Heartbroken Father's Heroic Quest To Be Reunited With Kidnapped Daughter | Abducted

[Music] every 12 hours and put a child is abducted by a parent or family member [Music] Britten's are increasingly finding partners from abroad but when these relationships break down things can get messy especially when children are involved Amna was treated more like a possession than a child I didn't believe it was done out of love because if you love each other that much you would never want to harm your child in the last decade the number of parental child abductions has doubled in Britain sometimes I think I gotta hear her voice she's calling me Mommy the Left Behind parents suffer and the siblings make also be damaged when you said the Christmas what did you say miss crystal where's she together back good-afternoon reunites how can I help my name's Joanne see say mums gone has now gone over to America is that right so dad's Canadian reunite international is a charity that supports parents affected by child abduction in 2014 they dealt with almost 600 new cases the helpline has never been busier it's really imperative that you keep mum in the country when she comes in it is heartbreaking for parents going through this situation for you as a parent to know that somewhere your child is out there you don't know if they're well you know fundamentally you don't even know if they're if they're alive but you don't know what their life is are they happy are they waking up every morning and wondering where you are so he's with family at the moment a lot of people will say well the chance with one parent so what is the problem but it's not about being with one parent it's about their whole life has just been erased so it's incredibly damaging to that child [Music] Aminah Khan was abducted to Pakistan by her mother when she was six years old [Music] her father South London a supras car hasn't seen Amano for over three years su for us a research scientist married hammer a GP in 2004 after a difficult divorce Hsu France was given custody when Amana was 6 she went to stay with her mother for two weeks giving hummer the time and opportunity to smuggle her to Pakistan [Music] I was just lost I suffered depression anxiety I was unable to sleep and during the course of the last over two years she has a sense of hopelessness you feel all that you know there's no hope for you are you ever gonna see a child again and it feels like a bereavement your child's gone that's it and all you have left is you know school uniforms or toys or clothes and everything that is our mana has been let is left behind but without the child [Music] as a parent to go through something like that it's so easy for them to slip into depression already this year we've had three suicides all fathers because they just was couldn't cope with it there's not as much support for fathers who are going through this process certainly there is this perception that well if their child is with the mother then that child is going to be fine sometimes what we see is what must have been an awful father what was he doing in that relationship for the mother to have to flee that relationship when actually we know that mothers have dark too because for the simple reason what to go home they don't want to stay in this country over 70% of abductions are actually carried out by mothers its fathers like sue for us that are more likely to be left behind everything I did revolved around that because for me you know children come first I just love being with my daughter and we had a very very strong bond [Music] Amna is just always happy and she is a very chatty little child and just very active and full of energy I believe that she knows you know that I love her a lot and so I just think that there's a little bit of me that hopes that my daughter will remember me and I just hope that she grows up and when she does that she can find her way back home [Music] Garcia's daughter Talia was abducted by her husband when she was just three months old the photo of Thalia I have always with me he's so special because I could have her in my arms I can feel her and always I will remember that [Music] Garcia from Poland moved to South Wales in 2002 to work as a nanny she fell in love with Maha it worked in a local takeaway I see he's very nice man and very polite handsome man he said he loved me so much so we should be together because the love is everything what we need [Music] they married planned in 2012 Thalia was born Valeo she was invited pretty and she was mine always we talk and we walk everyone who see her she they always say oh she's gorgeous and she's beautiful she looked like you but I know if you have my husband eyes and he's had I think I was the happiest person in the world I know maybe is that for a short time but I was very happy but just three months after Thalia was born now her abducted her taking her to his home country of Libya Gaussian has not seen her daughter for two and a half years I missed everything I missed her smile I missed to seeing how she's start walk I missed that's a beautiful time for me and for her Olga SIA has left is a handful of pictures and a few baby clothes [Music] I never wash them after always smell kaalia maybe one day I can show that they always keep her stuff with me [Music] it's a big day for sue for us he's heading to the High Court he believes his ex-wife's family were complicit in abducting and hiding his daughter in Pakistan something they've always denied [Music] sir France to code but lost today he will here and he has to pay their legal fees [Music] after several hours of legal wrangling his ex-wife's family are claiming 90,000 pounds in legal costs enough to bankrupt him I've been feeling numb all day because I've been expecting the worse it's very very painful thing to say that I just gotta just need time now actually at the moment I just cannot continue this anymore it's just like me he got no future and I hope there's nothing to live for my daughter didn't die of natural causes I can't go to a graveyard and I can't visit her she's just disappeared she's gone what's gonna free your mind I'll never see my daughter again [Music] it's been two and a half years since Craig Michael's daughter crystal has slept in her bedroom North London a Craig moved to Cyprus in 2005 and met Marta they had two daughters together four years after they met Marta abducted crystal then just 15 months old fleeing home to Poland Crystal's older sister five year old Cassie remained in Cyprus Craig and his father Robert have done their best to give her a normal childhood it's heartbreaking but I've gone through so many emotions that I'm pretty numb for me all now feel bad feel like I failed and now it's just an empty shell yeah we haven't got those kids together [Music] not Oh later came back to Cyprus and tried to take Cassie as well but Craig was alerted and managed to stop her [Music] both parents are desperate for the sisters to be together but Craig is adamant they should be in Cyprus not a-- in poland when you said what you want for Christmas what did you say that's crystal where's she in pain you want to get her back what you want to do though when you get back well everyday play gonna share your toys with her you miss her a lot she's not a baby anymore she was a baby when she left my machine now she's nearly as big as you break has pursued martyrs of the Polish cords using the Hague Convention designed to bring about the prompt return of children abducted across international borders [Music] Marta claims that she abducted crystal as Craig misused drugs and alcohol and was physically and mentally abusive towards her and the children claims that Craig has always denied the judge did not find the claims to be supported by evidence he decided there was no risk of harm to Krystal and she should be returned to Cyprus but Marta has refused to bring her back despite repeated court orders two years on crystal is still in Poland I'm a normal guy I'm just a normal dad like everyone else but I haven't stopped remember that little girl needs her dad [Music] creig is among a number of desperate parents who have decided to take desperate measures [Music] he's turned to child-abduction Recovery International who say they specialize in the safe recovery of abducted children director Adam Whittington Anik soldier informer met police officer claims to have returned over a hundred children from 50 different countries [Music] I was a child abduction is an epidemic proportions it's crazily out of control most of our clients come to us as Craig after they've done everything legally possible yet they hit a brick wall after the decisions been made in their favor the hate is a tool that assists in getting their children back it's not a tool that will get their children back [Music] it leaves excellent no no choice to parents but to do a recovery the parents like krei can legally take their children back if they have the correct court orders Adams job is to trace the child and minimize confrontation at home [Music] the Polish authorities say they've been unable to find crystal Adam began his search at Marta's parents home in a Poli and in just 11 hours he found her so this is the quick video I took during surveillance you will see shortly the grandmother the mother and crystal leaving the shopping center here you can see crystal in the pink the little girl and holding her hand is is Marta the mother Crystal's never never alone for obvious reasons the British Foreign Office advises against parents taking their child back as it can be illegal in some countries and put the child at risk but Adam and Craig have a law on their side and will do everything to ensure crystal safety if I had made it an attempt to get crystal at that stage they would have just jeopardized everything it's not a smart opportunity and we wouldn't take something like that obviously Marta the mother and the grandmother would be screaming you'd have 2030 people come around to assist and they will assist the Polish person in particular the mother as they're not aware of the whole story they don't know she's wanted and I know crystals being abducted [Music] gosh his daughter Talia was abducted two and a half years ago a year after her husband snatched her he returned to Britain leaving Talia with his mother in Libya he was convicted of child abduction and sentenced to six and a half years in prison since then maahes family won't speak to go Xie and she has had no contact with her daughter I'm looking for some help and I know my it's not easy but I know maybe someone can help me to breathe in my diary about today dasya is meeting reunite international [Music] Johanna specializes in repairing relationships between feuding families torn apart by abduction since man has been back in the UK you've not spoken with his family at all what was your relationship like with them before he came back here I totally it was so nice for them and I think Marcus month he's like my mum so I give to them on my heart but they take that all from me oh sure it's possible that they think you're angry with them I'm not angry with my host family and special with his mom I know I will never take Thalia from them they will not see her because I know how he's not fear do you think they made that because over this two years all trust has broken down sometimes a letter can be a really good way of initiating that contact they've lost their son they've lost their brother it's difficult for them I know is nothing be happen Court we are be angry Hotel done we'll put a plan together or hopefully see what we can do and see if we can get you some contact with our little girl I believe we've got to believe maybe not fun but one day very brave and you very strong like education all right we'll speak soon yeah and if I hear that a child has been taken to Libya I can honestly say my heart sinks they don't necessarily recognize British court orders and so they're not obligated to enforce those orders with no viable legal route and Libya still in the midst of a civil war Garcia's only hope may be an appeal to her mother-in-law's maternal instincts Dalia she's still so young and she need to know her mom I need to be with Talia because she is just the one I need [Music] [Music] creig Michael is at Poland looking for his abducted daughter crystal he's enlisted the help of child abduction recovery international specialists in returning abducted children I haven't seen crystal walk talk learn anything because she was so young when she she was she was abducted [Music] I've got a lot to catch up on I'm looking forward to that Craig's ex-partner martyr has ignored court orders to return Krystal so Craig believes his only option is to catch martyr of God they're following crystals grandparents car waiting for the right moment to do this safely [Music] they have left McDonald's and they've gone to another shop down the road which one looks like their path to get the car part so we're going to go left [Music] okay it is a positive ID crystals with the grandparents only was a bit Adams plan is to beat the grandparents back to their house Wade out of sight and then take crystal when she gets out of the car nice crab Kristen it's just a bit more psycho fine the car with three people it's Marta and some friends moments later the grandparents car arrives sailing Abel [Music] Adam calls it off there are too many people to guarantee crystals safety [Music] three years stake Chris all I wanted to do like it's just run around that corner fight the world and take her back you know [Music] great just four bikes [Music] [Music] three days later Craig takes a phone call from his lawyer it's potentially bad news his ex-partner Marta is appealing the court's decision to return Krystal to Cyprus based on the fact that she's been in Poland for so long Craig's legal right to return Krystal may be suspended as long as it takes we're here every day from 6:00 in the morning we get up and we're here all day long in the freezing cold in out the cars and something's gonna happen bad you find me away will find me away all right but all of us get in their house and take my daughter to safety of course you might do that every father would every mother has a kid taken would want to do that so why am I still sitting here not doing it well Craig if you want to do that I walk you do something silly you're gonna get locked up I can't make that any clearer to you if happens your child would you smash that Lord out tonight you're gonna get yourself in a lot of trouble and you won't say crystal again this is the way the Beast works it's all [ __ ] now how Craig has to just completely calm down and that's a waiting game and you know if it does anything silly then we're not taking any responsibility as far as my organization goes and we'll walk the way you're going you're gonna lose Krystal you're gonna blow it okay okay sorry right I don't mate you just need to chill out I'm not you are gonna blow the whole thing I won't if you will I won't I will not allow myself to do it we'll just calm down just seriously just deep breaths calm supras car had feared a potentially crippling legal bill in his court battle to find his abducted daughter Amina [Music] the bill when it came is 30,000 pounds still a lot of money but not enough to stop his search he's turned to Alison Shanna be from reunite we've got a solicitor to him over in Pakistan who's prepared to look at all of your judgments and anything else that we've got to show what's been going on under the proceedings in Pakistan there are always every year core group of cases where there's huge barriers huge challenge is trying to find those children and those cases just run on year after year it's heartbreaking because you you're dealing with these parents on a day-to-day basis and you're sharing their emotions you know how much it's that the damage it's causing to his parents the pain that they're going through reunite have brought in Nick Johnston a former Interpol officer who worked on child abduction cases to Pakistan your ex-wife so she's a doctor can she survive for long periods of time two three four five years without employment the work has to be done on trying to look at seeing where there's a weak link somewhere because there will be a trial I guess that when I first went searching Pharma it wasn't a very organized approach and I did a lot of things that maybe in hindsight I would have done if I was a lot cooler on Karma my main priority now is just to find her at least find her to even have half an hour of her and that would be a starting point for me [Music] giving up is not an option for su for us almost 70% of parents reunite help get their abducted children back those super us hasn't seen our mana for more than three years now he remains optimistic I'm not alone you know there are a lot of parents who in a similar situation we just have to deal with it and you know just don't give up I'm still trying all I can because that's what I have left as a parent is that motivation and that love for your child to try and find her [Music] Cragen add been in Poland for over week they're waiting for the chance to take Craig's abducted daughter crystal back to Cyprus she's not left to a grandparents house for six days so Adam moves in closer to the end of their street the camera set up so it's basically heading looking straight down the footpath you can see the just the edge of the car with the smart anybody that comes out of that feeling this pick it up Marta just a spotted Marta leaving by herself it'll just be the grandparents with crystal if they do decide to leave this afternoon after being parked up for the best part of a day suddenly the moment they'd been waiting for crystal this crystal say on the road okay crystals outside getting in the car just confirm crystal is in the car so it is going to happen tonight we're going to stick to the plan and wait for them to get back and do the recovery as easy as possible [Music] adam has been told that crystals grandfather was a martial arts expert and may even be armed as a precaution he has a pepper spray which is legal opponent okay looks like they're coming home so everybody yeah get ready let's get out [Music] [Music] remember eatin am i [ __ ] around [Music] Gregg is a stranger to Crystal he hasn't held her for two-and-a-half years [Music] [Music] [Music] Adam is heading to the Cypriot embassy Vienna they have assisted the recovery by arranging an emergency passport for crystal an hour later crystal falls asleep she's on her way to Cyprus where she will see her sister Cassie for the first time at two and a half years whether or not the two girls of a sealer mother again is down to the courts and great at martyr finding a way to put aside their differences child abduction isn't about nationality it's not about the rights of one pound over the rights of another it's about the rights of a child to have a stable home environment and have a meaningful contact with both parents never leave you again okay I feel great don't know there's no words I'm happy for her sister you know for two years Martha has ignored the court rulings numerous court rulings she has no intention to hand Krystal back regardless of what the authorities say this is the only way he would have had the chance to take his daughter back home to Cyprus is to enforce the court rulings himself [Music] [Laughter] [Music] [Laughter] it seems go CEA's only hope of holding her daughter Talia is a letter to her mother-in-law dear mama I don't know how I can start the letter to you I love you and I like to say thank you so much for what you do for Talia I know that you are very close to Tanya I can promise you that I will never take Talia from you and mother you are her family and mine always love you and thank you for all lots of love for Talia and family [Music] all moms they are the same we love the children so much more than anything so I hope so she can understand me that I need tauriel more than a review [Music] [Laughter] I know maybe we we are not together now but I believe one day we'll be together and I can hug her and kiss her and cry but I am her mom she will be always my girl and she will be always on my heart [Music] Craig and Kristen have a flight home to catch but first Craig makes a Skype video call to his father and it's all in the past now you know hats - I didn't this just comes from the future [Music] does anything just give me a cool [Music] by - ah she's amazingly happy to give us kisses and cuddles it's awesome that's why we do this job just for the kids [Music] the sisters who were separated two and a half years ago are now together in Cyprus [Music] since we finished filming we contacted Marta she told us she was desperate and blames Craig for separating her from her daughters her children are her life and all she wants is for them to be happy and to have a normal childhood what colors have you got a crystal in May 2015 martyr pled guilty to child abduction and received an 18-month suspended sentence from a Cypriot judge she's still fighting the custody of Cristal in Cyprus [Music] in 2014 whilst helping a british-based mother to recover her child Adam Whittington was arrested for entering Singapore illegally restricting movement and causing harm Adam told us he disputed the charges and his footage of the incident was withheld by the police to avoid six months in jail awaiting his trial he pleaded guilty he received a ten-week sentence and now continues his work [Music] sooo Frances daughter Amina is still missing he continues to fight through the courts he will not give up [Music] Garcia has heard nothing from Libya she hopes that her husband in prison will decide to help [Music]

Channel: Wonder

Views: 186,427

Keywords: abducted children cases, abducted kids return home, abduction recovery, child custody issues, child recovery mission, family dynamics, family separation, father's love, international child abduction, kidnapped children reunited, missing child investigation, missing child support groups, missing children, missing children organization, missing kids rescue, missing persons cases, missing son, parent's worst nightmare, parental abduction, parental alienation

Id: o9eetfKQ7iI

Length: 45min 55sec (2755 seconds)

Published: Thu Oct 25 2018