Abducted Children

On February 26th, 2010 my children were abducted out of the country in direct violation of a US court order, YET, the US does nothing!  How is it that the USA refuses to put pressure on countries that Hold Children who were abducted out of the country into foreign nations.

How is it in Times of war that the red cross can go into enemy territory to check on prisoners of war but a left behind parent who has full custody of his children cannot even find out how they are doing, what kind of health care is being provided for them.  Cannot even speak to them?

How is it that the citizens of foreign countries can freely enter and leave our country when they hold children who were abducted out of the USA?

Here is a recent Leter send to Senator Cardin. He never responded back? How is it that US Born Children can be Abducted into foreign countries and the US does nothing but give the left behind parents the run around? The State Department does nothing to put pressure on these countries? It is Human Trafficing

Ms. Peddicord:

I understand that you are new to this case, but after reviewing the file, I am sure that you can get caught up pretty quickly. Also, the string of e-mails between myself and Jessica below probably should be read before reading my e-mail to you in black font. Once you have reviewed this, we look forward to hearing from back from you.



I am sending you a link to an Op-Ed from the today's Boston Globe penned by Sen. John Kerry, highlighting, once again, in a public forum, the plight of Noor and Ramsay Bower. Here is the link: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/op_ed/view/20220925egypt_enables_ongoing_abduction_two_sonstaken_from_newton_dad_in_09/. I have also attached a copy for you as well.

The parallels and similarities between the Bower and Hunkovic cases are undeniable. Indeed, except for the ages of the children and the countries involved, we could be talking about the same family. The abduction occurred close to 3 years ago in the face of a court order awarding legal and physical custody to Mr. Hunkovic by way of a surreptitious removal of the children from the United States.

Yet, despite the similarities, Senator Cardin seems to view the abduction of the Hunkovic children an entirely different light than how Senator Kerry views the abduction of the Bower children. From Senator Kerry, we see calls to the Egyptian president, meetings with the Secretary of State, coordinated efforts with US Ambassador Patterson and attempts to broker a reunification between Colin Bower and his sons. Yet, from Senator Cardin, there are no similar efforts: no calls being made, no meetings with State Department officials, no publication of the plight of the Hunkovic children from his office. Only sterile words advising Stan that he must go through the local authorities in Trinidad, which are of absolutely no help to him. He has few resources left. He has called a number of lawyers in Trinidad, and none will help him or he can't afford them.

Why is that? Why are the lives of the two young Massachusetts boys more valuable, more worth fighting for, than these Maryland children. Regardless of the success or outcome of Senator Kerry's efforts, at least Mr. Bower knows that someone is fighting for him, making contact and pleading his case where he can't. Mr. Hunkovic, on the other hand, is left to fight this fight on his own, even though every door or pathway is closed to him. On the other hand, Senator Cardin may have the power to open some doors, facilitate a settlement to end this custody battle, but he chooses not to.

In the meantime, Mr. Hunkovic has not heard from his children for months. No weekly phone calls or video chats. And, the welfare visits by the US Embassy in Trinidad? Useless because the mother won't cooperate. He has no inkling as to their well-being right now. His wife is using the courts in Trinidad to her advantage, and Mr. Hunkovic is left to sit home in Maryland, as his children's childhoods race by, without their father's love and guiding hand. Their father, who serves his community in ways that not many of us do. He is a paramedic/firefighter, out there every day, saving lives and keeping the people of his community, his State, and his country, safe. Yet, when he asks his country for help, to protect his children when he is unable, all he gets is "sorry, but there is nothing we can do."

Well, he doesn't believe that there is nothing the government can do for his children. Trinidad is not Egypt. The government of Trinidad and Tobago needs to know, in a very public way, that the US expects its court system to honor validly entered court orders from US state courts and to return US citizens to their home, and if there is a dispute, to allow the courts of Maryland, where the children were born and where the parents chose to start a family together, decide their fate, not some far away land with little to no connection to the children except through unlawful means.

Mr. Hunkovic will never give up on his kids. And he will never give up on his community or the people he serves everyday. Can the same be said of Senator Cardin?

A good start would be a similar op-ed piece in the Post or Baltimore Sun. I even have the title for it: "Trinidad and Tobago Enables Ongoing Abduction"

We look forward to a quick and positive response.


Joel R. Zuckerman, Esquire
Maxwell & Barke LLC.
51 Monroe Place, Suite 806
Rockville, Maryland 20850
(301)309-8300