This petition is born from the heartfelt cry of 23-year-old Noah Thomas Reeder, who has endured over a decade of separation from his mother, Mary K. Castelli, and his older sister, Abigail Castelli. On May 24th, 2012, Noah was forcibly taken from his family by Child Protective Services (CPS) due to wrongful allegations of neglect. Since then, he has been passed from one foster home to another, suffering not just from the pain of separation, but also from various forms of mistreatment and abuse in multiple placements. Noah is now pleading for urgent help to end his long, painful journey and be reunited with his family, who he has been cruelly separated from for far too long.

Noah’s experiences in the foster system have been nothing short of harrowing. When he was placed with PT Brown in May 2012, his attempts to engage in harmless fun, like yelling "SHUT UP" at commercials, were labeled as behavioral issues. This seemingly small quirk, which helped Noah cope with his feelings of frustration, would follow him throughout his time in foster care. When he lived with Christine Miller a year later, the same behavior—yelling "SHUT UP" when he heard the word "introducing" in commercials—was harshly punished. Christine would tell him, "You're done for tonight! Go to your room!" further deepening his sense of isolation and rejection.

At Lola Privett's home, Noah’s aversion to high fives led to misunderstandings. Whenever he saw someone give a high five, he would stomp his feet or bang his fists, overwhelmed by frustration. Lola assumed he was trying to break something, and this misunderstanding, which had also occurred with PT Brown, further alienated Noah. But what made his time with Lola truly unbearable was the abusive behavior of a mentor she hired named David Gunter. David was physically and emotionally abusive—he would crush Noah’s hand until it turned red, hit him, and yell at him. Worse still, he would play Beyoncé’s music, which Noah hated and found triggering, as a form of torture. David would also force Noah to stay up until the early hours of the morning and make him hold a push-up position for long periods as punishment. These cruel punishments left lasting scars on Noah, both physically and emotionally.

Although Noah found brief respite at Michelle Andrews’ home, his next placement with Christine Miller was just as traumatic. Christine, frustrated by Noah’s behavior, would go to extreme lengths to discipline him. When he slammed doors in frustration, she unscrewed the door off its hinges, leaving him with no privacy or refuge. A simple song like "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None The Richer could trigger painful emotions in Noah, and Christine's response to his distress was often to curse him out, even using the "F" word. These outbursts compounded his already fragile emotional state.

Noah’s time with Jeanne Johnson was marred by an even more disturbing incident. In this home, he was sexually abused by a younger boy named Omar Martinez, who not only violated Noah but also coerced him into keeping the abuse a secret. The trauma of this experience weighs heavily on Noah to this day, as he was left feeling ashamed, confused, and utterly abandoned by the system that was supposed to protect him.

Unfortunately, Noah’s journey through the foster care system didn’t end there. At Tasia Mayweather’s home, he was once again subjected to control and humiliation. Tasia refused to let Noah explore his natural curiosity about sexuality, a crucial part of growing up. Sharing a room with another boy, Noah would be physically punished—punched in the groin—whenever he tried to masturbate, adding another layer of trauma to his already challenging life.

At his next placement, with Marion Ross, Noah found himself living in a home governed by strict religious rules. Marion and her husband were Jehovah’s Witnesses, a religion that Noah initially found interesting, but the lack of celebration of birthdays and holidays added to his sense of deprivation. His breaking point came on his 20th birthday when a video at the Kingdom Hall triggered memories of his parents fighting, sending him into a PTSD episode. For Noah, the inability to celebrate his birthday, coupled with painful memories, only deepened his longing to be with his mother and sister.

Noah finally experienced some happiness when he was placed with Donna Wright. Donna and her caregivers often took Noah on outings, which he loved, and he particularly enjoyed dining out and even being served by a robot at a seafood restaurant. These small moments of joy were precious to Noah, but his happiness was tainted by the fact that his therapist wouldn’t allow his mother and sister to join his sessions, preventing him from fully healing and reconnecting with his family.

Now, Noah resides in a group home called The Willows at EIHAB, but his struggles continue. The court orders that restrict contact with his family remain in place, and Noah is left wondering when the abuse, both emotional and systemic, will end. For over a decade, Noah has been shuffled between homes, experiencing abuse, neglect, and misunderstanding. His plea is simple: he wants to go home to his mother and sister, the people who love him unconditionally and who can provide him with the support and comfort he so desperately needs.

This petition is not just about Noah’s story—it is about the countless children who are unjustly separated from their families and left to suffer in a broken system. Noah’s voice, and the voices of children like him, deserve to be heard. The best interest of the child should always be the guiding principle in decisions made by child protective services, and in Noah’s case, the system has failed.

We urge you to sign this petition to support Noah's plea. Together, we can fight for justice, for family unity, and for the right of every child to grow up in a loving, supportive environment. Your signature can help bring Noah one step closer to reuniting with his family and ending the nightmare he has endured for over a decade. Let us stand together to ensure that Noah’s voice is heard and that his right to be with his family is finally recognized.