Warning: While this post does not go into detailed descriptions, it does talk about child molestation and CPS leaving children in an emotionally awful environment.
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It was a calm day when I got that call. The start of Christmas break in 2015. One of my nieces (we'll call her Rosie for privacy) did not come home on the bus.
My mother and sister (mother of my three nieces and nephew) were instructed to go to the police station where Rosie was being safely kept.
According to my mother, in later days, Austen (my brother) voluntarily rode along. She went heavily into denial and tried to portray him as noble. Giving himself up.
According to my sister, she insisted he come with, for support.
At the station a worst nightmare come true. My brother was accused of molesting my niece. Rosie was five, at the time of the accusation.
They took his statement and released him, he was not to go back to our mother's house, where the children live.
I listened to this over the phone as my mother told me the day after all of this happened.
I vomited and couldn't stop shaking. I don't know how long I sat in the slushy snow of my long gravel driveway and cried.
It gets worse.
My older niece (this one we'll call Sandy), had also been molested, by my brother's admittance. For several years. She was 9 at the time of all of this.
He was arrested on my youngest niece's birthday, the day before Christmas. She was also molested. Age 4. Her name shall be Iris for this article.
At this point my mind is a whirl of guilt. How could I not have noticed things were wrong?! Those poor, sweet girls!!!
This isn't the boy I know!!! I was 10 when he was born. He was my baby. I spoiled him rotten growing up. Using money from my first job to take him to movies, skating etc. He was quite simply my favorite family member.
Funny, goofy, helping and caring, a musician and snappy dresser and a listening ear. He was a "good kid". I never, NEVER would have guessed he'd do something so sickening.
But the more I obsessed over it, the more little things began falling into place. He had never paid much attention to Rosie, usually focusing more time on the older girl, Sandy. Helping her with homework and such. They'd watch movies together.
They just seemed to have a good relationship. In hindsight, he was keeping her groomed.
Rosie started gaining his attention in what seemed a great positive way. He talked about how great she was at math and how easily she was picking up reading. More grooming.
So easy to see that when looking back now. So fucking sickening.
I was even able to pinpoint WHEN he began molesting Sandy. He was 18, and he'd been dating a high school girl. Her parents approved as he had just graduated.
He spent so much time with her. Apparently she broke it off when he sent flowers to her school with a note stating he loved her. Too much, too pushy.
He kept in contact and the mother stopped taking his calls, claiming the girl was in the hospital, complications of an allergy.
It seemed odd then, but it makes sense now. What was he doing to that girl that made her lie about being in the hospital? I bet your guess is as good as mine.
Shortly after though, Sandy became his favorite.
Then it was his step-sister. He was probably 19 by then. He took her to movies, took her shopping, spent time and money on her. Visited his dad that he hated all to see this girl.
At the time I thought he was doing for her what I had done for him. Doting on a beloved younger sister. Reality is he was dating that girl.
Later her mother accused Austen of molesting her.
My mother, in her delusions over him visciously spat out "How DARE SHE accuse my son?!" You mean the same kid accused of three other girls under this very roof?
She was insane about it. She would drop everything to take his calls each night. She woukd visit twice a week. Often taking her husband, Iris and my nephew with. Yes. She brought his victim to visit him. Fucking wrong. She and I barely spoke for a long time.
She still has all four children. Even though they did not even begin therapy until last year because of convenience issues for her. Even though she brought the little one to visit him. CPS is corrupt. They did nothing in this case.
It took a good long while before he was finally sentenced. He and his lawyer played games, avoiding judges that were likely to give a longer sentence.
His admittion to molesting Sandy was thrown out. The only evidence they had for Sandy is what Rosie told them, and what Austen told them. He was not charged for her. Sandy has not spoken a word about it to this day.
For reasons unclear to me, the youngest, Iris was a non-issue to the prosecuters. They "had enough" to convict him.
All of this I am hearing second hand, because I have not spoken to the bastard who once was my brother in just over three years. Not one word since that phone call telling me what had happened.
The judge went easy on him. He was, after all, a "good kid" that had never been involved in any crime before. Twelve years total, with almost a year already served. With good behavior he will be out by 2023.
That's not good enough. He is a fucking repeat opportunistic sexual predator. Because only one girl was given justice, he is not on the higher echelon of sex offender charges.
The system is worse than broken, you guys. He is a predator of the worst kind. And in five years, he will be back with the rest of us.
I'm sorry if this post rambles. It's been three years, but I don't know if I'll ever be right in the head about it.
Protect your babies. You never know. It could be your own brother.