Hi, I’m Tom Reed, Giselle’s friend.

Giselle Smiel is a devoted mother, a woman of faith, and a survivor of severe domestic violence and institutional betrayal. I’ve known her for years — she’s strong, compassionate, and has endured more than most could imagine.

For the past five years, Giselle has been the sole caregiver to her children. A lifelong California resident with no criminal record, she has dedicated her life to their care, safety, and well-being.

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On September 4, 2025, Giselle was arrested at her home in San Diego County and taken to Los Angeles County, where she now faces six felony charges.

Her bail was set at $500,000 — an amount typically reserved for violent or high-flight-risk offenders. These charges stem not from criminal intent, but from a custody conflict involving a father with a documented history of domestic violence, substance abuse, and aggressive litigation tactics.

After years of documented domestic violence, including a reported incident involving physical assault in the presence of the children, Giselle relocated from Santa Clarita to San Diego, California, for safety. Since relocating, she has remained at the same residence and continued to act in the best interests of the children — prioritizing their well-being while doing her best to comply with co-parenting expectations under a high-conflict custody arrangement.

The children — deeply traumatized and fearful of their father — refused to leave Giselle’s care. Though she never left her court-recognized residence, Giselle is now facing criminal charges for allegedly interfering with custody, kidnapping, and Child abduction.

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Denied Due Process and Full Judicial Intervention

Giselle’s legal battle didn’t begin with her arrest — it began with a family court system that failed her at every step.

At one critical juncture, Giselle missed a custody hearing because her son was experiencing a medical emergency. Rather than rescheduling or allowing her to appear remotely, the court granted full custody to the father — despite his documented history of domestic violence. No full evidentiary hearing was held. That single absence was weaponized against her, drastically escalating her legal jeopardy and removing her children from the only stable, safe home they’ve known for years.

Despite the father’s documented history of domestic violence, the court denied Giselle a full evidentiary hearing, failed to provide trauma-informed judicial review, did not ensure her federally mandated ADA accommodations, and prevented her from asserting protections afforded under California Family Code §§ 3020 and 3044.

Meanwhile, the opposing party — with legal counsel and financial resources — was allowed to file repeated motions while owing over $200,000 in unpaid child and spousal support and $20,000 in court-ordered attorney’s fees.

Additionally, he completed a domestic violence diversion program, often used following a finding or admission of abuse, yet faced no long-term consequences.

Giselle, in contrast, was denied meaningful access to justice and treated not as a protective parent — but as a threat.

These failures violate both state and federal law, including:

• The Fourteenth Amendment — Right to fair and impartial legal proceedings

• California Code of Civil Procedure § 352 — Access to justice during hardship

• California Family Code § 3044 — Presumption against awarding custody to abusers

This is not justice — it’s the criminalization of a survivor.

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A National Pattern of Punishing Mothers

Giselle’s case reflects a growing national crisis in family courts. Despite laws intended to protect children, research shows: Mothers who report abuse are nearly twice as likely to lose custody than those who do not.

Her story follows a disturbing pattern known as DARVO:

Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender — where abusers deflect blame by portraying survivors as the aggressors. Instead of healing with her children, Giselle now faces years in prison — while the man she escaped continues to walk free.

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Civil Rights Violations in Jail

Giselle lives with invisible disabilities stemming from years of trauma induced abuse. In custody, she has not received legally required accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

This isn’t just inhumane — it’s a violation of her civil rights and further endangers her health.

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What We’re Raising Funds For

Retain a trauma-informed legal team – To fight both criminal charges and appeal custody rulings and protect her constitutional rights.

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How You Can Help

✔️ Donate – Any amount helps

✔️ Share – Post this on social media, email, or text it to a friend

✔️ Speak out – Help us shine a light on this injustice

She deserves:

✔️Support, not punishment

✔️Safety, not a jail cell

✔️To be with her children, not fighting for visits

Let’s stand with Giselle. Let’s help her reclaim her freedom and her children. This isn’t just about one mother — it’s about every survivor who has been punished for doing the right thing.

We know that times are tough for many — but even a small show of solidarity can make a life-changing impact. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for reading, supporting, and standing with Giselle.

— Tom Reed