Mom Who Said "Many Women End Up Dead" Has Died

And a Memorial to Mothers Who've Died Fighting for their Children

Narkis and Bradley

In a recent post on social media, after a judge ordered her sent back to his abusive father, New York mom Narkis eerily said, “Many women end up dead.” She was speaking about women like her in Custody Crisis cases.

Less than two months later Narkis was found dead in her home.

Narkis was found dead on Wednesday following a recent judicial order sending her 6 year-old son, Bradley, into the custody and control of her abusive ex in Italy. The cause of death is unknown at this time, but the coroner said the manner of death was not suicide. Law enforcement stated that no foul play is suspected.

If Narkis had just been allowed to live peaceably with her baby, she might still be alive today—and Bradley would still have his mother.

First, let’s be clear: Narkis is a hero. She gave her all to keep & protect her son. If the pain of losing him was too great for her to go on, let’s not judge. Let’s praise her for her amazing efforts and lay blame solely on the judges and the patriarchal systems that disempowered and tortured her.

And let’s take a moment to remember other mothers who lost their lives fighting for their children. See our memorial below.

SCOTUS “WIN”

Just a few months ago, Narkis was ecstatic she had “won” her case in the SCOTUS (U.S. Supreme Court)—or so she thought. But it was not, in effect, a win. Her case was simply remanded back to the same judge who basically ruled the same way, giving the abusive father custody—which SCOTUS was fully aware would happen. They are not stupid. That is why it was a 9–0 vote—it did not upset the status quo.

SCOTUS merely clarified some legal technicalities about “ameliorative measures”, which are things done to mitigate harm to children, like, perhaps a bit of therapy. And, to save face, they encouraged the trial court to prioritize the safety of the child. Sound familiar? A lot of good that did…

And so, this SCOTUS ruling is yet another variation of the judicial system maintaining paternal power while appearing as if they actually care about children’s safety and well being.

THE HAGUE

This custody case began with the father filing in the international Hague Court in the Netherlands after Narkis left Italy to New York. The Hague Convention (law governing international custody disputes) states that children must be returned to the jurisdiction from which they were taken, but it provides an exception when children may be subjected to a “grave risk of harm” by doing so.

However, there are built-in ways around that exception (of course), including the one used in Narkis’ case—that something can be done to mitigate the danger to the child, thus allowing children to be returned to abusers.

The Hague ruling was that Bradley be returned to Italy where “ameliorative measures could be explored” so he, theoretically, would not be subjected to a grave risk of harm. Of course, those measures would be up to Italian judges who would also most likely minimize and excuse the violence.

This meant Narkis’ case against the Hague ruling would be filed in the U.S. federal system in the Eastern District of New York, where she was living with Bradley.

Judge Ann Connelly

In the district court, Judge Ann Connelly upheld the Hague order that Bradley be returned to the father in Italy. Narkis appealed, but the 2nd Circuit upheld Connelly’s ruling. SCOTUS took the case and overturned Connelly’s order and remanded. The problem is they did not order that Narkis could keep her son in New York as they should have and provide measures for keeping him safe with his mother.

So on August 31st, not surprisingly, Judge Connelly again pretty much just re-issued the original order. Bradley must be returned to his father in Italy with ameliorative measures to protect him.

Connelly is essentially saying that Bradley could be protected from witnessing DV between the parents. But she knows better than anyone (as she had been Chief of the Family Violence and Child Abuse Unit) that the research shows a father who abuses his wife will more than likely abuse the child as well.

In other words, Judge Connelly KNEW she was endangering Bradley and did it anyway. Further proof that training is not the answer.

And, disgustingly, Connelly stuck it to Narkis for getting her overturned by SCOTUS. She ordered her to pay the father $150,000 by the time Bradley was given to his father.

Judge Ann Marie Connelly is particularly repugnant amongst a plethora of appalling judges. She obviously contributed greatly, if not caused, Narkis’ death.

DISAPPOINTMENT & PAIN

Imagine Narkis’ disappointment and pain.

After a brief period of believing she had won and could actually protect her child (as any mother should be able to do, and as society requires them to do), she is hit with the awful realization that she actually could not.

The day after Connelly’s ruling, Narkis posted this:

As I sat for years in this cage of war that was forced onto me, I wonder how this can be till this very day that women are being treated like a uterus without rights.

We’re enslaved to this patriarchal society that controls our innocent lives without any justice at all. Without any good reason at all.

After winning at the Supreme Court, I had to yet again face the same unsympathetic judge who wants to force my son back to a country where I was tortured, raped and abused in every way.

There was never justice for me.

All I can do is try to be the best mommy I can while fighting this battle that makes no sense. I just keep asking myself WHY??

Why does the system ENABLE such a person to continue to cause my son and I harm through the courts after surviving such abuse. Many women end up dead. People call me a survivor. What have I survived when I’m still fighting for my human rights that has been stripped away from me for so many years while the real criminal gets to live his best life knowing he still holds that power over my head?

Why must I be threatened and silenced by the system that’s meant to protect us? Why?

I’m just trying to give my son the life he deserves.

Who understands how hard it is to hold your pain inside while trying to show your child that you’re happy and that everything is okay when it’s not?

I probably won’t ever have those answers but one thing I know for sure is that I won’t stop fighting and from now on, I won’t be silenced either. I want the world to know the truth. Money and power plays a big role in our ignorant society. Why must some be so ignorant to the truth when it’s right in front of their faces? It’s greed, it’s selfishness, it’s ego, it’s power, it’s so many awful things that I could not imagine as a young child who believed so strongly in our laws and in our world.

Here is a short, touching video Narkis made of Bradley and her set to “What the World Needs Now Is Love Sweet Love”. It is posted here in her memory:

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IN MEMORY OF LOST MOTHERS

Links to their stories:

2021   

Nia

Star

2020

Michelle

Marissa

Nicole

Jennifer

2018

Nashwa

2017

Kimi

Sheila

Sherry

Haley

2015

Kymberlie

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