Everyone…
Unfortunately I have been forced to start a GoFundME in order protect my baby girl, Carlee Joy Edwards and our RIGHTS as a family and our LIFE as father and daughter.
The funds collected here will go towards the initial legal retainer we will need for this defense.
All travel costs needed due to this circumstance and other filing fees needed for further actions required.
The retainer is $3500. Needed as soon as possible.
Estimated travel costs at this time will be $1500. Needed by January 9th, 2020.
Miscellaneous filing costs in addition to this case will be around $700. Needed by January 9th, 2020
This brings our overwhelmed situation to $5700, with the $3500 retainer being the emergency.
We must quickly gather any and all funds to act on legal motions filed by the grandmother of Carlee Joy Edwards.
This support would mean so much to us as the entire situation catches us ALL totally off guard. I have never really been a position such as this, being a Father of four children! I was told by dear friends to start a GoFundME and was absolutely embarrassed to do so… but we are in dire need of the help to establish what is JUST, LAWFUL and decreed by the Heaven’s as I was given beautiful gift of Carlee Joy Josephine Edwards… given this gift by her mother, Jennifer Ketterman.
I am not in the habit of publicly seeking funds for these kinds of things and the support would be an absolute and total miracle… a blessing. I also declare and promise to use these funds as intended. Anything over and above will be donated to charity and as I seek restitution for being forced into this position… I declare the funds shall and will be returned or donated in the names of ALL who chose to assist!
Summary story:
On December 15, 2019 around 1:00 AM, Carlee’s mother, Jennifer Ketterman, was in a deadly car crash. She did not survive the incident that occurred only 3 days after Carlee’s 10th birthday on the 12th.
https://www.record-courier.com/news/20191215/one-car-crash-kills-woman-in-brimfield
https://www.donovanfuneralhome.com/notices/Jennifer-Ketterman
This is an absolute tragedy that I have yet to be able to fully mourn as I am forced to act on these things first.
My divorce decree from 2012 between Jennifer and myself clearly has the clause that states, “In the event of the death of either of us, the other parent’s residence will serve as the primary residence…” and thusly giving the surviving, biological parent.. CUSTODY.
Jennifer and I agreed to this in 2012 and it has been lawfully decreed since 2012.
Not to mention… I am her FATHER. Involved, responsible, loving and have been as such since she was born.
I arrived in Ohio this last week (December 16th to present) for my baby girl, so we may grieve, share in her grief with ALL her siblings… Cable, Cayden, Jory… and many others that love, adore and feel so much for my precious Carlee Joy. Jennifer Ketterman was my wife at one time, my love at one time and the mother of my child. All who knew our relationship knew we did not always agree… but she would have NEVER have wanted all that is happening. She would have wanted Carlee Joy with her daddy.
As I sought Carlee Joy, I was met with evasiveness from adults, excuses, minimal communication with my child, promises of being able to pick her up from them and the appointment never being met. I could not believe all that was happening, so I was forced to get authorities in Rittman, OH and Brimfield, OH involved to force them to produce my daughter to me. They made promises to authorities to produce her to me and missed those deadlines. I was forced to seek VALID charges per a County Prosecutor that could result in arrests. I had to file Police Reports, seek attorney advice and counsel.
Never allowed to grieve for Jennifer nor allowed to parent, comfort and grieve with my Carlee Joy.
The grandmother of Carlee Joy Edwards filed in Summit County for Emergency Temporary Custody, on the 19th, thusly causing authorities to back off of the laws being broken. I am still met with blockages, silence, excuses, etc. to even talk to my daughter. Her siblings, Cable, Cayden and Jory have been met with mostly the same.
As anyone who knows me… Carlee Joy came to live with me in June of 2019 as her mother’s home situation in Tallmadge, OH finally fell apart with her fiancé of 5 years. Carlee was forced to live with grandmother in March 2019; bouncing from grandmother, to Uncle to Aunt and back. Mother had bounced from her brother’s home to her sister’s home and rarely stayed with her daughter at grandmother’s home. Almost nightly Carlee would beg me to come get her. I NEVER judged her mother and NEVER rushed to go and grab my daughter, using a hardship against Jennifer.
Jennifer and I worked it all out and the decision was made in July 2019 that Carlee would live with dad in Dunedin, FL.
She was enrolled in Dunedin Elementary and she did well. Except for Math… but y’know… it’s Math!
She resided with me and her older brother Cayden Edwards (age 19) in our apartment in Dunedin. She was starting to make friends. We were creating more and more of a support system. Went to the Church of the Good Shepherd in Dunedin http://www.cogsdunedin.com/ where I was recently baptized. Carlee Joy instantly “bonded” with her bestie, Destiny, at the school and all the teachers embraced my Carlee Joy with open arms, creating stepping stones for a successful transition.
Carlee Joy is sorely missed.
Carlee Joy needs her Father.
Carlee Joy has much to heal from since her own home situation with mom dating back to 2018…
Please everyone and anyone… help me to SAVE my baby girl and embark upon a lifelong process of grieving her mother, celebrating her mother, mending her heart and her soul…
I DO know what must be done.
And to Jennifer JoAnne Ketterman…. I pray to you, I ask of your heart as you look down upon all this and KNOW you would NEVER condone ANY of it….
I pray to you… Your baby girl and I will always honor you... every day “Mama Llama”... the joy of your smile and the depth of your desires will give US strength to serve everyone and anyone in your absence.
We will continue to raise our baby girl together.... I promise...
#babygirl #veddymooch #mamallama #jenniferketterman #carleejoy
Any and ALL support and assistance for the defense of Carlee Joy Edwards is greatly respected and appreciated!
Blessings and Love to One and ALL!!
Rick L Edwards
Organizer
