Robert Gabbard U.S. Attorney John McKay Josh Farley of the Kitsap Sun Jackie Van Dorn Jennifer Durcan Alliance for Equal Justice, ALLIANCE FOR EQUEL JUSTICE FAILED TO PROTECT 2 KIDS IN 2005 THE UNTOLD TRUTH OF THE KITSAP COUNTY COURTS KITSAP County WASHINGTON Arizona,

I honestly don’t know which one of these are worse….

1) The fact so many people, including government officials, took the word of a woman with mental health issues and not one person bothered to conduct an investigation to see if her allegations were true OR

2) the amount of wasted time that was spent on children that were finally safe in their fathers care instead of being abused by the mother’s new husband and being forced to live as a Jehovah witness when that wasted time could have been used on children who actually WERE in danger and in dire need of help.

It is absolutely ridiculous a woman can walk into a lawyer’s office and say whatever she wants to say and nobody bothers to investigate if what she says is true. At the very least, nobody could even ask just a few questions. Because had that been done, then everyone would have found out real quick the children were not in any danger whatsoever and they were, in fact, better off in their fathers care.

I was the father’s girlfriend at that time and I was there when these kids would come stay with us on the weekends. I saw the bruises on their bodies that were the result of the mother’s husband, Seth Vandorn, punishing them for something his religion did not believe in. Mind you, these boys grew up like normal kids before the mother, Jackie, married Seth. They celebrated their birthdays and Christmas and every other holiday.

These boys were allowed to play sports, like football and baseball, like most normal kids. These boys were allowed to attend school and participate in school activities, such as Student Council and the celebration of other students’ birthdays. But all that came to a halt the minute Seth married Jackie. Can you imagine as a child not being able to celebrate your birthday anymore or being put on a baseball team by your father, only for Seth to have Jackie go and pull them out and tell them they can’t play on the team anymore?

How devastating that was for those boys! Some may not think it’s such a big deal and the kids could cope with it. But when someone starts putting hands on your children, leaving them with bruises up and down their body, can any parent honestly tell me the kids can cope with that too? You are no kind of parent if you would allow your children to be hit by your ex’s new partner.

The reason these kids were not returned to their mother was because enough was enough. I was there when Seth and Jackie went to the fathers house one day and I was there when the father, Robert Gabbard, said to Seth directly, "Please don’t put your hands on my kids ever again.” And I was there when Seth replied to Robert, "It’s my house. I will do whatever I want to do.”

Had this matter been investigated at the time, then everybody would have found this out. Had somebody tried to contact Robert Gabbard to ask his side of the story, instead of believing Jackie Vandorns fake cry for help, then the truth would have been told. Both the boys were old enough to be able to tell anyone that asked them what happened and where the bruises came from. But that never happened either.

What a shame to see how the justice system failed two young boys that were being abused. And even more of a shame to see that same justice system think they actually did the right thing in this case and that justice was served. You all should be ashamed of yourself for taking these two boys away from safety and putting them back in harm’s way. How would any of you be able to live with yourselves if one of these boys would have lost their lives at the hands of Seth Vandorn?

Luckily, Jackie Vandorn snapped out of it sometime later and ended up divorcing this abusive piece of crap. But unfortunately, Seth Vandorn went on to abuse another woman’s two children but this time he didn’t get away with it and he was charged with the abuse. If anyone thinks justice was done for the Gabbard children and that McKay and that Kitsap lawyer did the right thing, then you are part of the problem in the world today.

As a parent myself, and for all the other parents out there reading this, your number one priority is to keep your children safe and your obligation to them is to do whatever it takes to make sure of that. That’s exactly what Robert Gabbard did, no matter what anyone wants to believe. I was there every single day of this whole ordeal and at the end of the day, you know what? Robert and I were absolutely proud of taking those children away and going on the run because each and every day they were with us, was one more day they weren’t getting abused by that scumbag, Seth Vandorn.

I would do it a thousand times over again if given the chance and there isn’t one thing anybody can do or say to change my mind on that. So unless you were in this situation personally, don’t be like McKay and all the others who listened to the poor sob story of a mentally ill woman and believed her just because what she was saying "sounded” true. Don’t hate a father for taking his children because he felt it was in their best interest to keep them safe.

If Robert Gabbard had been given a fair chance by the court system, then he would have done this all legally. But he wasn’t. He was judged from day one and there wasn’t a judge or peace officer or any high ranking official that would hear what he had to say and ask the boys themselves if what Robert Gabbard said was true. So because of that, Robert did the only thing he could do and he took his kids and I know just like me, he would do it a thousand times over if he could.

I don’t think this is the last anyone will be hearing about this case. There’s so much more involved that I wouldn’t be surprised if Robert Gabbard goes after the justice he so desperately deserves. My father used to tell me when I was growing up that the truth always comes out in the end and believe me when I say, this is far from the end and the whole entire truth WILL be out one day.

Robert Gabbard isn’t the bad guy here but mark my words, the bad guy or guys will be exposed one way or the other and when that day happens, Robert and I will finally be able to say, "We told you so.” But even then, nothing is ever going to change until the responsible parties are held accountable for the wrong doing and the poor decision making they are guilty of doing.

I encourage anybody who reads this to just do better and to BE better. Have the mentality to realize family court cases are very sensitive and more often than not, bitterness will be involved, so focus on what can be proven factual, not just what someone is saying. Have the parental instincts to know when children are involved, it is absolutely imperative to make sure, without a doubt, the children’s best interests are top priority and their safety is your main concern, no matter what.

Have the intelligence to look into situations and know that asking questions is part of doing a thorough investigation. Have the awareness to understand not every case is exactly the same and that each one is unique and MUST be handled accordingly. Have the humanity not to prejudge anyone and to form your own opinion based on your own personal discoveries and findings. But most of all, have the maturity to accept responsibility when you make crucial errors or bad decisions and take them as lessons and learn from them so it doesn’t happen again. Be part of the solution and not the problem.