Bring Jane Dornick justice
Bring Jane Dornick justice
The Issue
My mother Jane Dornick, was sentenced in December '14 for a 30 year life term in prison for a federal crime she did not commit. Her charge was child exploitation and was given the maximum penalty. A family friend of hers, named Michael Grennier, was in contact with my mother for a while. They knew each other from my mom's boss who is his mother. They used to talk on AIM and MSN messenger and email almost all the time. Our family knew him, and trusted him especially because he was a former police officer of our home town. He also worked with computers and technology for a really long time.
I was about 13 years old at the time when Michael offered me a modeling job to start making a couple dollars. This is because as a child I liked to take a few bucks out of my mom's wallet to go buy some candy at the store. As they talked, the conversation sprung about my money stealing issue. That's when he offered me a job. I agreed and proceeded to start this job. My mom was able to use her high quality camera to take photos of me to send over to him. Basically these were test pictures to see if they were what Michael's company needed. Michael also told our family a company name and the company he worked for the modeling agency. My mother and I believed him, because when we looked up with agency it was a real thing.
My mother took pictures of me with clothing for a little while, eventually I got tired of her taking the pictures so I took over and used her camera, my phone, and my camera to take some. Eventually, Michael and I got in direct contact and he had told me his company needed new pictures. He asked if I would be interested in doing underwear photo shoots. At first I was a little uncomfortable, and then I remembered Victoria Secret models who do these things all the time. I agreed, and proceeded to take these pictures for a few years. About the age of 14-15 he started to ask for more in depth pictures, like completely nude and sexually touching myself. I asked for how much he would pay, and ended up thinking about that for a while. I thought to myself, I can cut out my face. It'll be quick, take a few pictures and I'm finished. So, I proceeded to take these photos for a while.
Things started to get strange when he would ask to do live webcam sessions. He stated his company supposedly needed some of this material too. He told me he was working for a company that was like the TV show, "To Catch A Predator" and that they needed a model to take these photos. This was believable because again, he used to be a police officer. (Keep in mind my mother had no idea I was doing any of this because these were personal conversations between Michael and I.) I thought about it for a while, told myself I can block out his face or block the other camera if I got uncomfortable. So I did. Things started getting extremely uncomfortable when I was looking at purchasing concert tickets, the price was very hefty, so he sent me a LIST of sexual acts I could do and how much he'd pay me for each of them. After seeing the absurd list of things, I told him no and stopped replying to his messages. Then he decided to get frustrated with me thru text and saying "well then you're not getting these tickets." I told my mom that I was beginning to feel uncomfortable with him and she then contacted him to tell him to leave me alone. I then grew eager for more money and had no other way of getting some, so I contacted him again after my mom had told him to leave me alone.
February of 2013 the FBI came knocking at my front door asking if we knew anything about Michael Grennier. We agreed and invited them in our home. They took my older brother and I to a place to be interviewed while my mother stayed in the area due to her anxiety. It was a long day of talking and answering questions. No idea of what was about to come next. I was 16 at this time. Late at night we get a call we can head home, on our way home we were told we would not be going home with our mother that night and that we would be going to live with our father for a while. I cried, and cried, and cried with no idea why or what was going on. The FBI people drove us to the building that my mother was being interviewed at. We went inside, and I requested to see her. They denied any contact with her and I cried some more. They finally agreed to let me see her, I walked into the room with her there and looked at her and cried. She gave me a big hug and her words she told me, "everything will be alright." I have kept this in my head for so long, and I hold her word in my heart.
2 years went by, not a phone call from her, nothing. I was unable to see her, or contact her in any way shape or form. I didn't know how she was doing, I didn't know what she was doing. I was clueless for 2 years of my life. Til finally a court date came up which I was allowed to attend, it was my mother's sentencing. They asked if I would like to speak at this, and I told them I would. Basically I was supposed to give a victim statement, but I turned that around, and surprised everyone by telling them how much I loved her and how much she deserved none of this. Michael is deceiving and a true child predator. The judge explained that she was convicted because she did nothing about this situation for all the years it was going on. How was she supposed to do something when she had no idea of what was going on? Michael and I were in contact personally, I never told my mother what I was doing. Michael never told my mother what we were doing. How was she supposed to know? This question is exactly what I have been asking for all these years. I'm finally 26 years old, and I'm able to speak up about this. I don't care about what had happened to me in the past, the worst thing that has happened to me was losing my own mother because of some disgusting man who tricked my family. My mother was sentenced to 30 years in prison because she would not admit to exploiting me. Michael was sentenced to 20 years. How is this fair? How is this man able to get out on the street sooner than my mother who did not do a darn thing?
UPDATE: 2024
My mother has been an active and model inmate at each prison she has been in. First she was housed in Danbury CT which was close to home and I was able to visit her frequently. The prison was turned into a program only facility and have transferred her out (because she has completed all the programs there) to FCI Waseca. Not only does she have a long list of achievements and certifications (about 100 or more) she is also known for her kindness and her drive to fight for her rights. Every day she is fighting these horrible prison conditions, and giving her all to helping others whether that be mentoring or helping others in their every day lives. With what little she has left in her, she is always giving back to those in need. She helps me by funding my schooling and giving me every day life advice to the best of her ability. But to me, this is not enough.
She has now served over 10 years of this 30 year sentence, while the real perpetrator will be seeing the light of day in the next 8 years. My mother, who never PHYSICALLY touched or abused me, is serving twice as much time than the man who actually DID abuse MULTIPLE children.
My brother and I miss her every day. Our mother is the only family we have left and we would like to see justice. It has been too long. She has suffered enough in the prison system and has missed out on YEARS of her children growing up and becoming adults. I can proudly and truthfully say that my mother is NOT a danger to society. She is NOT a pedophile and has 0 interest in sexual activities with children. She has a LOW recidivism rate, as noted by the BOP. (Which means the chances of her committing a crime like this again is practically 0.)
We have exhausted almost all of her options. We need help. We need justice for my mother. And we want her HOME.
UPDATE: 2025
Still no word from the courts, our new judge nothing. Currently we are working on fighting for the people in that prison for mistreatment, staffing shortage, and inhumane conditions. Please check out my other petition, thank you.
All this has been building up for a really long time. People have come and go out of my life, therapists, social workers, you name it I've had it. The only thing I've been saying to them was, "I want my mother." And nobody listened. It's time I do something, it's time I say something and make my life normal again. I want to wake up and hug my mother again. I want to call her whenever I want, I want to see her whenever I want. She's miles away from me now, and I get a lousy 10 minute phone call every day. This is cruel. She's a 63 year old woman in prison for 30 years, she could possibly die in there. I cannot let that happen. I am the VICTIM. My voice should be heard. The truth is being told, and nobody is here to listen. Please, share this petition. If you know someone or an organization that might be able to help, send me an email. My email is kimdornick1@yahoo.com. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
(Thank you for sending suggestions for lawyers but we already have one at the moment!)
Thank you.
535
The Issue
My mother Jane Dornick, was sentenced in December '14 for a 30 year life term in prison for a federal crime she did not commit. Her charge was child exploitation and was given the maximum penalty. A family friend of hers, named Michael Grennier, was in contact with my mother for a while. They knew each other from my mom's boss who is his mother. They used to talk on AIM and MSN messenger and email almost all the time. Our family knew him, and trusted him especially because he was a former police officer of our home town. He also worked with computers and technology for a really long time.
I was about 13 years old at the time when Michael offered me a modeling job to start making a couple dollars. This is because as a child I liked to take a few bucks out of my mom's wallet to go buy some candy at the store. As they talked, the conversation sprung about my money stealing issue. That's when he offered me a job. I agreed and proceeded to start this job. My mom was able to use her high quality camera to take photos of me to send over to him. Basically these were test pictures to see if they were what Michael's company needed. Michael also told our family a company name and the company he worked for the modeling agency. My mother and I believed him, because when we looked up with agency it was a real thing.
My mother took pictures of me with clothing for a little while, eventually I got tired of her taking the pictures so I took over and used her camera, my phone, and my camera to take some. Eventually, Michael and I got in direct contact and he had told me his company needed new pictures. He asked if I would be interested in doing underwear photo shoots. At first I was a little uncomfortable, and then I remembered Victoria Secret models who do these things all the time. I agreed, and proceeded to take these pictures for a few years. About the age of 14-15 he started to ask for more in depth pictures, like completely nude and sexually touching myself. I asked for how much he would pay, and ended up thinking about that for a while. I thought to myself, I can cut out my face. It'll be quick, take a few pictures and I'm finished. So, I proceeded to take these photos for a while.
Things started to get strange when he would ask to do live webcam sessions. He stated his company supposedly needed some of this material too. He told me he was working for a company that was like the TV show, "To Catch A Predator" and that they needed a model to take these photos. This was believable because again, he used to be a police officer. (Keep in mind my mother had no idea I was doing any of this because these were personal conversations between Michael and I.) I thought about it for a while, told myself I can block out his face or block the other camera if I got uncomfortable. So I did. Things started getting extremely uncomfortable when I was looking at purchasing concert tickets, the price was very hefty, so he sent me a LIST of sexual acts I could do and how much he'd pay me for each of them. After seeing the absurd list of things, I told him no and stopped replying to his messages. Then he decided to get frustrated with me thru text and saying "well then you're not getting these tickets." I told my mom that I was beginning to feel uncomfortable with him and she then contacted him to tell him to leave me alone. I then grew eager for more money and had no other way of getting some, so I contacted him again after my mom had told him to leave me alone.
February of 2013 the FBI came knocking at my front door asking if we knew anything about Michael Grennier. We agreed and invited them in our home. They took my older brother and I to a place to be interviewed while my mother stayed in the area due to her anxiety. It was a long day of talking and answering questions. No idea of what was about to come next. I was 16 at this time. Late at night we get a call we can head home, on our way home we were told we would not be going home with our mother that night and that we would be going to live with our father for a while. I cried, and cried, and cried with no idea why or what was going on. The FBI people drove us to the building that my mother was being interviewed at. We went inside, and I requested to see her. They denied any contact with her and I cried some more. They finally agreed to let me see her, I walked into the room with her there and looked at her and cried. She gave me a big hug and her words she told me, "everything will be alright." I have kept this in my head for so long, and I hold her word in my heart.
2 years went by, not a phone call from her, nothing. I was unable to see her, or contact her in any way shape or form. I didn't know how she was doing, I didn't know what she was doing. I was clueless for 2 years of my life. Til finally a court date came up which I was allowed to attend, it was my mother's sentencing. They asked if I would like to speak at this, and I told them I would. Basically I was supposed to give a victim statement, but I turned that around, and surprised everyone by telling them how much I loved her and how much she deserved none of this. Michael is deceiving and a true child predator. The judge explained that she was convicted because she did nothing about this situation for all the years it was going on. How was she supposed to do something when she had no idea of what was going on? Michael and I were in contact personally, I never told my mother what I was doing. Michael never told my mother what we were doing. How was she supposed to know? This question is exactly what I have been asking for all these years. I'm finally 26 years old, and I'm able to speak up about this. I don't care about what had happened to me in the past, the worst thing that has happened to me was losing my own mother because of some disgusting man who tricked my family. My mother was sentenced to 30 years in prison because she would not admit to exploiting me. Michael was sentenced to 20 years. How is this fair? How is this man able to get out on the street sooner than my mother who did not do a darn thing?
UPDATE: 2024
My mother has been an active and model inmate at each prison she has been in. First she was housed in Danbury CT which was close to home and I was able to visit her frequently. The prison was turned into a program only facility and have transferred her out (because she has completed all the programs there) to FCI Waseca. Not only does she have a long list of achievements and certifications (about 100 or more) she is also known for her kindness and her drive to fight for her rights. Every day she is fighting these horrible prison conditions, and giving her all to helping others whether that be mentoring or helping others in their every day lives. With what little she has left in her, she is always giving back to those in need. She helps me by funding my schooling and giving me every day life advice to the best of her ability. But to me, this is not enough.
She has now served over 10 years of this 30 year sentence, while the real perpetrator will be seeing the light of day in the next 8 years. My mother, who never PHYSICALLY touched or abused me, is serving twice as much time than the man who actually DID abuse MULTIPLE children.
My brother and I miss her every day. Our mother is the only family we have left and we would like to see justice. It has been too long. She has suffered enough in the prison system and has missed out on YEARS of her children growing up and becoming adults. I can proudly and truthfully say that my mother is NOT a danger to society. She is NOT a pedophile and has 0 interest in sexual activities with children. She has a LOW recidivism rate, as noted by the BOP. (Which means the chances of her committing a crime like this again is practically 0.)
We have exhausted almost all of her options. We need help. We need justice for my mother. And we want her HOME.
UPDATE: 2025
Still no word from the courts, our new judge nothing. Currently we are working on fighting for the people in that prison for mistreatment, staffing shortage, and inhumane conditions. Please check out my other petition, thank you.
All this has been building up for a really long time. People have come and go out of my life, therapists, social workers, you name it I've had it. The only thing I've been saying to them was, "I want my mother." And nobody listened. It's time I do something, it's time I say something and make my life normal again. I want to wake up and hug my mother again. I want to call her whenever I want, I want to see her whenever I want. She's miles away from me now, and I get a lousy 10 minute phone call every day. This is cruel. She's a 63 year old woman in prison for 30 years, she could possibly die in there. I cannot let that happen. I am the VICTIM. My voice should be heard. The truth is being told, and nobody is here to listen. Please, share this petition. If you know someone or an organization that might be able to help, send me an email. My email is kimdornick1@yahoo.com. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
(Thank you for sending suggestions for lawyers but we already have one at the moment!)
Thank you.
535
The Decision Makers
Petition created on July 8, 2015