As many of you know, our family has been fighting for nearly a year to get Jose safe and out of Cleveland County. Jose was diagnosed with schizophrenia at just 19 years old, and like so many who struggle with mental illness, he has faced more than his share of challenges.

Last October, during an episode, Jose mistakenly walked into a home just down the street from his brother’s house — thinking it was his brother’s. He was found sitting quietly on the couch, eating gummy worms. The police were called, and now Jose is being charged with a felony — due to him eating those gummy worms.

Since that day, our family has been doing everything we can to make sure Jose isn’t lost in a system that too often forgets people like him. Unfortunately, the system isn’t built to protect those with mental health conditions. Public defenders are overworked, and communication has been almost impossible — Jose’s attorney has stopped responding to our questions, and she doesn’t even know where he is currently located.

Due to him calling us, we recently learned that Jose is being held at Vinita, a mental health institution for inmates. When we spoke to a private defense attorney for advice, she told us that Vinita is not where we want Jose to stay — that far too many people are sent there and never make it out.

We refuse to let that happen to Jose. He is not a criminal — he is a kind, gentle soul who needs treatment, compassion, and a chance to heal. Our goal is to raise enough funds to hire an experienced defense attorney who understands mental health cases and can fight to get Jose the care he needs.

We know times are hard for everyone, but if you can give anything — no matter how small — it would mean the world to us. And if you’re unable to donate, please help us by sharing Jose’s story. Every share, every prayer, and every act of kindness helps us get one step closer to bringing Jose home safely.

From the bottom of our hearts — thank you for caring about Jose and standing with us in this fight.