OK OK - Sharon Marshall, 20, multiple aliases, OKC, 1990 - ID'd as Suzanne Sevakis - #4

[shadowangel]

Do we have any verification of the charges against the adoptive mother JH? ie. the prostitution problems in Germany, being deported and then having to turn custody of Rhonda back over to the authorities?

If not then we have to make sure we state that as *rumor* or unconfirmed when the allegations are discussed until we have back up to confirm of those statements.

Thus my disclaimer when I re-posted what little I had been told. To my knowledge, everything dealing with Rhonda to this point is anecdotal---Stories relayed from person to person. Thus far, the only thing I personally have been able to confirm is that a Dwain Leroy Moore lived in the area around the time Rhonda was said to have been born.

 

[shadowangel]

Another question. If Rhonda was legally adopted by Mr and Mrs H. Then why or how was Rhonda's biological family notified the H's had to turn her over to the authorities? Was this an adoption in which RM's mother gave up her parental rights? Did the H's complete the adoption process? Where they a foster family?

I'm trying to understand a scenario for which the biological family would have any knowledge of what happened after Rhonda was adopted by another family.

Thanks.

This is purely speculation on my part, again based on info given to Shelsearay by a person claiming to be a part of the family. Rhonda's mother didn't want her, so the grandmother (maternal, I've assumed) tried to gain custody. Instead, Rhonda's mother gave her up for adoption. The maternal family may have found out about this after the adoption took place, and tried to find out what happened to Rhonda. Rhonda's mother may have given them the names of the adoptive family, who the maternal family then tracked down. After making contact with the adoptive mother, the story of what had happened to Rhonda/Melissa may have then came out.

Again, that is all purely speculation on my part, as it is the scenario which best fits the story that was relayed to me. It could be a complete work of fiction, for all I know. I will try to find out if Matt B has received some other confirmation.

 

[Jen_Illingsworth]

The only thing I ask, is we stay on track and only post information relative to the case, which is exactly what everyone is doing.

I personally hope to see the photo of Linda added to Matt's FB page if that is possible...

I would also love to see an age progressed picture of Rhonda if possible.

Apologies for digressing!

 

[Cubby]

This is purely speculation on my part, again based on info given to Shelsearay by a person claiming to be a part of the family. Rhonda's mother didn't want her, so the grandmother (maternal, I've assumed) tried to gain custody. Instead, Rhonda's mother gave her up for adoption. The maternal family may have found out about this after the adoption took place, and tried to find out what happened to Rhonda. Rhonda's mother may have given them the names of the adoptive family, who the maternal family then tracked down. After making contact with the adoptive mother, the story of what had happened to Rhonda/Melissa may have then came out.

Again, that is all purely speculation on my part, as it is the scenario which best fits the story that was relayed to me. It could be a complete work of fiction, for all I know. I will try to find out if Matt B has received some other confirmation.

Thanks Shadow. Your scenario could very well be possible. I'm just trying to understand... especially when the bio family would have no longer had any legal rights after an adoption. I can imagine a scenario where bio mom would have been able to choose the family she wished to adopt her daughter, and perhaps it is possible adoptive mom simply told the family a story that she no longer had Rhonda because she didn't know another way to end contact?

I don't mean to imply anyone is not being truthful, I am just exploring various possibilities......

Do we know if Rhonda/Melissa was ever reported missing? If she was to be turned over to the "authorities" and whoever was responsible to do so did not, would the agency she was to be returned to not have sought the assistance of LE? Or did kids just fall through the cracks of state custody back then? I really don't recall any stories of children who were to be given back to the state but were not in the time era FDF obtained Sharon. So I am just trying to understand and educate myself... Sometimes I am like a kid with a lot of questions.

Thanks again!

 

[shadowangel]

Keep in mind, according to the story as we have it the adoptive mother was a military dependent (the father was active military stationed in Germany). As this all occured when the Viet Nam War was raging, I can see a lot of things slipping through the cracks. Its possible military authorities were supposed to coordinate with civilian authorities upon JHs return the States; this kind of coordination was still a problem when I was in the Army in the '90s. I can only imagine what it was like in the early 70's.

 

[Cubby]

Thanks Shadow, that makes sense as a possibility. I have no military family, so am very unfamiliar with how things work in military/civilian situations.

 

[believe09]

I find it hard to believe that any woman during a time of conflict would have been deported for prostitution. Especially from a military base? My dad was stationed in Germany when tensions were rising and during Bay of Pigs. The stuff that went on on and around the bases was jaw dropping....let me do some checking if that is OK. BRB.

 

[believe09]

It wasnt until 2004 that the US Military considered adding something to the Military Code Of Justice along the lines of anti-prostitution, AND in Germany, there are areas of legal prostitution:
http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,SS_092704_Germany,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Germany

 

[believe09]

Now perhaps she became an unwed mother and was sent home by her father to give up the baby...

 

[believe09]

What was daughter doing in Germany with Dad if her mother was in the States? Maybe daughter had all kinds of reasons for not wanting her mother to adopt the child and thought she would be better elsewhere?

 

[Cubby]

The link says prostitution was legalized in Germany in 2002. Plus as a US citizen in Germany on a military base, she would be under military rules, not German law correct?

Perhaps she was in trouble for a number of things including prostitution which caused her to be sent back to the states. Maybe her DH found out what she was doing and was divorcing her so she was sent back?

The link at Matt Birkbecks site ( wordpress link ) says JH had returned to Texas when the birth family inquired about Rhonda's where abouts.

 

[Cubby]

believe adopted mom was in Germany, not bio mom. Rhonda was adopted to a couple in the military stationed in Germany. Adopted mom allegedly was deported or for some reason came back to the US.....

hth

 

[shadowangel]

The adoptive mother, as a dependent, would have been under military jurisdiction. Having a dependent overseas is considered by the military to be a privilege, not a right. A dependent could be sent Stateside at the direction of the base command. What occured after is the true question.

 

[Cubby]

Matt's site also states he has been provided with copies of Adoption papers? At least I thought I saw that posted. Do we know if Matt has seen copies of Rhonda's adoption papers or the adoption paperwork?

 

[shadowangel]

Matt's site also states he has been provided with copies of Adoption papers? At least I thought I saw that posted. Do we know if Matt has seen copies of Rhonda's adoption papers or the adoption paperwork?

I haven't seen that myself, but its possible. On which site did you see this? FB?

 

[shadowangel]

I think an important thing to keep in mind is that Gerry Nance of the NCMEC is comfortable enough with the source information and the family connections to agree to DNA testing, and he has access to far more background info at this point than we do.

Personally, I'd like to see Rhonda/Melissa's case information entered onto The Doe Network and elsewhere.

 

[Cubby]

I haven't seen that myself, but its possible. On which site did you see this? FB?

A cached version on his wordpress (?) blog. The current version the info stating something about the adoption papers was removed.

I think I can link the current version, but not the cached version. He may have removed the post for some of the same reasons we had to edit some posts here.

here is the current version.
http://mattbirkbeck.com/blog/?p=170

(I found the cached version before I found the above current version..... just an fyi)

 

[shadowangel]

That makes sense...If I were him I wouldn't want a gazillion inquiries about scanning and posting the paperwork either.

 

[believe09]

OK, so I'll shut up now.

 

[Cubby]

Niether version of Matt's blog had any adoption papers posted. I don't know if he has seen any papers pertaining to the adoption or not.

I was just curious under what circumstances did Rhonda's family get the info regarding JH? and solely because at the time, Rhonda was a minor and her bio family would likely no longer have any rights to private information about her after she was given up for adoption. When did Rhonda's family learn of this?

I'm not doubting an adoption occured. I'm curious, whether any research was done to verify JH's statement that she gave Rhonda away and that she was ordered to give Rhonda back to the state. How do we know what Rhonda's family was told by JH was true? Is it known as a fact that she didn't raise Rhonda?

I ask because clearly Rhonda's family wants to find Rhonda... and we can certainly search other avenues to either eliminat the possiblity Rhonda is Sharon, or find Rhonda. I'd just like to know what has been researched as there are a few other Melissa H's out there with a similiar birth year and date.

hope that explains things and Believe09, my apology for not being more clear earlier.... was back and forth trying to post and get stuff done. We'd love to have the extra/new set of eyes here!