Help us Find Lucy Castro - Lucy's Recovery Fund

Hi everyone, my name is Brian Skaj and my friend, Lucy Castro has gone missing in Phoenix, AZ. Lucy has been struggling with mental illness for years and has been living with her parents who are senior citizens. I want to be clear that I started this fundraiser with the blessing of the Castro family and that the proceeds are being funneled directly to them by GoFundMe. I have written everything here myself and it has been approved by the family.

Last week, Lucy's father was forced to file a report with Peoria Police (just outside Phoenix, AZ) to assist her parents in taking Lucy to a mental health facility. The act was under a type of petition which by law allows for the detainment of a mentally ill individual who may be a threat to themselves or others.

The Peoria police came to the family's Peoria home and took Lucy by force. In the middle of it, Lucy pushed an officer away from her in protest. As a result, the officers tackled Lucy to the ground and then arrested her for aggravated assault. Once Lucy was detained, the officer on the scene informed her parents that four things would happen next:

1. They had to take her to the hospital to look at her injuries.

2. She had to be booked at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and placed in jail there at what's called ITR (Intake Transfer, Release), at 2670 S 28th Dr. Phoenix AZ.

3. She would go before a judge and most likely be "sentenced" to be sent to a mental health facility.

4. She would be there for a few days and she most likely would reach out to the family when released from there.

Lucy did go to the hospital, did go to ITR but then was released to "self." Meaning, she was discharged without anyone making contact with her parents. Her parents are unable to conduct a meaningful search of their own. At the time of this post, it has been 72 hours since she was last seen by anyone in contact with the family.

I have been close friends with her brothers Pedro, Ramiro and Christian Castro since high school and have never seen them in this much distress. They have recently flown into Phoenix from L.A. to search for her. After arriving in Phoenix, Ramiro went to the ITR and spoke with an officer who told him that she probably went with a group of people who were all just released because that's "what they do, they all become friends even if they don't know each other and end up going in each other's cars."

When Ramiro informed them that leading up to this, legal action had been taken to detain her for mental health reasons, the officer then said that the paperwork process for such a petition is slow and they didn't receive it until after she was already released.

Ramiro is now in contact with another officer who has told him that all Lucy had on her was a ring, hospital paperwork, and her clothes when she was released. She does not have a wallet or a cell phone with her.

It has only been days and Lucy's parents are already mentally and physically exhausted by this situation. Her brothers are not far from the same state of being. They are doing everything they can and considering all options at their disposal including hiring a private investigator. But basic necessities like food, rest, and comfort are in short supply.

The family hates making such a private matter public, but as law enforcement has only been at best a hindrance to a safe and effective resolution to this situation, they have asked me to help mobilize a public effort to rescue Lucy from this nightmare of a situation.

Your contribution will help:

1. Make meals deliverable instead of time-consuming to shop for and prepare

2. Cover unexpected expenses like flight tickets and hiring desperately needed help for a family in distress

3. Provide resources for Lucy's recovery when this ordeal comes to a (hopefully) safe conclusion

Lucy's parents are retired, her youngest brother Christian is an hourly employee using his sick time to be with his family, and her eldest brother Pedro was just informed today (06/12) that the job he was supposed to start today was no longer available to him. This is truly a burning-the-candle-at-all-ends situation.

Right now, our goal is to reach $5,000 to cover immediate needs. But that will almost surely not cover the cost of this entire ordeal once it is over. So, we are using a flex goal that may increase as time goes on. Our intention from the start has been that once all expenses related to Lucy's health and well-being are met, the remaining proceeds will be donated to the Heartwell Institute of Worcester, MA (https://www.heartwellinstitute.org/) so that the next family that this might happen to can be spared this kind of trauma before the fact.

Please share this fundraiser with anyone you know who may be able to contribute. And beyond that, please extend understanding and compassion to those you may know with mental illness. This happens all too frequently in today's society. Lucy is not the only person I know that has been a victim of unqualified, reckless action taken against her in a situation where she needed caution and compassion the most. We might not be able to fix a broken system overnight, but we can start with the people we love.