Post by Scumhunter on Dec 1, 2015 9:56:15 GMT -5
(Above photo credit: Missingkids.com)
Additional Details (height, weight etc) available at following links:
www.charleyproject.org/cases/a/athukorala_kali.html
www.missingkids.com/poster/NCMC/1135175
From the Charley Project:
Kali's mother, Sandra Clarissa Zemialkowski, took the child to the Dominican Republic in December 2007. She told Kali's father, Dhanika Athukorala, that it was a two-month visit to relatives, and Dhanika consented to this. Zemialkowski failed to return with Kali in February 2008, however, and Dhanika sought a court order to compel her to give Kali back.
After some negotiation, the parents agreed that Sandra was to set up a webcam so Dhanika could keep in touch with Kali, and she was to bring Kali to the United States for a visit one week every three months. In addition, Dhanika would be permitted to travel to the Dominican Republic to see his daughter whenever he liked. Sandra didn't abide by the agreement, however, and obstructed Dhanika's access to the child. He was only allowed to see Kali a few times, and never for overnight, which was contrary to what Sandra had promised. Her attorney in Massachusetts told the family court judge she had no intention of coming to court or taking Kali to see her father. The judge then granted custody of Kali to Dhanika, and ordered Sandra to return her by April 13, 2009. Sandra never did, and Dhanika hasn't seen or had contact with his daughter since the custody ruling.
Sandra and Kali are believed to be living with Sandra's parents, Walter R. Zemialkowski and Clara Violeta Zemialkowski, in the Dominican capital city of Santo Domingo. Both Walter and Clara are United States citizens, like their daughter. Sandra is apparently working as a veternarian at the Pet Land Veterinary Hospital in Santo Domingo.
Dhanika is trying to arrange for Kali's return to the United States under the terms of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, an international civil treaty which the Dominican Republic signed in 2007. The Dominican Republic has refused to take action, however, saying Sandra was within her rights when she moved there with Kali and because Sandra and Dhanika were never married, Dhanika has no say as to where their daughter lives.
Kali's disappearance remains unsolved; although her whereabouts are known, she is classified as missing because she is not with her custodial father.
Thoughts? I'll leave contact info for anyone with tips anyway but unfortunately I don't think anything can really be done here. It's not a child abduction case where we don't now where the child is. It's known exactly where she is, but the Dominican Republic won't do anything about the case. While the DR has cooperated with U.S. authorities on fugitive cases and I'm thankful they're for the most part helpful, I am disappointed in them here. Just because a father was never married doesn't mean he should be denied his rights. If he's her birth father, then marriage shouldn't even matter. He can't even contact her via webcam. I don't see any accusations of abuse, but even if the mother accused him of that, he can't hit a child via Skype. So this is very obviously in my opinion just a mother just wanting to deny a fighter his rights. It's a very sad and frustrating case. I can only hope the DR changes its' mind and sends Kali home.
Admin Note #1: According to missingkids.org, Anyone having information on this case should contact 1-800-THE-LOST or the Belchertown Police Department (Massachusetts) at 1-413-323-6685
Admin Note #2: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form
www.charleyproject.org/cases/a/athukorala_kali.html
www.missingkids.com/poster/NCMC/1135175
www.bringkalihome.net/