JUSTICE FOR TYLER

JUSTICE FOR TYLER

My name is Ashley Myers and I reside in Oregon. I am fighting for sole custody and the return of my 13-year old son, Tyler Matthews, who resides in California.

I had sole custody of Tyler from a newborn until he was 4 years old. I provided shelter through Habitat for Humanity , food, clothing, medical, and education. The only thing I lacked at the time was a home belonging to me.

Then came the custody hearing in 2015 with his father. The judge had proposed that if I gave custody to Tyler’s father and maintained a steady residence, that I would be able to get Tyler back in a year’s time. Reluctantly, I agreed. A year had come (2016) and we had gone back to court. The judge then told me that Tyler would remain in the custody of his father, as taking him would “Rip him away from his life and everything he knows.”

I was absolutely devastated. I continued my relationship with Tyler through scheduled visitations to Modesto, California, phone calls, video calls and text messaging. During a 2022 visit to Modesto, California for Tyler’s 10th birthday, his father passed suddenly and unexpectedly 3 days before Tyler’s birthday. With the unexpected death of Tyler’s father, any and all custody agreements were null and void. I planned on taking Tyler with me to Oregon until his father’s funeral. Tyler’s grandparents then told Tyler that I, his own mother, was attempting to kidnap him. Tyler was then hidden and communications were illegally cut off between him and I. I was not allowed to attend the funeral in support of my son. Tyler was finally allowed a phone call the day of the funeral. He was crying and asking where I was. I had to explain to him that I was not allowed at the funeral but that I was there, parked outside of the cemetery close and in support of him. I was then served with custody papers. My worst nightmare all over again. Possibly losing my son twice was something I had never even dreamt of. The court day came and went. Guardianship of Tyler was placed with his grandparents. I received visitation. The visitation proposed was cut in half from the visitation I had been receiving with his father when he was alive. I had lost my son again.

I was confused. I provided food, clothing, shelter, education, healthcare and mental health services. Where did it all go wrong? I put my feelings away and stood up, once again, to be there for my son.

Over the next few years to present day, Tyler has been living in home full of abuse. Words from Tyler’s own mouth.

He was smacked in the face by his grandmother, knocking his glasses off his face. He was withheld from school for various leisurely activities to distract him from his father’s death, resulting in Tyler having a very low reading level and education stats at the young age of 13. Tyler had little to no counseling and was constantly missing the few much needed appointments he had to attend Giants games in San Francisco and other activities to distract him from his father’s death.

Tyler then started showing escalating and dangerous behaviors. He started smoking weed in his grandparents home. He was drinking very heavily and participating in heavy drug use at home. He started using mushrooms, acid and prescription medication. He was stealing, fighting having sex and more recently was jumped into a street gang.

During one of Tyler’s emotional episodes, he was dragged down the hallway at his grandmother’s house by his grandmother and an old friend of his father’s. His clothes were ripped off and he was choked into the seat of the vehicle by said family friend. Tyler said that he was choked so hard that he could not breathe and when he finally “came to” he screamed to be let go. Tyler later called me and video shared the screen. There, I, his mother, saw bruising and hand prints on Tyler’s neck.

Once Tyler had given me all the details, CPS was notified and a report was made.

Tyler has expressed his want to live with me and my wife in Oregon, as he fears for his life and safety while in his grandparents care in Modesto, California. While in my care, Tyler has access to food, water, clothing, shelter, education, medical and mental health services. He has his own room as well as extended family on his mother’s side that he wishes to visit more and stay in contact with. Tyler no longer feels safe in California, as his abuse claims are being dismissed by the local Modesto Police Department, as well as CPS officials. Despite screenshots of multiple conversations and reports made with law enforcement and CPS, officials are saying there are no such records in the system. Child abuse runs rampant in many different cities and states. I don’t want my son to be another statistic.

Will there ever be justice for Tyler?

Donations will go towards all expenses needed, including fuel for travel, accommodations, paralegal fees, etc.