Two More Missing Children in the Ludington Area

[XLFD]

As per the Chicago Tribune: 

LUDINGTON, Mich.— Authorities in West Michigan say they're looking for two young children whose father failed to drop them off with their mother as planned.

The Mason County sheriff's department said Friday that 4-year-old Douglas McCallum and 2-year-old Shelby McCallum were last known to be with 52-year-old Mark McCallum on Wednesday. The department reports they're investigating it as a parental kidnapping.

The department says both parents live in the Ludington area and there was a shared custody arrangement. They were to be dropped off Thursday.

Authorities are looking for either a dark green 1995 Dodge pickup truck with a Michigan license plate "DALE12" or a dark blue 2005 Chevrolet Malibu with a Michigan license plate "1CDX85." Officials say Mark McCallum has family ties in the Grand Rapids area and in Arizona.

 

A series of signs in front of Mr. McCallums house, could have a reasonable person questioning his sanity.  Ten signs in order in front of his house proclaiming:  1) Parole Board, Protective services 2) Parole Officer, (their name) 3) (warden's name), Warden  4) Prison guard (their name)  5) Executioner (name)  6)  (name) Catholic Saint's Tribunal Prison  7)  Prison Pawns (a name)  8) Mark McCallum, convicted felon  9)  24 hour confession-- (a name) only 10) a standard "No trespassing sign.

Local sheriff's officers and Hamlin zoning officials have mentioned that they have been to McCallum's residence on numerous occasions about zoning issues.  What is not known is whether these contacts are what may have set him over the edge.  Keep praying for the safety of the children.

 

[Dave]

Craziness.. people seem to be getting more loopy. With the Powell idiot in Washington state that just blew himself and kids up you have to wonder what's going on in people's heads these days. It almost makes you wish that you have to take a mental exam before you can have kids at the rate things are going.

[Sweater Cows!]

complete HOPELESSNESS! >deppression>more hopelessness>depression and on and on.

[AQUAMAN]

Most of the judges hearing custody/support issues in Michigan are still about 25 years behind the times. Fathers are NOT always devils to be prayed upon and destroyed, due to the Mother is always right view and opinions of yesteryear. Today, many courts in other states have taken a new approach to making the father's rights and custody issues more tenable, easy to live with, and successful for the future of both the parents and kids. I don't know what exactly the situations are in this particular case, but making Mr. McCallum a target of the court and his own family, isn't a good situation for any concerned. Kidnapping the kids isn't the correct answer either, unless and until your back is against the wall, and there is no other options available. Sad case either way for these precious kids.

[XLFD]

The latest I hear is that the sheriff and/or zoning officials have been out to his place in the last month or so at least three times, and that a custody hearing was set for today at the courthouse.  Let's hope he has only wished to keep his kids in order to 'protect them' from what he may perceive as an unfair system, rather than that he went off the deep end and done something to harm the tykes and/or himself. 

[AQUAMAN]

What's up with the neighbors posting vicious attacks on McCallum's property right up by his home?  Isn't that trespassing? and malicious mischief and vandalism?

[XLFD]

The barbed-wire lined signs were apparently put up by McCallum himself and had the names of mostly local public officials that he perhaps felt threatened by.  He had put them up earlier, and there are quite a few more updates by Brian Mulherin in today's LDN, although the E-edition has edited enough out of the story to make it sound confusing.

[Crystal]

I came across this forum today and just read through the replies.  Just so you know, Mark has a very long criminal history, was very abusive, and his family members have attested on several other forums that he regularly beat his first wife and completely lost custody of his child with her as well.  He was granted joint custody, because 50/50 is the standard in Mason county, and has become the standard for several other counties in that area as well.  He has made himself a target by choosing to behave in a controlling and unstable way.  As soon as my sister stood up to his abuse and left him, that is when he started snapping.  However, she followed the court order and allowed him the visitation that the judge granted, and wanted to have an amicable divorce.  Unfortunately, he is pretty much a soulless monster, and continues to spin a web of lies to get attention and try to keep control.

[AQUAMAN]

That's unfortunate Crystal, I wish you and yours all the safest and best into the future. Thanks for joining, and welcome.

[XLFD]

This is back in the news because the trial has started in our 51st Circuit Court.  It is interesting enough to follow, but the defendant definitely has an uphill battle.  I would love to see the full back-story just to see whether he was drove over the edge by the unfairness of the local system, which has been something we have been documenting here when it rears its ugly head.  Or by his own failings, which it seems to be. 

To read more of what is going on, here is MCP's Court reporter Lisa Enos:  http://www.masoncountypress.com/2013/02/26/ex-wife-testifies-in-kid... and

http://www.masoncountypress.com/2013/02/27/witnesses-testify-agains.... 

[Willy]

The statement from the children's mother on the front page of the LDN reveals some of what may have been going on between the mother and father. She said "just bring my kids back". She didn't say bring "our" kids back or "the" kids back but "my" kids".  That to me, is a good indication of her attitude when it comes to allowing visitations to the children's  father. I bet she has made it very difficult for him to see the kids and probably has tried to limit his access to the kids. I've seen this many times where the mother uses the kids against the father. I'm not saying this is what's going on but I've heard that statement [my kids] said by the mother a lot when fathers are being held hostage in custody battles. Of course, parental kidnapping of the children is not going to solve the problem because the real losers will be the children. I just hope he doesn't do anything to hurt the children and returns them ASAP.

[Lisa O'Brien]

I don't know Willy - I think it's a mother thing. I always refer my kids as MY kids.

[Willy]

I do to, but If your husband is with the children at the movies and someone asked where he is you wouldn't say he's with my kids. You would say he's with the kids or he's with our kids.