WJBF EXCLUSIVE: Christine Long Speaks
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WJBF EXCLUSIVE: Christine Long Speaks
We've reported so much about the Long family from the condition of their home to the children's welfare. Now, the mother, Christine Long, says she's come a long way in the last year and is hoping...
We’ve reported so much about the Long family from the condition of their home to the children’s welfare. Now, the mother, Christine Long, says she’s come a long way in the last year and is hoping for a second chance with her children. WJBF News Channel 6’s Paige Tucker has her story.
Augusta, GA—Speaking for the first time publicly, Christine Long says she wants desperately to reunite her family. She’s scared her visitation Tuesday with her children may be her last. “God’s had His hand in this all along, so I’m not going to give up hope yet. But I do know that there’s a possibility I won’t get them back.“
Long’s ten minor children were taken into DFACS custody on July 31, 2008. Investigators found the family living in a rural home with no water or electricity. The children had never been to school. “I’m glad that we were found, but I hate that I had to lose my children. I thought things would turn out differently. I did what I could with what I had. I tried everyday to do for them with what I had. I know they should have been in school, but he wouldn’t allow it. So we just spent everyday together. We’d play together, read together or just sit around and talk.“
So why did Christine Long stay in a home with what she describes as a controlling, abusive husband? Why did she stay in a home where there was not enough food to feed her children? She blames her husband, Jeremy Long, who she says tortured her with, “‘Who will help you? No one’s going to help you. There’s not going to be anyone out there for you.‘ He knew that was my love. They were everything to me, and they still are. I was so scared of losing my children, and I ultimately did. I didn’t know there was anywhere to go.“
In the past year, Long’s found a network of support in Waynesboro, including a church family, work family, and friends like Pat Shaw who admits she passed judgment based on media reports. “I’ve seen that she is not what people have made her out to be. She’s a loving mother who really loves her children. She was in an unfortunate situation, and a lot of abuse went on,“ says Shaw who says she’d never met Christine Long until months after her story was made public.
Now in a home set up for children, Christine says she’s done everything the states required to attempt reunification and more. “I was told to complete parent aid classes, which I did. I was told to go through therapy, which I did. I was told to get a job, I got two. I was told to get a house that would be adequate, now I have a 4 bedroom, 3 bath home.“
She still doesn’t know if that’s enough. “I feel like I deserve a second chance now that I have bettered myself. I do have friends and family. I do have a job. I just want my second chance with my children. I don’t want to miss my babies growing up.“
Christine Long’s next DFACS hearing about her children’s future is in September.
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Reader Reactions
Loretta S. everyone knows you are “lunamoth”. Get a new name.
IS CHRISTINE LONG SERIOUS???? She loves her chidren sooo much she deprived them of food, proper housing, water, medical treatment and an education? I’ve seen her all over Waynesboro; she acts like this town and all of us who live here owe her something. The only ones who matter are the children! She has NOONE to blame for her situation but HERSELF; you don’t claim to have been abused for years and years and then continue to have children, that might I add, YOU CAN’T TAKE CARE OF!!!! If she loved her children as much as she claims, she could’ve gotten help no matter what her husband said. According to her, he left everyday…..what or who was stopping her from leaving; she musta liked being mistreated so much she carried it on like a good ol’ fashion family tradition! The best thing that could’ve happened to this family was that they were found and the children have a REAL chance of a stable family life with people who honestly love them. The next best thing is that she have NO CONTACT with them; they deserve to be happy and not to worry about all the crap she put them through, they need a fresh start but having visitation with her each week is only torturing them more. Christine Long is nothing more than an unfit manipulator who deserves W-A-Y more jail time than what she got!!!!!
I agree with grace. This was a crime against children. There was no corroborating evidence or testimony that there was abuse and you can’t tell me that in a house that small with that many living in it that one of them didn’t see SOMETHING. It was extremely telling that when the 2nd oldest turned 18, they signed themselves back over as a ward of the state to stay with their foster family rather than go with their mother. These children didn’t know love. Thankfully, they know REAL homes and families now and I hope they stay with them.
The real victims are the children. Why is that no one speaks up for them—-still! They, unlike the parents, had no choices to make in this and are the ONLY ones who are truly innocent and without fault. I think it’s wonderful that the a few people have stepped up to help the mother (even though I’ve read that there is not one piece of evidence other than the mother’s allegations that any abuse happened). If not the church- who would help people like that? But even so- can’t you help her and still understand that she is accountable and has broken a law? A law against children. Who in world tries to get someone who has done so much damage to her children back together with them? She is now a felon. I just don’t understand. Why are they not fighting this hard for justice for the kids? Why don’t her supporters see that she needs to be accountable and they can love her but still hold her accountable?
As far as I know she has not refused to speak; she has been advised by her attorney’s NOT to speak. Not that it’s going to make much of a difference now since the “public”—mostly people who don’t truly care either way about any of them—already has her crucified. She finally decided to grant an interview because it’s the only shot she has left to be heard. It’s amazing how people might view this as a plea for public sympathy but nobody has cared to decry the fact that the entire case has been manhandled and misrepresented by public opinion. In the end—nobody wins. It’s a tragedy that fewer people care to truly help and furthermore, there are many, many other “Christine’s” out there who will never be heard either.
Funny, she has refused media requests for an interveiw for the past year but now that she stands the chance of loosing her children for good she has decided to use the media as a forum for public sympathy.
It’s about time her side of the story is heard!
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