David Goldman, Son Sean Look Back On Infamous Abduction Case | TODAY

TODAY

8 Aug 201907:31

Summary

TLDRThe video script tells the story of Sean Goldman, who was taken to Brazil by his mother and denied return to the U.S. despite an international treaty. His father, David, fought for five years to bring Sean home, enduring legal battles and personal struggles. The case gained worldwide attention and reached the President. Eventually, in 2009, Sean was returned to David. Now, father and son advocate for other families facing similar abductions, contributing to the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention Act, aiming to prevent such tragedies.

Takeaways

🏡 Sean Goldman was taken to Brazil by his mother, Brunia, during a family vacation and never returned to the U.S., sparking an international custody dispute.
📜 Despite an international treaty signed by Brazil requiring Sean's return within six weeks, Brazilian courts granted Brunia permanent custody, against the treaty's stipulation.
📞 For years, David Goldman had minimal contact with his son, limited to a few phone calls, highlighting the emotional toll of the separation.
💔 Brunia's subsequent marriage and death during childbirth further complicated the custody battle, with Brazilian courts temporarily granting custody to her new husband.
🌎 The case gained worldwide attention and reached the desk of the U.S. President, demonstrating the case's significance and impact.
🏛 In December 2009, after a lengthy legal struggle, Sean's Brazilian relatives were ordered by the country's chief justices to return him to his American father.
🎉 David Goldman's victory was celebrated as a 'Christmas miracle,' and he and Sean were flown home on a flight chartered by NBC News.
🔄 After reuniting, David and Sean faced the challenge of re-establishing their relationship, overcoming the effects of parental alienation.
📚 The Goldman family's story led to the creation of the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction and Prevention Act, aimed at preventing similar situations.
🤝 David and Sean Goldman are now advocates for families facing international child abduction, using their experience to help others.
🎓 Sean, now 19 and taller than his father, plans to study political science at college, a choice influenced by his personal experiences.

Q & A

What was the situation that led to Sean Goldman being taken to Brazil?
-Sean Goldman was taken to Brazil by his mother, Bruna, during a planned family vacation. She never returned to the U.S. and later filed for divorce, which initiated a custody battle.
What international treaty was involved in Sean Goldman's case?
-The case involved the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, which Brazil had signed. This treaty typically requires the return of abducted children to their country of habitual residence.
Why did the Brazilian courts initially refuse to return Sean to the U.S.?
-The Brazilian courts ruled that Sean should not be separated from his mother and granted her permanent custody, despite the international treaty and David Goldman's demand for a custody hearing in the U.S.
What happened to Sean's mother during the custody dispute?
-Sean's mother, Bruna, later died during childbirth, which led to a further twist in the custody case.
Who was given temporary custody of Sean after his mother's death?
-After Bruna's death, the Brazilian courts gave temporary custody to her new husband, which continued the dispute over Sean's return to the U.S.
How did the situation eventually resolve for Sean and David Goldman?
-In December 2009, the Brazilian Chief Justices ordered Sean's relatives to return him to his American father, David Goldman, marking a victory in their fight.
What is the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction and Prevention Act?
-This act, authored by Congressman Smith and signed by President Obama, aims to prevent international child abductions and provides punitive measures against countries that harbor abductors and don't return abducted children.
How has the Goldman family been working to help others after their experience?
-David and Sean Goldman have been advocating for families facing similar situations, using their story to raise awareness and support for the prevention of international child abductions.
What is Sean Goldman's educational plan after high school?
-Sean Goldman plans to attend community college for two years and then transfer to a four-year institution to continue his education.
What subject is Sean Goldman interested in studying in college, and how is it related to his personal experiences?
-Sean is interested in studying political science, a choice influenced by his experiences and the desire to understand and potentially influence policies related to child abduction.
How has the relationship between David and Sean Goldman evolved since being reunited?
-Their relationship has evolved positively, with some initial challenges due to parental alienation. They have worked through these issues and are now enjoying their time together as father and son.

Outlines

00:00

🏡 International Child Abduction and Reunification

The first paragraph details the story of Sean Goldman, who was taken to Brazil by his mother, Brunia, during a family vacation and never returned to the U.S. Despite an international treaty and court orders, Sean was kept in Brazil due to local court rulings favoring his mother's custody. The narrative describes the struggle of his father, David Goldman, who fought for five years to bring his son back, experiencing the pain of limited contact and the tragic death of Brunia during childbirth. Eventually, in a landmark case that reached the President, Sean was returned to the U.S. in 2009, and the father-son duo began advocating for other families facing similar abduction issues, leading to the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction and Prevention Act.

05:01

📚 Advocacy and Education: A Father and Son's Journey

The second paragraph focuses on the aftermath of the Goldman family's ordeal and their current efforts to assist others in preventing international child abductions. It highlights the creation of a law, authored by Congressman Smith and signed by President Obama, which marks its fifth anniversary. The law aims to deter abductions by imposing punitive measures on countries that fail to return abducted children, including public shaming and potentially withholding financial assistance. Sean, now 19 and preparing for college, discusses his plans to study political science, a choice influenced by his experiences. The paragraph concludes with reflections on their family's journey, their hopes for Sean's future, and the bittersweet transition to him becoming independent.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡International Child Abduction

International child abduction refers to the unlawful removal or retention of a child across international borders by a parent or guardian, typically in the context of custody disputes. In the video, this concept is central as it describes the situation where Sean Goldman was taken to Brazil by his mother and not returned to the U.S., sparking a legal battle for his return.

💡Custody Battle

A custody battle is a legal dispute between parents or guardians over the rights and responsibilities for a child. The video script discusses the custody battle between David Goldman and his former wife, Brunia, which escalated when she took their son to Brazil and sought permanent custody there.

💡Parental Alienation

Parental alienation is a term used to describe a situation where one parent manipulates a child to reject the other parent, often in the context of a custody dispute. In the script, David Goldman mentions overcoming the aspect of parental alienation, referring to the influence his son's mother had on their relationship.

💡Divorce

Divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage. In the video, the process of divorce is mentioned as the catalyst for the abduction when Brunia, Sean's mother, asked for a divorce and subsequently took Sean to Brazil, initiating the custody battle.

💡International Treaty

An international treaty is an agreement between countries that establishes legal obligations. The script refers to an international treaty that Brazil had signed, which required the return of abducted children within a specified time frame, but the Brazilian courts did not comply with this requirement in Sean's case.

💡Permanent Custody

Permanent custody is a legal status where one parent has the exclusive right to make decisions for a child and the child lives with that parent. The script mentions that the Brazilian courts granted permanent custody to Sean's mother, preventing his return to the U.S.

💡Legal Battle

A legal battle refers to a prolonged and contentious legal dispute. The video script details the five-year legal battle that David Goldman fought to regain custody of his son, Sean, and bring him back to the U.S.

💡Childbirth

Childbirth is the process by which a baby is born. In the script, it is mentioned that Sean's mother died during childbirth, which led to a twist in the custody situation where the Brazilian courts temporarily granted custody to her new husband.

💡International Outrage

International outrage refers to widespread condemnation or disapproval from people around the world. The script describes how the case of Sean Goldman sparked international outrage due to the perceived injustice of the situation.

💡Reunification

Reunification in the context of the video refers to the process of bringing back together a family that has been separated due to abduction. The script describes the emotional moment when David and Sean were finally reunited after the legal battle.

💡Advocacy

Advocacy is the act of supporting a cause or policy. In the script, David and Sean Goldman are now working to help other families by advocating for changes in laws and policies to prevent international child abduction.

Highlights

Sean Goldman's mother took him to Brazil and never returned, leading to a high-profile international custody battle.

The case reached the President's desk and became a worldwide headline, highlighting the complexities of international abduction cases.

Sean's father, David Goldman, fought for five years to bring his son back to the U.S., demonstrating unwavering determination.

An international treaty signed by Brazil required the return of Sean within six weeks, but Brazilian courts overruled this, granting the mother permanent custody.

David was unable to see his son for years, maintaining contact only through a few phone calls.

Sean's mother later remarried and introduced her new husband as Sean's father, complicating the custody issue further.

Tragically, Sean's mother died during childbirth, leading to a shocking twist in the custody battle.

Brazilian courts temporarily granted custody to the mother's new husband, continuing the struggle for Sean's return.

The case sparked international outrage and led to public demonstrations calling for 'Bring Sean Home!'

In December 2009, Brazil's Chief Justices ordered Sean's return to his American father, marking a victory for David Goldman.

David and Sean Goldman flew back to the U.S. on a flight chartered by NBC News, symbolizing a new beginning.

Five years after the flight, Sean was living with his father in New Jersey, adjusting well to the change and expressing happiness.

David and Sean Goldman are now working to help other families facing similar international child abduction issues.

The Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction and Prevention Act was signed, providing more legal tools to prevent abductions.

The Act includes punitive measures against countries that harbor abductors and fail to return abducted children.

Sean is now 19, taller than his father, and preparing to attend college, studying political science influenced by his experiences.

The Goldmans reflect on the journey, acknowledging the sadness and challenges, but also the positive impact they can have helping others.

David Goldman discusses the concept of parental alienation and its effects on children in custody battles.

Sean shares his perspective on losing his mother and the complexities of maintaining relationships with relatives involved in the case.