A Vermont Mother’s Heartbreaking Search Continues
My heart goes out to Vermont mother Janet Jenkins, who remains in the dark as to the whereabouts of her daughter Isabella.
Lisa Miller, Isabella’s other mother, disappeared with the child before January 1, the date she was ordered by the Rutland Family Court to transfer custody to Janet.
GLAD has represented Janet since 2003 in her custody dispute with Lisa, who moved with Isabella to Virginia after the couple dissolved their civil union. GLAD was instrumental in securing a landmark legal victory in the Vermont Supreme Court establishing Janet as a full legal parent of Isabella. While the Family Court initially ordered that Lisa have primary custody of Isabella with liberal visitation for Janet, it recently modified that order because of Lisa’s inability to foster a positive relationship between Janet and their daughter. The most recent order came after years of Lisa’s repeated refusal to comply with court-ordered visitation for Janet.
Janet and Isabella have not seen each other in over a year, or even spoken in ten months.
Lisa is challenging the recent custody transfer order, and GLAD continues to defend Janet before the Vermont Supreme Court. “My goal has never been to separate Isabella from Lisa,” Janet says. “I just want Isabella to know and love both of her parents. I just want to be with her, like any parent.”
Janet issued a public plea for help in locating her daughter, after Lisa failed to appear with Isabella at the appointed time for the custody transfer. Her anguish is understandable to any parent: “I am so worried about Isabella. I do not know where she is or whether she is okay.”
At a hearing on January 22, the Vermont Family Court judge set a deadline of February 23 for Lisa to appear with Isabella. If she does not appear by that time, the judge may issue a warrant for Lisa’s arrest. For Isabella’s sake, Janet hopes Lisa decides to do the right thing so it does not have to come to that.
Please take a moment to read Janet’s statement about the search for her daughter. You can also hear Janet tell more of her story in an interview on Nightline tonight at 11:30 pm EST.
Anyone with information regarding Isabella’s and Lisa’s whereabouts is asked to call the Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678 or the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office at 540-586-4800.
This is truly a heartbreaking situation. I hope that Isabella is found safe and sound and reunited with Janet soon.