(CBS) 

[AdultAdoptee]

While the anger at some of the adoptive parents might be misplaced in terms of what they actually did or didn't do wrong--there is an element of sheer mind-boggling rediculousness of all of this that the adoptive parents are absolutely at least partially responsible for, along with the adoption industry and state of adoption laws in-general.

It is common adoption practice for the original family to be barred from view once an adoption takes place or even before and during the adoption process. Adoption laws permit agencies to imply if not downright force secrecy in-practice. It enables the agency to take a child by only-God-knows what means and hand the child over to adoptive parents with a made-up story of where the child came from without having to provide any real proof because of the "privacy and secrecy" of the original family. Sadly enough, historically in the United States, adoption practice was pushed to become this way in a large part by adoptive parents who wanted to be assured that their child's previous history was gone and that the original parents wouldn't be popping up down the line to ruin everything.

It's rediculous that there isn't a demand for openness and for proof that children are being adopted legally and ethically. It's rediculous that a child can be handed to new parents and however the agency says the child got there is "good enough." Prospective adoptive parents have a duty to DEMAND ETHICAL ADOPTIONS! If you can't know for sure that a child is truly abandoned and in need of adoption services--doesn't that say something?

Adoption should be about pairing truly needy kids with homes--not seeking to find children to fulfill the demand placed by those who want to parent. Therein lies the issue of why adoption and its 3 billion dollar per year industry is so corrupt. Children should come FIRST; adults should come SECOND.

[friendofElizabeth]

Man, you people crack me up...YOU digust ME!!!!!

Can you not READ the OTHER POSTS????

The Muenzlers HAVE been in contact with the birth father--for almost TWO YEARS!!!! They have been in touch with the birth mother too--for almost FOUR YEARS!!!!!!!! What do you people NOT get???? As SOON as they KNEW what was going on they CONTACTED THEM!!!!!!

Hello...wake up....THIS WAS LEFT OUT OF THE STORY!!!!!!!!!!!

How that can be made clearer I do not know.

That is why we, as their friends, are so upset. 48 Hours TOTALLY misrepresented the Muenzler's story.

Sure, there has not been a 'tearful reunion' yet. The key word is YET. The birthfather has essentially IGNORED opportunties to communicate with his daughter until 48 Hours shot the telephone call (oops, they left that part out didn't they???)this summer.

Ok, and here's the REAL truth people. He ignored letters and photos, notes from his daughter, pictures drawn for him by his daughter and from the Muenzlers for over a year--they gave him the opportunity to write to her, communicate with her, suggested they have phone calls, etc. NOTHING. NOTHING happened until a DAMN TV SHOW convinced him to have a phone call with her and the family this summer.

Oh and by the way, he CANCELLED on the FIRST phone call that was scheduled weeks in advance because he was in a damn rugby tournament and couldn't be "bothered" to leave it to speak with his daughter. Oh actually I guess "cancel" doesn't cut it...he just NEVER ANSWERED HIS PHONE....GOT IT???? 48 Hours knows the truth--they were there to film it and had to COME BACK at a different time when he could fit talking to his daughter for the first time in 6 years in his schedule. 48 Hours KNOWS THE TRUTH AND ARE KEEPING OUT VITAL PARTS OF THIS STORY for 'DRAMA'. He was also given the opportunity to talk to Christine on her birthday at a specific time set out days beforehand between Elizabeth and the birth father's wife...HE NEVER ANSWERED HIS PHONE.

The Muenzlers would LOVE to have a conversation with him. But HE has resisted it. NOT THEM!

None of you better get on me for TELLING THE TRUTH...you may want to think all of this 'heartfelt, saddened" stuff about the birth father....and it IS sad and tragic--NO DOUBT...but he has done NOTHING to faciliate a conversation. NOTHING!!!!!!!!!

To have communication and a conversation...YOU NEED TO COMMUNICATE BACK!!!! I AM SICK of you people ripping into a family that has done NOTHING but honor their daughter's heritage and birth family during this horrible tragedy.

The Muenzlers would LOVE to have a conversation with the birthfather. But what should they do...jump on a plane, show up at his house and just hand her over without any conversation???? ARE YOU FREAKIN' NUTS?????

Why don't you jump on those adoptive families who have had NO CONTACT with birthparents...some of whom think FOC DID NOTHING WRONG???? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

Stop your attacks on one of a HANDFUL of the adoptive families who've done the MOST to communicate with their birthfamily.

Someone has to finally speak up. Lord knows 48 Hours won't. And the Muenzler's won't either because they have to live with this situation and would LOVE to faciliate an honest discussion on how they can work together in this.

The truth hurts doesn't it? But the LIES and horrible things you people are saying about this family hurt also. It's time you people got off your high horse and get a good kick in the rear and WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[momofsamoans2]

It is unfortunate that people do not understand that this show was done for their ENTERTAINMENT. While it may contain some truths, there are also lies and complete OMISSION about things.

It is also sad that so many Americans are so stupid to believe because they saw it on TV, that it is the absolute truth.

People aren't understanding that the majority of the adoptive families have extended the olive branch to the birth families. Some have been in contact, but many of the birth families have not returned contact with the adoptive families. My child's birth mother chooses NOT to be in contact - she is happy with the way things are.
The show didn't bother to tell the public about those stories either.

Trying to talk sense to unreasonable people is like throwing water on a grease fire.

You have tried to help & protect your friend - maybe some will open their eyes and realize a couple of things: 1) don't believe everything you see on TV (these shows are sensationalized - keeps people entertained & helps their ratings!) (2) unless you know the WHOLE truth, save your hateful comments.

[snowball2850]

Hey Einstein, if the Muenzlers or the Sawyers or the Nybergs were really thinking of their children first, they would not have exposed them to the national media! If they really were as smart as they put themselves out as being, they would never have adopted a toddler or an older child without a lot more soul searching,investigation and preparadeness for the potential (and likely) psychological backlashes. What FOC did is unfathomable and unforgiveable, however, the media circus is equally unforgiveable! All of these publicized adoptive parents efforts would have been much better spent dealing with their childrens individual concerns rather than exposing EVERYONE WHO HAS ADOPTED FROM SAMOA to their hand-wringing drivel. Instead they could have been working towards positive mental health for their own kids and better international adoptive processes worldwide! SHAME ON THEM!

[momofsamoans2]

This show, while portraying some of the truth, is ultimately for your ENTERTAINMENT. This is a mix of truth, 1/2 lies and fiction. There is so much more to this story than the public will ever know.

If you want the truth, it is none of your business.

While it is a good thing that the truth of the business practices of Focus on Children has come to light, justice was not served. A mockery has been made of the justice system. How can you have 130+ felony counts be brought against individuals - especially ones that involve children - be reduced to misdemeanors and fines? Hundreds of thousands of U.S. tax payer dollars were spent on this sham of a trial. Where is your outrage at that? Instead, you spew hatred at a woman you do not know, who placed her trust in the producers of this show to tell the truth of her story and she ended up being portrayed in a negative light. A very small portion of her story was told and some of what was shown was OVER EXAGGERATED - all to enhance the story for your entertainment.

Where is your anger at the adoption agency and those who ran it? Where is your anger over the time & money spent on the trial?

Not all of the children from Samoa were stolen, kidnapped or coerced from their families. Many of the parents understood. Many of the parents are happy for their children.

None of us signed on for this. We are loving parents who wanted children to love & raise. Our lives have been turned upside down and inside out.

Did the show bother to inform you that since all of this has come to light that the adoptive families have tried to or actually have made contact with the birth families? No, they did not. Did the show bother to tell you that the guilty parties are not paying their fines as ordered by the court? No, they did not. Did the show bother to say that since the filming in Samoa, that the family they met with WAS NOT Jayden's actual birth family? No, they did not. They were an adoptive family too. But to understand that you would have to understand Samoan culture.

Are any of you familiar with Samoan culture? I would venture to say that 99.9% are not. Adoption in Samoan culture is very common place. At one time, statistics showed something like 90% of Samoan children were being raised by someone other than their birth family. Adoption is different in Samoa in that it is not done through the courts. It is a matter of trust & family. For instance, if I have 5 children and I cannot care of them, I might ask a relative or close friend to care for 1 or all of my children if their situation in life would allow it. That situation may last for a short time or it could last for years.

Now here we are, having loved & raised these beautiful children. They have been OUR children for 4 - 10 years and because of this show - you want us to pack our children up and ship them off to live with strangers. Sad as it may be, that is the truth. If the children were to be returned to Samoa at this point, that would be considered cruel. The majority of the children adopted were under 3 - they have no actual memories of Samoa or their birth families. With the knowledge that Jayden did not actually meet her biological parents, who would we be sending our children to? How would we know that the children we have raised were not signed over to FOC by another adoptive family who had fallen on hard times and could not care for them?

What I can tell you is that these children are loved. They are healthy and they are happy.

Please think before you type. You are directing your anger the wrong way.

[pvn28]

I am skeptical. Several details in the article appear that seriously undermine the main claims of the article and bring up further questions. The adoption papers that the parents signed said the adoptions would be permanent. Lawyers and judges in Samoa participated in the adoption process and clarified this also. Most of the Samoan families aren't interested in their children being returned and neither is prosecuting U.S. attorney Brett Tolman. Why not? If the felonies that the defendants were originally charged with really occurred then returning the children to their rightful parents should certainly be a priority. The people working for Focus on Children were originally charged with 135 felony accounts but these charges were pleaded down to a few misdemeanors with no jail time. Perhaps Mr. Tolman would like to tell us how many millions of dollars of tax payers' money was used to get these people to plead guilty to a few minor charges. Could it be that the prosecutors, realizing that a mistake had been made, attempted to save face by getting the defendants to plead to a few misdemeanors? This is not the way our justice system should work. Hopefully, the whole truth will be told in the future.

[friendofElizabeth]

Glad to see there are others out on the list supporting Elizabeth now, but I still feel obligated to post on Elizabeth's behalf. I have been a friend of hers for years, and all of the comments on this site against her are ridiculous. Let's see...48 Hours you failed to mention that she was one of the FIRST adoptive parents to be in contact with a birth mother--as soon as the government came calling and has been in contact with her for 4.5 years, when other than the three families highlighted in the story and a 'handful' of others have been in contact AT ALL to date with birthparents???? And some NEVER will be in contact because they think Focus did NOTHING WRONG??? The government didn't even TELL her ANYTHING about the birthfather at that meeting--she only learned about him AFTER the indictment was released. She's been in contact with him ever since, giving him an address to him so he can write letters to his daughter, make contact, trying to reach out to him--ALL THE WHILE sending photos and letters to this man while he's written ONE LETTER in 3 years. 48 Hours, what happened to the interview with the birthmother in Samoa this summer, who said she wanted her daughter to stay HERE--was happy she was HERE--and that she was MAD the birthfather was involved because I guess SHE says he WASN'T that involved in her life in Samoa after all??? Oh, and that interview you guys SO HAD to get--the one of the family talking to the birthfather on the phone...WHERE WAS THAT IN THE STORY??? That phone call has done WONDERS to help these families come together to do what is BEST for this little girl....and yes, just like the other little girl, Christine has ALSO BEEN TRANSFORMED by knowing the truth--which she has known for 5+ years now. AND PEOPLE ON THIS LIST SHE DOES KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS--she will NEVER resent Elizabeth after all that she has done for her!!!! 48 Hours, hope that little 'police car chase' shot got you good ratings...after all--it didn't happen that way did it??? Dan had a "friend from the police" in the car with them to take them to the airport--they were supposedly 'hanging out' afterwards. (yeah and how much do we know is true from Mr. Cattle Driver anyway???) No lights, no police car, no sirens like you depicted. Only years later when the Muenzler's heard about what had happened to the birthfather, did they realize he was probably a 'police escort' in case things went wrong...but I'm sure that 'drama' really helped those ratings, huh? Even though it was FABRICATED....48 Hours, you mentioned the tsunami...didn't mention however, how Elizabeth helped the birthfather connect with people in Samoa to look for his missing father, helped the birthmother get connected with someone who is helping her rebuild her house, and basically talked to the birthfather's wife almost every day for two weeks until they heard his father was fine???? WHERE WAS THAT IN THE STORY??? You made it sound like she's never had contact with any of them...shame on you!!!! 48 Hours--you talked this wonderful family into helping you with the story when they were certainly wary to do so and then you THREW THEM UNDER THE BUS and successfully re-traumatized them all over again with your 'omissions' of the REAL TRUTH!!!! People who have said all of those horrible things about Elizabeth on this site--get a freakin' life. Any of you that would just drop your kid off to someone after 7 years that they didn't know, couldn't communicate with and didn't remember, who has basically shown no interest in her other than ONE LETTER should have YOUR kids taken away from YOU as you have no interest in what is best for a child. Yes, the Muenzlers found out the 'fundamental' details from agents 4.5 years ago--but if you are so smart you would then just drop everything and run to Samoa to leave this little girl there, no questions asked, then you're an IDIOT. They had been told this little girl was abused and neglected--yes, to find out that the agency was lying was surreal for them...but you don't just then hand her over at that point after 2-3 years without having a relationship with them and knowing what kind of people they are. I would take one friend like Elizabeth over ALL of you put together times a million ANY DAY!!! You all 'claim' to be Christians. You are the most self-righteous, judgmental, holier-than-thou people I have EVER SEEN! Take that attitude and place it on the REAL evil doers who got all of these families into this mess in the first place--Focus on Children.

[MomX6]

It is a shame that CBS chose to take the low road while portraying this story. So much good could have come out of this disheartening story. Instead, the producers chose to adlib and include lies & add fiction.

Lies, betrayal and hate have come out of this. How neeless for that to have happened.

Everyone who adopted through FOC, myself included, had different experiences. The greed and lack of care, compassion & concern for the adoptive & birth families AND the children that FOC and their employees showed is a sin. The U.S. courts did not punish them, but a higher power ultimately will.

This is a devastating situation for all of us who adopted through FOC. All of us have suffered to some degree. Some will continue to suffer longer because of the actions of this story & FOC more than others.

Viewers, I can only say that you got a very minute portion of the truth.

[jjhungcbs]

Stalling is one of the most truly despicable ways a child can be legally kidnapped by parents hoping to adopt. If an adoption doesn?t go through as planned, whether because of legal issues or because of the birth parents? objections, a potential adoptive family can simply use their lawyers to stall. These well-paid lawyers can use tons of legalese and paperwork to keep the birth parents away from their child. If they are successful in keeping the birth parents away for at least several years, most judges will rule in favor of the adoptive family because ?too much time has past,? and the ?child has bonded.? This is exactly what Elizabeth Muenzler did. She now even has people supporting her position because ?too much time has past.?

Unfortunately, I do agree with the Muenzler?s now because she was so successful in keeping her child away from her parents. Now that her child has forgotten her culture and raised so long as a Muenzler, the child can?t go back without severe trauma. However, she should never be forgiven for her unspeakable cruelty against her Samoan daughter?s parents.

[pamiam5]

No, before that child was whisked out of Samoa, the potential adoptive parents were told that the father wanted to contest the adoption. They were, at best, foolish to take the attorney's word for it, and, at worst, complicit in the kidnapping of this child.

They must do the right thing. They must tell the child, accompany her to Samoa, introduce her to her father, stay in Samoa for months or years while a safe relationship is established with her father. If they care about the child, and if they care about right and wrong, they will do this.

Yes, this poor little girl has experienced PTSDfrom the original abduction. She will never recover from the first trauma if her so-called parents do not do the right thing for her. This is not their daughter. They have become part of the crime against her and her father.

It is not enough for them to send photos and letters to the father. They must find a way to reunite this child with their father. It will take time and money, but it is the only right thing to do.

[snowball2850]

SHAME ON YOU CBS "NEWS"! What a terrible sensational piece of irresponsible reporting. I am one of the so-called "scammed" Samoan adoptive parents and I can not believe the number of inaccuracies, lies and withheld information contained in this drivel that you are putting out as "news". The adoptive parents in this story got the attention they were craving and in Patti Sawyer's case she got a free trip to Samoa. The rest of us, however, now have to put up with the backlash of your garbage and its affect on our children. I am trying to raise my child with a sense of pride about being from Samoa and having a birth parent that loved her enough to make an adoption plan for her. My child was well-cared for in the nanny house and was perfectly healthy. My child's birth parent was interviewed by lawyers and judges and met the criteria of the Samoan government for adoption. My adoption was never in jepardy. How dare you insinuate that I was somehow wronged or want to be included with these grandstanding vindictive 15 minute of famer parents. Why didn't you mention that Focus On Children was operating in at least 6 other countries and no problems were found with ANY of their hundreds of adoptions in ANY other country? How dare you purport to represent the other adoptive families in Samoa. My adoption went just fine thank you! Instead you put on Dan Wakefield who was the root of the problem in Samoa. He systematically lied and committed fraud but you let him blame the Banks instead. How dare you give him a voice without telling the rest of the story. How about the fact that this wasn't his first brush with the law and that he was also implicated in other business scams prior to working with FOC. Why didn't you mention that the Nyberg's child was Morman and that part of their reason for returning her was for Morman religous reasons! Why didn't you mention that you were not even dealing with the real birth parents in the one case? Hello anybody telling the whole truth out there? Yes, FOC broke the law but to portray it as you did is just as dishonest.

[scooptaylor]

I have no idea about the Banks or what they believed or didn't but this I DO know. Just like snowball2850 says this is NOT Dan Wakefield's first brush with the law or the first time he's lied to parents. He scammed desperate parents trying to help their teenage children who were battling difficult times. He 'sold' a fully developed program in Samoa for teens who need help. He had slick brochures with horseback riding and other theraputic experiences to help our children. He an his cohorts preyed on our desperation. My daughter was in the program. After 5 months we got a call from the US State Department saying that she was abandoned in Western Samoa. The American staff simply left. Last night she watched 48 hours and it broke her heart to see that Dan Wakefield was scamming and con other families as he did ours.

[nessa1978]

I think now that the woman knows she was stolen and the fact that she won't give her back to her father makes her equally has wrong has FOC. She should be charged with kidnapping. I feel for her but what she is now knowly doing is wrong. I agree if the shoe was on the other foot she would have her kidnapped daughter back. I hope the father gets his daughter back. I hope there is a update.

[48hrgirl]

yes, i agree "GIVE HER BACK" I am so outraged with lady and her family. She knows the dad did not sign those papers and if he had signed them it was under false pretense!!! u r a CHILD STEELER!!! Have a heart and give her back. CBS PLEASE HELP THE FATHER GET IS BABY BACK!! PLEASE, PLEASE. REMEMBER,U REAP WHAT U SEW. sincerely, ANGRY and OUTRAGED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[fiasili5]

History is repeating itself again. White people coming in and thinking their way of life is superior. If Focus On Children did their homework, they would learn that in the Samoan culture families are important. There are no poor children in Samoa. Samoans live off the land. Stress and care free. My mother grew up that way and says she had a good life. When the children are old enough they can choose to leave to pursue work or education in America. Samoans are very trusting people and respect foreigners. My mother came to Hawaii to better her life. She has gone back to Samoa many times to visit family and strengthen the bonds of her culture. We send our families in Samoa gifts of money, clothes and candy. That is the hope of the children of Samoa that they come back to give back to their families. That's why this story is so wrong. Give the children opportunities but don't take away their families.

[Sunshynex2]

This story is horrible! I do not agree with Elizabeth Muenzler and what she is doing to Christine's father. If the birth parents want their child back they should have that right! Since he never wanted to give up his daughter in the first place Elizabeth should think about how he is hurting and feeling since his daughter was taken away from him. How she would feel if it was her daughter that was taken and how she would want her back.

[Phxfire]

It sounds like many of you are only thinking about the rights of the father and not what is best for the child. She has been raised by someone other than her birth father, he is now a stranger to her. Her American family are the people she knows and loves. She was torn from what was familiar to her once, it would be cruel to just place her in a home and situation that is now completely foreign to her. Whatever happens, it needs to be done slowly, giving this little girl the time to deal with the betrayal, the loss and the feelings of being torn between to cultures and the people who all love her.