Feb. 11, 1995
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Puerto Rico

Dearly beloved friends:
Regarding the trip of my wife, Nilda, with our children, Grace and Jimmy,
on Feb. 1 to Puerto Rico, I am sorry to have to bring to your attention
further worrisome news.

She called me Thursday evening, Feb. 9, and was more upset than before.
Now she will not allow me to speak with our children.  The worst morbid
thinking by her that I have observed over the years is now evident.  She
said she feels threatened and unsafe.  Her thought content and preoccupations
now focus on harm to herself, myself and the children, which all mental health
professionals know is an ominous sign, and which, by itself, is reason to
report to proper authorities and marshal professional help.  Where the safety
of children might be in question, as I believe it might be, professional
ethics dictate that child welfare authorities be notified.

Thought Content of Nilda in her Thursday call to me.  She said that she was
certain I had a brain tumor and would be dead within a few months, that I
would be loosing my job shortly, that she was afraid I would cause her or the
children physical harm, that I told the children that she was mentally ill,
that I was mentally ill and should be taking lithium (and in a Wednesday call,
that I should get an MRI), and that she has obtained a certification of mental
health from a psychiatrist in PR (not worth the paper it is written on, in my
opinion).  A clear theme in all of these delusions (false beliefs) is feeling
threatened (technically, called paranoia).

There are many points I would like to suggest when the assembly consults.
Some are:

1. My role is husband and father.  As a mental health professional myself, it
would generally be unethical for me to state, declare or diagnose my wife as
"mentally ill" to others.  I have never done so to anyone including our
children, and nothing in my official communications to Baha'i authorities
should be construed as doing so.  Any diagnosis or treatment should be done by
appropriate professionals who are not immediate family members.  Further, no
one should rely on my perceptions alone.  However, in the event that Nilda
does seek help, from you or others, it would be, of course, proper procedure
to obtain information from me as her husband and as father of Grace and Jimmy.

2. Although child welfare may have to be considered, one generally has to rely
on the will of a person who reports symptoms, as Nilda has done, to seek
treatment.   My wish is that she finds happiness and inner peace in whatever
way this can be accomplished.

3. In my judgment, she has focused and "identified" all of the pain and inner
torment which she has been and is now experiencing on my person.  Thus, I am
seen as sick, in pain, about to die, dangerous, etc.  This situation further
limits what I can personally do that might be effective.  In addition, I and
our immediate family have been the support for her over the years.  Now she
has substituted that support, myself a central component, with both a fabric
of frank delusions and the person of her sister, Ana.  Our children are also
being "used."  There is serious concern regarding how long this temporary
support system for her sense of self can maintain her behavior reasonably
intact.

4. Although it may sound ironic, one should not, I think, rush to disabuse
her of these delusions.  Keep in mind that they represent an index of the
extent of her inner suffering and of what appears to be a deterioration in
thought process and may momentarily serve to keep her functioning at some
level.  In brief, delusions may serve a certain function.  When there is other
emotional support for her and some clearing of the thought process, one can be
more concerned with the presence of delusions themselves.  In short, do not
worry if she thinks I am a monster.

5. In this episode, her thought content has changed daily.  Each day she
tells me a different story.  However, her symptoms have been cyclic,
intermittent.  Hence, her confusion may clear and her thought process may
improve, at any time, as I have observed many times over the years.  Usually,
at such a time, she experiences deep remorse and guilt for her behavior, which
is followed by depression.  Then, the possibility of suicide (there is history
of suicidal ideation) is a medically known risk.

6. Re the above, I think this episode should not be conceptualized or acted
upon as a marital dispute, where any thought of divorce or separation is
raised.  Even though she presently sees me as sick and dangerous, remember
that I and the children have been her major source of emotional support for
years.  Regardless of present delusions, thought about possible future loss
of that source of past support might register at some level with negative
consequenses.

7. My concern is, and I think, your focus should be, the immediate safety and
welfare of Nilda, Grace and Jimmy during this episode, again highlighting her
need for emotional support.  Specifically, Baha'is might personally meet and
talk to our children.
    
8. The worsening of her symptoms over the last few years which I have observed
may, in part, be due to the fact that she is in the period of menopause.  On
the plus side,  she may, simply with the passage of time, experience great
improvement in her outlook and reactions to situations as this period, which
itself has been very trying for her, draws to completion.  Indeed, before
this current episode, I was very hopeful that this would happen and I still am.

9. I am preparing a detailed chronology of events, which I will fax shortly,
for the use of any Baha'i authorities or other potential providers of care
and support.

Thank you very much for your assistance to, and prayers for, my family.  I
am at your service to provide further information and suggestions. 
Baha'i Love and Greetings, 
James J. Keene, Ph.D.
cc: NSA of Dominica, Alan Smith, Errol Sealy

=====
Feb. 14, 1995
Mr. Alan Smith & National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Puerto Rico

Dearly beloved friends:
Regarding the trip of my wife, Nilda, with our children, Grace and Jimmy, on
Feb. 1 to Puerto Rico, I am happy to report some good news and provide
background.

Nilda called Monday Feb. 13 and we had a lengthy, encouraging conversation.
She seemed much more calm and with greatly improved thought process.  She had
taken the "agenda" I set forth in our Feb. 9 phone call (see "To Jimmy...",
page 11) and addressed each item.  I spoke with the children several times
each (they kept asking Mom).  Grace asked to speak with me a second time,
saying, "You know, Daddy, we were hiding from you because Mom said you could
hurt us.  I am very sorry, Daddy; you would never do that."  My girl was
apologizing to me (imagine!).  I talked with Grace at length, saying that I
had come to Puerto Rico to be with them.  She did not seem to clearly realize
that, in fact, I had traveled there to see her ("You mean you were here?").
Generally, talking with the children, there was a lot of laughing and joking
typical of our ordinary conversations.

Nilda characterized her actions as a "misunderstanding," beyond which I
question whether she yet has much appreciation of the disruptive nature and
consequences of her actions.  Nilda said that, thus far, all her medical tests
have been negative -- that is, no physical illness.  A plus is that we agreed
to do more planning together and for me to visit (in the words of Grace and
Jimmy, "for a real long time, not just a weekend.")

This was expected and positive, but we are not out of the woods (e.g., see
point 5 in my Feb. 11 letter).  While she is now planning to practice medicine
in Puerto Rico and may do just fine, it would not surprise me if she came home
soon.  Wherever Nilda is, we could be in transition to remorse and depression,
if history repeats itself again.  Frankly, at this point, I think our innocent
children have endured more than enough tragedy and trauma. 

To further assist you and potential providers of emotional support or care,
I am preparing a brief summary of Nilda's history (my Feb. 9 letter) prior to
Feb. 1, to fax to you shortly.

As you might note from the "To Jimmy..." chronology, there was a delay in
receipt from Sandra Cooles of major points concerning events on Feb. 1.
Thus, what I heard on Feb. 1 and Feb. 12 form two substantially different
pictures of the events of that day.  If the information, about Feb. 1 reported
to the NSA on Feb. 12, had been available earlier, I believe it would have
made a quite significant difference in my ability and efficacy in coping with
this situation.  Thus, to avoid such delays, please communicate with me
directly.
 
Thank you very much for your assistance to, and prayers for, my family.
Baha'i Love and Greetings, 
James J. Keene, Ph.D.

=====
May 12, 1995
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Puerto Rico

Dearly beloved friends:
This letter is to formally request your assistance in enabling my children
and their father to meet and spend time together in a father-child relationship.
Your assistance is requested since I have been unable to obtain from my wife,
Nilda, a clear indication of whether and how she will allow the children to
be with their father.  I phrase the foregoing carefully; it suggests that
Nilda seems to think of herself as the "first-class" parent and of me as some
lower class.  This infringes on the rights of our children and of myself.
Note she has hidden the children in the past.

While it seems that she will accept only that I visit the children in the
house of her sister, Ana Davis, this is clearly unacceptable.  That house is
where these children have been abused (see my March 1 letter to Dr.
Vazquez-Davis, Nilda's cousin).  Plus, the children need a father, not an
occasional visitor.  As of yesterday, Ana Davis, a current caregiver to my
children, refuses, according to Nilda, to speak with me on the phone.  It is
a demonstrable and indisputable fact that this situation and other incidents,
consistently project a negative image of me to my children, which itself is a
form of child abuse.

Nonetheless, given that Nilda does not plan to return home, I have suggested
to her the obvious -- that the children have a right and need to be raised by
each of their parents and that they should have that opportunity to be cared
for, taught by and be with each parent.  This might mean approximately half of
each year with each parent.   

At the present time, all I can gather is that she will oppose, as she has in
the past, my children spending any time alone with their father.  I have asked
her to state in writing her conditions for the children and their father to be
together; e.g., when, where (what country, city, etc), and for how long, so my
children and I could know if and when we could be reunited.  Although I think
it violates the rights and needs of the children and their father for Nilda to
set demands and conditions, all I asked was to know her conditions.  She
refuses to write them down (i.e., make any commitment).  In effect, Nilda
(and Ana?) seem to be engaged in some sort of false or immoral imprisonment
of the children.

Be aware that many facts are inverted or confused in Nilda's mind.  Examples.
She told me there was a "new law" in Puerto Rico against a parent removing
children from their home and the other parent.  She described in detail this
law, without any apparent awareness that this is exactly what she herself has
done to the children and me.  When I ask for her conditions for the children
and me to be together, she interprets this question as "pressure" and "a
threat."  I called to wish my girl, Grace, a happy birthday (May 9) and Nilda
made it clear to me that she intended to communicate to Grace, Jimmy and Ana
that my calling "spoiled" Grace's birthday!    

In addition to the above request, may I suggest that you consider a conference
call where any Assembly member could ask me any questions...

=====
December  9, 1995
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Puerto Rico

Dear friends:
Thanks for your September 13 letter.  I apologize for the tardiness of my
reply.  And thank you for consulting on ways and means to resolve the issues
raised in my May 12 letter to you.

Regarding your looking into the new "law" that Nilda described to me; that
might be a wild goose chase, since her statements are often complete fantasies,
and she herself, as our own children have often pointed out to her, may not
even remember what she said five minutes earlier.  Of course, that she could
imagine that she could continue to conceal the children from their father
(she moves to flee detection and hangs up the phone if I ask to speak with
the children -- so the children are still missing persons), exemplifies the
detachment from reality which has become a major feature of her mental and
emotional troubles.

As the victim parent of a cruel, heartless and continuing parental kidnapping,
I have had to cooperate with law enforcement agencies which have required, for
the performance of their duties, such things as missing persons reports,
interviews of persons with knowledge of events and court orders from the home
state (Dominica) and from US courts, in this international child abduction case.
According to my information, the Baha'i World Centre, the U.S. Departments of
State and of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigations, among others,
are following this case.

In my opinion, and this is no more than common sense, Baha'is might show care
in the event that she brings the children to Baha'i homes or events anywhere
in the world.  Experience shows that, alas, Nilda will manage to maneuver
reputable individuals into supporting her fantasies, without any concern that
these persons will be left in a compromised position.  Remember, although she
is a troubled person, she is more intelligent than almost anyone you will ever
know.  I'm no dummy; I was completely fooled.  She prepared me and the children
for over a year by repeatedly telling us she would go away and leave the
children with me.

I am the sole lawful custodian of the children and request that any Baha'i
contact with the children, which would provide any information at all
regarding their location, activities and welfare should be immediately reported
to me.  This is common sense and protective of the Baha'i Faith.      
With warm Baha'i love,
James J. Keene, Ph.D.
CC:  Baha'i World Centre

=====
Feb. 23, 1996
National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of Puerto Rico

Dearly beloved friends:
Thank you very much for your efforts reported in your Jan. 26 letter, received
on Feb. 16, 1996.   Regarding your kind invitation to meet with the Assembly,
I welcome the opportunity and provide further background for your
consideration below.

FBI agents informed me they needed orders from Dominican and U.S. Courts to
assist in the recovery of my children, James Rogers Keene, 8, and Grace
Josephine Keene, 11, abducted on Feb. 1, 1995 by, Nilda Margarita Keene
(nee Davis-Flores).  This abduction violated the laws of both the Commonwealth
of Dominica and the United States (Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act).  I,
the father, am a U.S. Citizen and have sole and full custody of the children
now and prior to the abduction.

On June 28, 1995, the High Court of Justice, Commonwealth of Dominica, issued
Court Order 45, 1995, No. 240, a Writ of Habeas Corpus Ad Subjiciendum,
directing Nilda Keene to produce the abducted children to the High Court on
July 26, 1995, along with the "cause of their being taken and detained."  

On July 26, 1995, failing to respond to this Court Order -- the Writ of Habeas
Corpus and Notice, served to her in both New Jersey and Puerto Rico, Nilda
Keene did not appear with the children at the High Court, and as a result,
the High Court ordered a warrant to be issued for her arrest.  Instead of
appearing in this "home state" court, on that same day, the abductor filed an
outrageous lawsuit, seeking full custody, in the local court (Tribunal Superior)
in Guayama, PR, the jurisdiction to which the children were abducted!

To comply with the FBI agent's need for a U.S. court "pick-up" order cited
above, so that the abducted children may be lawfully recovered to my lawful
custody, my attorneys filed a "Petition For Return of Children Pursuant to
the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
and/or the Federal Parental Kidnapping Act," in the United States District
Court, PR.  Then, the abductor filed (1) in the local Guayama court a motion
asking it to "assume jurisdiction," assuming no doubt that it would be
prejudiced against me and (2) in the U.S. District Court, after receiving an
"enlargement of time" to reply, a "Motion to Dismiss for Lack of Subject
Matter Jurisdiction."

In short, the case of Nilda Keene may become a classic on how to commit
international child abduction and get away with it, with the rights of the
victim parent and children totally ignored.  How?  Simply, kidnap children
while outside of the U.S.

Yesterday, Feb. 22, at the Guayama court hearing, at Nilda's own request,
Nilda's lawsuit for "separacion permanente" and full custody (of abducted
children!) was dismissed, since she is filing for divorce and no doubt, full
custody.  Apparently, when her attorney learned from the reply of my attorneys
that Nilda had misrepresented the facts, she was advised that she had no hope
of prevailing even in a court expected to favor her.

So we still cannot name a single person on earth to whom Nilda has spoken the
truth.  She has lied repeatedly to me, to her children, to her brothers and
sister, to Baha'is, to friends and to her lawyers.  Soon, nobody will agree
to represent her.  Obviously, she needs help in a big way, in order to
rehabilitate herself to be able to function as a mother.

I expect to be in PR soon, hopefully to pick up my children and bring them
home to start the healing process with them.  I will advise regarding dates.
Meanwhile, my position is clear.  I will not contest her divorce petition,
as long as I am granted full custody of the children.  Every effort will be
made to involve her as a mother.  It seems the priority for you might be to
meet with her to help her come back to reality and back to being a mother.
Baha'i love,
James J. Keene, Ph.D.
CC:  The Universal House of Justice, Haifa, Israel

=====
Copyright © 2002 James J. Keene

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