>>> WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE. IMAGINE NOT KNOWING IF YOU WILL
EVER GET THE CHANCE TO HOLD OR
EVEN SEE YOUR OWN CHILD AGAIN.
THAT’S THE REALITY THAT ROCHELLE
SMITH IS FACING.
SHE IS DESPERATE FOR HELP TO
BRING HER 4-YEAR-OLD SON HOME.
HIS FATHER ABDUCTED HIM AND TOOK
HIM TO LEBANON.
WE’RE GOING TO SPEAK TO HER IN A
MOMENT.
MOMENT. FIRST, WATCH THIS.
>> KISS YOU, MOMMY.
>> DEXTER IS A SWEET, HAPPY,
FUNNY BOY.
FUNNY BOY. HE LIKES TO GO TO HIS LITTLE
PRESCHOOL.
PRESCHOOL. HE LOVES TO GO TO THE PARK, TO
THE BOUNCE HOUSE, SWIMMING.
HIS LAUGH IS JUST SO CONTAGIOUS.
>> Reporter: IN 2014, ROCHELLE
SMITH AND HER BOYFRIEND, ALI
SALEMA, WELCOMED THE BIRTH OF
THEIR SON, DEXTER.
>> I WAS EXCITED.
>> Reporter: WHEN DEXTER WAS 10
MONTHS OLD, THE COUPLE BROKE UP.
AND THAT’S WHEN SMITH SAYS THE
CHILD CUSTODY FIGHTS WOULD
START.
START. >> I HAD CONCERNS AT THAT POINT.
HIS FATHER WOULD THREATEN TO
KEEP DEXTER FROM ME AND THAT I
WOULD NEVER SEE HIM AGAIN.
IT WAS A CONSTANT CUSTODY BATTLE
THROUGHOUT THE PAST FEW YEARS.
>> Reporter: SMITH SHARED
CUSTODY OF DEXTER WITH HIS
FATHER.
FATHER. >> ON AUGUST 1st, 2018, I WAS AT
WORK AND I HAD A BABYSITTER AT
THE HOUSE WITH DEXTER.
AND I GOT AN ALERT ON MY PHONE
FROM MY RING DOORBELL THERE WAS
MOTION.
MOTION. AND THE FATHER HAD BROKEN INTO
MY HOME AND HAD KIDNAPPED DEXTER
FROM HIS BED IN THE MIDDLE OF
THE NIGHT.
THE NIGHT. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED
IMMEDIATELY.
IMMEDIATELY. AND LUCKILY, THEY WERE ABLE TO
LOCATE HIM AND ARREST HIM.
>> Reporter: HE WAS CHARGED WITH
TWO FELONIES, BURGLARY AND
INTERFERENCE WITH CHILD CUSTODY.
>> THE JUDGE ORDERED THAT THE
FOLLOWING DAY THE FATHER WAS
ALLOWED TO PICK UP OUR SON,
DEXTER, FROM PRESCHOOL, AT
FRIDAY AFTERNOON BUT TO RETURN
HIM NO LATER THAN 9:00 A.M. ON
MONDAY MORNING.
MONDAY MORNING. ON MONDAY MORNING, I PACKED
DEXTER’S LUNCH AND WENT TO HIS
SCHOOL AND HE WASN’T THERE.
I STARTED TO PANIC A BIT.
>> Reporter: SHE RECEIVED AN
E-MAIL SAYING DEXTER AND I LEFT.
>> AT THAT POINT, I IMMEDIATELY
CALLED 911.
CALLED 911. AND I HAD FBI INVESTIGATING THE
CASE IMMEDIATELY.
CASE IMMEDIATELY. I EXPECTED THAT MAYBE HE TOOK
HIM TO MICHIGAN RIGHT AWAY
BECAUSE HE HAS FAMILY AND HE’S
BORN AND RAISED IN DEARBORN,
MICHIGAN.
MICHIGAN. THE FOLLOWING DAY, I HAD THE
KNOCK ON THE DOOR FROM FBI THAT,
YOU KNOW, I NEEDED TO SIT DOWN.
IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT MY SON,
WAS IN BEIRUT, LEBANON.
I JUST DROPPED TO THE FLOOR, AND
SCREAMING, DEVASTATED.
SCREAMING, DEVASTATED. IT’S INDESCRIBABLE, REALLY.
>> RACHELLE SMITH AND HER
BROTHER, PATRICK LEA DUKE, JOIN
ME NOW.
ME NOW. >> THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 4th.
>> YOU’RE JUST OVER A MONTH FROM
HAVING SEEN YOUR SON.
>> YES.
>> YES. >> LET’S GO BACK A BIT.
WHEN HE BROKE INTO THE HOUSE ON
AUGUST 1st AND TOOK DEXTER IN
THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, HOW DID
HE GET THE RIGHT TO HAVE ANY
VISITATION WITH HIM AFTER THAT
EVENT?
EVENT? >> SO, IMMEDIATELY THE NEXT DAY,
I WENT AND FILED INJUNCTION FOR
ME AND PROTECTION FOR MY SON AND
IT WAS IMMEDIATELY DENIED.
I HAD TO WAIT TWO WEEKS FOR A
HEARING TO HEAR ABOUT THE
SITUATION.
SITUATION. IN THAT TIME, THEY GRANTED THE
FATHER TO HAVE EVERY OTHER
WEEKEND.
WEEKEND. AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO START THE
FOLLOWING DAY.
FOLLOWING DAY. WITHIN THE FIRST DAY OF HIS
TIMESHARING, HE HAD SOLD ALL HIS
BELONGINGS, PICKED HIM UP FROM
PRESCHOOL AND FLED THE COUNTRY
THAT NIGHT.
THAT NIGHT. >> DO YOU KNOW WHY THE COURTS
DID THAT, DIDN’T GIVE YOU THE
ORDER?
ORDER? DIDN’T GIVE DEXTER RIGHT BACK?
>> THEY HAD A PARENTING PLAN.
COURT HAD GIVEN HER 100% TIME
TIMESHAREING
TIMESHAREING TIMESHARING.
TIMESHARING. THIS WAS A MOTION TO RECONSIDER
THAT.
THAT. FLORIDA HAS A PRESUMPTION TO
GIVE EQUAL TIMESHARING.
THEY WERE ENJOYING THAT.
WE HAD A HEARING SET FOR
SEPTEMBER 12th, TO KIND OF DEAL
WITH ALL OF THESE ISSUES BECAUSE
HE KEPT STEALING THE CHILD AND
WITHHOLDING TIMESHARING.
WITHHOLDING TIMESHARING. HE WAS FOUND IN CONTEMPT EARLIER
ON BECAUSE OF HIS CONTACT.
AND SHE HAD A REASONABLE FEAR,
OBVIOUSLY, THAT HE WAS GOING TO
KIDNAP THE CHILD.
IT SEEMED RATIONAL AT THE TIME,
BECAUSE HE HAD A BOND ON THE
CRIMINAL CASE, HE HAD AN
ATTORNEY, TO ALLOW HIM EVERY
OTHER WEEKEND, RATHER THAN GOING
FROM EQUAL TIMESHARING TO EVERY
OTHER WEEKEND.
OTHER WEEKEND. WHEN HE PICKED UP THE CHILD, HE
TOLD THE STAFF I’M GOING TO GET
FULL CUSTODY AND WITHDRAW THE
CHILD FROM THE SCHOOL.
THAT MORNING HE LANDED IN
BEIRUT.
BEIRUT. WE HAD EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE
THIS WASN’T GOING TO HAPPEN.
THE ONLY PERSON THAT KNEW IT
WOULD HAPPEN WAS RACHELLE.
>> DEXTER, AS FAR AS YOU KNEW,
DIDN’T HAVE A PASSPORT.
AND THAT WAS BY DESIGN.
HE WASN’T ALLOWED TO HAVE A
PASSPORT, PER THE JUDGE’S
ORDERS.
ORDERS. >> I HAD EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS
TO THE COURT.
THEY HAD A NO PASSPORT
RESTRICTION.
RESTRICTION. HE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO HAVE A
PASSPORT.
PASSPORT. IN FOUR DAYS PRIOR TO THE
ABDUCTION, I CHECKED -- I HAD
HIM ENROLLED IN A U.S. INSURANCE
PROGRAM PASSPORT -- PASSPORT
INSURANCE PROGRAM, SO I WOULD BE
NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY IF SOMEBODY
APPLIED FOR ONE OR IF THERE WAS
AND THERE WASN’T.
>> BUT, THAT WAS A U.S.
PASSPORT.
PASSPORT. >> CORRECT.
>> CORRECT. >> AND HIS DAD HAS LEBANESE
CITIZENSHIP AND FOUND A WAY
AROUND GETTING THE PASSPORT,
WHICH IS WHERE WE’RE GOING TO
PICK IT UP.
STAND BY.
STAND BY. WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A QUICK
BREAK AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THE
CHANCES ARE THAT RACHELLE WILL
>>> WELCOME BACK, EVERYONE. WE’RE HERE WITH RACHELLE SMITH
AND HER ATTORNEY, PATRICK LEDUC.
RACHELLE’S SON WAS TAKEN TO
BEIRUT BY THE FATHER.
THE FATHER GOT THE PASSPORT
THROUGH THE LEBANESE CONSULATE
AND FORGED DOCUMENTS AND PULLED
ONE OVER.
ONE OVER. WHEN WAS THE FIRST YOU WERE ABLE
TO SPEAK TO HIM ABOUT WHAT HE
HAD DONE, RACHELLE?
>> I BELIEVE IT WAS THAT DAY.
LATER ON THAT DAY, WHEN I FOUND
OUT ON THE 25th, THE FOLLOWING
DAY.
DAY. >> WHAT DID HE SAY?
>> HE WANTS ME TO -- HE WANTS ME
TO ADMIT THE TRUTH.
AND I’M NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS.
I ASKED WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO
ADMIT?
ADMIT? HE HAD BROKEN INTO MY HOUSE TWO
WEEKS PRIOR, KIDNAPPED HIM AND
HE ABDUCTED HIM TO LEBANON.
STILL UNSURE OF --
>> COULD YOU SEE DEXTER?
>> I GOT TO FACETIME HIM RIGHT
WHEN HE WAS TAKEN OVER THERE.
AND THEN, ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO,
ON MY TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C.,
THE LEBANESE GOVERNMENT DID
ENFORCE A WELFARE CHECK.
AND I WAS ABLE TO SKYPE WITH
HIM.
HIM. >> WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
>> IT WAS GREAT BEING ABLE TO
SEE HIM.
SEE HIM. BUT IT’S NOT MY LITTLE HAPPY BOY
THAT I AM USED TO SEEING.
HE LOOKS VERY SCARED.
HIS FATHER WAS IN THE BACKGROUND
YELLING.
YELLING. HE WAS TRYING TO COMFORT HIS
DAD.
DAD. IT WAS TERRIFYING.
>> LEBANON DOESN’T HAVE AN
EXTRADITION TREATY WITH US,
WHICH MEANS WHAT?
>> THEY’RE NOT SIGNERS OF THE
HAGUE CONVENTION.
HAGUE CONVENTION. THERE’S NO EXTRADITION TREATY.
IT WOULD SEEM LIKE A HOPELESS
SITUATION.
SITUATION. BUT I CAN SAY THIS, YOU KNOW,
I’M A CHRISTIAN, A MAN OF GOD,
AND I BELIEVE THAT ALL THINGS
WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD.
IT’S ALL ACCORDING TO HIS
PURPOSE.
PURPOSE. THIS IS A STRONG WOMAN RIGHT
HERE.
HERE. AND GOD WASN’T ON HIS THRONE AND
SURPRISED BY THIS.
HE IS DOING A GREAT WORK HERE.
AND I BELIEVE, THROUGH FAITH --
I’M A LAWYER, I TRY TO HANDLE
HER LEGAL PROBLEMS.
BUT I BELIEVE WE HAVE AN ETERNAL
FUTURE.
FUTURE. AND I BELIEVE GOD IS GOING TO
MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR HER.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK?
RACHELLE, DO YOU THINK YOU’RE
GOING TO SEE DEXTER AGAIN?
>> OH, YEAH.
I’M VERY HOPEFUL.
>> YOU’RE NOT A RICH WOMAN.
>> NO.
>> NO. >> WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
>> I’M A REAL ESTATE AGENT AND I
WAIT TABLES AT NIGHT.
>> YOU HAVE LEGAL FEES.
YOU’RE DOING THIS PRO BONO.
>> I’M FREE OF CHARGE RIGHT NOW.
>> GOOD FOR YOU.
IS YOUR EX, DOES HE HAVE MONEY?
>> HE HASN’T WORKED IN THE PAST
FEW YEARS.
FEW YEARS. BUT HIS FAMILY HAS MONEY, HAS
BEEN FUNDING HIM.
>> THE COST OF GOING THROUGH THE
LEBANESE JUDICIAL SYSTEM, WHICH
IS WHAT WE’RE COMPELLED TO DO,
IS GOING TO RUN HER ABOUT
$65,000 OR UPWARDS.
THAT’S THE PROBLEM HERE.
WHEN YOU’RE A WAITRESS AND
YOU’RE TRYING -- IT TAKES TIME
TO MAKE MONEY AS A REAL ESTATE
AGENT.
AGENT. SHE’S LIKE ANY OTHER SINGLE MOM.
SHE’S A STRONG WOMAN TRYING TO
MAKE IT IN THE WORLD.
WHO HAS $65,000?
AND SHE HAS TO GO THROUGH THAT
SYSTEM.
SYSTEM. I’M JUST SAYING, THERE’S A
GOFUNDME ACCOUNT.
GOFUNDME ACCOUNT. IF YOU CAN HELP HER, BUT MORE
IMPORTANTLY, PRAY FOR HER AND
PRAY FOR HIM.
[ APPLAUSE ]
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT
YOU’RE DOING.
YOU’RE DOING. WE WILL PRAY FOR YOU AND FOR
DEXTER.
DEXTER. WE’LL STAY ON IT.