I was a first time mom extremely trusting and naive. Never in a million years would I have suspected my baby was being abused much less by person (s) I trusted, her paternal grandparents, Edward Mace Sr., Celia Mace, and her father Edward Mace Jr. .

She was four years old almost five — winter of 1999 when my child’s odd reaction to something led me to the discovery she was being sexually abused. I had let her visit with her grandparents since just before she turned two years old. Unbeknownst to me, the grandparents were letting the father see her without informing me. He had wanted nothing to do with her since before birth. 

I immediately phoned two of the perpetrators, her paternal grandparents and confronted them. They reacted in a manner, which confirmed their guilt. I next phoned the East Providence Police Department and asked for instructions on reporting a sexual abuse crime. They stated they would be sending someone right over.

From there on in, these two investigative staff, Detective Peter DeAquair, who during one of the visits mentioned he was a childhood friend of Mace Jr. and the family, and Lieutenant Stephen Enos, would come to my apartment until the dismissal of the crime by the Attorney General: to drop off the paper for me to write my statement on, to pick up the written statement, to interrogate my child; and, lastly to pick up my daughter and I for the interview.

The more experienced person who was supposed to conduct the interview was replaced by another less experienced person; and I was informed my daughter had been found too young to testify in court, and just like that everything was dropped. It was like the reporting had never taken place. 

I was left with a child terrified and shattered and no one to turn to. I was not able to continue my education at Rhode Island College. I was not able to find sustainable employment and much less keep my apartment. 

The Lieutenant and Detective would appear often as I was walking to or from a destination in their unmarked vehicle. I always waved to them, but they never waved back. I took my child and left Rhode Island soon thereafter.

The abuse did not end there; it followed us wherever we went. I had to continually safeguard my child, who was often targeted by some adults and even children, who were set on causing more harm. It has been a lifelong struggle. 

No little child should ever be made to suffer. No person should ever be made a victim. 

We are trying to find an attorney, who would have our best interest at heart, and would take on this case, but we have not been successful. 

If you believe my daughter, Amanda Rodriguez, deserves justice for the abuse she endured, please sign this petition.