How Could You? Hall of Shame-Jay Ram
This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.
From Hakalua, Hawaii, Adoptive Parent Jay Ram,60, “fled the Big Island years ago, leaving a trail of accusations that he molested boys that he adopted. A New York news site recently caught up with the man in Florida, where he now lives.
According to Vice News, the allegations stretch back to the 1970s when the young hippie started a commune near Davis, Calif. where he allegedly forced his sons to perform sex acts. He later moved to a farm in Hakalau on the Big Island.
“He’s just the worst kind of monster there is out there. I really hate him. He didn’t just ruin my life, he ruined all my brothers’ life,” said Rajan Ram, who was adopted by the Ram.
Five victims, now grown men, have sued Ram, claiming he sexually abused them for years.
Advocates for sex abuse victims said the case is one of the worst they’ve seen.
“It is ultimately tragic. You have these kids who at their ultimate bottom. They’re vulnerable, they’re being pulled out of their homes,” said Joelle Casteix, Western Regional Director for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
“He destroyed them.”
Ram was charged with sexual assault back in 1993 but that case fell apart due to conflicting witness testimony. Hawaii’s Child Protective Services took the boys from Ram’s home but was forced to send them back.
“We conducted an investigation and we determined that there was sufficient basis to take the children into custody,” said Patricia McManaman, director of the state Department of Human Services.
“The Hilo Family Court, however, after review, returned the children to Mr. Ram.”
Many of the victims said they were scarred by the alleged abuses.
“There were several instances I wanted to jump off that bridge, the Hakalau Bridge,” said Carlos Ram, who was adopted by Ram in the 1990s.
Added Rajan Ram: “It’s been horrible. I’ve been to prison. Two felonies on my record.”
The lawsuits were made possible by a two-year “window” that allows sex abuse.”
Foster parent implicated in Big Island sex abuse scandal[Hawaii News Now 4/16/14 by Rick Daysog]
“A former Hakalau resident accused in a lawsuit of sexually abusing five of his adopted sons has been located in Florida.
Jay Ram was served with the lawsuit, filed in Honolulu Circuit Court in March, earlier this month after being tracked to the rural community of Odessa, outside Tampa, Fla., said Honolulu attorney Mark Gallagher, who is representing the plaintiffs. He had recently moved there from Saipan.
Gallagher said Ram, now going by the name Jay Mizraha, is living with three other males, either teenagers or young men. The youngest is believed to be a teenager from Hilo, said Joelle Casteix of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
Casteix is acting as an advocate for the five unnamed plaintiffs, though Ram was not part of a religious organization.
Ram is facing civil charges over the alleged abuse of the plaintiffs, who lived with him in the 1980s and early 1990s in California or on a farm in Hakalau. The statute of limitations has prevented criminal charges from being sought.
That could change if there are younger victims who come forward, Casteix said.
“The civil suit has been able to chase Jay Ram out of his comfort zone and put people on notice that there is a problem,” she said.
“The next step is to get the criminal charges filed.”
Ram, who is about 60, is believed to have adopted numerous boys whom he put to work on various agriculture projects, Casteix said. While in Hakalau, he had worked with the University of Hawaii at Hilo in agriculture research.
One of Ram’s neighbors in Odessa, who spoke to the Tribune-Herald on the condition of anonymity, said Ram is living on a five-acre plot with “three young men or boys” whom he doesn’t let out on their own.
A Realtor on Saipan, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Ram sold his beachfront house quickly and for a significant loss in October. He moved there from the Big Island in January 2012.
At the time, Ram lived with a teenage boy and two men, the Realtor said.
Gallagher said he believes Ram moved to Florida after becoming aware of the lawsuit.
“Florida can be very protective of debtors assets, particularly of assets in the form of a residence,” he said.
Gallagher said authorities in Florida will be notified of his presence.”
Former Hakalau sex-abuse suspect located in Florida [West Hawaii Today 1/14/14 by Tom Callis]
REFORM Puzzle Piece
Recent Comments