Bill and Cynthia Zelinski

[amandab1234]

I was thinking of this case (Sharon Stevens) she was adopted by Bill and Cynthia Zelinski.. I decided to do a google search on them and came across this blog. Sharon Stevens spoke very highly of them, but this blog seems to make them out to be very abusive.. Who knows if it's true.. but I'm pretty sure it is the same Bill and Cynthia Zelinski since UM mentioned they would take in foster children regularly.The link is below...

http://homelessnessinbaltimore.com/2...mark-schumann/

[DarkDante]

Wow very interesting to say the least. With a slight nod to the fact that anyone can make anything up on the internet, I have no reason to doubt this individual. I would just find it very bizarre for someone to make up such a story including attaching names to it.

I understand it's possible for two different people to have two very different reactions to the same person or persons but this seems like a bit of a stretch. Those are some pretty heavy allegations to say the least.

[Steve_uk]

Originally Posted by DarkDante

Wow very interesting to say the least. With a slight nod to the fact that anyone can make anything up on the internet, I have no reason to doubt this individual. I would just find it very bizarre for someone to make up such a story including attaching names to it.

I understand it's possible for two different people to have two very different reactions to the same person or persons but this seems like a bit of a stretch. Those are some pretty heavy allegations to say the least.

Yes,but a person alleging abuse should always be believed,and it would explain why the Zelynskis were reluctant to come forward initially in the Sharon Stone case,though I was unable to watch the Unsolved Mysteries segment.

[amandab1234]

Originally Posted by DarkDante

Wow very interesting to say the least. With a slight nod to the fact that anyone can make anything up on the internet, I have no reason to doubt this individual. I would just find it very bizarre for someone to make up such a story including attaching names to it.

I understand it's possible for two different people to have two very different reactions to the same person or persons but this seems like a bit of a stretch. Those are some pretty heavy allegations to say the least.

I agree. ... they seemed like such loving and caring ppl... I dont believe his story... in my opinion he might not be mentally stable..of course, I could be wrong and im not here to judge the man.... just wanted to share this lil tidbit

[wiseguy182]

Originally Posted by Steve_uk

Yes,but a person alleging abuse should always be believed,and it would explain why the Zelynskis were reluctant to come forward initially in the Sharon Stone case,though I was unable to watch the Unsolved Mysteries segment.

Well, a person alleging abuse should always have their claims investigated, but I don't agree with you that they should always be believed. I also don't know what you mean by the Zielinskis being initially reluctant to come forward.

As far as the article goes, what a steaming pile of crap that was. I highly doubt Sharon Stevens, who definitely was abused by her real father, and was bounced around from foster homes she didn't like, would speak so highly of the Zielinskis, going so far as to praise them on national television, if they were the monsters that this homeless bum and alcoholic makes them out to be. The guy clearly has mental issues stemming from his various risk-taking excursions.

How does a homeless guy have internet access anyways? And I thought the Zielinskis were a foster home, I never knew them to actually adopt children.

[WishfulDreamer]

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

Well, a person alleging abuse should always have their claims investigated, but I don't agree with you that they should always be believed. I also don't know what you mean by the Zielinskis being initially reluctant to come forward.

As far as the article goes, what a steaming pile of crap that was. I highly doubt Sharon Stevens, who definitely was abused by her real father, and was bounced around from foster homes she didn't like, would speak so highly of the Zielinskis, going so far as to praise them on national television, if they were the monsters that this homeless bum and alcoholic makes them out to be. The guy clearly has mental issues stemming from his various risk-taking excursions.

How does a homeless guy have internet access anyways? And I thought the Zielinskis were a foster home, I never knew them to actually adopt children.

It's entirely possible that he is using a library computer or community center.

I think Sharon is telling the truth. Not only did she go through abuse under her father, but a family member actually killed her second child (that part of the segment still horrifies me and is never explained. Hopefully that family member was put in jail). I think Bill and Cynthia must have been incredibly good to her to have left such an impression upon her. This man makes the Zelinski's out to be monsters, but it seems hard to believe that they would be a complete 180 from how she described them. I don't want to say he's a liar, but I am really skeptical.

[WishfulDreamer]

Originally Posted by Steve_uk

Yes,but a person alleging abuse should always be believed,and it would explain why the Zelynskis were reluctant to come forward initially in the Sharon Stone case,though I was unable to watch the Unsolved Mysteries segment.

The Zelinskis actually watched the broadcast and called the same night, leading to a reunion rather quickly. Could you be thinking of another case?

[Necco]

Respectfully snipped:

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

How does a homeless guy have internet access anyways? And I thought the Zielinskis were a foster home, I never knew them to actually adopt children.

There is a large continuum of what qualifies as homeless. He mentions living in a really nice shelter, so that could be where he gets internet access. I know people who were considered homeless who couch surfed at friends' places or headquartered out of their car. Also, it seems like every homeless kid in Portland, OR has a cellphone and a dog.

[Steve_uk]

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

The Zelinskis actually watched the broadcast and called the same night, leading to a reunion rather quickly. Could you be thinking of another case?

You're right;I misread the article. But Mark Schumann should be believed;he has no motive for making up his story.

[Necco]

It is entirely possible that some children were treated well while others were abused.

If Mr. Schumann lived with the couple during a different time period, there could have been stressors in their lives that made them more prone to abuse during his tenure with them. (financial trouble, marital troubles, substance abuse)

Also, to state the obvious, Ms. Stevens was a girl and Mr. Schumann was a boy. Perhaps they only abused one gender children.

The difference in parental status may also contribute to a difference in treatment. Foster kids are more closely monitored and I believe the parents get more money. Don't want to bite the hand that feeds you, as it were.

In addition to all of that, there is also the difference in personal perspective. Perhaps they were both treated the same way, but Ms. Stevens was so used to much worse abuse that it seemed like a reasonable level of discipline to her.

[McBevis]

This was always one of my favorite lost-loves segments. I've watched it many times and I have much difficulty believing that what this guy is saying is true. I really don't want to believe that it's true, and if it is, than my apologies go out to the guy, but after seeing this segment so many times, I just can't bring myself to believe it.

One thing I also wonder about: Even if there is any truth to what this guy is saying, it would be interesting to know what his behavior as a kid was like. Now, I'm not in any way saying that he deserves to be abused, but even people that are generally considered nice can be pushed over the edge if the kid was a terror who was constantly making their lives miserable.

[Steve_uk]

Originally Posted by McBevis

This was always one of my favorite lost-loves segments. I've watched it many times and I have much difficulty believing that what this guy is saying is true. I really don't want to believe that it's true, and if it is, than my apologies go out to the guy, but after seeing this segment so many times, I just can't bring myself to believe it.

One thing I also wonder about: Even if there is any truth to what this guy is saying, it would be interesting to know what his behavior as a kid was like. Now, I'm not in any way saying that he deserves to be abused, but even people that are generally considered nice can be pushed over the edge if the kid was a terror who was constantly making their lives miserable.

It seems his brother and sister suffered similarly so it shouldn't be hard to corroborate his story,and by this account his cousin also realized what the Zelinskis were doing.http://homelessnessinbaltimore.com/2...mark-schumann/

[dynoguy88]

Originally Posted by McBevis

This was always one of my favorite lost-loves segments. I've watched it many times and I have much difficulty believing that what this guy is saying is true. I really don't want to believe that it's true, and if it is, than my apologies go out to the guy, but after seeing this segment so many times, I just can't bring myself to believe it.

Indeed. It's very hard to comprehend. Especially when you take into account that Sharon Stevens admitted when she first went to live with the Zelinskis, she was a bitter and angry girl who had just been shuffled around to several previous foster homes, and she wasn't exactly good company right off the bat.

The Zelinski's that this guy is describing wouldn't have put up with that attitude. But Sharon said they were calm, loving and actually wanted to know what her previous foster homes were like so they could build a better life for her and truly understand where she was coming from.

The two sides just don't match up at all. I know it's stretching it but could it be possible this is a different Bill and Cynthia Zelinski in California?

[McBevis]

Originally Posted by dynoguy88

Indeed. It's very hard to comprehend. Especially when you take into account that Sharon Stevens admitted when she first went to live with the Zelinskis, she was a bitter and angry girl who had just been shuffled around to several previous foster homes, and she wasn't exactly good company right off the bat.

The Zelinski's that this guy is describing wouldn't have put up with that attitude. But Sharon said they were calm, loving and actually wanted to know what her previous foster homes were like so they could build a better life for her and truly understand where she was coming from.

The two sides just don't match up at all. I know it's stretching it but could it be possible this is a different Bill and Cynthia Zelinski in California?

I wouldn't suppose that it's absolutely impossible, but it would come as a pretty big surprise. And, even if there is another such couple, what are the chances that they would be the same kind of people (in that they take in foster children)? Either way, I really DON'T want to believe the guy.

[amandab1234]

I am not judging this man. If his blog is true, it seems like he has had a rough life. But I don’t believe him. The fact that he seems to have had some mental issues as well as the alcoholic issues kinda makes his story less creditable to me. Plus, the Zelinski’s were anxious to see Sharon again and had no problems reuniting with her on national tv. On camera, they seem like genuinely nice people.