The mother of Violet Bennett, the seven-year-old Cowichan girl who is missing along with her father Jesse Bennett, said she and Jesse have never gotten along, but at least they both share a love for their daughter.
But Roget Jade Hall, who has identified herself as Violet含羞草研究社檚 mother, said in a statement that she now fears for the safety of Violet, who has been missing since Jan. 20.
含羞草研究社淚 have no idea where she is, if she含羞草研究社檚 okay, or if she含羞草研究社檚 even with [Jesse],含羞草研究社� Hall said.
含羞草研究社淎s a mother, I don含羞草研究社檛 know how to handle this situation, I feel shattered, broken and numb to everything.含羞草研究社�
On Jan. 20, Victoria Family Law Court set out a Joint Custody agreement and ordered Jesse to return Violet the same day to Hall, but police and family have since been unable to contact either Jesse or Violet.
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The pair were formally reported missing from Bennett含羞草研究社檚 home in North Cowichan on the afternoon of Sunday, Jan. 23.
含羞草研究社淲e believe that Jesse Bennett is actively evading police and is in breach of the custody order, requiring him to return Violet to her mother,含羞草研究社� said Sgt. Trevor Busch of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP.
Hall said she has seen Violet just three times since Oct. 7, even though a court order stated that she and Bennett share custody.
Hall said that, unfortunately, the court order was not police enforceable, but she knew Violet was safe in North Cowichan with Bennett even though Bennett wanted to pull his daughter out of school due to the mask mandates, something Hall refused to allow, so she took the time to go through the right court channels to get her back.
含羞草研究社淥n Jan. 20, a judge ordered that I have custody of Violet Monday to Friday each week, and Jesse would have her [on weekends], and that day she was to be returned to me ASAP,含羞草研究社� Hall said.
含羞草研究社淟ucky enough this time it was deemed necessary to have our court order police enforceable to make sure this never happened again. Unfortunately it has led to this. I didn含羞草研究社檛 want it to get this far. I just wanted my daughter back with me and return to her normal life. People seem to think it含羞草研究社檚 only been the last six days that I haven含羞草研究社檛 seen her because it含羞草研究社檚 only the last few days I含羞草研究社檝e been able to have the police involved.含羞草研究社�
Hall said she missed Violet含羞草研究社檚 last birthday and Christmas because Bennett wouldn含羞草研究社檛 let her see her daughter.
含羞草研究社淚 only got to see her for three days over New Year含羞草研究社檚, but Violet had to stay at my mother含羞草研究社檚 house during those days because Jesse wouldn含羞草研究社檛 let her sleep at my home,含羞草研究社� she said.
Hall said all she can do is ask Bennett to bring Violet back to her.
含羞草研究社淏efore, at least I knew she was safe with Jesse,含羞草研究社� she said.
含羞草研究社淭here was minimal contact, but at least Jesse responded sometimes.含羞草研究社�
Jesse Bennett is a white man, 36-years-old, 5 foot 10, 160 pounds, with blue eyes with a beard and brown hair, or possibly a shaved head or wearing a hat.
Violet Bennett is a white girl, approximately 4 feet tall, weighing 50-60 pounds, with blue eyes and big natural curly hair.
If you have information about Bennett or Violet含羞草研究社檚 whereabouts, contact the police in your jurisdiction, or the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522.
