This is Will. Will is like any other kid who will be 15 in October, dealing with the difficulties of this year - pandemic, distance learning, fires, smoke..

Except that he's not. He's currently living in a group home instead of with his mom. He wants to go home to his mom and his little sisters; his dad, though, won't allow that and has convinced the courts to say that Will should live with him. Will has been told to go to his dad's twice, but he's refused each time: Will does not feel safe being alone with his dad. His dad has isolated him from those who love him, even taking away his counseling resources. He also won't let Will have his phone so that he can talk to his mom (though she was able to visit him on Friday and Monday).

Will's dad has been fighting his mom for custody of Will his whole life, and for full custody for the past five years. A few months ago, Will finally revealed that his dad has been severely abusing him (unfortunately, charges were dropped after a two-month investigation). You'd think that of course Will would be able to stay with his mom, but no, his dad has managed to convince authorities, including Will's court-appointed advocate, that it's his mom who's the bad person and that she coerced Will into saying that his dad has been abusing him.

Then, just when it would seem that nothing worse could happen, Will's mom's lawyer dropped her just before a recent court date, and she was left trying to argue her case in court on her own, without knowing the ins and outs of representing herself, and while facing his dad's team of attorneys. Will's mom lost physical custody as a result. Now another court date is coming up, but Will's mom can't afford a lawyer. And we all know how expensive lawyers are, especially here in the Bay Area! She needs $7500 just for a retainer for a new lawyer!! So I'm trying to help Will's mom to raise money so that she can hire a good lawyer and fight for Will and bring him home where he belongs. 

By the way, if you worked at Sun Microsystems or Apple, you may know Will's mom: my dear friend, Patty Boone. Please, if you can, please help me help Patty and Will to bring him home.

Thank you,
Elizabeth Kontur

#HelpBringWillHome

(In the first picture below, Will's dad has made him talk with him. The police are standing by to make sure everything goes okay.)