Update on Charles & Christopher Smith - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

crystaldawn · 05-01-2007, 10:09 AM

I was watching a 48 Hours episode this morning about children who were abducted by their parents. I was suprised at the end when they did a progress report on Charles & Christopher Smith and their mother! For those of you who need refreshed it was the UM segment where the dad and paternal grandparents (who lived in Texas and were wealthy I believe) abducted the two boys when they were both very young. The mother ended up suing the Smith family and was awarded millions of dollars. The boys were located I believe 7 years later and reunited with their mother. I was suprised and a little saddened to see the interview with the boys. They seemed quite bitter and angry. They said their dad told them their mother did bad things including drugs and didn't come off as though they had much emotional attachment to her even though at the time of this interview they were in their teens and had been back with her for 3 1/2 years. She wept in part of the interview and said when she was reunited with them she couldn't believe how big they were and said they treated her like an adult, not like their mother. Their father wasn't brought up in the interview at all. Although they seem to have settled into a life with their mother it was pretty obvious in the interview that the relationship between them has been changed forever.

UMfan77 · 05-01-2007, 11:19 AM

I have that segment on tape & have watched many, many times.

Seems like the boys have been reunited with their mother for some time now. You would think that their relationship would be rekindled after being together for a long time. Also, the mother probably doesn't have to work and has a lot of time to spend with her boys. It is very puzzling.

Thank you for the update.

nohwheregirl · 05-01-2007, 11:30 AM

Crystaldawn, I think I actually saw that a few weeks ago, but I didn't realize that they were a UM case! Very sad...hopefully one day they will realize that their father basically brainwashed them and used them to punish their mother.

NDAlum2003 · 05-05-2007, 09:10 PM

This segment should be on UM Favorites #10.

dynoguy88 · 05-21-2007, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

Although they seem to have settled into a life with their mother it was pretty obvious in the interview that the relationship between them has been changed forever.

And that's the biggest tragedy of all. The sadness didn't end when Carolynn was reunited with her two sons.

sdb4884 · 06-05-2016, 12:50 PM

I never knew Carolyn Smith died in 2007. There are so many unanswered questions in this case: How did she die? what happened to Chick and Pat Smith? Did Carolyn get awarded the full amount she won at the custody hearing? How are the kids now and do they have a relationship with their father?

Cori aka ChrisSCrush · 06-06-2016, 04:46 AM

Was this the case where the custodial mother and her private detective followed the non-custodial father and the boys onto a plane, then were held back while the father and boys left and everyone else was let off the plane before they were? Strange indeed and indicative of some money changing hands.

sdb4884 · 06-06-2016, 05:27 AM

Thats the case yes but not exactly what happened in the story.

LGraves65 · 06-06-2016, 10:21 AM

On one of the news shows, either Dateline or 48 Hours, they did an episode on formerly-abducted children who were reunited with the searching parent, and the Smith boys were profiled. They were teenagers, living with their mother. I remember she said they were cordial to her, and seemed to just be biding their time until the youngest (who was about 14 at the time, IIRC) turned 18 and they could go back to Mexico and live with their dad.

It was very sad. She got them back physically, but never mentally, it seems.

cjasonsmith · 03-18-2017, 10:20 PM

Hello- My name is a Chris Smith. Yes, the Chris Smith listed in this story. I happened upon this article while having a conversation with my wife tonight and felt that I should at least comment to let everyone know that my brother and I are just fine and have now been blessed with families of our own. While this seemed like an interesting story to read about, I can tell you that it was just as interesting to live through it. I don't quite know where to start since there were several comments listed before this, but feel free to ask and I will be happy to answer all that I can.

DazzlerSparkler · 03-19-2017, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjasonsmith

Hello- My name is a Chris Smith. Yes, the Chris Smith listed in this story. I happened upon this article while having a conversation with my wife tonight and felt that I should at least comment to let everyone know that my brother and I are just fine and have now been blessed with families of our own. While this seemed like an interesting story to read about, I can tell you that it was just as interesting to live through it. I don't quite know where to start since there were several comments listed before this, but feel free to ask and I will be happy to answer all that I can.

Welcome to the forum!

If I may ask, were you and your brother able to reconcile with your mom?

cjasonsmith · 03-19-2017, 09:03 AM

Hello, DazzlerSparkler. Yes, both my brother and I finally settled in and felt like Texas was home and we enjoyed being back with our mom. It did take a while for that to happen, but we did grow to be much closer over time.

After Charles and I graduated from high school, we also had a chance to reconnect with our dad since he was out of jail by then, leading his life in the US. While we certainly didn't have a typical relationship with our parents by any stretch of the imagination, we were eventually lucky enough to spent time with each of them separately.

As you know from the thread posted a while back, my mom unfortunately passed away several years ago. As I got older, I did see just how much my mom was shorted on her time with us and I wish she were still here. I am lucky enough to have a family of my own now and it would have been great for her to be a part of my boys' lives.

Todd Mueller · 03-19-2017, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjasonsmith

Hello, DazzlerSparkler. Yes, both my brother and I finally settled in and felt like Texas was home and we enjoyed being back with our mom. It did take a while for that to happen, but we did grow to be much closer over time.

Hi, cjasonsmith -- welcome to the board!

Thanks for coming on here and sharing information about your story. It is always nice to hear from the real people involved. My condolences to you and your brother on your mom's passing. I'm sure she did not live an easy life. I'm just very happy to hear you and your family are doing well now. All the best to you, sir!

LooksLikeCRicci · 03-20-2017, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cjasonsmith

Hello- My name is a Chris Smith. Yes, the Chris Smith listed in this story. I happened upon this article while having a conversation with my wife tonight and felt that I should at least comment to let everyone know that my brother and I are just fine and have now been blessed with families of our own. While this seemed like an interesting story to read about, I can tell you that it was just as interesting to live through it. I don't quite know where to start since there were several comments listed before this, but feel free to ask and I will be happy to answer all that I can.

Thanks so much for commenting! It's always refreshing to hear from the actual folks involved in these cases. So often, we only got the information that was presented in a 15 minute segment and very rarely do we get the full story... we hope you stick around!

LGraves65 · 03-20-2017, 04:18 PM

Thank you for posting, cjasonsmith! I'm so sorry to hear about your mom, and that happy that you and your brother reconciled with her.

03-19-2017, 09:03 AM	#12
cjasonsmith Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2017 Posts: 7	Reconciliation Hello, DazzlerSparkler. Yes, both my brother and I finally settled in and felt like Texas was home and we enjoyed being back with our mom. It did take a while for that to happen, but we did grow to be much closer over time. After Charles and I graduated from high school, we also had a chance to reconnect with our dad since he was out of jail by then, leading his life in the US. While we certainly didn't have a typical relationship with our parents by any stretch of the imagination, we were eventually lucky enough to spent time with each of them separately. As you know from the thread posted a while back, my mom unfortunately passed away several years ago. As I got older, I did see just how much my mom was shorted on her time with us and I wish she were still here. I am lucky enough to have a family of my own now and it would have been great for her to be a part of my boys' lives.

05-01-2007, 10:09 AM	#1
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	Update on Charles & Christopher Smith I was watching a 48 Hours episode this morning about children who were abducted by their parents. I was suprised at the end when they did a progress report on Charles & Christopher Smith and their mother! For those of you who need refreshed it was the UM segment where the dad and paternal grandparents (who lived in Texas and were wealthy I believe) abducted the two boys when they were both very young. The mother ended up suing the Smith family and was awarded millions of dollars. The boys were located I believe 7 years later and reunited with their mother. I was suprised and a little saddened to see the interview with the boys. They seemed quite bitter and angry. They said their dad told them their mother did bad things including drugs and didn't come off as though they had much emotional attachment to her even though at the time of this interview they were in their teens and had been back with her for 3 1/2 years. She wept in part of the interview and said when she was reunited with them she couldn't believe how big they were and said they treated her like an adult, not like their mother. Their father wasn't brought up in the interview at all. Although they seem to have settled into a life with their mother it was pretty obvious in the interview that the relationship between them has been changed forever.

05-01-2007, 11:19 AM	#2
UMfan77 Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 28, 2003 Posts: 1,064	I have that segment on tape & have watched many, many times. Seems like the boys have been reunited with their mother for some time now. You would think that their relationship would be rekindled after being together for a long time. Also, the mother probably doesn't have to work and has a lot of time to spend with her boys. It is very puzzling. Thank you for the update.

05-01-2007, 11:30 AM	#3
nohwheregirl THE Mystery Machine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Posts: 1,057	Crystaldawn, I think I actually saw that a few weeks ago, but I didn't realize that they were a UM case! Very sad...hopefully one day they will realize that their father basically brainwashed them and used them to punish their mother.

05-05-2007, 09:10 PM	#4
NDAlum2003 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 14, 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 216	This segment should be on UM Favorites #10.

06-05-2016, 12:50 PM	#6
sdb4884 UM Meme Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 01, 2008 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,235	I never knew Carolyn Smith died in 2007. There are so many unanswered questions in this case: How did she die? what happened to Chick and Pat Smith? Did Carolyn get awarded the full amount she won at the custody hearing? How are the kids now and do they have a relationship with their father?

06-06-2016, 04:46 AM	#7
Cori aka ChrisSCrush Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 30, 2001 Location: USA and still trying to be proud of it! Posts: 2,071	Was this the case where the custodial mother and her private detective followed the non-custodial father and the boys onto a plane, then were held back while the father and boys left and everyone else was let off the plane before they were? Strange indeed and indicative of some money changing hands.

06-06-2016, 05:27 AM	#8
sdb4884 UM Meme Guy Senior Member Join Date: Sep 01, 2008 Location: Perth, Western Australia Posts: 1,235	Thats the case yes but not exactly what happened in the story.

06-06-2016, 10:21 AM	#9
LGraves65 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 01, 2004 Posts: 39	On one of the news shows, either Dateline or 48 Hours, they did an episode on formerly-abducted children who were reunited with the searching parent, and the Smith boys were profiled. They were teenagers, living with their mother. I remember she said they were cordial to her, and seemed to just be biding their time until the youngest (who was about 14 at the time, IIRC) turned 18 and they could go back to Mexico and live with their dad. It was very sad. She got them back physically, but never mentally, it seems.

03-18-2017, 10:20 PM	#10
cjasonsmith Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Mar 18, 2017 Posts: 7	Update Hello- My name is a Chris Smith. Yes, the Chris Smith listed in this story. I happened upon this article while having a conversation with my wife tonight and felt that I should at least comment to let everyone know that my brother and I are just fine and have now been blessed with families of our own. While this seemed like an interesting story to read about, I can tell you that it was just as interesting to live through it. I don't quite know where to start since there were several comments listed before this, but feel free to ask and I will be happy to answer all that I can.

03-20-2017, 04:18 PM	#15
LGraves65 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 01, 2004 Posts: 39	Thank you for posting, cjasonsmith! I'm so sorry to hear about your mom, and that happy that you and your brother reconciled with her.