Our Story

My name is Marty, and I’m writing this on behalf of myself, my amazing wife Melissa, my incredible 16 year old bonus daughter, my 14 year old legend of a son, and my absolutely beautiful 8 year old daughter. My beautiful little family is desperately in need of help.

Melissa’s Story

Melissa is a survivor of domestic abuse. In November 2012, she fled her previous abusive relationship for her own safety. It was one of the hardest decisions any mother could ever face - she was forced to leave her two young children behind in the matrimonial home. She didn’t abandon them. She escaped with her life, fully intending to fight to get them back.

And fight she did. For years, their father systematically alienated the children from her, gaslighting and manipulating them into believing she didn’t want to see them, threatening them with consequences if they visited her, and doing everything in his power to punish Melissa for leaving him and refusing to go back. Despite this, she never stopped fighting to maintain her relationship with her children.

Those years of abuse, trauma, and relentless court battles took a profound toll. Melissa carries the very real symptoms of PTSD, but has never been able to seek a formal diagnosis, as the thought of reliving those traumatic memories in a clinical setting has been too painful to face. Through all of it, she remained loving, caring, and empathetic. No matter what was thrown her way, she never stopped fighting to be there for her kids. Hands down, she is the strongest person I know, and I know some very strong people.

It was during these darkest years that the child support arrears accumulated. She is not a deadbeat mother. She is an absolutely amazing woman who carries deep wounds from circumstances most people will never face.

The Retaliation

In August 2025, something significant happened - Melissa's 16 year old daughter fled her father’s abusive household and came to live with us. She had finally had enough. She chose her mother’s family, and we welcomed her with open arms, along with the love, support and security she so desperately needed.

That’s when Melissa’s ex-partner chose to act. Despite years of inaction, he suddenly pursued the child support arrears through the Family Responsibility Office, not because he cared about the money, but because he believed that having Melissa imprisoned would force their daughter to return to his home. He has openly laughed about having Melissa jailed. This was never about the money. This was about control.

Where We Are Now

My beautiful Melissa forever… my better half… the love of my life… my Tinderella of 11 years has been sentenced to 180 days and imprisoned since January 15, 2026, under a Warrant of Committal for those unpaid child support arrears totalling $15,910. She is not scheduled to be released until July 13, 2026 or until that amount is paid in full.

The Impact on Our Family

At home, I am now solely responsible for three children, including Melissa’s daughter who escaped an abusive home specifically to be reunited with her mother, only to have her mother imprisoned a short time later. This beautiful young lady has been through more than any teenager should ever have to endure, and right now she is without the one person who gives her the most comfort, and the only person who can help her through her frequent and intense panic attacks.

I work full time as a heavy equipment mechanic to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table. After work I come home to cook, clean, and make sure our kids are taken care of. All three children at home have differing degrees of ADHD, and maintaining stability and routine for them while carrying this weight has been the hardest thing I have ever done.

Twice a week I drive an hour each way to the prison so each child can have individual half hour visits with their mom, which is the maximum amount of visits the facility allows. It breaks my heart to have to bring the kids into that environment and see their sweet Mom dressed in prison greens, behind thick glass, who really doesn’t deserve to be there. But I do it because she means the world to them. Because they really need her. Because I really need her. Because we are a family and families don’t give up on each other.

What We Need

$15,910. That is the exact amount that will bring her home. Every single dollar raised goes directly toward securing her release. Nothing more, nothing less.

We are extremely grateful if you are able to contribute anything at all - $1, $5, $20, $100 - it brings us one step closer to having our family whole again, and it is appreciated more than you can imagine. If you cannot contribute financially, sharing this campaign costs nothing and could make all the difference.

Our children desperately need their mother home. Every minute counts. I need my partner in my arms so that I can hold her and let her know that everything is going to be okay. And a woman who has already survived so much deserves to stop being punished for it.

Thank you so very much from the bottom of our hearts for reading our story. We are truly grateful for any support you are able to offer.