The filing also included screenshots of reminders and calendar events showing up on a computer that the kids were using at the house. One was a reminder I’d made just after getting out of jail that said “Fuck with Rita,” and another was a calendar event that said, “The bitch’s mom’s b-day,” which happened to be just after I was released. I had no idea the kids would see these, as I had no idea these things were showing up on computers the kids were using. Had I known, I would have stopped making snide reminders, etc. What troubles me most about this is that instead of saying anything to my attorney or me, Rita just let the kids continue seeing these things and then blamed me for “allowing” it to happen. This episode is just one of many that show Rita was more interested in collecting information against me than trying to be a good mother.
There were some screenshots of Facebook posts I’d made. One post from “Sunday” said, “[Eric] can’t believe he could have misjudged someone’s ability to be so cruel so badly.” After I got out of jail at the end of January, I posted, “[Eric] met a lot of people on both sides of the law with lots of devious ways to get back at women falsely accusing them of abuse. Lots of information to parse.” This was true, but I regret posting it and deleted it shortly after I did. I recall thinking while in jail–as there’s not much else to do–that I sure learned many devious things from the other inmates. When I’d tell them why I was there, many of them would suggest ways for me to get revenge. Like I said before, jail is a place to learn to be a criminal. I would have never done any of these things as I’m not an idiot and know I’d wind up getting caught; taking advice on being a criminal from people in jail doesn’t seem wise.
Rita also included my Match.com profile in which, as a joke, I said, “three kids (two are great and one’s a PITA, you’ll figure it out)***” and below, “***I hope you realize the PITA kid is just a joke. I just find it funny how all you ever see on here is how great people’s kids are. We all know they can be PITA’s on occasion.”
Finally, there were some text messages. One said, “I’m not sure I can keep them all entertained for 4 hours.” Another said, “I’ll try to figure something out to keep them all entertained.” I’m sure I was worried about keeping three kids spanning ten years of age and different genders entertained in a tiny studio apartment for four hours. I had indeed thought about taking them places, but there was nowhere they all wanted to go. It certainly would not have been a problem if, as we had planned, I had my custodial time at the McBath Street house where they had all their toys, etc. Another message talked about having a makeup day on May 21, which is Rita’s birthday. I reminded her that she was giving up having the kids on her birthday and, half-jokingly said, “You could give them some money, and I could take them shopping.” At the hearing, Rita stated that these scared her.
In the court filing, Rita made sure only to show isolated messages and not entire conversations. The statements in context are shown below, with a solid dot preceding my messages and an open dot preceding Rita’s.
Exchange on April 30, 2013
- Rita: Do you have car seat for mae?
- Eric: Yea. There’s still one in Bug.
- Have Debbie give him a change of clothes for Amanda too.
- Ok so just to be clear. Gary get mae and bikes around 4. kids dropped off by gary when?
- I will have all you need packed.
- By 8. But probably earlier.
- Unless they want to stay at park and have a late dinner.
- Ok but no later than 8 right?
- I’m not sure I can keep them all entertained for 4 hours.
- Yea. No later.
- Ok
- Should I try to have Amanda do HW?
- Or can she do it when she gets home?
- It depends on how much but best to get it done early.
- I’ll try to have her do it.
- She will be to tired to do it when she gets home if 8. Shower then bed.
- Ok.
Exchange on May 1, 2013.
- That’s what I was thinking. Or one each day M-W?
- This apartment is too small for all of them if the weather stinks.
- Rather not do that.
- It would be better for them but its up to you.
- Hopefully weather is nice. Or maybe we could just rent movies.
- Or shopping at mall.
- Well you know what amanda would want to do
- Yea. And you said Caleb needed some clothes.
- Summer clothes.
- Yea and shoes too sandles
- I’ll try to figure something out to keep them all entertained.
- I’ll be gone Sunday after next week too.
- Maybe have them for a bit this Sunday?
- Im getting confused. Send me dates? what are you looking for time wise sunday?
- 5/5 maybe 4-7 since my dad will be in Everett.
- I’ll be gone 5/13.
- In Everett until ~3
- Lets talk one day at a time im confused. 5/13 is monday
- Oops. Gone 5/12.
- Thats mothers day it would be nice for me to have them
- This coming Sunday (5/5) I could have them for a few hours after my dad returns.
- Ok thats fine for this sunday
- Okay. We have some time to work out those details. I’ll text Debbie tomorrow either way.
- Ok. And what about the holiday weekend?
- Memorial Day?
- Yea
- You can have them.
- Camping would be fun for them and not something I could do with them.
- Thank you. Lets get through tomorrow then work on the rest
- Agreed.
Exchange on May 20, 2013 about the kids wanting to be together during visits and Rita’s birthday.
- Oh. But what about tomorrow?
- Not sure amanda got a uti
- Or maybe do something with Caleb on Wednesday and the girls on Thursday
- Rather you take all of them
- But is there any day that will work?
- Tomorrow if amanda feeling better
- Okay. But you do remember its your b-day, right?
- You could give them some money and I could take them shopping. 😉
- I did forget
- Otherwise I could maybe take Caleb to a movie on Wednesday. I don’t understand your concern about having them one at a time so I’m not sure how to make you feel comfortable with it.
- See, I’m such a good husband to remind you of your b-day. But don’t expect a present. 😉
- How about tomorrow 5-7? caleb from hw club at 5:30
- That would probably be okay. Just wasn’t sure about the uti and your bday.
- Yea just a busy week and sick kid through me off.
- Off work?
- I’d still rather have Caleb W and girls Th. Not sure what your concern is. Me talking to them alone?
- They want to be together
- They do? Why? You said it was you that wanted them together.
- I do but i asked them and they want to be together
- Well have them give me a call so we can figure out something they all want to do together.
- Are they going to call? I’m sure Caleb is tired of hanging around the park.
- Plus it’s supposed to rain.
- I could take them all T and girls on Th.
- Im out mowing how about library?
- That might work. Is there stuff for all of them. Bowling might work too.
- I’d still like to see if Caleb might like to see Star Trek on Wednesday.
- They all like bowling
Exchange on May 22, 2013 with Rita about my dad being present for visits.
- Are you concerned about me driving the kids? My dads truck has a flat and one of the lug bolts is stripped.
- Kids feel better with your dad there
- It doesn’t seem that way. What makes them feel that way?
- They in bed? Have them call so I can tell them good night.
- All in bed already skating wore the girls out and caleb has to be up by 5:30.
- Oh, right.
- So, why do they want my dad there?
- To be honest they dont want me to tell you why.
- What is it?
- You need to let me know.
- I will talk to my lawyer first but i made a promise to them and i wont betray that.
- What? We always have fun.
- Its not about that. i have to get up early
- Okay. But we still need to parent them together.
I also included messages in which she told me it was the kids who wanted to all come simultaneously and my dad to be there. As I will discuss later, she never did give me a reason for this.
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