meek
DCF
defines child abuse as: “Abused or neglected child is a child
whose physical health, psychological growth and development or welfare
is harmed or is at substantial risk of harm by the acts or omissions
of his or her parent or other person responsible for the child’s
welfare. Also, a child who is sexually abused or at substantial
risk of sexual abuse by any person (33 VSA &4912 (2)).
(www.dcf.state.vt.us/fsd/policy/50.html)
My niece is an abused child and is at risk of harm. I understand
that DCF has policies. But these policies allow for many children
to continue to be abused because they “don’t meet the
criteria” for an investigation. Our system is one that is
set up that takes action after a tragedy has occurred and after
years of abuse have damaged the child.
As far as signs and symptoms are concerned---they describe behavior
in older children, and do not address the behavior or concerns about
a young child. They intervene AFTER abuse has been allowed to continue
for SEVERAL years.
I am a full time artist and part-time after school art teacher.
I am not a certified teacher, therefore I am not required by law
to report any suspected child abuse or neglect. However, I would
like to think that if a child came to me and trusted to tell me
about some type of abuse that is occurring to them or someone they
know, that I could report this to the appropriate authorities (the
police? DCF?) and trust that it would be investigated appropriately
and accurately. And if abuse was present that the child would be
removed from the abusive situation or the persons causing the abusive
situation would receive long-term, intense treatment until they
had changed their abusive behavior. Unfortunately, I do not have
faith in the system we have set up to help our children or persons
like my brother, who needed help after he was injured at the age
of eight.
Anyone who suspects child abuse should be listened to--especially
a respected and responsible relative who had been a healthy presence
in the child’s life for a period of time and then was inexplicably
kicked out of the child’s life. (One sign that abuse is occurring
is that the child (my niece) is kept isolated from extended family.)
I have been asked by Colchester Police (March 10, 2005) and South
Burlington Police and DCF what I did to cause this violent behavior
in Ashley—what I did to cause Ashley to kick me out of my
niece’s life. What “I did” was to be concerned
about the mother’s behavior around her daughter and ask my
niece how she is doing.
Imagine how you would react in the situation my brother is in. How
would you have reacted when Paul tried to instigate a fight with
you by physically confining and pushing you while you tried to visit
with your daughter? How would you react as you watch the mother
of your daughter (and the mother’s boyfriend) behave in a
violent, aggressive manner that almost hurt or killed someone you
love? How would you react when nothing is done by police authority
about the behavior that could have resulted in your sister’s
injury or death? How would you react knowing that something bad
is happening to your 4 year old daughter and yet, the law---the
police and other authority figures such as judges and probation
officers--- look at you and punish you as if you are the bad guy?
How would you react as the bad decisions by authorities, continue
to subject your daughter to abuse? How would you have reacted on
January 2, 2007 when Judge Crawford said that he does not want to
make a decision about the child, without the mother in court (for
the second time in a row), because he does not want to “place
the child in danger”---insinuating that you (the father) would
provide a dangerous situation for your child---while you know that
the mother is providing a dangerous and abusive environment?
My brother has remained in control of his behavior in spite of all
this. Larkin Forney has gained control over his behavior and turned
his life around. He has been focused and doing excellent in school
and “filing” the appropriate forms with the courts and
agencies to alert them that his daughter is being abused and is
in danger, and that the mother needs serious help. He has remained
in control of his behavior in spite of the fact that he is being
looked at and treated by many in the criminal “justice”
system as a child abuser--something he is not—while being
ignored by those who are in positions to help his abused daughter.
When will justice for my brother and our entire family occur? When
will my niece be taken out of this volatile situation? When will
his name be cleared of the unjust label as a sex offender---a label
he had to “accept” or face arson charges (for his suicide
attempt) and many years (basically his life) in jail. When will
my parents be able to live in peace and feel secure that their son
is being allowed to regain his life, and that their granddaughter
is safe?I pray that my niece remains safe while in this dangerous
situation. I pray that the appropriate power and authorities will
finally remove this little girl out of “harms way”.
I went to the SBPD on Monday January 8, 2007 to write a report about
what had occurred Sunday January 7. I spoke with Officer Mike Henry
about what had occurred. I told him we had a video tape of the whole
incident. He immediately asked me why we had a video tape—which
is not even important—but we had the video camera so that
my mother could record Larkin with his daughter. When this whole
scene started unfolding we used this video camera as a tool, and
also, as protection. (Why would someone harm you or try to harm
you knowing they were being recorded? Why would someone act so out
of control knowing they were being recorded?---because they are
OUT OF CONTROL AND THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT HURTING OTHERS.)
I had not had the video tape with me when I went to write a report
on Monday January 8, 2007, as we wanted to make copies. Officer
Henry told me I could not make copies. When I asked him why, he
said because he needed to make sure the “tape had not been
tampered with.” I brought the tape into him later that day
and he was able to view it on the small screen of the camcorder,
but wanted to view it on a larger screen before he made any decision
about pressing charges. He seemed concerned about Ashley’s
behavior. He kept the tape to make copies. Two weeks later on Monday
January 23, 2007 Officer Henry called my brother and told him, he
was not going to press charges. The reason he gave was something
about it being “mutual”—a mutual attempted assault?
I never agreed to be around Robert Meek. I never agreed to have
Robert Meek verbally assault me and almost hit me with his car.
Officer Henry then said something about “me being in a road”.
And something about me “putting myself in harm’s way.”
In harm’s way? If going to visit with my niece due to my mounting
concerns about her care, means that I am putting myself in harm’s
way, then my niece is in harm’s way.
What happened on Sunday January 7, 2007 almost ended in tragedy.
And I’m certain it was a very traumatic experience for my
4 year old niece. It certainly was for me. The last few weeks have
been tough, and full of many different emotions concerning my niece,
her safety, my safety, my family’s safety. I’m wondering
what “Molly” must be thinking of this whole situation.
She saw me--her aunt--(whom she loves) for the first time in a long
time and saw her mother “flip out” on her aunt…..and
then she saw Robert Meek, her mother’s boyfriend, almost run
her aunt over. Presumably, Ashley called Robert (I wonder what that
conversation was like for “Molly” to hear.) Then they
both chose to drive to Burger King and park their cars in the back
parking lot, waiting for us to leave. What they did is way beyond
wrong. When Ashley initially left with “Molly”, that
would have been the end of it. But she chose to call Robert Meek.
And Robert Meek chose to try to run me over.
Robert Meek drove at a high rate of speed, out of his way, to head
in the direction of where I was standing with the video camera (our
protection and tool to use for this sudden violent attack, and to
record this violent behavior in the presence of my niece. ) My brother
witnessed the whole thing and said that Robert barely missed hitting
me—less than an inch, maybe two. He immediately called 911.
(We are still trying to figure out why SBPD never received a 911
call that day from him. Did it go to the Burlington Police Dept.?)
The 911 call is also recorded on video.
I did not put myself in “harm’s way” as Officer
Henry (according to Leuitenant Lavallee) described it. This was
a deliberate and planned attack on me in front of my 4 year old
niece.
I am “the victim” in this situation. This was not a
“mutual” altercation. They came to where I was. Ashley
threatened to hurt me. Then Ashley’s boyfriend tried to hurt
me.
I am still trying to speak in person with Officer Henry, but the
two days that I went to the SBPD (Monday Jan. 22 and Tuesday Jan
23) he was “unavailable”.
Who do I contact that will take action to get this child to safety?
Please pray (think positive thoughts) for her safety and that the
appropriate action is taken to remove this darling child from this
volatile situation.
Larkin and Ashley have a hearing in family court on Cherry Street
in Burlington Tuesday January 30, 2007 at 9am.
I hope that Judge Crawford will make better judgments and get this
child out of harm’s way—out of the “care”
of this mother who needs A LOT of help to work through her anger
and violent behavior.
My brother has a website that he created. It is: HYPERLINK "http://www.justiceforvermonters.org"
www.justiceforvermonters.org
I would like to say that until we, as a society, start to appropriately
address (or remove) the violence that children are subjected to
in their families, that the violence in our society will continue
to escalate and create damage, devastation and tragedy.
A fact to consider: 75-80% of women in prison have had a TBI (traumatic
brain injury). Most of these injuries were caused by an abusive
partner. We need to stop abuse before it becomes ingrained in a
child’s psyche. We need to stop abuse so that these girls,
who later become women, do not continue the cycle of violence by
choosing an abusive male, and in turn subject their children to
this violence.
Additionally, we need to stop punishing those who have sustained
a brain injury.
This is a large and growing population. Doctors describe it as “the
walking wounded”. Every year, another 2 million people sustain
a brain injury in the U.S. And instead of building centers and putting
our money and resources toward helping them/us, we are building
more prisons to warehouse those who have survived this trauma.
The Wall Street Journal recently (Monday January 8, 2007) had a
huge article about brain injury and how we are still not developing
centers or helping those who are injured in this devastating way.
Insurance does not cover this injury. This growing population continues
to be ignored by law makers, law officials, the criminal justice
system and insurance companies, creating further devastation for
them and their family.
I could have become one of those TBI “survivors” had
Robert hit me with his car. Anyone can become a TBI “survivor”
simply by slipping on some ice. In a fraction of a second, anyone
can have their lives and the lives of their family and friends forever
changed by this injury
My brother is the most extraordinary person that I know.
Please pray for his daughter so that the abuse she is experiencing
and the violence she is surrounded by, ends now.The South Burlington
Police Department has a copy of the video of what occurred on Sunday
January 7, 2007. We have the original tape. I also, have an audio
recording of what took place when I first entered Burger King.
Larkin and Ashley have a hearing in family court on Cherry Street
in Burlington Tuesday January 30, 2007 at 9am.
Ashley Terjelian is due in criminal court on Cherry Street in Burlington
Wednesday January 31, 2007 at 1pm. The charges are domestic assault.
On Larkin’s HYPERLINK "http://www.justiceforvermonters" www.justiceforvermonters if you would like to see the type of environment his daughter
is subjected to, read the affidavits under the headings: Terjelian
Violence Continues, CHINS domestic assault ’03, domestic assault
’06.
(If you would like to read other writings regarding TBI and the
injustices surrounding my brother, that I have been doing since
2003, please contact me.)
Kimberlee Forney
P.O. Box 157
Essex Jct., VT 05453
802 893-7503
One Childs Story
To
my Art Supporters:
More has developed in my brother’s ordeal that is preventing
him from securing the safety and well-being of his 4 year-old daughter.
(If at any time you would like to be removed from my email list,
please let me know. Thank you.)
Sincerely,
Kimberlee Forney
Social Justice Artist
TBI Survivor advocate
Child advocate
January
30, 2007-February 6, 2007
A TRUE STORY
Kimberlee Forney
Truth is stranger than fiction and my brother’s life and circumstances
surrounding him are strange. A Hollywood writer could not have written
a better more convoluted script—a script full of twists and
turns, tragedies, injustices, irony, despair and hope. It is painfully
ironic (and devastating) that because of the unjust and wrongful
label as someone who “sexually assaults a minor”, that
Larkin Forney is being prevented from protecting his 4 year-old
daughter from the abuse of the mother (Ashley Terjelian), the mother’s
abusive boyfriend, and the abusive grandfather.
The criminal “justice” system is not a system of compassion
and rehabilitation. This is a system of destruction and lies. I
have no faith in this system. Anyone in our situation would feel
and think the same way. I was trying to have faith going into family
court on January 30, 2007, that Judge Crawford was finally going
to see the truth of the situation and make the correct decision
regarding the health, welfare and safety of a defenseless 4 year-old
girl—my brother’s daughter. He did not.
This situation is, to say the least, very difficult and frustrating
and unjust. My brother and I are trying to prove something that
we do not want to be true. Nobody wants to believe that a child,
let alone their child, is being abused by someone. Larkin has tried
to present evidence and signs and symptoms about abuse that we see
with his daughter, but has been continuously ignored by the very
systems that say they are there to protect the children and deliver
justice. We want the abuse of his daughter to stop now. We want
“Molly” in a safe, nurturing environment and in order
for that to happen, the truth about what is happening to “Molly”
needs to be exposed. We want the injustices surrounding him and
our family to stop.
Judge Crawford says that he does not care, that it is not his concern
why adults (meaning Ashley and me and Ashley and Larkin) have a
problem with each other. It should be a concern to him. It should
be of concern to him what is on that videotape. It should be of
concern to him why Ashley has such a problem with me and with Larkin.
I have a problem with Ashley because she is abusing and allowing
abuse to occur to her daughter and she is very violent . She does
not care that her daughter is exposed to her violence and the violence
of Robert Meek and the Terjelian family. What goes on behind closed
doors? Ashley has a problem with me because I am trying to have
this truth exposed so that it stops. In order for it to stop, the
child needs to be taken away from the abuse, away from her mother.
Ashley Terjelian needs a lot of help.
I have a problem with the fact that upon trying to see my niece
and nearly being struck with a two thousand pound bullet (a speeding
car) that Ashley is not being asked why she “flipped out”
upon my arrival at Burger King. Why is she not being held accountable
for her violent actions? Judge Crawford should be concerned about
having a complete and accurate understanding of the situations surrounding
this little girl and her parents and concerned relatives and he
should want to know the kind of character of each person. He should
want to know if the parent who has been given custody is abusing
a child.
On January 30, Judge Crawford did not ask Ashley any questions.
Instead, he listened to her lies (regarding January 7, 2007 and
other). In order to find the truth, one must ask questions. Crawford
did not ask why Ashley Terjelian called her boyfriend to come threaten,
intimidate and put fear in my brother, my mother and me on Sunday
January 7, 2007. He did not ask her why she did not care that her
behavior was frightening her daughter. Judge Crawford did not ask
Ashley why her boyfriend came to Burger King knowing we were there
and he did not ask why Robert Meek tried to hit me with his car.
He did not ask her what she is trying to hide so desperately that
she is willing to and almost did cause injury or death to a person
who is concerned about the welfare of her child. He did not allow
my brother to speak in court. The entire proceeding on January 30,
2007, was absolutely absurd and unjust and is allowing these abusers
to continue to abuse my niece and most likely Ashley’s other
daughter. Judge Crawford would not let my brother speak on behalf
of his daughter and would not let him speak freely.
Judge Crawford was “trying” to find another day (for
a total of two days/week) that Larkin could visit with his daughter.
This hearing was supposed to be about custody, contempt, etc. (Check
out HYPERLINK "http://www.justiceforvermonters.org" www.justiceforvermonters.org
for more details and photos.) Ashley said that she could not schedule
a day, because her “work schedule changes all the time.”
Judge Crawford decided to take away 1 hour of the two hours of visitation
that my brother had on Sundays. For what reason are my brother and
his little daughter being punished? How is this decision a just
one? It is not. Judge Crawford does not care about the truth and
he does not care that my niece is in an extremely dangerous situation
in the custody of her unstable abusive mother. My mother says that
Larkin interacts very well with his daughter. And from what I’ve
seen from the pictures of him and his daughter, they both look like
they are enjoying their time together. Ashley, Paul, Lisa, and Robert
do not interact lovingly with her when we are around. They don’t
even interact at all. When I visited with my niece for the first
two years of her life, they never once joined in on the play that
was taking place between my niece and me. When I visited my niece
one time, Ashley was not present, but Robert was and I believe Paul
was too. I brought “Molly” outside to play in the snow
and Robert came out and stared at us. Do they (the people in the
system) think we are just voicing our concerns for whatever reason
beside the real reason---the horrible truth that it is happening
to her?—As my brother has said, “Do they think I like
thinking that this is happening to my daughter, let alone having
to say it—repeatedly?” I know that I am praying a lot
for her. It makes me physically ill to think about what my niece
is going through.
On January 30 Judge Crawford ruled my mother is no longer allowed
to visit with her granddaughter, because Ashley does not want her
to. My mother is my brother’s ride and this little girl’s
grandmother. How is this ok? How is it ok to leave a child in the
“care” of an abusive mother while taking away what little
time she had with other caring, nurturing relatives. Judge Crawford’
s ruling on January 30, 2007 states that Larkin is to visit with
his daughter at Burger King and my mother cannot be present. This
is not only unjust for my brother and mother, but it is opening
the door wide open for Ashley to say anything that she wants about
what “happens” according to her (a pathological liar)
during the visits. So far, all of the lies she has spewed in court
have been viewed as the truth by the court, when it is clearly not.
Any evidence that my brother has tried to present to show that she
is lying, has been denied to be presented.. Repeatedly, evidence
that can prove she is a liar, has been denied. Why are they not
concerned about her lies? Lies are meant to hide something. What
is Ashley Terjelian trying to hide? A history of abuse?
After Ashley had just completely lied about what occurred on Sunday
January 7, 2007, it was my brother’s turn to speak. The first
thing Larkin said was, “what you just heard were all lies---”
and Judge Crawford interrupted him. He said that is not what he
wants to hear about. He is telling my brother to speak, but then
telling him what it is he can or can’t say. My brother said
that he could prove she was lying by showing the video. He had the
video with him, and the camera to play it on---the court had not
provided a TV or VCR as Larkin had requested in an earlier motion.
The judge said that he did not want to look at the video.
You can understand what a frustrating situation this is, and Larkin
has shown remarkable control and grace in the face of all of these
injustices that continue to occur to him, and the abuse that is
being allowed to happen to his daughter, due to the courts biased
unjust actions and decisions. He did not want to see the video and
see the type of character and abusive behavior that these people
are exposing Larkin’s daughter to. Judge Crawford is causing
this frustration by his biased, wrong decisions and lack of concern
for “Molly”. Imagine how much more frustrating that
is, when you are trying to protect your daughter and the one person
who has the power to help you protect her is ignoring you and telling
you that you are out of control and how is he supposed to trust
you with your child when your behavior is (in his opinion) “out
of control”. What is the Judge’s objective? What is
his motive for this behavior?
Larkin was not out of control. Larkin is frustrated, as we all are,
by Judge Crawford’s lack of concern for this little girl and
for not allowing Larkin to speak. Was this statement meant to provoke
some “out-of-control” behavior? Larkin then says, “I
can show you their out of control behavior around my daughter on
this video.” Judge Crawford said he was not going to look
at the video. My brother then pointed to Robert Meek (who had been
angrily glaring at Larkin the whole time) and said, “He is
molesting my daughter!” Judge Crawford’s response: “Don’t
point. It’s rude.” At which point I say, “It’s
rude to try and hit someone with a car.” The court officer
makes a motion as if she is going to get up, and make me leave,
while they (her and the judge) tell me that I cannot speak. I have
spoken in that court before. And I am appalled at their blatant
disregard for the safety of my niece and others who come in contact
with Ashley and Robert. I am appalled at Judge Crawford’s
disregard of Larkin’s right to present his evidence and to
give his testimony regarding the abuse that his daughter is experiencing.
I am appalled that he will not appoint a guardian ad litem and have
a baseline evaluation done of “Molly” as my brother
has requested, so that caring professionals, (such as a doctor),
can examine and speak with “Molly” and monitor her.
In an Entry Order (Docket No.: 332-5-03 Cndm), it states:
The court held a hearing on Mr. Forney’s motions concerning
parent child contact, parental rights, contempt and related issues.
Mr. Forney appeared. Ms. Terjelian did not appear. Ms. Terjelian’s
notice from the court was returned by the mail service as undeliverable.
It appears that she has moved. Ms. Terjelian did not attend the
last hearing either.
Larkin Forney must let the court know Ms. Terjelian’s current
address. The court respectfully requests that he come in to family
court as soon as possible with a current address so that she can
receive notice of this hearing.
The court has set a follow up hearing for 1/30/07 at 9:00 o’clock.
It is very important that Ms. Terjelian attend. The court has asked
Mr. Forney’s mother to call Ms. Terjelian’s parents
and attempt to find some common ground concerning visits with Ashley
(4).
If Ms. Terjelian does not appear, the family court will have to
make decisions on behalf of Ashley without her input and opinion
about what is best for Ashley. The court looks forward to seeing
her at the next hearing.
Dated: 1/2/07 Signed: Geoffrey Crawford, Family Court Judge, Thomas
Crowley, Assistant Judge.
It is not Larkin’s responsibility to find Ashley’s address.
She is moving around and not attending court and saying she doesn’t
want to divulge her address in court because she does not want me
knowing where she is living. I certainly would not and did not once
go to any of Ashley’s living places. She does not want to
tell her address or be cooperative because she is trying to avoid
a concerned parent, my brother. She wants him and other concerned
relatives around “Molly” as little as possible, so that
it is easier to hide the abuse and so that it continues as long
as possible.
On Sunday January 7, 2007 Ashley told Larkin that he could take
the court order and “shove it up you’re a##.”
Also, why does the order state “what is best for Ashley.”
It is supposed to be about what is in the best interest of the child,
not the mother.
In court on 1/30/07, during Ashley’s testimony to the court,
she said that Larkin is harassing her with text messages—another
lie. The text messages were not harassment, they were him trying
to communicate with her to get her to comply with court orders that
he visit with his daughter. Judge Crawford never even asked Ashley
why she did not show up to court for the last two court dates. He
did not ask her why she is not following the court ordered visits.
He did not ask her about her pending criminal charges of domestic
assault. He did not ask her anything.
Whatever Ashley (and K.P) say and have said has been “believed”
by the courts, regardless of the fact that they are lies, and can
be proven. Why is this? Do they honestly believe these blatant lies,
or do they know they are lies and make these destructive and unjust
decisions regardless of the truth? Any intelligent, reasonable person
with common sense should question Judge Geoffrey Crawford’s
behavior and judgments in court on January 30. I am questioning
his integrity and his honesty and his motives.
integrity: soundness of and adherence to moral principle and character;
uprightness; honesty.
The Prison Industry, the criminal INJUSTICE system is designed to
break you. It is designed to humiliate, hurt, intimidate and threaten.
It wants you to be submissive. And it has your tax dollars to do
this. It claims it is making society safer and that we need more
prisons when in fact it is a major force in social decay and the
destruction of a healthy, stable society. Why are more prisons being
built, instead of more schools, mental health care facilities, and
traumatic brain injury centers? Why are the children not being protected
from abusive adults, including abusive mothers?
(The following was written January 2005). {Prison is not designed
to rehabilitate. It is designed to punish. Additionally, those who
sustain a brain injury should be treated as a person with a brain
injury and protected. Society needs to make room for this growing
population and do everything it can to help these people and their
families deal with their losses and the struggles that lie ahead.
There are many factors that determine the rehabilitation rate for
people and many resources to use. The key is to develop facilities
that utilize the different resources and to have these facilities
available to all those in need.
First and foremost, the non-correctional facilities are designed
to punish, not rehabilitate. Most people who leave the criminal
justice system , are worse off than before they were incarcerated.
There is a reason law enforcement and the courts frequently use
the term “repeat offender”. THE SYSTEM WE CURRENTLY
HAVE DOES NOT WORK. “There is one thing that it (the criminal
justice system) is not designed to do and that is, it is no longer
designed to treat or rehabilitate, although unquestionably, 90%
of all convicted criminals at some time will be back on the street.”
( HYPERLINK "http://consumerlawpage.com/article/brain.shtml"
http://consumerlawpage.com/article/brain.shtml 12/6/04). I now understand
that my brother acted out in anger toward his family and friends
, not due to his head injury, but due to his frustration with the
impossible demands that society has placed on him and the lack of
resources given to help him to meet the demands of society. Subsequent
legal oppression and victimization by the criminal injustice system
has made this situation virtually impossible for him, me, or my
parents to live through.
Some more facts to consider. It is an organization set up for profit,
not for rehabilitation. “Prison industry is a 50 billion dollar
a year industry. It is bigger than the tobacco industry. It is designed
so that the rich get rich and the poor get prison.” ( HYPERLINK
"http://www.hasanshakur.com/hrcmarch2004.html" www.hasanshakur.com/hrcmarch2004.html
12/6/04) People unjustly lose their freedom so that others can profit
at their expense.
A good site to visit regarding the mental health crisis in our prisons
is: HYPERLINK "http://hrw.org/reports/2003/usa1003/usa1003.pdf"
http://hrw.org/reports/2003/usa1003/usa1003.pdf
A website regarding TBI and the justice system is:
http://www.personalinjurylawpage.com/brain-injuries/t-brain.htm
I would like to remind people of the Stanford Prison Experiment
conducted in 1971 by Stanford psychology professor Philip Zimbardo.
“Zimbardo’s primary reason for conducting the experiment
was to focus on the power of roles, rules, symbols, group identity
and situational validation of behavior that generally would repulse
ordinary individuals.” Two dozen young men were accepted for
the experiment. The volunteers were randomly assigned to be guards
or prisoners. The experiment took place starting with the “arrest”
of the prisoners. They were booked at a real jail, blindfolded and
brought to the makeshift prison in a campus basement. The experiment
was to last two weeks but was ended prematurely when the guards’
treatment of the prisoners “resulted in extreme stress reactions
that forced us to release five prisoners, one a day, prematurely,”
says Zimbardo. “Those assigned to be guards were given uniforms
and instructed
that they were not to use violence but that their job was to maintain
control of the prison. … on day two …. the prisoners
staged a revolt. Once the guards had crushed the rebellion, “they
steadily increased their coercive aggression tactics, humiliation,
and dehumanization of the prisoners.” ( HYPERLINK "http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/relaged/970108prisonexp.html"
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/relaged/970108prisonexp.html,
11/26/2004)
“In fact, prisons have been radically transformed in the United
States in the last 25 years to make them less humane,” said
Haney (one of the researchers on the Zimbardo experiment). “Voters
have increasingly voted for politicians who take a tough public
stance in favor of prisons as places for punishment, rather than
for reforming social deviants…In Zimbardo’s view, “prisons
are “failed social-political experiments” that continue
to bring out the worst in relations between people “because
the public is indifferent to what takes place in secret there, and
politicians use them, fill them up as much as they can, to demonstrate
only that they are tough on crime….They are as bad for the
guards as the prisoners in terms of their destructive impact on
self-esteem, sense of justice and human compassion.””
( HYPERLINK "http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/relaged/970108prisonexp.html"
http://www.stanford.edu/dept/news/relaged/970108prisonexp.html,
11/26/2004)
“At the criminal justice level, next to nobody, including
public defenders and judges, appreciates that TBI has been closely
associated with criminal histories…” ( HYPERLINK "http://www.consumerlawpage.com/article/brain.shtml"
www.consumerlawpage.com/article/brain.shtml 12/06/04)
(These last few paragraphs were written by me in January 2005.)
Where is justice for my family and countless others?
Until someone can answer my question reasonably and logically and
in a just and honest way, then I am going to keep asking this question.
Where is the justice in our so-called “justice” system?
They profit by warehousing people, not rehabilitating them. The
prison industry is larger than the tobacco industry. More People
= More Profit. And in order to have a large, profitable industry
you have to have a highly desired “product” or service
that you offer to the public. Everyone wants a safer society and
everyone wants justice—true justice. And what the criminal
“justice” system has offered our society is a “way
to get “justice”” and a way to “create a
safer society” by incarcerating millions of Americans and
basically holding millions more hostage in the Probation Department.
The system is not designed to help someone recover and move on with
their life. Once you are in, they do not want you out. This is supported
by the fact that the prison population has doubled in the last decade
from 1 million to 2 million.
Having blind faith and blind trust in our systems creates a dangerous
system and an unstable society. We have allowed those in positions
of authority to not have to answer for their decisions. There is
no accountability. They can do whatever they want, make the wrong
decisions and have no responsibility regarding the outcome of the
situation. We have created a system of bias and injustice. Growing
up I was niave. I used to believe that if someone was in the system,
then clearly they must be “bad” and have done something
“wrong”. Not anymore. Now, I truly see how it works.
I see that it doesn’t work for the purpose that it says it
does. It does not work for truth and it does not work for justice.
All of the “channels” and systems we have gone through,
have led my brother and my family here---a place of heartache and
devastation with no end in sight. A place where a little girl’s
life and healthy development is being damaged by the lack of action
of our courts and our social systems on her behalf. A place where
I have many questions that are not allowed to be asked or that have
unreasonable answers or answers that don’t make any sense.
When my brother was wrongfully convicted in October 2006, I asked
his probation officer how long he was going to have to continue
going to the sex offender counseling (which doesn’t even address
him, because he is not like that). She said, “until the counselor
says so.” I said, “so that could be what? Five years?”
and her response was: “If that is what he says. Yes!”
She did not want to discuss it.
Upon Judge Grearson’s wrongful conviction in October 2006,
he said, “Don’t worry…it’s not a big deal.”
It is a big deal. To say in a court of law, and have it on record,
that someone went up to another person and touched them without
their permission, is a HUGE deal. If people see this as a fact because
it has been decided by the courts that it did occur, when in reality
it didn’t, then some people will treat you as if it did happen.
This is not just. This is not humane. Imagine that you have been
labeled by the courts as a person who sexually assaults children,
regardless of the true nature of your character and behavior. Now
imagine that you have to attend sex-offender counseling until they
say so---until they say you are “cured”. Also, you have
to pay, or the tax payers have to pay for this unnecessary counseling
for as long as they say.
Getting back to the occurrences of Sunday January 7, 2007:
I spoke with Sgt. Martel (Officer Henry’s supervisor) Tuesday
January 30 because Officer Henry was busy, and I wanted some answers
as to why no charges were being brought forth against Robert Meek.
Sgt. Martel had also viewed the tape and said there was no point
in arguing because they were not going to press charges. I was not
arguing with him, I was trying to discuss this with him and figure
out his reasoning. And I said that I don’t understand his
reasoning. And he said “Of course you don’t. Because
you’re not getting the result you desire.” I’m
not quite sure what result he thinks I desire, but I think it is
a result that everyone would like if they were in my position. To
have justice. To not be verbally assaulted and feel afraid for my
safety because some out of control child abuser wants to silence
me and my concerns about the safety of the little girl they are
abusing. The result I desire is to not feel victimized again by
no charges being brought forth against these persons and their violent,
dangerous acts. The result I desire is to be protected from violence.
The result I desire is having the safety and well-being of my niece
secured. The result I desire is to have Ashley and Robert get penalized
for their crimes and get serious help before they hurt or kill someone.The
South Burlington Police are blaming me for almost being run over
by Robert Meek. On Tuesday January 30, 2007, one of Sgt. Martel’s
questions to me was, “Didn’t you play a role in this
situation?” What type of question is that? The “role”
I played was to be verbally assaulted and almost hurt or killed
because I tried to say “hi” to my 4 year-old niece and
ask her how she is doing. The police say that I did something to
trigger Robert’s behavior, this attack. I did not ask for
Robert Meek to come to Burger King and ambush us. I did not ask
for him to try and hit me with his car. The police said that I provoked
the attack because I had a video camera and then walked toward their
car. This does not make sense. The attack started before I grabbed
the video camera. And that was the first thing that we thought of,
when Robert surprised us. In my mind and my mother’s mind
and my brother’s mind, the video camera was some means of
protection. And what I was catching on video was some extremely
violent and harsh and dangerous behavior in the presence of a 4
year-old child (and presumably other children inside Burger King.)
Had we not had the video camera, would Robert have actually physically
attacked my brother? To me it looked like he was going to attack
my brother. And my brother sure thought so too. He stumbled back
and jumped out of the way placing my mother’s car between
him and Robert. Robert jumped out of his car before it was even
fully stopped. I believe he would have hurt my brother had we not
pulled the video camera out.
Sgt. Martel (Officer Henry’s supervisor) said that the videotape
of the attack made me look worse—that it is more damaging
to me. But I have no explanation as to what way it is “damaging
to you (me).” Officer Henry asked why we didn’t call
9-1-1 instead of getting the camera out. That wasn’t even
a thought in my mind at that moment. I was barely able to process
what was occurring. And upon seeing the lack of action to address
and control and reprimand this criminal behavior that is on video,
would calling 9-1-1 at that moment have done any good? It would
have taken them time to get there. The video camera came out in
a matter of seconds.
My brother did call 9-1-1 immediately after I was almost hit. He
was then dispatched to a police department (presumably the South
Burlington Police Dept.) However, they do not have a record of this
call. Officer Henry said he was going to find out if the call went
somewhere else—possibly Burlington? He has not looked into
it yet. Also, on Tuesday January 30, 2007, when I went to the police
station to talk with Officer Henry, to find out why exactly it is
that they do not want to press charges, I was told that Lieutenant
Lavallee would find out where the 9-1-1 call went and he would let
me know that day. I still have not heard from them. This 9-1-1 call
is also on the video.
One can see in the video, Robert reversing wildly from where he
had parked behind my mother’s car. He then drove to where
Ashley was parked with “Molly” in the back part of the
parking lot. I kept recording and walked closer to where they were,
leaving plenty of room for them to drive to the exit, without coming
near me. In fact, Robert had to turn his wheels toward me (away
from the exit) to head in my direction. And one can see that he
went out of his way to try and hit me by viewing the path of Ashley’s
car which passes in front of the camera as she heads toward the
exit. I would never trust a child to be alone and “cared”
for by Ashley, Robert Meek or the Terjelian Family.
They are abusive and dangerous.
Upon reporting the attack on Monday January 8, Officer Mike Henry
was more concerned about the fact that there was a video camera
than the fact that I was nearly intentionally run over. He was more
concerned about this than the behavior of these people around a
child. He was more concerned about this than finding out why they
behaved this way.
To answer their suspicions as to why we had a video camera: my mother
and brother brought the video camera with the intention to record
the visit as a family video…not to “catch” Ashley
behaving violently toward me in front of her daughter, and not to
“catch them being out-of-control.” Sgt. Martel told
me that they do not believe that is the reason why we took the video
camera. He said that they believe we took the video camera to “catch
them doing something wrong”. Regardless of whether they believe
the truth about why there was a camera present, these people should
not be allowed to get away with attempted assault with a deadly
weapon and they should not be allowed to abuse children. People
who have viewed the tape say that it is “unbelievable”,
and that it is unbelievable that no charges are being brought forth
against Robert Meek and Ashley Terjelian. And let’s just say
for arguments sake, due to their backward logic, that we had brought
the video camera to “catch them doing something bad.”
Should that absolve them of their crimes? Why does this give Robert
the right to try to hurt or kill me? . After speaking with Sgt.
Martel on January 30, 2007 (the same day as family court), I told
my brother and parents what he and Officer Henry said. My brother
realized that his name sounded familiar. Sgt. Martel was one of
the CUSI (Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations) officers investigating
the situation that transpired between my brother and the lying 14
year old in 2002. CUSI, according to Larkin’s previous public
defender, “are the ones who are persecuting you, because they
don’t think you spent enough time in jail.”
Persecute: To pursue with harassing or oppressive treatment; harass
persistently. 2) to oppress with injury or punishment, for adherence
to principles or religious faith
Persecution: 1) the act of persecuting 2) the state of being persecuted
3) a program to exterminate, drive away, subjugate a people (or
person) because of their religious, ethical, or moral beliefs or
practices
I
called Officer Henry later that day (Jan. 30) because I wanted him
to answer a question that only he could answer. The question was
concerning why he was initially very concerned about Ashley’s
behavior when he saw it on the video recorder and why, after viewing
it on a larger screen, that he is now less concerned and no charges
are being brought forth. He told me that he needed to get a “view
of the whole picture.” I said, “Wouldn’t looking
at this behavior on a larger screen, make you more concerned?”
He told me that they already answered my questions and that they
didn’t have time for me, that they had criminals to deal with.
We are showing you our pain. We are offering you to see the traumas
and injustices that we have endured and continue to endure in the
hopes that these broken biased systems will change and that constructive
healthy systems will be created to help people with their life circumstances
and problems, and help to make society safer and more stable for
all. We do not want others to suffer the way that we have suffered.
We do not want “Molly” to endure what she is having
to endure. We do not want the other children (1 out of 3 girls,
1 out of 5 boys) to continue to be abused because the system is
lacking in resources and appropriate action.
When I saw my niece on March 10, 2005, she had her hands pressed
against the window of the grandparents’ trailer, watching
my mother and me leave. She did not want us to go. It was such a
sad sight. On Sunday January 7, 2007, she did not want to leave
with her mother. She waved good-bye to me from the back seat of
her mother’s car as her mother sped away. What must that little
girl be thinking while having to endure the violence and abuse of
Ashley and Robert and the Terjelians?
I’m wanting those working in the system to ask Ashley questions—and
not listen to her lies, so that the truth is revealed and so that
my niece can be taken care of the way a child should be taken care
of—not with abuse and violence.
Ashley lied in court about me “causing a scene” in her
work which she says caused her termination. I went there in December
2004, because I was concerned about my niece and wanted to know
where she was. I left as soon as Ashley threatened to call the cops..
There was no scene. The truth could have easily been proven had
we been able to subpoena her work records about why her employment
was terminated. But the subpoena was quashed by Judge Crawford.
She was again allowed to lie in court on Tuesday January 30, 2007.
She said I “caused a scene” and “got right up
in her face” at Burger King. Ashley was “right up in
my face” and threatening me. All I did was say hello to my
niece, ask her if she remembered her aunt Kim and ask her how she
is doing. This is what triggered Ashley’s violent behavior
and attack and what led to Robert Meek trying to hit me with his
car. And this is on video…a video that can prove she is an
out-of control, violent liar.
Signs and red flags that abuse is occurring.
Ashley told the women at the Family Connection Center, when the
court ordered supervised visits at the family connection center
over a year ago, that “Molly” is afraid of males. Ashley
has tried to blame this fear on my brother and this is absurd. My
brother does not cause fear in his daughter or any other child—he
is gentle, and compassionate and caring and spends very little time
with “Molly”. The fear that “Molly” has
of males is caused by the males that she is around—Paul Terjelian,
his drunk friends, and Robert Meek and other males we may not know
about.
Signs and symptoms of the adults who are abusers. One of which is
lying. Ashley is a liar and K.P. is a liar. Other signs in older
children (such as Ashley (21?) and K.P.(17?) are: lying, school
problems, low self-esteem, hostility or aggression, sexual activity
or pregnancy at an early age, promiscuity, suicide attempts Signs
in “caregivers” are: 1)abandonment of child 2.)unable
or unwilling to provide psychological nurturing 3)views the child(ren)
as property 4)constant criticism, belittling, teasing of a child,
or ignoring or withholding praise and attention 5) persistent hostility,
and severe verbal abuse, rejection and scapegoating 6) Using inappropriate
physical or social isolation as punishment. Signs and symptoms that
“Molly” is being abused: 1) social or geographical isolation
of a child, young person or family, including lack of access to
extended family 2)family history of violence, including domestic
violence 3)adult bite marks or scratches 4) failure to thrive and
develop 5) Nightmares 6) bruising to face, head or back 7) physical
complaints.
Why is this happening? I am questioning much of what is taking place
with regard to truth and justice in the “justice” system.
Is there some sort of conspiracy or collusion taking place?
Collusion: 1) a secret agreement for fraudulent or treacherous purposes;
conspiracy 2.) Law. A secret understanding between two or more persons
prejudicial to another, or a secret understanding to appear as adversaries
though in agreement.
The police and the system have always pointed at Larkin and blamed
him for his actions, regardless of what led him to make those decisions.
Now, the police are pointing at me, and blaming me for Robert Meek
trying to hit me with his car. Why is that? Why are Ashley and Robert
not being held accountable for their violent abusive behavior? Why
the double standard?
Detective Kristian Carlson’s actions played a huge role in
Larkin’s decision to kill himself in 2002. In the Fall of
2002, why was Larkin Forney not given a lawyer when he asked for
one three times, regarding the situation with a lying, underage
female, K.P? Why is it ok for CUSI detective Carlson to repeatedly
ignore Larkin Forney’s requests for a lawyer? Det. Carlson
lied to him by saying that they “just wanted to know if you
(Larkin) had made a mistake or if you (Larkin) are the type of person
waiting to hurt someone in the bushes.” My brother is an honest
person and he did not want them to think that he is the type of
person who is looking to hurt someone. Since they were not giving
him a lawyer, he thought that it was not a big deal to tell them
the truth, since that is what they said they wanted. He told them
what occurred and that it happened due to her lies. They then arrested
him and charged him with sexual assault on a minor.
A lie is defined as: 1) A false statement made with deliberate intent
to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood. 2) Something intended
or serving to convey a false impression; imposture 3) The charge
or accusation of lying; a flat contradiction
Then, in December 2002 (on the day Larkin nearly died), Det. Carlson
called and provoked my brother—a person who he knew was suicidal.
This was “the final straw” that caused my brother to
decide that the only way out of the “legal trap” that
he was in, was to end his life. Det. Carlson’s words and actions,
along with other things that happened (such as Paul Terjelian telling
Larkin his child had been aborted and then setting him up to get
arrested for DUI) also played a role in my brother’s decision
to try to end his life. Where is the accountability for the role
they played?
Sgt. Martel has stated that his reason for not pressing charges
(at the very least wreckless endangerment to premeditated attempted
assault with a deadly weapon) against Robert Meek is because I provoked
the attack by video taping the attack. Shouldn’t this “logic”
also apply to my brother and what led to his decision to commit
suicide? Shouldn’t Det. Carlson be held accountable for the
role that he played in the destruction and devastation that the
suicide attempt caused for my brother and our family?
After surviving the suicide attempt—one which was attempted
with gasoline, which caused fire in his bedroom (our parents’
house)--Larkin was charged with arson.
How is charging a suicide survivor with arson just?
Arson is: the malicious burning of another’s house or property
Larkin Forney is not an arsonist, and the house fire was not a result
of arson, it was the result of a suicide attempt that could have
been prevented had the appropriate help and appropriate amount of
help (not punishment and mistreatment) been given to him after his
head injury.
This arson charge is what trapped my brother into having to make
a deal with the state. They would “drop” the unjust
arson charge if he would plead guilty to the “sexual assault”
on a minor charge.
How is this justice?
We have seen a lot of bad decisions by those in positions of power
and authority.
However, I do want to thank and commend Judge Toor for making the
decision (two years ago) to give Larkin probation and give him a
chance to prove that he had changed---that he had a new found view
of life and what it is about and that he could and would build a
successful life for himself. He has definitely proven to me that
he can build a successful and responsible life for himself. He has
shown me that one can walk through life with optimism, no matter
how bad it seems to be at any given moment.
I had not spoken to my brother for many years leading up to his
nearly successful suicide attempt in 2002. I want people to understand
that yes, I am his sister, but I am not standing by him because
I am his sister. Being his sister has allowed me to be close to
the situation and see what is truly happening. I am standing by
my brother and supporting him and his fight to help his daughter
and his fight to be able to move on with his life (by not being
trapped in the system) because he is a remarkable, determined, and
capable adult. An adult who has turned a life full of tragedy, into
a life that can flourish and succeed as well as the next. I am standing
by him because what is happening to him and his daughter is wrong
and we have the truth on our side.
Larkin Forney is a remarkable person with great courage and honesty
and compassion and grace. He wants for the mother of his daughter
to get help because he knows that it is important for his daughter
to have a mother who is healthy and stable and who deals with the
abuse that she has suffered in an appropriate, non-violent way.
He knows this is important because he is seeing the negative effects
the mother is having on the development of his daughter. The cycle
of abuse is being allowed to continue with his daughter.
He is concerned about the state of affairs in our country, especially
concerning politics, the legal system and the prison industry and
its negative affects on our society.
He has had the courage to point out that it is a broken system.
Larkin has the courage to point out that the courts released a violent
predator into the public, even though there were factual reports
that showed Rooney was clearly a danger to women. He has the courage
to point out that they are using their resources, and our tax dollars
to go after people like him who pose no danger to women or society,
while violent offenders go free. He has the courage to point out
that if it is to “help the children”, then why is K.P
not being helped? Why did they instead use this liar to falsely
convict him?
How is this justice?
Justice is defined as: 1) the quality of being just; righteousness,
equitableness, or moral rightness. 2) The administering of deserved
punishment or reward.
Just is defined as: 1) guided by truth, reason, justice, fairness.
2) given or awarded rightly; deserved as a sentence, punishment,
reward etc.
How is what is happening to my brother, his daughter and my family
justice? My brother and my family are trapped in the “justice”
system and yet we have not seen any justice.
One of the reasons they say he must attend the sex offender counseling
is to learn empathy for his “victim” (K.P.). Empathy
is defined as: the intellectual identification with or vicarious
experiencing of the feelings, thoughts, or attitudes of another.
Larkin has empathy and he is concerned about the lack of empathy
he sees in his daughter’s mother and the mother’s family.
Blowing up fish by inserting firecrackers into them, is a way for
a child to not develop a sense of empathy—a sense of compassion
for other living beings. I have not seen any empathy in those (from
his probation officer, to the police to the judges) whom we have
encountered in the system.
What is happening to my brother could and is happening to others.
One cannot have peace with war. My family is at war with injustice
and we want peace. Some may be wondering why my father is not speaking
about this, and protesting what is happening to his son, his granddaughter
and our family. My father is…my father. He works in the system
as a court reporter and is fearful of losing his job. He does think
that what is happening is not right. And it is very hard for him
(and all of us) to deal with this situation emotionally, and he
does not know what to do to help his family.
For further research on such subjects as TBI (traumatic brain injury)
, NDE (Near Death Experience), Sexual Abuse, Prisoners with TBI,
—or any topic discussed above, find it on the internet or
contact me. Contact me with any questions or comments regarding
my brother and his ordeal. Please pray for “Molly” and
the other voiceless children.
Sincerely,
Kimberlee Forney
Social Justice Artist
Back to the Top
Kimberlee
Forney Re: State v. Ashley Terjelian
P.O. Box 157 Doc. Number: 5277-12-06
Essex Jct., VT 05453
www.kimforney.com
kimberleef@msn.com
(802) 310-9159
(802) 893-7503
May
9, 2007
To States Attorney’s Office:
I am enclosing some written material regarding the long-standing,
violent and out of control behavior that Ashley Terjelian continues
to exhibit. The violence and out of control behavior is escalating
to the point that she intentionally called her “boyfriend”
Robert Meek on January 7, 2007 and told him where the father of
her daughter and the aunt of her daughter (me) were. He came to
this public place to hurt us and nearly ran me over with his car.
No charges were pressed after the SBPD “sat” on the
tape for over two weeks. The reason that Sgt. Martel told me was
that I caused the violent behavior because I had a video camera.
This reasoning does not make sense because Robert Meek came to where
we were (at the request/order of Ashley Terjelian) and we pulled
the video camera out of the back of my mother’s car to protect
us from being physically assaulted and to also record the violent
behavior of Robert Meek who is allowed around Larkin Forney’s
daughter. I did not put myself in “harm’s way”
as Officer Henry (SBPD) said. This was a planned and deliberate
attack on my brother, my mother and me.
Minutes prior to Robert Meek showing up, Ashley screamed at me:
“Get away from me…Before I HYPERLINK "mailto:F#$@$%ing"
F#$@$%ing hurt you.” She left, and then she (with 4 year-old
Madison Terjelian in the back seat of her car) voluntarily came
back and waited for us in the parking lot.
A tape of the incident is included.
I hope that Ashley gets some SERIOUS long term help and is given
consequences for her violent actions before it escalates to someone
being seriously injured or killed. So far, she has not had to take
responsibility for her attacks and violent behavior and has been
given no punishment/treatment for it. In order to prevent crime,
or prevent someone from getting hurt by another person (a violent,
out-of-control person), the behaviors cannot continue to go ignored
and un-addressed and untreated.
I pray for the safety of Madison Terjelian (my niece) and also for
her Ashley’s other daughter, and anyone who comes into contact
with this bullying, violent person. She is a danger to the public
and needs consequences and help.
Sincerely,
Kimberlee Forney
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