Baskin son on why he won't reunite with parents...

[crystaldawn]

Here is an interview that aired last night on a tv station in Georgia. One is with Mark and Debbie Baskins and the other is Jon Bunting (formerly Bobby Baskins) speaking out and telling his side of the story for the first time on camera and defending his grandparents and their actions. Very interesting!

http://wsav.com/2017/05/25/exclusive...ars-in-hiding/

[hostedbyrobertstack]

Wow...that was a very interesting video. He seems very educated and seems to remember vivid details. It's very interesting hearing the other side of the story. His side seems to make more sense.

[crystaldawn]

Originally Posted by hostedbyrobertstack

It's very interesting hearing the other side of the story. His side seems to make more sense.

I agree!

[SertumAEnigmA]

Fortunately, these "satanic ritualistic sexual abusing" cults have all virtually been invented for children and by children. Huge fad in the mid 80s to early 90s that was every parents worse fear.

I was really hoping the Baskin children would "adult-up" at some point, but it appears not. I suppose the only narrative you hear and rehearse(by his own admission) somehow becomes truth.

He sums it up pretty well though. When your chips are "all in" I guess you stay the course. Won't go into specifics but it involved sexual, physical and emotional abuse, that was so bad that it caused a broken ankle. Take my word for it.

Not one shred of evidence corroborated any of the allegations against the Baskins. Like all the other satanic cults infiltrating our neighborgoods and opening daycares solely to molest our children.

While I'm sure all this is "very real" to him, he still acts like a bright eyed kid when he elaborated on the fantasy of going on the lam and picking his own middle name. Because hey, when our children are abused by these satanic ritualistic sex abusing cults, our first order of business is to get their input and see if they are ready to go on the lam!

These kids have lived a fantasy for 30 years. Time to be an adult. I'm willing to bet that even though the narrative is that these poor kids were abused physically, sexually and emotionally, the grandparents out of fear of exposure didn't put them in therapy. Probably aren't now either.

[LGraves65]

I think it makes sense to him. I still hold that if what he and his sister went through was true, to leave Michael behind was abhorrent. Also, his parents adopted their other son, and went through all that is required to adopt internationally - without any problems. That speaks volumes to me.

I'm not calling Bobby/Jon a liar. I truly believe he believes his telling the truth. But that doesn't mean it IS the truth.

[JM]

Even after watching both interviews, I'm not sure whom I believe.

But, one thing I do know for certain is that both Baskin children deserve to live their lives the way they see fit. And if that includes not reuniting with their birth parents, so be it.

[crystaldawn]

Originally Posted by soundandvision

But, one thing I do know for certain is that both Baskin children deserve to live their lives the way they see fit. And if that includes not reuniting with their birth parents, so be it.

I agree. Whatever side you believe, they are adults and never have to reunite with them if they choose not to.

[TheCars1986]

I still don't understand how, if they were honestly being abused, they never did anything to try and "save" the youngest sibling. Even as they grew older.

[Yusuke]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

I still don't understand how, if they were honestly being abused, they never did anything to try and "save" the youngest sibling. Even as they grew older.

Mr. Bunting Jr. addressed this here:

Originally Posted by TakeAWildGuess

Michael's situation was always something that felt tragic to us all. The Baskins left us with Marvin and Sandra frequently due to, as I was told, the fact that they couldn't afford to support and feed us. Originally all three of us were left, but due to things I won't go into out of respect for Michael, it became too much of a challenge to have all three of us. Keep in mind, also, that originally they only thought that Mark's parents were involved in the abuse, because I did not want to tell on my parents. I thought that maybe if I told on ONE person, the abuse would stop. With that in mind, they initially thought Michael was safe with Mark and Debbie. When they learned of the full extent of the abuse (because it continued in visitation), they only had two of us. They went and told the story to the authorities and were granted immediate temporary custody of the two they already had, and while they TRIED to get custody of Michael, it was a lot more difficult with the Baskins now on alert about the situation. When we drove off in our big grey GMC van it was because they had learned that child services was going to come and get us, literally the next day. They only had two of us, and it was either save us and leave Michael, or save none us.

I’m actually terrified to meet Michael. He spent his life with Mark and Debbie… I don’t know what his state of mind is or what his recollection of events are. I keep tabs on him. I know he owns a comic book shop in Georgia. I’ve called the number listed for that business in the past and heard his voice, but he did not know it was me. Perhaps one day, but if he’s on the side of Mark and Debbie I fear that an arranged meeting might lead to me walking in on all of them or otherwise being ambushed. I have no desire to ever see Mark and Debbie. As I said previously, I HAVE PTSD as a result of my experiences, and facing my tormentors would not likely be a good thing for my emotional and mental health at this stage.

Thanks for being kind and for using both, and not just one of my names, LooksLikeCRicci. I think that, partially, my biological sperm and egg donors fought so hard to keep up appearances. It was the smartest thing to do, similarly as it was smart to hide in plain sight as religious leaders. How would it have looked had they NOT come out to California to look for us?

Also… You’re right, dynoguy99… I’m not Bobby. I have not been Bobby since I was 7 years old, and I’m now 34. I do not respond to Bobby, Robert, or any combination or part of that old name. Bobby was a victim. I’m a survivor learning to live in the PRESENT moment. I never understood why everyone kept trying to make pleas to us using those old names, as if that would have any kind of effect. Or that they continually referred to us as the “kids” when we were already fully grown adults.

[Hot Jock]

As for the Baskin parents, I've always found Debbie Baskin to be a little bit of a nutjob myself. There are several women on my mother's side of my family that remind me a lot of her and I choose to have nothing to do with them either. And no, there wasn't any physical abuse in my case. Certainly not on the scale of what the Baskins are accused of doing to their kids anyway.

I don't blame Mr. Bunting or his sister for not reaching out to their biological parents one bit. Once a wingnut, always a wingnut. And those Baskin parents (at least the mother) sure take the cake in that department.

[SertumAEnigmA]

They absolutely have no defense if they knowingly left a special needs child in a sexually abusive home. So if that is true, if they believed those children were sexually abused, there is no defense. The very one who needed the most protection, the most vulnerable of the three was pretty much left to fend for himself.

If you believe them.

However, I'm sure this is simply just another narrative coming from the Maple camp. It appears the judge was correct when he shot down their allegations the first few times. They will simply say and do anything to get their way. It's pretty sad how the narrative had continued to evolve, when there was absolutely zero evidence that supported their claims.

[Todd Mueller]

Holy crap! Thanks for sharing this, crystaldawn. What an incredible and emotional interview.

I don't doubt that Jon is sincere and believes his memories as the truth. After all he and Jennifer have been through, I'm impressed they are as "normal" as can be. He seems like a good guy. I appreciate him coming on this board to share his feelings, especially after how judgmental some people on this board were (myself included).

As a parent, I can't imagine being separated from my kids like that. It must be hard on them. But at the same time, if what Jon said is true, I can't imagine a worse crime. This is one of those cases where I really don't know what or who to believe. If the Baskins are being truthful, my heart breaks for them. But if they really were abusers, that is horrible and I feel for what Jon and Jennifer went through.

Or perhaps there is some truth in the middle, where they parented in a style that made them seem abusive and the Maples just did what they thought was best. The kids may believe that what they went through was abuse, whether or not it meets the legal definition. Kids perceptions of things are often very different, due to their age and brain function. I don't put much stock in what Marvin said in the nursing home. People with dementia say all kinds of things and him "admitting" to Debbie that he lied could just be ramblings.

I pray that they can all find peace through this, in whatever way possible.

[LooksLikeCRicci]

Originally Posted by Todd Mueller

I pray that they can all find peace through this, in whatever way possible.

My sentiments exactly. This is a hot thread topic and I appreciate how courteous everyone has been to each other's opinions.

[Tap Dancer]

Originally Posted by soundandvision

But, one thing I do know for certain is that both Baskin children deserve to live their lives the way they see fit. And if that includes not reuniting with their birth parents, so be it.

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

I agree. Whatever side you believe, they are adults and never have to reunite with them if they choose not to.

I agree with you both. What they choose to do is their own business.

[Crickles]

I think the kids were victimized by their grandparents and brainwashed into believing their parents were monsters. Their whole life has been one big lie crafted by vengeful grandparents. It's sad.