My name is Ann Maguire, CEO of Wings for Justice, a national nonprofit whose mission is to
protect children in the family court system by creating awareness, providing education, and
advocating to bring positive change. We do this in part by helping survivors of domestic
violence/coercive control/child abuse build their cases to advocate for their children. Wings for
Justice has worked on over 300 cases across the country in the last few years.
I am writing this letter in support of Caroline Less and have been her legal advocate from Wings
for Justice since August 9, 2019.
I have spent countless hours over the past 15 months speaking with Caroline about her case,
reviewing emails, text messages, motions, affidavits, and therapists’ reports. Caroline’s case is
a classic example of trafficking children through the family court system for cash. Her minor
child is a victim of sexual abuse, who has consistently named her father, as her known abuser
since 2016.
BRIEF HISTORY:
• Mom filed for divorce from dad in August 2015, only one minor child
• Divorce was final September 2016 (Dad chose every other weekend for his physical
custody and 50/50 legal with majority of decisions to be made by Mom)
• There was never any litigation during divorce concerning mom “keeping the child
away from dad” nor did dad have any issues with mom’s parenting or with mom
• Minor child disclosed sexual abuse in a Forensic interview at the St Louis Child
Advocacy Center (STL CAC) following her divorce from dad in Sept 2016.
• Judge Sandra Hemphill issued their divorce and oversaw the first year of mom’s motion
to modify custody, following the child's substantiated report of sexual abuse issued
by STL children’s division.
• Judge Sandra Hemphill ensured a TRO remain in place for Saskia from October 2016
through August 2017
• August 2017 the court issued a Judge change and Judge Bruce Hilton was
assigned to this case
• October 2017 GAL Elaine Pudlowski recommended unsupervised visits for the
minor child to Judge Bruce Hilton
• GAL withheld disclosures from the court - evidence attached for your review
• Judge Bruce Hilton lifted the TRO that was in place for Saskia and ordered
unsupervised visits for the minor child in December 2017
• Trial for motion to modify was on March 29 & 30, 2018
• GAL Elaine Pudlowski following trial, recommended dad be awarded Full Legal
Custody and 50/50 Physical Custody
• GAL’s reason for recommending dad have full legal custody was “mom refuses to co-
parent with dad.”
• GAL did not provide the court any additional evidence, notes or summary reports.
• GAL submitted only a generic Missouri state parenting plan, with no mention of
child’s ongoing disclosures os sexual abuse, substantiated report following forensic
interview, hot line calls to Missouri child abuse phone line or any of the therapists’
reports
• This case has clear and convincing evidence of collusion, corruption, extortion,
malfeasance, child endangerment, violations of due process, civil procedure,
constitutional rights, parental rights and child rights.
FACTS IN ST LOUIS COUNTY FAMILY COURT - CASE NUMBER: 15SL-DR050021-01
• October 2016 daughter discloses sexual abuse at St Louis Child Advocacy Center
(STL CAC) in forensic interview.
• Children’s division issues substantiated report of sexual abuse
• Dad hired Dr Ann Del-Duncan-Hively for $5,400.00 to present on Dad’s behalf at
Missouri Child Abuse Review Board
• Missouri Child Abuse Review Board overturns substantiated report following Dr Ann
Del Duncan-Hively’s presentation filled with false, misleading and untrue
statements.
• Deposition of Dr Ann Del Duncan-Hively is available upon request.
• A total of 11 hotline calls have been made on behalf of Carline’s daughter, only 2 calls
were initiated by mom.
• 9 hotline calls were initiated by therapists, teachers and unknown mandated
reporters.
• Daughter disclosed sexual abuse in two, separate Forensic Interviews at STL
CAC- (1) Oct 2016 and (1) June 2020
• Judge Hilton denied Caroline a protective order on behalf of her daughter,
following child’s 2 forensic interview at STL CAC in June 2020
nd
• Law enforcement gave the case from STL CAC to the St Louis County Prosecuting
Attorney’s office in August 2020
• January 2021, mom found out by calling the Prosecuting Attorney’s office that case had
been dropped by St. Louis Prosecuting Attorney’s office
PARAMOUNT INFORMATION RE: HOTLINE CALLS
2016
Substantiated report of sexual abuse issued by children’s division stated one count of sodomy
because Caroline’s minor child reported sexual abuse by her father stating, “he put his finger in
my butt.”
2017
Hotline call initiated by Salicia Mazero, play and sand therapist. Salcia Mazero quoted the
minor child stating her father, “pulls my pants down and plays with my pookie.” and that it
happened more than once (The minor child confirmed that “pookie” was her word for
vagina). Therapist Salicia Mazero called Joanne Shelton, St Louis County Children’s Division
Circuit Manager, multiple times, with zero response from Joanne Shelton
Minor Child also disclosed to her first grade teacher following a “Safe Touch Presentation”
during school. Teacher hotlined the disclosure and the Children's Division did not investigate as
they stated “already investigated, unsubstantiated.” It has been confirmed GAL, Elaine
Pudlowski, was contacted by the Children's Division following each hotline call, made on behalf
of Caroline’s daughter.
2018
Court ordered, GAL selected therapist, Evangeline Bauer, made another hotline call on the
child's behalf. Evangeline Bauer stated the minor child disclosed “multiple counts of sodomy.”
Evangeline Bauer detailed the disclosure made to her in an affidavit and recommended to the
GAL, Elaine Pudlowski, that the minor child should have no contact with the father for at
least one year, while the minor child is in therapy in order to heal from the ongoing trauma of
the sexual abuse. GAL, Elaine Pudlowski objected to Evangeline Bauer testifying at the motion
to modify trial, on March 29, 2018, in order to “preserve the therapeutic relationship between
Evangeline Bauer and the minor child.” Judge Hilton prohibited Evangeline Bauer from stating
anything the child had told her in the therapy room.
March 29, 2018, following day one of trial, dad fired Evangeline Bauer via email and cc’ed
GAL. Email attached in evidence provided. GAL, Elaine Pudlowski supported this unlawful
violation and the minor child went without a therapist from March 29, 2018 until January 2019,
when the child was forced into reunification therapy recommended by the GAL, in the motion to
modify judgement, issued by Judge Bruce Hilton.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Caroline has paid over $300,000 to attorneys, GAL, evaluators, therapists and additional fees
ordered by Judge Bruce Hilton in his judgement.
Currently Caroline is being sued by Patricia Susi and her law firm for approximately $25,000.00
even though Caroline has paid Patricia Susi with Curtis, Heinz, Garrett and O’keefe law firm
over $140,000.00. St. Louis County MIssouri court, case number 19SL-AC16427
