My friend is going to die

[Guest]

My friend J lives with his sibling’s dad, who is not his biological father. Almost every day J’s sibling’s dad beats J’s sibling in some way- I have been on the phone and listened to it happen in the background, and J always goes to try and break it up. It always starts with J’s sibling, and ends up with J getting hurt as well. It has been years that J has been there with his sibling, despite the fact that J’s sibling’s dad never got legal permission to be his guardian. J’s biological dad has recently been trying to get J out of there and get custody, but nothing is working. The cops know their address, and they don’t come when called anymore. A CPS worker at one point made it seem like it was a possibility J could get out of there, but ended up mocking him by the end of the session and sending him back to stay with his sibling’s dad. Nothing is working, I don’t know how to help him. Last night J’s biological dad made a plan to park across the street & call the cops and have the cops interview both kids (J and sibling) and a CPS worker was called. J’s sibling’s dad is extremely influential with people and specializes in making it seem like he is a great person. As soon as the CPS worker went to talk to him, it was over. Everyone became dismissive again, and they left J and his sibling to stay the night again. I have not heard from him in more than 12 hours. I don’t know what to do, but that man is going to kill one if not both of them. They are both more unsafe now than ever and nothing is working. J is 15 and his sibling is 17, and the state is California. Please somebody help me if J stays there any longer he is going to die. Why won’t anyone help?

[ccsmod2]

Thank you for contacting National Runaway Safeline. It was brave of you to find support for your friend today. It sounds like J and his sibling have been experiencing this form of physical abuse for a while. No one deserves to be treated that way, especially from the people who are supposed to support you. Please know that if J or his sibling are ever feeling unsafe, we can always provide them with the resources they need. It might be a good idea to see if they can call in or chat online (1-800-786-2929 or www.1800runaway.org) to explore their options. We can help J and his sibling report the physical abuse going on in their home so that a caseworker will be notified to assess their situation. If staying at home is too unsafe, we can help J and his sibling find shelters or transitional living programs that help youth get on their feet. You also mentioned that J’s sibling’s dad never got legal permission to be his guardian. Under these circumstances, J may have steps he can legally take to leave his current living situation. However, it’s important to note that each case is different, so it may be helpful to call or chat in to so we can give you access to free legal services in the area you are in.


You mentioned that J and his sibling are desperate to leave their current living situation. Some information that might be helpful to keep in mind is that those who are younger than 18 typically cannot leave home without their guardian’s permission. So if they were to leave without permission, their dad can call the police to file a runaway report. If that were to happen, he can look for them and bring them back home if found.




Your friends are going through a lot, and we appreciate you reaching out to us. It was compassionate of you to find support for your friends today. Please feel free to contact us whenever is suitable for you as we are open 24/7. If you feel that you or your friends are in immediate danger, please do not hesitate to contact the police (911) to get immediate assistance.

We hope to hear from you soon,
NRS