I have a friend who I've only known recently but she's known my DH since Junior High. She got pregnant at 18 and left him because he is extremely controlling. She wasn't in his life for awhile pretty much her whole pregnancy. Well when Hannah was about 2 months old Julie went back to him because he threatened to take Hannah from her and never let her see her again. Julie believed him and got back together with him. They moved to Georgia (We're in AZ) and she stopped really talking to us. He didn't want her to talk to my DH, and Carlos even got on the phone on time when Crit was talking to Julie and threatened to fly down here and "beat his ass" if he ever talked to her again. They contiued to talk on and off, but more off. Carlos enrolled in the army and we thought it would finally be her chance to get away. But instead she married him. She got pregnant again. They moved to Cali when she was about 7 months pregnant and have been there since (Jacob is 9 months old) Well Carlos was recently sent to Iraq. She thought she would finally have freedom. Instead he demanded she go stay with his parents, in Springerville which is about 45 mins from us. He controls her money and she isn't allowed to leave the house without his brother or sister with her. And he has told her to stay the hell away from Critter! She had to lie and tell him she was paying his parents rent so she could have money to eat, because his parents leave their meat out and it makes her sick. One time he even told her the way he knew a woman really loved him is when "you can beat the shit out of them and they stay with you" It's completely horrible. She says how she wishes he'd just die in Iraq and talks about how much she hates him but is too scared to actually leave. He told her he'd take her kids away and she'd never see them again if she ever tried to leave. And as much as I tell her he can't do that she just doesn't believe me. He has some stupid video on his phone from when she was 18, about 3 years ago, of her getting fucked up. He's using the video against her saying it shows she a bad mom. I told her it doesn't matter, she still doesn't believe me.

She was supposed to come over this weekend but now she's not because she can't leave unless his sister Nadia comes with. I had planned this big dinner and got Ian's room ready for her to stay. And now she has to come tomorrow while Crit's at work. Carlos doesn't even want her seeing me since I'm Critter's wife. It's just ridiculus. I even had to give her Aidan's old clothes for Jacob. They have all this money in the bank and she can't touch it because of him. I'm afraid when he comes back, he'll make good on his threat. I have a feeling even if he does beat her she won't leave. I think she just won't tell us because I threatened that if he laid a hand on her I'm driving out there and getting her and the kids. I would too! I know what it's like having an abusive father (well step but same thing) I don't want her or her kids going through that. I think about it constantly. I just don't know how to get through to her. HELP!!!