Random Memory #2: Angie

I debated whether or not to include Angie in my descriptions of my dad's abuse tactics that we were all exposed to. But since the way he treated my stepmom was daily-occurring abuse that traumatized us all, I feel that I must. I hope that Angie understands my love and concern for her are what motivate my decision to post this. I know that she has been made to defend my dad during the public outcry that has come from the public scrutiny of our situation, and that she (or my dad using her Facebook account) has stated that I am "lying" about him and the abuse my baby sister endured. I cannot apologize for telling the truth, nor should I be made to. I completely understand her untenable position right now, and I fear for her safety more than ever, since I am certain my dad is raging about being exposed. She and Abby are the closest and easiest targets of his rage. It scares me so much for them. 

My dad treats Angie worst of all of us. Watching an adult in my home being physically, emotionally, and verbally abused has instilled intense insecurity, fear for her and for ourselves, and has caused me severe anxiety and distress that was constant during the time I lived with him. It was particularly difficult for me to see Angie being treated so poorly because it reminded me and kept fresh all of my trauma from watching him abuse and demean my mom while I was younger.

I have listed some of the many ways my dad publicly demeaned, controlled, and expressed anger toward Angie that my sisters and I have observed. I numbered them so that if anyone posts any questions about a specific item, they can refer to it in their comment:

1. Dad has slapped, been verbally abusive, and constantly been extremely cruel to our stepmom in front of us on a weekly basis, constantly making her cry.
2. He told Angie constantly that she doesn’t know what she’s doing as a parent like he does.
3. He told Angie that he knows how to raise Abby more than she ever will.
4. He lectured and berated Angie all the time for unusual things like setting her purse down the “wrong way.”
5. He never allowed Angie to take her purse or phone into public restrooms or other public places without him, like the time he wouldn’t let her take her purse and phone with her on the train at the zoo. He insisted she let him hold her purse or phone instead.
6. He would get mad at Angie if she didn’t back him up in his lectures, discipline, and in talking bad about our mom to us.

Random Memory #1: Bear

I remember this like it happened yesterday. Abby, my youngest sister, was only two. I was sitting at our kitchen table, and I watched the entire thing. 

Dad got upset at Abby for doing something normal for a two-year-old, like spilling on the kitchen floor. He picked her up roughly by the outer arms clenched against her little body, and barked at her “I’m going to get Bear and throw her away, and you’re never going to see her again!” She started sobbing and begging him... “No, no, no...!” Bear was this huge, soft, white stuffed animal bear that Abby had had her entire life. She hadn’t slept a night of her existence without it. He went upstairs to her room, brought it downstairs, and held it up above her, demanding, “Do you want to see Bear go bye-bye FOREVER?” This made her cry and plead more, and when she was absolutely hysterical he made her watch him shove it down into the trash. I remember him saying, “You’re never seeing Bear ever again because of what you did.” She fell to the ground sobbing and screaming hysterically. 

I didn’t understand why he had to build up the anxiety like that. The way he did away with Bear was very threatening and traumatic. He obviously wanted my sister to be as traumatized as possible. When she'd cry for her bear in the days after the event, my dad told us we weren't allowed to talk about it. She was depressed about her companion animal “dying” for months.

Photo credit: etnat.com

New Q&A Page!

I just added a new Q&A Page to the blog (found in the row of tabs across the top of my blog). It contains a few of the questions and concerns I've seen posted by many of you across various Facebook pages. Please feel free to ask me any further questions in the comments here or on my page, and I will be happy to answer.

As always, I appreciate your concern on behalf of me and my family. I look forward to finding a resolution to my sisters' safety.

Thanks,

Brittany

Documents Page

FYI,

I have added a new documents page to the list of Pages found at the top of my blog, to help you become informed with actual supporting documents relating to the history of the court struggles with my dad. Please go through it. Reading the documents will help you to see why I am continuing to fight to protect all of my sisters. I will add more applicable documents as they get found.

Here are the links you will find today on my Documents Page:


Roby Report Complete April 2003

Dr Harnsberger Diagnosis Sydney Celiac 12 Sep 2007

Letter from Dr Hyde re Michelle 21 May 2007

Notice of Appeal - 20 November 2014

Moving to Kansas

I know there are a lot of people with very valid questions about what happened this July. This is the post to answer any questions that haven't been addressed directly about what's occurred recently in Sydney and Dani's lives.

About this time last year, my dad and stepmother resided in Pleasant Grove, Utah. Over Dani's birthday weekend (her birthday is October 29th), my dad made a life-altering announcement to Sydney and Danielle. During their next weekend visit to our mom in Orem, it was obvious they were holding something in. They were depressed; they looked sickly, worried, and terrified. My mom and I would ask them what was wrong, and all they would do is look at us with a deep sadness and reply, "He said we couldn't tell you. I want to tell you because its my worst nightmare, but we would get in so much trouble. I don't know if I could handle it."

I went to a family dinner one evening a few weeks later with his side of the family. Even though I had no clue what was going on, I sensed something wasn't right from the moment I walked in the doors of the restaurant. It felt like there was an 'elephant in the room'; no one kept eye contact with me very long and it felt like something was being repressed. Everyone was very solemn. Despite the brightly colored walls, the entire room had a claustrophobic and eerie feel.

As soon as my dad greeted me, he locked his eyes on me, and didn't let me leave his sight as I continued to greet everyone else. When I saw Sydney and Dani, I was so excited to see my sisters. I practically ran up to them, only to have my dad come near us. It was obvious he didn't want us talking outside of his earshot. I was used to this--it was the way we were treated in our home, before I moved out--But it didn't make it okay. Even with the limited contact I had with them, I could tell something was wrong. Dani and Sydney looked sick and hopeless. Their faces were sunken and their eyes were glassy, as if they'd been crying minutes before.

I was extremely worried for them, and whatever information they were being forced to keep secret. I wanted to sit by them (they were at a table with cousins), but my dad wouldn't let me. He took me to my designated seat, and of course it was on the opposite side of the room from them, at the far table's end seat. He sat across from me, and his reasoning was because he had something to tell me.

I was on edge; terrified of some looming announcement that had been tormenting my sweet sisters for weeks. My dad kept prepping me with statements like, "Brittany, you're going to have to have an open mind. It's a big change for our family, but it's a good one." I had no idea what it could be. I was hopeful Angie was going to announce she was pregnant again, but based off of the way my sisters acted, I knew that wasn't it.

At some point, I knew I would have to break away and find a chance to talk to Sydney and Dani out of earshot of my father (if he was able to hear our conversation, I knew they would repress how they really felt). Somehow, I made it quickly to the other side of the room while my dad was talking to someone else. His eyes shifted to me, but he wasn't able to reach me before I quickly asked the girls what was going on. They were on the verge of tears as they expressed that they felt they were about to explode from grief. "We can't tell you exactly," Dani said, "But it's about a move." My insides dropped. That was when a cousin, who hadn't been listening to our conversation and obviously thought my dad had already told me, accidentally slipped up: "Brittany, what do you think about your dad moving to Kansas?"

I was absolutely shocked. Speechless, I moved my gaze back to my sisters, as a tear ran down one of their cheeks. The cousin realized that I hadn't been told yet, and apologized... Before Syd and Dani were able to say another word, my dad walked over. "What are you girls whispering about?" The girls said it was just something about school, and he looked at us suspiciously, and I sat in painful agony for those girls.

Introduction

My name is Brittany Wolferts, and I am the older sister to Sydney and Danielle Wolferts, who ran away July 17th of 2014.

Until now, I have remained silent, thinking it was the wise thing to do. It wasn't. You are all invested in this story in some way--whether it's emotionally, physically, financially, etc.--and you deserve to know the truth from someone who lived through everything those girls have.

I refuse to enable abuse by staying silent a second longer. My sisters deserve to have their stories told. And not only do my sisters deserve to have it told--all of you deserve to hear it. The incident with the previous Facebook site showed me that the posts need to come directly from my words.

This blog is designed in an open, honest format. I'm going to reply to valid questions and concerns. The only comments that won't be allowed will be comments that are disrespectful toward me or my mom or sisters. This is a place for enlightenment, and I seek to engage in honest, respectful, mature dialog.

To all those neighbors and community members and family who have known of my sisters suffering and have been emotionally invested in their health and safety, I thank you profoundly. You've known the truth for years and have prayed for Sydney, Dani, and I to be heard. Thank you.

To those who have recently come across our story (since July/August), I welcome you. I appreciate your openness in hearing a side that hasn't been told yet.

Thank you all for your concerns, thoughts, and prayers on behalf of my family.

Much love,

Brittany