I've been thinking about that case lately. I remember watching it many times growing up wondering when they'll be found if ever to be found. When I heard they were found safe in February 2009 and their grandfather arrested, I was thrilled and waiting to see what their reunion with their parents would be like. Sadly, they don't seem to want anything to do with their parents Mark and Debbie, due to some brainwashing by Marvin and Sandra Maple, their mom's parents. I wonder if Bobbie and Kristi have even seen the Unsolved Mysteries episode about their kidnapping? What do they think? What do they believe and not believe? Their parents fought for 20 years to have them back and even now they can't be with their kids. I think it'd be nice if the kids accepted Mark and Debbie as maybe friends if they cannot take them as being their parents, but that also may be a little wishful thinking. I only hope they can all be a family again, or at least, friends to some degree. :crying:

At this point, no chance.

I think the main question should be: if the Baskins kids do reunite with their parents, will we ever find out about it? It's been nearly three years since the children were found and the media has moved on from the story, so for we all know, the children and the parents could have already had a reunion without telling any media outlets about it. If they want to handle the situation privately, they certainly deserve to.

I absolutely think there will be a reunion, if there already wasn't one. There's no doubt in my mind that with the passage of time, the kids (who possibly have kids of their own) would want to reconnect with their real parents. Time heals all wounds.

Mark and Debbie already knew back in 1989 when the kids were first kidnapped that their children no doubt hated them because the Maples had ample opportunity to convince them they were monsters. Add another 20 years to that message constantly being beaten in your head and it's no surprise Christie and Bobby don't want a reunion, at least for now.

With the holidays coming up, I think it's wise to keep the Baskins in your thoughts and prayers. This time of the year, plus their children's birthdays must be very, very difficult for them. I think everyone here knows how I feel about this case. I must have bored posters here to death with hundreds of posts complaining about the Maples and the handling of this case. Marvin Maple finally getting captured only to have a slap on his wrist and go back to living his normal life...well, that's a whole other issue I could complain about for days so I won't.

In answer to your original question, I do have just a tad bit of hope that a reunion could take place some day. But if it happens, it will probably only happen after Marvin passes away. I remember seeing an interview with the Baskins detective when Maple was captured in 2009. He mentioned talking to Christie right after the arrest and telling her that her parents would like to see her. He said her response was a quiet, "I need some time." I don't know, maybe I'm grasping at straws here but that gives me a little hope because she could have easily screamed that she never wanted to see them right then and there. Maybe she's staying loyal to Marvin until he dies because that's the only father figure she's had for 2 decades. Again, just a guess.

Good question!
I haven't met any of the parties in question and only am relying on various accounts. However; to me it seems at this point that they may have invested so much in holding onto to the 'truths' they believed in for so many years, that even with all the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, to admit that the 'truths' may have been a gigantic pack of lies would be simply too painful for them to have to try to deal with. Boiled down to essentials, it appears that to have to realize that they were needlessly separated from parents and a younger brother who all loved them for decades would be far tougher for them to have to live with than to continue believing that their grandparents did it for them to protect them from monster parents even if it means they don't contact their younger brother [who has his OWN take on things].
I guess the question we should be considering here is that at what point do we hold these two adults accountable for the choices they've consistantly made re their parents long after they've had far more data to consider than what their grandparents have told them. For myself, I don't think we can forever treat them as though they're still helpless,ignorant kidnapped children but at some point they themselves need to be held accountable for how they've treated their parents and brother. I'm not saying that that point has necessarily been reached but the more time that passes without them at least giving their parents and brother a chance to meet them, the less they can be judged on the same standards as helpless, ignorant kidnapped children.
Above all else, as I said in another thread, even though their children have evidently chosen to cruelly reject them, at least the parents now they're safe and alive which they didn't have the knowledge of for so many decades.
My opinion re the system's dealings with the grandfather's unprintable.:mad:

Baskin parents = Brainwashed by religion and the kids might not be.

Baskin kids = Brainwashed by what other people have told them for over 20 years, plus some of the allegations could have been true. Just because someone is a Chrisssstiannnnnnnn doesn't mean it is impossible for them to be sucky people or do sucky things.

Baskin parents = Brainwashed by religion

plus some of the allegations could have been true. Just because someone is a Chrisssstiannnnnnnn doesn't mean it is impossible for them to be sucky people or do sucky things.


Errr... Care to elaborate on this? Clearly I must have missed something.

Good question!
I haven't met any of the parties in question and only am relying on various accounts. However; to me it seems at this point that they may have invested so much in holding onto to the 'truths' they believed in for so many years, that even with all the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, to admit that the 'truths' may have been a gigantic pack of lies would be simply too painful for them to have to try to deal with. Boiled down to essentials, it appears that to have to realize that they were needlessly separated from parents and a younger brother who all loved them for decades would be far tougher for them to have to live with than to continue believing that their grandparents did it for them to protect them from monster parents even if it means they don't contact their younger brother [who has his OWN take on things].
I guess the question we should be considering here is that at what point do we hold these two adults accountable for the choices they've consistantly made re their parents long after they've had far more data to consider than what their grandparents have told them. For myself, I don't think we can forever treat them as though they're still helpless,ignorant kidnapped children but at some point they themselves need to be held accountable for how they've treated their parents and brother. I'm not saying that that point has necessarily been reached but the more time that passes without them at least giving their parents and brother a chance to meet them, the less they can be judged on the same standards as helpless, ignorant kidnapped children.
Above all else, as I said in another thread, even though their children have evidently chosen to cruelly reject them, at least the parents now they're safe and alive which they didn't have the knowledge of for so many decades.
My opinion re the system's dealings with the grandfather's unprintable.:mad:

You made alot of great points here.

I am beginning to think not. Its disgusting how the Maples poisoned their mind to such an extent that they even as adults want nothing to do with their parents. If it wasn't contrary to my beliefs I'd hope they were rotting in Hell.

One thing I do not understand, is why Bobby and Christy are rejecting their younger brother. Even if the allegations were true, they have no reason to hate Michael to, he was to young to have been involved.

One thing I do not understand, is why Bobby and Christy are rejecting their younger brother. Even if the allegations were true, they have no reason to hate Michael to, he was to young to have been involved.

Maybe the grandparents poisoned their minds against their younger brother as well. It was interesting that the Maples only went after the two oldest grandchildren and made no attempt to grab Michael. That really gives some ammo to the Baskins' case that no abuse went on in the home. Even Mr. Baskin wondered out loud on the segment about them not taking his youngest.

As much as the focus has been on the lies the grandparents told the children that has resulted in them possibly hating their parents, the other aspect of that is quite simply that the children's reality has come crashing down on them. To reunite with their parents would be to admit on some level that what they were told their whole lives could possibly not be true and that is difficult to deal with.

Furthermore, it's certainly possible that they have had no desire to search out information on their parents online. Even in this day and age, there are still people who do not use the internet. Not to mention that they could very well have trusted what their grandparents said and feel no need to verify it with outside accounts. Also, their grandparents were aided by others who likely sympathized with their plight which probably validated what their grandparents told them.

There are just so many possibilities at play here. Maybe they didn't grow up completely happy and want to leave their entire family behind. Maybe something else has happened in either of their lives and they just can't/couldn't handle more emotional trauma on top of it. Maybe they resent their parents not trying harder to get them back. We have no knowledge of their personalities or their lives so it is hard to make any sort of accurate judgment as to why they chose to behave the way they did. Also, our perspective is the one UM gave us - theirs is the one their grandparents and the people who assisted their grandparents gave them.

I can also see where they would not meet up with their brother if they do not want to meet up with their parents. They have no reason to trust their brother not to pass on information to their parents when they clearly aren't (weren't) ready to have contact with them yet.

There has been a lot of good discussion here. And a lot of good points made. I had always assumed that after they were found, that some sort of reunion occured. After reading this thread, I've started rethinking that.

It's amazing how influential people can be. It has been a while since I've seen the segment, but was the reason for the the kidnapping ever explored? I guess what I'm getting at is, did the grandparents have some sort of problem with the parents? Why the hatred? Dislike them so much so to turn the kids against them. Sad situation.

Probably the worst case of Stockholm Syndrome that you can possibly have. The Baskins kids don't sound like the brightest bulbs in the closet either. Compare them to Jaycee Dugaard. She is held for 18 years by a rapist who fathers her children. She actually says in her book that she looked forward to her captor coming and talking to her because that is all she had. Yet in 2009 when she was found she reunited with her mother right away. That doesn't mean there wouldn't have been growing pains but she was 10-11 years old around the same age as the Baskin kids. She remembered her parents just like the Baskins should remember to some extent their parents.

Jaycee wrote in her book a lot of negative things about Philip Garrido. No doubt the guy would have brainwashed her against her own parents. But the thing is, she is an adult now and made her own decisions. Why can't the Baskins think for themselves now? All those years they moved from city to city doesn't strike a chord with them? They don't look at old home movies and pictures and actually realize that their parents loved them? How can they not look as objective adults and judge their situation rationally?

Probably the worst case of Stockholm Syndrome that you can possibly have. The Baskins kids don't sound like the brightest bulbs in the closet either. Compare them to Jaycee Dugaard. She is held for 18 years by a rapist who fathers her children. She actually says in her book that she looked forward to her captor coming and talking to her because that is all she had. Yet in 2009 when she was found she reunited with her mother right away. That doesn't mean there wouldn't have been growing pains but she was 10-11 years old around the same age as the Baskin kids. She remembered her parents just like the Baskins should remember to some extent their parents.

Jaycee wrote in her book a lot of negative things about Philip Garrido. No doubt the guy would have brainwashed her against her own parents. But the thing is, she is an adult now and made her own decisions. Why can't the Baskins think for themselves now? All those years they moved from city to city doesn't strike a chord with them? They don't look at old home movies and pictures and actually realize that their parents loved them? How can they not look as objective adults and judge their situation rationally?

Why do you say they don't think for themselves? Who are you to judge that they aren't the brightest bulbs out there? So because Dugard chose the way you wanted to she made her own decision, but because the baskins didn't, they are dumb, can't think for themselves and not objective about what they should do about their own lives?

It's the baskins kids live and their decisions. The mystery got solved and they were found and that's it. They didn't own anybody anything else. People start a thread about people talking without knowing all the facts but famously judge these 2 always on what they have to do with THEIR lives.

Why do you say they don't think for themselves? Who are you to judge that they aren't the brightest bulbs out there? So because Dugard chose the way you wanted to she made her own decision, but because the baskins didn't, they are dumb, can't think for themselves and not objective about what they should do about their own lives?

It's the baskins kids live and their decisions. The mystery got solved and they were found and that's it. They didn't own anybody anything else. People start a thread about people talking without knowing all the facts but famously judge these 2 always on what they have to do with THEIR lives.

To put it mildly, they lived a lie for 20 years. I think they owe their parents alot but that's only up to them.

Why do you say they don't think for themselves? Who are you to judge that they aren't the brightest bulbs out there? So because Dugard chose the way you wanted to she made her own decision, but because the baskins didn't, they are dumb, can't think for themselves and not objective about what they should do about their own lives?

It's the baskins kids live and their decisions. The mystery got solved and they were found and that's it. They didn't own anybody anything else. People start a thread about people talking without knowing all the facts but famously judge these 2 always on what they have to do with THEIR lives.

Yes, I think they are being incredibly selfish. This isn't a movie like Castaway where Helen Hunt moved on from Tom Hanks because she assumed he was dead. No, the Baskins still wanted their kids back, they loved them and have very fond memories of them. The Baskins kids obviously don't think for themselves because they should have memories of their parents, even grainy ones. Do they owe this to their parents? Damn right they do, its their own flesh and blood. You were lied to for 20 years, get over it, its been three years already. Try to build up a relationship with the people that didn't set you down the wrong path.

They have the facts in front of them now. They aren't impressionable kids anymore they should be able to differentiate right from wrong. Or maybe Maple REALLY screwed them up to the point where they still defend him.

Yes, I think they are being incredibly selfish. This isn't a movie like Castaway where Helen Hunt moved on from Tom Hanks because she assumed he was dead. No, the Baskins still wanted their kids back, they loved them and have very fond memories of them. The Baskins kids obviously don't think for themselves because they should have memories of their parents, even grainy ones. Do they owe this to their parents? Damn right they do, its their own flesh and blood. You were lied to for 20 years, get over it, its been three years already. Try to build up a relationship with the people that didn't set you down the wrong path.

They have the facts in front of them now. They aren't impressionable kids anymore they should be able to differentiate right from wrong. Or maybe Maple REALLY screwed them up to the point where they still defend him.

Do you know if there was somebody there or what was the relationship before with their parents? I don't but neither do you. I love how in another thread you rally against people being dumb because of the internet and not knowing everything in UM cases and still coming to thier conclusions and yet here you are chastising them for what they do with THEIR lives as if you had all the info. You talk about it all from the perspective as if it's all about the Baskins and not about the Baskin AND the Baskin kids. They are adults and they have the facts for them to make a decision. You and others in the board may not like them but it doesn't matter, it's their lives and I think it's totally wrong for people to think what best for them even if you don't like the decision. You may disagree with them but you can act as if you're more qualified to do so than them.

I can sort of identify with the Baskin kids-in a way. As an infant I was taken from my bio mother and given to her brother and his wife to raise as their own. A very illegal adoption followed.

All my childhood I was told how bad my mother was and to never go to her if she showed up unnanounced. Only I was told she was my aunt. when I was older I was told the truth.

As an adult with kids of my own, I began to feel a lot of anger and resentment towards her for not fighting hard enough to keep me. It really affected my relationship with her. Because i could not imagine anything keeping my kids from me. In reality, I knew the hell her family put her through and once her brothers almost beat her to death, not to mention the beatings she endured from my grandfather(witnessed by my sister.)

Because of this, I can understand that these kids must feel torn- they love their grandparents and there is no telling what they have been told by them about their parents through the years. then there has to be that voice in their heads telling them-if your parents loved you they would have fought harder to find and keep you.

I have to wonder like others, what were the real events that triggered the grandparents taking the kids and why the didn't also take the younger sibling too. It's very possible there is more to this story than has been told.

If they do,I have to wonder whether we will here of it.The more time goes on,the less of news story/coverage ,It may be something the parents will want to keep private,and try to heal the wounds .

Do you know if there was somebody there or what was the relationship before with their parents? I don't but neither do you. I love how in another thread you rally against people being dumb because of the internet and not knowing everything in UM cases and still coming to thier conclusions and yet here you are chastising them for what they do with THEIR lives as if you had all the info. You talk about it all from the perspective as if it's all about the Baskins and not about the Baskin AND the Baskin kids. They are adults and they have the facts for them to make a decision. You and others in the board may not like them but it doesn't matter, it's their lives and I think it's totally wrong for people to think what best for them even if you don't like the decision. You may disagree with them but you can act as if you're more qualified to do so than them.

I am not sure if you have children, but as a parent myself I sympathize with the Baskin parents. I "get" why the Baskin kids might have been torn initially, but after three years you have enough time to digest it. And people say they might wonder why their parents didn't fight for them more, well, it seems to me they fought pretty hard. How can you find your kids when the grandparents changed their names and ran off to another part of the country? From the interviews alone the Baskin kids should know their parents wanted them back.

But how much more do you believe a convicted criminal even if he has told you lies for 20 years? Can't you eventually put things together yourself? Is it really that hard to see who the real bad people in this situation are? If they can't see it, then those kids are just plain screwed up mentally. They should be able to remember their parents.

But put yourself in the shoes of the Baskins parents. They had a million dollar family which is commonly refered to having a boy and a girl (and they also had a second son of course). I am sure they were proud, had plans for them, wanted to see them grow up and wanted to be there for them. All of the sudden it is taken away from them 66% of their children are gone and when the day finally comes that they prayed for and they are found, the kids want nothing to do with them. Think about that scenario for a second and the demoralizing feeling that follows. They don't even have a chance to explain their side.

How can you side with the children when they continue to hold a grudge against their parents and want nothing to do with them? Do they not know the pain their parents endured for 20 years? You don't think their actions are wrong and that they at least owe the people who created them a chance at some reconciliation?

I am not sure if you have children, but as a parent myself I sympathize with the Baskin parents. I "get" why the Baskin kids might have been torn initially, but after three years you have enough time to digest it. And people say they might wonder why their parents didn't fight for them more, well, it seems to me they fought pretty hard. How can you find your kids when the grandparents changed their names and ran off to another part of the country? From the interviews alone the Baskin kids should know their parents wanted them back.

But how much more do you believe a convicted criminal even if he has told you lies for 20 years? Can't you eventually put things together yourself? Is it really that hard to see who the real bad people in this situation are? If they can't see it, then those kids are just plain screwed up mentally. They should be able to remember their parents.

But put yourself in the shoes of the Baskins parents. They had a million dollar family which is commonly refered to having a boy and a girl (and they also had a second son of course). I am sure they were proud, had plans for them, wanted to see them grow up and wanted to be there for them. All of the sudden it is taken away from them 66% of their children are gone and when the day finally comes that they prayed for and they are found, the kids want nothing to do with them. Think about that scenario for a second and the demoralizing feeling that follows. They don't even have a chance to explain their side.

How can you side with the children when they continue to hold a grudge against their parents and want nothing to do with them? Do they not know the pain their parents endured for 20 years? You don't think their actions are wrong and that they at least owe the people who created them a chance at some reconciliation?


I'm not trying to start a debate, so I will make this comment and leave it at that.

From the time as a young teen I found out who my parents really were, I put all the blame for what had been done to my real mother and the taking of us kids from her, on her parents, and our father who abandoned us too and left everything on her.

After I had kids of my own, my feelings changed. I couldn't imagine anyone taking any of them from me and me ever giving up the fight to keep them.

Even though my grandfather beat my mother till she was bleeding and locked her in a closet in an old farmhouse in the heat of an AL summer. Even though my mother gave birth to me alone in the middle of the night and got caught by my grandmother climbing out of a window to run away with me. Even though years later my mother was beaten by 2 of her brothers and left for dead, because she wanted my sister to come and live with her. Even though my grandmother had her committed to the state hospital by lying to a judge and saying she was on drugs and alcoholic and then abandoned her at the hospital.(I have her records). She endured all that and more, and I STILL blamed her for not trying hard enough to keep us.

Illogical of me? Probably. But we have no idea of what goes through the Baskin kids minds. And we only know what the media has published about their home lives and what really went on.

I like to hope that all of them could make peace with what happened and to have some kind of relationship and heal.

Killarney, I just want to say that your story struck me and that I hope you've been able to or someday will find peace and begin to heal as well.

Killarney, I just want to say that your story struck me and that I hope you've been able to or someday will find peace and begin to heal as well.
Thank you. It took a long time. But I have.:)

Thank you. It took a long time. But I have.:)

I'm glad :)

I am not sure if you have children, but as a parent myself I sympathize with the Baskin parents. I "get" why the Baskin kids might have been torn initially, but after three years you have enough time to digest it. And people say they might wonder why their parents didn't fight for them more, well, it seems to me they fought pretty hard. How can you find your kids when the grandparents changed their names and ran off to another part of the country? From the interviews alone the Baskin kids should know their parents wanted them back.

But how much more do you believe a convicted criminal even if he has told you lies for 20 years? Can't you eventually put things together yourself? Is it really that hard to see who the real bad people in this situation are? If they can't see it, then those kids are just plain screwed up mentally. They should be able to remember their parents.

But put yourself in the shoes of the Baskins parents. They had a million dollar family which is commonly refered to having a boy and a girl (and they also had a second son of course). I am sure they were proud, had plans for them, wanted to see them grow up and wanted to be there for them. All of the sudden it is taken away from them 66% of their children are gone and when the day finally comes that they prayed for and they are found, the kids want nothing to do with them. Think about that scenario for a second and the demoralizing feeling that follows. They don't even have a chance to explain their side.

How can you side with the children when they continue to hold a grudge against their parents and want nothing to do with them? Do they not know the pain their parents endured for 20 years? You don't think their actions are wrong and that they at least owe the people who created them a chance at some reconciliation?

What does it matter who I side with? That's the whole point. I'm not them and neither are you. It's THEIR lives. I'm sure they are more capable of doing with it better than people on the keyboard who followed the case on UM and heard the story from one side. Whether I agree with it or not is meaningless.

On one hand you go on a thread about how people are lazy and dumber nowadays because they only see one side of a story but here you chastise them for what they did on their lives as if you are more qualified than them just because they took the decision that you didn't agree with.

This is probably not going to be a popular opinion, but I find this debate a bit voyeuristic and distasteful. The mystery is solved. These are lives we're talking about, not characters on a show. We don't get to vote on the ending. The "children" are now adults and capable of making their own choices. They didn't choose to be profiled on a national show. We don't know what happened to them. We don't know what they went through. We don't know why they won't meet with their parents. Family dynamics are complicated in the simplest of families and this was certainly not a simple family.

Not to mention, I doubt they enjoy googling themselves and finding out that people think they're villains for not doing what other people think they should do. They are victims and deserve to be treated as such.

KR, thank you for sharing your story, it provides a unique perspective on this situation. And I'm sorry for what you went through.

Its hard to remain optimistic on this case but I think Christi and Bobby still hold loyalty (albeit misguided) to their grandfather and don't want to upset him by reconnecting with their family. Once the old man dies maybe they will reconsider reaching out to their parents and brother.

Thank you Necco.:)

Crystal Dawn, you could be right. I certainly understand having split loyalty.And trying to believe in someone who loves you yet has committed a terrible wrong to someone else that loves you because they thought they were doing the right thing.

This is probably not going to be a popular opinion, but I find this debate a bit voyeuristic and distasteful. The mystery is solved. These are lives we're talking about, not characters on a show. We don't get to vote on the ending. The "children" are now adults and capable of making their own choices. They didn't choose to be profiled on a national show. We don't know what happened to them. We don't know what they went through. We don't know why they won't meet with their parents. Family dynamics are complicated in the simplest of families and this was certainly not a simple family.

Not to mention, I doubt they enjoy googling themselves and finding out that people think they're villains for not doing what other people think they should do. They are victims and deserve to be treated as such.

I'm sorry it seems that way. This may sound pretty arrogant though, but sometimes I feel the people involved in cases like these owe it to us UM fans to mend the ends together and put it to rest. After all, we were rooting for them and pushing for their safe return all these years. It is their choice above all though and nothing we can say or do can really make them act on it like we want them to. Am I bad for thinking all of that?

This is probably not going to be a popular opinion, but I find this debate a bit voyeuristic and distasteful. The mystery is solved. These are lives we're talking about, not characters on a show. We don't get to vote on the ending. The "children" are now adults and capable of making their own choices. They didn't choose to be profiled on a national show. We don't know what happened to them. We don't know what they went through. We don't know why they won't meet with their parents. Family dynamics are complicated in the simplest of families and this was certainly not a simple family.

Not to mention, I doubt they enjoy googling themselves and finding out that people think they're villains for not doing what other people think they should do. They are victims and deserve to be treated as such.

KR, thank you for sharing your story, it provides a unique perspective on this situation. And I'm sorry for what you went through.

This mostly.

You may or may not agree with what they do but in the end it's their lives and people shouldn't try to act condescending to them for what is ultimately their lives and not just a case of a show one is a fan of.

[B]

I'm sorry it seems that way. This may sound pretty arrogant though, but sometimes I feel the people involved in cases like these owe it to us UM fans to mend the ends together and put it to rest. After all, we were rooting for them and pushing for their safe return all these years. It is their choice above all though and nothing we can say or do can really make them act on it like we want them to. Am I bad for thinking all of that?

I couldn't disagree with you more. People don't owe you anything especially for just being a fan of the show. First off many of them didn't get to even choose to be a part of the show. And even if they did, they provided you with a mystery and you should be content with that. This isn't hollywood but people lives and they should only be loyal to themselves.

I couldn't disagree with you more. People don't owe you anything especially for just being a fan of the show. First off many of them didn't get to even choose to be a part of the show. And even if they did, they provided you with a mystery and you should be content with that. This isn't hollywood but people lives and they should only be loyal to themselves.

Hey now, I know my response/opinion is unpopular but it's what I was thinking. I also wish that you'd have read my whole comment instead of jumping on me about the first line and see that I said that it's not up to us to make it right.

[B]

I'm sorry it seems that way. This may sound pretty arrogant though, but sometimes I feel the people involved in cases like these owe it to us UM fans to mend the ends together and put it to rest. After all, we were rooting for them and pushing for their safe return all these years. It is their choice above all though and nothing we can say or do can really make them act on it like we want them to. Am I bad for thinking all of that?

I think it's natural to be curious. In fact, shows like this appeal to the human tendency to be slightly voyeuristic and nosy and the human tendency to want to make order out of chaos and problem solve. So basically, I don't think it makes you bad, I think it makes you human.

Don't misunderstand my previous post, my curious side would love for every one of these cases to be updated in detail. The life experienced side of me knows that nothing is that simple and even "happy endings" aren't always what they seem and that we never truly knows what goes on in another's heart and mind. Heck, we're lucky if we know what goes on in our own. And I certainly would not want some of the most potentially traumatic and or life-changing moments of my life broadcast by the AP.

I think it's natural to be curious. In fact, shows like this appeal to the human tendency to be slightly voyeuristic and nosy and the human tendency to want to make order out of chaos and problem solve. So basically, I don't think it makes you bad, I think it makes you human.

Don't misunderstand my previous post, my curious side would love for every one of these cases to be updated in detail. The life experienced side of me knows that nothing is that simple and even "happy endings" aren't always what they seem and that we never truly knows what goes on in another's heart and mind. Heck, we're lucky if we know what goes on in our own. And I certainly would not want some of the most potentially traumatic and or life-changing moments of my life broadcast by the AP.

thanks, I thought I was crazy or something for thinking that way

Interesting stories since my last post..........

I do not think the Baskin kids owe me anything per se, but their parents for sure. To think of it from the parents side is utterly heartbreaking and I think the thing that the Baskin kids are doing is NOT thinking outside the box and putting themselves in their parent's shoes. Yes, I am like everyone else, I am just privy to one side of the story. I do not believe everything I see on the internet or TV.

But I am able to dissect certain things. The Baskins kept their youngest son and adopted another one. This proves right there that they were fit parents.

I think the Baskin kids should at least be interested in all of the evidence provided. They probably are too brainwashed to look at things objectively but in reality, they should be able to do this by now.

The closest my story comes to would be between my mother and my aunt. My mom was close to my aunt for pretty much all or her life, she was her big sister. There was a controversy when their father died because my mother got a little bit more in the inheritance, mainly because she was not married at the time it was made. This caused tension between my mom and my aunt. The years went by and while we had family gatherings my three cousins (my aunt's children) got some biased information about my mom as they grew up. A few years ago my aunt died suddenly. It was sad. She really was a good woman, but could hold a grudge for long periods of time. My one cousin since then has told my mom that he is sorry for the opinion he had of her when he was younger. Now that he is an adult he was able to make his own opinion of things and more than ever has sided with my mom.

This is relevant because for years in our family there was an elephant in the room at times. No one on that side of the family ever talked about their problems. The issue with the Baskin kids is that they are doing the most unhealthy approach right now. They might be mad at their parents, but the last thing in the world they should do is NOT talk about it with them and NOT tell them how they feel. Once they do that, they more than likely will open their minds and the healing will start. I mean, they are 30-31 years old. This isn't rocket science

Interesting stories since my last post..........


This is relevant because for years in our family there was an elephant in the room at times. No one on that side of the family ever talked about their problems. The issue with the Baskin kids is that they are doing the most unhealthy approach right now. They might be mad at their parents, but the last thing in the world they should do is NOT talk about it with them and NOT tell them how they feel. Once they do that, they more than likely will open their minds and the healing will start. I mean, they are 30-31 years old. This isn't rocket science

You are so correct! My siblings and I thought we knew everything that happened in our family. It wasn't until our mother was dying and we were sitting in a hospital waiting room together we realized all the stories we had been told did not add up. All it would have taken was to have sat down with our mother and asked the truth. after she passed, there was no one left alive that would tell the truth.

Maybe when the Baskins have children of their own it will change their minds and hopefully it won't be too late for their family to have a second chance.

You know, when the Baskins were still missing some people wondered why Debbie hadn't just demanded her children and kept them, before it was too late.

I grew up with a mom (apparently) much like Debbie's mother. She had to have her way. Apparently, her parents always gave in to her, my dad always gave in to her and it was just the way things were done. I was well into my 20's before I stopped asking for permission to do things that I didn't need her permission to do. She had that kind of control and misses it, with me. She still (I'm 40+) tells me to do things, I just don't often do them. One of my siblings still puts up with letting her run his life and is absolutely miserable.

I can imagine Mrs. Maples making the kids' lives a living heck if they dared to think for themselves, or to ask questions, or whatever. The Baskin children may have learned from a young age to take the path of least resistance and just not set the bwitch off. Now I can imagine Marvin telling them that his wife is the only mother they knew and how could they even think of hurting her by seeing those people, waaah, waaah, waaah. And if they've been filled full of false memories they could think he's telling the truth.

I hurt for all of the Baskins, but not for the Maples.

Myself and many others would just like to hear Kristi and Bobby's side of the story someday. I am interested to hear on what they'd have to say. Like another poster here said, they'd probably only come out when Marvin Maples is dead.

Myself and many others would just like to hear Kristi and Bobby's side of the story someday. I am interested to hear on what they'd have to say. Like another poster here said, they'd probably only come out when Marvin Maples is dead.

I would love to hear their side of the story too. Who wouldn't? I'll bet the Baskin parents want to hear it the most.

But based on what information do people think that the kids will reunite with their parents after Marvin is dead? Why bother to do it then? There are children who were given up for adoption and while their adoptive parents gave them a great life they still want to see out their biological parents just to meet them. They do this all the while having a great relationship with their adoptive parents let alone knowing that they were abducted. So in what universe do they think they owe Marvin any loyalty? They spent half of their childhood with their parents. That has to mean something.

Also, to the ones who said Debbie should have fought harder to get the kids, well, here's the thing...............it was her mother! How in the world can you predict that your own parents are going to turn on you, lie to others about you, deceive you and then steal your kids just when things are looking your way? She had little chance.

And as a parent I can understand the difficult decision to leave your family temporarily in order to pursue a better life that will benefit everyone in the long run. In 1914 my great grandfather left Germany during World War II to come to Canada (guess what side he supported in the War?) but had to leave his wife and three sons for a while so he could set up shop over here. It was several months, I know that much. These things are necessary sometimes. The Maples had no right to abuse that privilege.

I posted this the other day on the other old Baskin thread, then this new thread popped up, so here it is:

So far Christie/Jennifer and Bobby/Jonathan have yet to make contact with their parents. Possibly when Marvin dies, they will feel more free to consider it. Seems like for now they are twenty-somethings who seem to think only of themselves. I know I sound harsh, just can't get over that they won't at least make some contact with their bio brother who has been hurt by all that went on, as much as they were.

Per the detectives who found them, published in a recent book about kidnappings (The Last Place You'd Look - by Carole Moore, pgs. 29-31), Detective Sharp says that "Bobby and Christi have access to the investigation; it's open records now, so they can look and see what was done. I can't believe intelligent young adults don't want to know".


Read more: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?p=4684168#post4684168#ixzz1wP7EKu3Q

As far as any of the Baskin family owing us viewers anything, IMO they don't. I think those "kids" owe it to themselves to find out all they can about what went on back then. Then they can take a look at it from all sides (or try to) and see what conclusions they come to.

I was thinking about what I said about this the other day and felt bad for thinking how I did. I didn't mean to offend anyone. I just hope Debbie and Mark can find peace in all of this mess and that Kristi and Bobby can come to their senses someday and figure out the truth.

I have to say that this case's conclusion that we were offered through news outlets breaks my heart.

However, I did find a few articles about Marvin's hearings and such and found that apparently he had a lot of supporters in his family, including Debbie's sisters. Apparently the family members told media that of course all we've heard is the Baskin side of the story.

This all sounds a lot like family members who didn't like Debbie's husband, the grandparents made up some stories about it all, and the siblings were eager to believe it (despite an investigation proving there was no evidence of abuse).

I really hope the "children" did/do meet their real parents.

This is some real Janie Johnson stuff...

I don't usually share things that Debbie Baskin has written online, but this from today broke my heart. She wrote Christi's birthday is tomorrow (Aug. 11) and that totally breaks my heart. You would think after 20 years of kidnapping and 2 years of silence that my children's birthdays would get easier to bear - but that isn't the case. It is actually difficult to breathe.

Enough said, please send up prayers for all of them.

Does anyone know if they reunited by now?

I've often wondered the same thing.

Seeing this one over the years before it was solved always made you wonder what if.

Life is short, hopefully they'll meet their parents sooner than later.

Yeah, I hope eventually the Baskin kids wise up and realize what absolutely horrible people their grandparents were but I'm not going to hold my breath. At least their parents know that their kids are alive, but I doubt that's much comfort.

Of course, what always set off the BS alert in my mind regarding this case was the fact that the Baskin kids' grandparents didn't fight for custody of all the kids. As I recall from the segment, the grandparents were only looking after the two oldest kids, while the parents, who were going through tough financial circumstances, were raising the youngest. After their financial situation had straightened out, the parents decide they want the two oldest kids back. Only then do the grandparents start spewing out these horrific tales about how the kids were suffering horrific satanic abuse at the hands of their parents. Yet in spite of this, they didn't try to rescue the youngest child, even though if things were that horrible, you'd think they'd want to save all of the kids from their horrible parents. What exactly did they say to the police officers/social workers or whoever was involved? "These kids have been through horrific abuse and shouldn't be with their horrible parents, except for the youngest child who apparently deserves to be horribly abused because we know for a fact he's the reincarnation of Hitler or something." I admit I am exaggerating a little, but it's one of the questions that has always bothered me about this case. Maybe someone more in the know can help me out here.

I don't know if I'd call what the Baskin children went through Stockholm Syndrome yet. At best, it seems that they're brainwashed. Then again, Marvin Maple and his wife sound like narcissistic people. Narcissistic parents are notorious for being abusive. This is the type of stuff narcissistic people would do.

I'm very surprised that they haven't reunited. You would think that they would move on at some point but I imagine there must be a lot of issues. I feel sorry for that family. I don't know if there is more to the story that we don't know about my guess is there is. But it was wrong for the grandparents to do that.

I suppose those kids (well adults now) haven't sat down and watched the original UM segment. I guess it's no use anyway if they've been so severely brainwashed by that twisted old couple. At least one of them is no longer walking this earth.