Solved Murders - True Crime Stories - How I Saved My Son From a Broken System Before He Became Another Child Tragedy Headline #17

Episode Date: August 1, 2025

#horrorstories #reddithorrorstories #ScaryStories #creepypasta #horrortales #childprotection #systemfailure #familydrama #parentinghorror #tragicprevention  When I realized the system meant to protect my son was broken beyond repair, I took matters into my own hands. This story chronicles my desperate fight through neglect, red tape, and danger to save him from becoming yet another tragic headline. It’s a raw, emotional journey revealing how children can slip through the cracks and how one parent’s love and determination can sometimes be the only salvation. More than just a story, it’s a warning about the real horrors hidden in society.  horrorstories, reddithorrorstories, scarystories, horrorstory, creepypasta, horrortales, childprotectionfail, brokeninstitutions, parentalfight, systemicneglect, familydrama, realhorrorstories, socialissues, heartbreakingstory, tragicprevention, survivorstory, abusedchildren, justicefight, warningtale, emotionaljourney

The authorities took my son Matthew from his mom because she was diagnosed with a mental illness. Back then, I didn't fight it right away. I figured she needed help, and I didn't want to make things worse for her. But after a while, I realized it wasn't just about her anymore, it was about our son. So I applied for full custody. She eventually started taking medication and completed their parenting programs. Checked all the boxes. So they gave Matthew.

back to her. I wasn't happy, but I tried to be hopeful. I even asked the social worker, point-blank, what happens if Janice starts spiraling again? They gave me the same old line, we'll monitor her condition closely. Home visits. Regular check-ins. But guess what? That didn't happen. Not the way they said it would. I started getting calls from Matthew's teachers. They told me he was arriving late to school, sometimes looking like he hadn't showered in days. He'd be hungry, wearing dirty clothes. Sometimes he wouldn't get picked up until hours after school let out. And his mom?

She was acting weird. Real weird. Now, this is where it gets dark. Because I had this friend once, his daughter Alisa went to the same school as Matthew. Same class. Alisa's mom lost custody too, just like Janice. But then the system gave her daughter back, just like Janice. And then, she murdered her.

Brutally. The kind of case that makes headlines. The kind of story that ends up on the cover of Time magazine. That case haunted me. And now here I was, seeing all the red flags again, in my own life. So I called social services. told them everything, begged them to step in. They said they'd look into it. But what did they really do? Later I found out they knocked on her door once. Just once. Nobody answered,

so they just, walked away. That was their version of an investigation. So I hired a lawyer. Not cheap, but I didn't care. I filed a petition for full custody. My attire. My attire. My attire. wasn't too optimistic, though. You're claiming she's mentally unfit, he said. But do we have medical proof? What's her diagnosis? Do we even know? Because if we can't prove she's unwell, we can't prove she's unfit. Weeks passed. Then came our court date. We were scheduled to start at 10 a.m. I showed up early. Janice didn't show at all. Not at first. Hours passed. Everyone was restless.

Finally, at 2 p.m., she walked in, looking disheveled and agitated. The judge asked for an explanation. Her lawyer stood up and said, Your Honor, my client apologizes for her lateness. She was unavoidably detained. We're ready to proceed. The judge was about to move on when Janice stood up. She started mumbling. Her lawyer whispered for her to.

to sit down, but she didn't. There are men on my roof, she said. The judge looked confused. Excuse me. Did you say there are men on your roof? Yes. At night. I can't stay home. Did you call the police? Yes. But they won't come anymore. So I can't stay home. So where do you go? We sleep on the subway. The whole courtroom froze. You sleep on the subway. You and your son. All night? Yes.

Because of the man on the roof. That was the moment. That was when the judge, the lawyers, everyone in the room saw what I had been trying to say for months. Something was very wrong with her. I looked over and even the bailiffs were exchanging uneasy glances. I leaned over to my lawyer and whispered, asking me. the judge for immediate temporary custody. He did. And the judge agreed. Right there on the spot. I don't have access to any mental health records, the judge said. And you're not obligated to share them.

But based on what I just witnessed, I'm granting immediate temporary custody to the plaintiff. Final decision in two weeks. And just like that, I had my son back. Two weeks later, I was awarded full custody. That was almost 30 years ago. Janice never recovered. She lives in a mental health facility now. Her dad used to visit her and talk about Matthew. She'd look at him blankly and say, I don't have a son. And Elisa.

I still mourn for her. That sweet little girl deserved better. Her story is one I'll never forget. It made the news not just because of the horror, but because she was so special. She had that spark. People adored her. I remember reading about her life, how she loved to dance. Marengay was her favorite. It almost felt like a fairy tale at first. Born in rough conditions, in a homeless shelter, addicted to crack. But she was radiant. That's the word people kept using. Her preschool teachers talked about her brilliant smile and her bright eyes. She had that

charm that made everyone fall in love with her. There was even a prince in her life. Prince Michael of Greece. Seriously. He supported her preschool, saw something in her, and promised to pay for her entire private school education. All the way through college. It felt like the universe was finally giving her a shot. But fairy tales don't end like hers did. She was murdered by the very person who was supposed to protect her. Her mother bludgeoned her to death. That's the awful truth. But it didn't happen in one horrific moment, it happened over time. She was abused, tormented, violated with objects, forced to eat her own feces, used to mop the floor. Her cries were heard by neighbors, but nothing was done. Her body was found before her seventh birthday,

wearing a crown of flowers in an open casket. The morticians couldn't even hide all the damage. And the system had failed her. Just like they almost failed my son. You know, people think parents are just out to get back at each other in custody fights. That it's all spite. That it's some messy breakup drama. But sometimes, sometimes it's life or death.

I wasn't trying to punish Janice. I wasn't angry. I was scared. I knew what could happen. I'd seen it happen. I still remember the last thing I told that Judge before we left the courtroom for the final time. Thank you for listening. You may have just saved my son's life.

And I think about Elisa all the time. I think about how her story could have ended differently if just one person had spoken up louder. Acted sooner. Done more. Maybe telling this story now helps with that. Maybe if someone out there is reading this, struggling with the same doubts, the same fears, they'll act. Speak up. Push harder. Because these kids, they don't get do-overs. They get one chance. One life. And it's up to us to protect them when the people who are supposed to do that, can't. Or won't.

So yeah, that's how I got full custody of my son. Not by playing the system. not by being the better-lawyered-up parent, but by showing up, paying attention, and refusing to let him become another tragic headline. Elisa deserved a fairy tale ending. We all did. But sometimes, you've got to fight to write your own. The end.