Help Protect an Innocent Child: A Father’s Fight for Safety

I am a father fighting to protect my young child after they suffered injuries while under the care of their family member. My commitment to their safety is unwavering, but the system has failed to provide the immediate protection they need. I’m seeking your help to ensure my child’s safety and to assist with the overwhelming legal costs involved.

For over 20 years, I’ve served in public safety roles, always striving to do what’s right and uphold honesty and fairness. My duty to protect my child—and all children—is my top priority.

What Happened

Since September 2024, I’ve watched my child suffer at the hands of someone who was supposed to love and care for them. The childcare provider, their family member, reported a minor injury after my child allegedly fell down a flight of stairs. However, upon picking my child up, I noticed something much more alarming: extensive bruising that hadn’t been mentioned, including bruising that sprawled from the front of the shoulder and across their back down to the buttocks.

A few days later, my child was returned to my custody with new injuries. It was discovered that the child sustained a severe contusion/abrasion from an object that penetrated and damaged their diaper. I also observed a bruise near their eye. Concerned, I filed a report with the authorities, as Pennsylvania law mandates. York County Children, Youth, and Families (CYF) responded the following day, instructing me to take my child to the emergency room.

At the hospital, two physicians found these injuries consistent with non-accidental trauma. They confirmed what I had feared—the injuries were not accidental. I immediately sought legal counsel and was advised to keep my child in my care while the investigation proceeded.

The Struggle to Keep My Child Safe

Despite the evidence, I faced intense legal battles. The child’s mother, seeking custody, filed several complaints, accusing me of withholding the child based on baseless abuse claims. Without the financial means to hire adequate legal representation, I was vulnerable to unjust legal action. I filed for a Protection from Abuse (PFA) order for the child, and a temporary PFA was granted. Despite the ongoing investigation, another judge at the final PFA hearing stated they would grant a continuance, but protection for the child would end. We continued with the hearing and the judge ruled that the PFA would not be upheld and ordered that my child be returned to their mother.

Over the holiday season, my child returned to me with new, unexplained bruises. I immediately reported these to both my attorney and CYF, but my concerns were dismissed, and my child was to be sent back to the same environment. In January 2025, during a contempt hearing, I was devastated to learn that the CYF stated, “The case was indicated on an unknown person and closed.” My child was once again placed in harm’s way. A Pennsylvania Child Protective Services (CPS) case is indicated when a caseworker believes there is substantial evidence of child abuse or neglect.

I was sternly warned that withholding the child in the future would put me in prison, even in the face of new injuries.

My child remains in immediate danger and is continuing to show deep emotional distress. Despite the severity of the situation, there is still no one in custody, and the person responsible has yet to be held accountable. I am reaching out because my child deserves to feel safe, loved, and protected, and I cannot stand by while they continue to suffer. Many details have been left out as to protect the wellbeing of the child.

Why I Need Your Help

The financial and emotional toll of navigating this legal system is beyond what my family and I can afford on our own. The court system, along with CYF, has failed to ensure my child’s safety, and the burden now falls on me to continue this fight.

I’m asking for your help to cover the legal expenses that are essential to keep my child safe. Every penny raised will go toward ensuring that I have the resources to protect my child and navigate the legal challenges that continue to arise. I am heartbroken that protecting my child from obvious danger requires such financial sacrifice, but I will do whatever it takes to ensure their safety.

Your support means the world to my family and I. Thank you for standing with us during this difficult time. May God bless you for your kindness.

Why Donate:

Legal Fees: I need funds for legal representation to protect my child’s safety and challenge unjust rulings.

Court Costs: The ongoing legal battles require substantial financial resources to ensure the continued protection of my child.

Future Protection: With your support, I can keep my child safe in the future, regardless of the obstacles I may face.