Complaint Review: Danny Martin Brown - Missouri

I have been searching for this man for many many years. My son is nearly 23 years old. As of this date, I have received a total of $20.00 from his father, Danny (NOT Daniel!)Martin Brown. This was given to me in November of 1981 to "buy the kid something for Christmas". That was the last time I ever heard from him and the last time he ever saw his son.

Danny fled Indiana before I could legally establish paternity in order to get a support order from the courts. To the best of my knowledge, he has not returned to Indiana since late 1981 or 1982. I did find out from his step father that he was living and working in Missouri.

From there, I contacted the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in Jefferson City, MO and sent them the money for his driving record under the Freedom of Information Act. All it gave me, of course, was the last address registered with the BMV, not necessarily his CURRENT address.

Prior to our relationship, he had a daughter Bobbi(Lee?)Brown by a woman named Patty whom he met (I believe) at Beauty School. He had minimal contact with his daughter and I do not believe he paid any support for her either. At least not consistently.

Danny has a mother living in Lakeland, Florida the last I knew which was this past winter. Her name was Sue Collins. Sue's father was an Equine Veterinarian in Marion, Indiana. His last name was Mann and he recently passed away. Danny had a brother, Randy and a sister, Charity (or Chastity?).

Danny's biological father passed away about 1980 in Ohio. Danny was basically raised by a step father, Richard (d**k) Cline in Marion, Indiana. Danny has worked construction areas most of his life. He has training as an ironworker. Also in 1979-1981 he had a State of Indiana Beauty Operator's License (beautician).

Danny is (was) attractive with blonde, semi curly hair and blue eyes. He has some spaces between his teeth. He is about 6' 1" tall and thin to medium build. Danny used to have (and I presume still has) a problem with alcohol and drugs. His birthdate is 1-15-1955. I have his SSN also which I will not post here due to privacy issues.

I attempted to mail Danny in 1994-1995 when our son was suffering from Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML). I was so desperate to find him in the event that a bone marrow transplant would be needed. I mailed a letter and a photograph of our son to the address listed with the Missouri BMV.

I never received a reply, nor did I get my letter returned as "Return to Sender". Fortunately, my son survived the intensive chemotherapy and radiation and did not need a bone marrow transplant. He has been in remission since 1995. My son is becoming quite ill again and we fear it may be a relapse. If he does have a relapse, he may require a bone marrow transplant as the only hope for a cure.

My son now has 2 very beautiful daughters, aged 5 and 2 who worship him and depend on him for their care and support. He is a very loving and devoted father. He says he remembers all too well what it is like growing up thinking that your father doesn't love you or care if you are alive or dead, and he wants to be certain his children know they are wanted and loved.

I, unlike so many other posters on this site, was very cautious NOT to bash or degrade his father. The way I see it is, when the child becomes old enough and mature enough to understand, they will seek out the information they want, piece it all together and form their own opinion. I answered any questions he asked as a child very delicately, short of outright lying to the child, and reinforced that it was in no way his fault that his father chose not to have a relationship with him and that his father did, in fact, love him and want him but was unable to financially and psychologically handle being a father at that time. Children have a difficult enough time gaining their self esteem and certainly do not need their ideals poisoned or demonized regarding either of their parents.

I am financially independent and not in need of any money from Danny. That is not to say that times weren't very hard raising a child without both parents. I believe, by law, my son had until age 22 to file for back support but we have been unable to find Danny for all these years. My son and his children surely could use the financial windfall that all this back support would, by now, add up to.

It pains me so much to see my son struggle to live and to feed, clothe and support his children. Yes, my son works full time and works as much overtime as he can. Unlike many unfortunate people in today's world, I have raised my son to know that the world doesn't owe him one red cent unless he earns it. That is precisely why I also insist that he stand on his own two feet and not depend on me. Of course, I am still very much in his life and there for him if he needs me or is in a crisis. But nobody lives forever and he needs to know these skills NOW if he is to raise his children to be functional adults.

Can anyone help us find Danny Martin Brown? Does this sound like someone you might know of? Please post a response to this thread if you have any valid information for us. Thank you all for taking the time to read my posting.

Cindy

Sweetser, Indiana
U.S.A.