Another case in Tennessee…

 

Just look at the newspaper circulars each week. Many of  the “missing” displayed in the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are mothers running with their children… 

 

February 29,2009

 

The FBI says Hope Lazarides kidnapped her own daughter in 2003. She was arrested six years later in Dallas. 

 

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children believes 14-year-old Sofia Lazarides was being home schooled in Dallas while her father searched for her.

The mother, 46-year-old Hope Lazarides, is in custody.

The FBI says it was acting on a tip, and it led them to a house in Northeast Dallas. The home belongs to retired Judge Phil Barker.

Sofia was eight when she was abducted.

“The good part is she was old enough to remember her daddy,” said Charles Picket with the National Center for Mission Children. “We’ve already alerted our family advocacy group at the national center to reach out to them and assist them with counseling.”

She has been since been reunited with her father, an accomplished country music songwriter.

Kostas Lazarides wrote a song for the Dixie Chicks and is known in the industry only by his first name.

He and his wife went through a lengthy divorce proceeding and during that time, Hope Lazarides accused her husband of molesting Sofia.

According to Mr. Lazarides’ attorney, the allegations were investigated and no charges were ever filed. Kostas Lazarides was granted sole custody of the child, and the girl’s mother was only allowed supervised visits.

“We don’t know what level of trauma this child has experience over a six year period with no contact with her father,” said attorney John Hollins, Jr.

According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, it’s rare that a child is located after more than five years.

As for retired Judge Barker, the FBI will only say that it is investigating.

It’s difficult enough for a single parent to raise a child without being ”on the run”.

 

This mother, like other mothers running to protect their children probably ran to protect her child from abuse. 

 

Let’s hope the FBI investigates more than just this one case.