Secure Safety for Harley & Zenara

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Hi my name is Prudence Lawton. I am asking for help for my daughter Harley and my granddaughter Zenara. My daughter is a victim of severe domestic violence which has been happening since the birth of Zenara 14 months ago. Zenara is a miracle baby. She was born 3 months early at 1.5 lbs and spent the first 3 months on life support in tufts NicU in Boston fighting to survive. We spent 2 months at the hospital praying for her survival.

At the end of December the babies biological father showed up at the hospital from Maryland after being reassured the baby would survive and asserted his rights having myself and the rest of the family band from seeing Zenara. In January Zenara was released and he took both Harley and back to Maryland where the nightmare began.

From that time until November 2024 when I went and got them from the house and got another restraining against him for abusing my daughter and the baby her life has been a nightmare. The father was severed 24hrs after obtaining the order, left the house with sheriffs but returned with hours. After exhausting all legal avenues in Maryland I brought my daughter home to Massachusetts. The domestic violence shelters in Maryland weren’t even an option because there was a two week wait,

Massachusetts granted restraining order given Custody to Harley for a year recognizing the danger. He continued to violate this order. There are two arrest warrants for him due to this in Ma. However they won’t go get him.

The father had hired a lawyer and had restraint order, emergency custody order filed against Harley in Maryland. Also kidnapping against us for leaving the state. Massachusetts has back down giving Maryland jurisdiction. We were ordered back to court in Maryland for a 12/26 court date. When served by Provincetown police with these papers we were advised to go so they wouldn’t have to make arrests.

Marylands court ruling is dropped his restraint order and allowed him 50/50 custody until next hearing February 18 2024.

I am asking for help so my daughter can live in Maryland until next court date and to hire an attorney. She’s needs to provide the a stable address so she can have her daughter on her designated. Her family have exhausted all available funds to get us to this point. We have enough money for one ore week in an Airbnb.

I am asking for help fore my daughter. I am just finding out the horror she has endured at the hands of the man. She is a BATTERED women and there is no help. I have exhausted all federal,state,and local agencies in both states. Battered women shelters in both states have 2-3 week waits. The federal HUD homeless program has closed due to no funding ! I am in SHOCK!

PLEASE donate what you can or if you know a pro bono lawyer in Calvert county Maryland or someone who has a low rental property in this area anything will help. She escaped with the clothes on her back with her daughter.