Wed Sep 11 09:13:02 UTC 2024: ## Abandoned in Jamaica: Adopted Teenager Returns Home After Months of Abuse and Neglect
**TRAVERSE CITY, MI** – Elijah Goldman, a 17-year-old adopted from Haiti, has finally returned to the United States after being abandoned in Jamaica for seven months following allegations of abuse at a boarding school he was sent to for behavioral issues. Elijah’s adoptive parents, Mark and Spring Goldman, a wealthy and conservative Christian couple from Traverse City, Michigan, have been criticized for their inaction, failing to visit him or attend his court hearings despite reports of severe abuse at the school.
Elijah claims he was beaten, waterboarded, and even whipped at the Atlantis Leadership Academy in Treasure Beach, Jamaica. He alleges the abuse included being cut with a razor and beaten in the back with a hammer, among other horrific acts. These allegations led Jamaican authorities to remove Elijah and six other American boys from the academy in February and subsequently shut it down.
Despite this, Elijah’s adoptive parents remained in Michigan, only contacting him once in April to tell him they didn’t want him home and didn’t believe his claims about the abuse. When reached for comment, the Goldmans declined to answer questions.
This case has sparked international attention, with child welfare advocates and celebrity activist Paris Hilton drawing attention to the issue of parental abandonment, particularly in cases where adopted children are deemed “too problematic.” Elijah’s experience highlights a disturbing trend of adoptive parents sending troubled children away to troubled teen programs, often in foreign countries, and then abandoning them.
Elijah, who was returned to the United States last week, arrived in Florida and was immediately caught in a bureaucratic battle between Michigan and Florida authorities over who was responsible for his care. He was eventually placed in Florida CPS custody and later flown back to Traverse City.
Elijah’s adoptive father met him at the airport and has claimed to be taking him to Utah, but this move is disputed by lawyers and advocates who are concerned about Elijah’s safety and well-being.
Child welfare advocates have filed a neglect petition in Traverse City, calling for Elijah to be placed in protective custody. This case raises serious questions about the adequacy of the child welfare system and the lack of accountability for parents who abandon their children, especially when those children are reporting abuse.
Elijah, who dreams of returning to a normal life, hopes to eventually lead a successful life and have his own family. His story serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by adopted children and the need for greater support and protection.
First Piper 