Copy of Email from WomensCoalition@substack.com -- Please share, donate and advocate to prevent more harm and loss

From an email with a request 'to share' at the end. These tragic losses of two sisters at the hand of their biological father who also took his own life happened in Colorado in early Dec. 2022. When looking online for other details, more cases of gun violence emerged (from Atlanta where unruly teens shot two boys who died.One mother had reported her own teen as violent but was told by police they could not intervene.

There are many issues to address, even in places with curfews and some security. The loss of lives to IPV "Intimate Partner Violence" or DV  "Domestic Violence" is an area that needs specific reforms. The school violence is being remembered across the US and beyond as well as online as the 10th year since Sandy Hook CT tragedy occurred on 12/14/2012. I will be attending the vigil in Salisbury CT (and had gone to one in New Milford in the weeks in the aftermath.) I was caring for someone back then who was in disbelief and moved to tears. Another friend wrote to the paper with the names of the children and teachers who died before that was a more common way to commemorate victims.

As a country our 'hearts are full of shared losses.'  In our local MA/NY CT tri-corner area we have felt the loss of many to overdoses or suicide, many in despair or resulting from difficult paths. In 2009, we had our own major concern with a group of youths, including our heroic son Kaelan age 16, going to a dangerous waterfall--with a few jumping in from rocks and one dying  when helping save his friend-- on the last day of school against the agreements among two or maybe more of the mothers to go to safe appropriate places in the river with two responsible adults supervising, and basically permission from both parents.See more about that on Remembering Kaelan Alexander Palmer Paton of CT who was born 30 years ago on January 6th, 1993.

That kind of wisdom and guidance, if followed regularly 'without exception' would save many people, including volunteer or trained rescuers a great deal of heartache and actual man hours of search and rescue, often dangerous or difficult efforts, and unfortunately also possible recovery efforts. Other areas of concern to supervise anyone who may wander or be in difficult climate or areas without safety skills and support (fenced in areas, locked gates and at least a GPS or camera monitoring system) would be reasonable measures as people may be getting mentally unstable, dementia, dealing with challenges and changes. Now back to the initial email and these comments so far are in no way sponsored by the Womens Coalition or other organization. They are my own thoughts and ideas as a blogger, Catherine Palmer Paton.

. I wrote about that day in an earlier post (all are chronological on this blog as well as over the years, learning more from many programs including people who founded The Carey Gabay Foundation in Brooklyn NY.)

Let's keep networking and try to comprehend the situations from 'the top down' (policies, politics and funding, systems and public concerns) as well as from the ground up (people, parenting and childcare, safety and sensible programs to supervise and support people.) Here is the letter from  the Womens Coalition.

Little Cameron and Audrey, ages 8 and 6, were murdered by their father last week. He shot them, called 911, and then committed suicide.

These innocent little girls are victims of the Custody Crisis.

This case is getting national and local MSM (mainstream media) attention but the official custody status is unknown as their mother, Erica, has not spoken out yet.

However, a GoFundMe set up on Erica’s behalf states:

Cameron and Audrey are victims of the systemic failure of our judicial process for evaluating and granting child custody.

So it is clear they are victims of the Custody Crisis.

As most Coalition followers know, the Custody Crisis is the epidemic of judges switching custody to a father who should not have it. Most involve a judge endangering children by giving custody to a father who has been violent or abusive to the mother and/or child(ren)—despite the mother’s testimony and/or corroborating evidence of violence or abuse.

As in these little girls’ case, the results are often beyond devastating.

And there are new cases every week in which mothers’ and children’s lives are being destroyed. It needs to end.

GO FUND ME

The GoFundMe is seeking donations for a memorial for the girls and for organizations focused on “systemic reform in the custody-granting process”.

On behalf of the family, we are seeking:

1. $10,000 to assist with funding a memorial (at a future date) for Cameron and Audrey.

2. Funding for non-profit organizations that focus on preventing and protecting against domestic violence towards women and children and systemic reform in the custody-granting process.

It is important to understand, though, that reforms within the current system has not and cannot make any significant difference, because Family Court is specifically designed so judges can get around any reforms.

New laws won’t matter because in practice judges can do whatever they want, including disregarding clear evidence of violence or abuse and falsely find mothers to be lying, alienating, or mentally ill to justify switching custody to fathers.

There is no way to prevent this horrible and outrageous state of affairs due to the near-absolute power bequeathed on Family Court judges and the ineffectiveness of the appellate process as the only remedy.

That means only way mothers can get a fair trial, with the concomitant power to maintain custody and protect their children, is if custody cases are moved out of Family Court into a regular civil court with a jury and other important protections. The Child Custody Act, i.e. Damon’s Act, provides for this and as soon as the Coalition has enough members and power, we will be hitting the legislatures.

If you donate to the gofundme, please consider leaving a comment and letting them know that we need an entirely new system to prevent tragedies like this one and that The Women’s Coalition is fighting for one.

Link to the GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/cameron-lynn-and-audrey-jane

NATIONAL & LOCAL MSM

People Magazine

“Colo. Girls with 'Bright Smiles and Caring Hearts' Are Killed by Man in Murder-Suicide”

Coloradoan

“Larimer County coroner IDs man, 2 children found dead in possible murder-suicide”

While Cameron and Audrey were only the tender ages of 8 and 6, they touched the lives of so many with their bright smiles, caring hearts and love for others.

IN OTHER NEWS

UN SUBMISSION & SURVEY

Our UN submission regarding the Custody Crisis is due on Wednesday, so if you have not filled out the survey yet, please do it by tomorrow.

You can read more about our submission in a previous column: UN Human Rights Council Takes on the Custody Crisis

Thanks to all who’ve filled out the quick and easy form—we already have almost 400!

It’s a quick and easy form with only check-box questions and you may remain anonymous. Women from non-English-speaking countries are encouraged to use Google Translate.

Can we make it to 500 by tomorrow?? Please share!