Interview Questions for Glen Schulz

What is your book about?

Unlawful Flight is the true story of how I fought to keep my children. During a bitter separation, I was falsely accused of sexual abuse and my visitation rights were taken away without a hearing. Being unfairly treated by the system while my children were being mistreated by their mother and then being told that there was little hope of ever getting custody, I was forced to take the law into my own hands and kidnap my children. This book details the whole story and takes the reader through every aspect of our struggle to stay together.

You kidnapped your children. What would cause any parent to do that?

In my case it was a lack of concern by authorities for the safety and best interests of my children that caused me to have to take them. But in most cases a parent takes the children simply as a way to hurt their ex. Another reason is that our courts have a poor record of treating both parents fairly. The system is designed so that there is usually one parent that “wins”. In those cases one parent loses but so do the children. It’s the “one parent has to lose" scenario, and the dysfunctional system that breeds the parental kidnapping syndrome.

How often is this happening?

People aren’t aware of these numbers, but they are staggering. According to a study done by the U.S.Dep’t. of Justice (NISMART 1) in 1988 as many as 350,000 children are taken by a parent or family member ( i.e. mother, father, grandparent, aunt or uncle ) every year, that’s as many as 1000 each and every day. The vast majority are taken by a parent, and in about 53% of the cases it is the father.

What happens to these children when taken or kidnapped?

Most cases are resolved quickly, usually within a few weeks, but some children are never found. Again, since most kidnappings are done to spite a spouse or with the intent to use the children as a tool to reunite with that spouse, the children are usually returned traumatized but physically unharmed not long after their abduction. Of the long term abductions about 16% suffer mental or physical abuse with a very small percentage being raped, and sadly, even killed.

How do the authorities feel about parental kidnappings?

I think that local law enforcement agencies and the general public as well believe that parental kidnapping is not a “real” kidnapping. They think that if the child or children are with a parent then it’s not a true kidnapping or crime but that’s not the case. And because they think that way they don’t push as hard or don’t want to get involved. I believe that unless parental kidnapping touches someone personally, the public is oblivious to what is happening and therefore we need to spread the word about this sad situation.

What can parents do to help eliminate parental kidnappings?

The first thing separated and divorcing parents should do is agree to put the children first. If they agree on nothing else, this is the big one. They must put their bitterness and animosity aside in the interests of the children. If they don’t, and if our failing system eventually allows another “winner and loser”, the door is open for another parental kidnapping.

Are there any signs that we can watch for in an effort to stop a potential parental kidnapping?

There can be many signs if people are on the lookout for them. One would be a sudden unexplainable change from one demeanor to another (i.e. bitter to the ex and all of a sudden complacency), as if lulling them to sleep. Others signs would be the selling of personal things like gun collections, coin collections, bedroom and living room sets, the closing of bank accounts, not paying the next rent or mortgage, or amassing items that would be needed on an extended trip is another one. There are many signs if people are aware and on the watch. If there is a bitter custody dispute and you see any of these signs, you should make authorities aware.

How did you manage to disappear for the two years that it took authorities to locate you?

Well, I have to say that I believe we had God on our side because almost everywhere we went and virtually everyone we encountered on our quest to start a new life helped us and obviously saw in us that we were happy together and wanted very much to stay together. Because of that, they supported me and helped us, and that came from their hearts. The people we encountered surrounded us with a cocoon of support and when the FBI found us that support is what kept us together.

Why did you decide to write your story?

There were four reasons why I had to write the book “Unlawful Flight”; the first being my way to thank God for his help and let the world know that there is a God and that prayer is answered. The second reason was to bring attention to this dilemma and bring about change. The third reason was to say thank you to all of the people that entered our lives and not only helped us stay together, but fought to keep us together, some risking their own safety and careers, and hopefully reunite with them again, and the book has done that with several that we had lost contact with over the years. And finally the last reason was to simply remember all of the names and events that were so important to me before too much time passed and I would forget.

What do you say to people that contact you and are in a situation similar to the one that made you kidnap and ask for your help?

Having been on national television, my daughter and I are contacted often by people who feel that they have been had by a dysfunctional legal system. We adamantly oppose parental kidnapping in any form and for any reason and we tell them so. It simply is NOT the answer. We encourage these people to research the available websites out there, many listed on our unlawfulflight.com site. They need to follow the law, document everything that happens, and help us fight to get fairness in the courts; fairness for both parents and the children. Judges, lawyers and bitter spouses tend to fight for a winner instead of fighting for what is in the best interests of the children.

What are you doing to help bring about fairness in our legal system and courts?

A very good question. I am active in the fathers rights movement and I am a part of several groups now, www.whataboutdaddy.org is one and I also started the fathers rights group of Houston at www.fathersrights.meetup.com/212/ and there are more. I also speak at various functions about this issue. I know it sounds like I’m a father’s rights advocate, but really I am fighting for equal rights for both parents and for what is best for the children, i cannot stress enough how they must always be put first.

Yes, I am one of the first members of an organization called whataboutdaddy.org, and I speak about fathers rights when the opportunity presents itself. I advocate for fair treatment for fathers and for making sure that the best interests of the children are always put first. When the unpleasant choice between the parents has to be made, the children need to go to the parent that has put their best interests first and always will.