Background: The Holly Collins custody/parental abduction case is perhaps the most prominent custody case in the media at this moment. Holly Collins and her supporters among domestic violence and feminist advocates assert that the case demonstrates that family courts are biased against battered women and favor abusive men.

Holly and Jennifer Collins, her now 23-year-old daughter who was kidnapped from her father's custody while a young child, have presented Holly's side of the story in the national media, including a Fox News TV show and Inside Edition.

Despite the fact that Holly Collins' claims are disputed by her own mother, grandmother, sister, brother, former in-laws, her ex-husband and his wife, numerous doctors, Guardians ad Litem, social workers, mental health professionals and all seven judges who have heard this case, over the past year Holly Collins has been able to disseminate her side of the case to the media unfettered. There has been little or no effort to look into the other side of the case.

I have done so. The closer one looks at Holly Collins' version of events, the more problems one finds. My findings about the case can be found here.

Below Holly Collins responds to my findings--My comments on her statement are below it.

Is the Truth Enough? Holly Collins Responds to Glenn Sacks Accusations

Dear Advocates,

Jennifer just called me to tell me that Glenn Sacks just published an attack against our family. I think it is really sad that she is so upset. What do I do? Jennifer can’t just leave it because she says that he makes us look untrustworthy. I can prove everything, but I am so tired. Of course I will do anything for my daughter if you think it is helpful.

Jennifer asked: Why would Glenn Sacks do this?” It’s obvious by his opening line. “The Holly Collins custody/parental abduction case is perhaps the most prominent custody case in the media at this moment.” Glenn Sacks is an opportunist. He wants the fame and fortune and he has found another way to try to thrust him self into the spotlight.

I feel like I am being pulled back into my past. It seemed like every time I turned around Mark started another lie to cover up his abuse and my biological mother, step father and even some court personnel did everything to try discredit me. They had money, power and fancy lawyers. All I had was the truth on my side. I have to be honest… the truth is so ugly I’d rather be lying or crazy!

I would really appreciate your advice.

Sincerely,
Holly

A few comments:

1) Holly says that her ex-husband Mark Collins and his allies "had money, power and fancy lawyers. All I had was the truth on my side." In reality, during both the custody trial and the subsequent appeal it was Mark who was litigating pro se, while Holly had an attorney each time. To view both court documents, click here and here.

2) As for me allegedly investigating the case in order to get media attention, there are far, far easier ways for me to get media than plowing through Holly Collins' absolutely endless case file. I investigated the case because misguided and misled domestic violence and feminist advocates are citing it to support the family law changes they seek. These changes will unwittingly make it easier for women (or men) to employ false accusations of abuse against their spouses or former spouses in order to win custody, and will make it even harder for fathers (and mothers) to fight parental alienation.

3) Holly complains that I am "pull[ing] her back into [her] past." However, it was Holly and Jennifer who decided to discuss the details of Holly's case on national television, where they used it to promote their views on family law. Also, the record of the case which I've examined is public.

[A note on blog comments--please keep your comments on topic and respectful. Off-topic personal insults directed at Holly and Jennifer Collins will be deleted without notice, and I've already edited out or deleted several. If you see a comment which is inappropriate, please let me know at glenn@glennsacks.com.--GS]

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 27th, 2009 at 9:16 am and is filed under Family Law, Domestic Violence/DV System, Parental Alienation/PAS, False Accusations, Parental Kidnapping. You can trackback from your own site.