Belizean Facebook was buzzing after the news of a mother who reportedly kidnapped her own children hit the timeline. According to the report - sent out by the police department - 37-year-old Lesly Reyes was accused of taking her children - 10 year old Randy Hyde Jr and 8 year old Asher Hyde - without consent after care was relinquished from her by the Belize Family Court.
And most of social media was on her side, praising her for doing the "best thing" for her children - regardless of if it was illegal.
However, Reyes said that while she appreciates the support, she had no intentions of running away with her child. She explained that she took her children across the border after the eldest suffered a panic attack, and that she had informed the social worker of where the children would be. And today, she wanted to clear her name.
Here's what she told our colleagues at CTV3.
Lesly Reyes, Accused Kidnapper
"That is not true. I did not run away with my kids. My oldest son suffered with panic attack, especially if he is not around me or my mother, or anyone who loves him and especially if they will send him to the children's home or any foster home. That's the reason why the school contacted me and said my son is literally on the floor fainting and everything - panic attack and I have to rush, I catch a taxi and it cost me $500 to reach to my destination for my son, because he needs me and I have to comfort my son. When I told the magistrate that my son suffered, she knows exactly, nobody cares and that's the reason why I am here to clear myself that I did not run away with my kids. I would never jeopardise my kids when it comes to that. I have to help my children."
"I returned back. I was trying to comfort my son and I asked my son are you okay now and he said yes mom, but still I cannot breathe and I said where do you want to go, he said I want to go eat pizza and I said okay, where do you want to go? the same spot you brought the pizza the last time and that's the reason I took him to freezone to get certain stuff and that's about it. I did reach out to the social worker that I am going to drop off my kids or my kids were going to be at my mother. It wasn't fair when they put it live. When I did contact the social worker that my kids are with me at my mother's house."
Reporter
"Can you explain to us hoiw your kids ended up at the family court?"
Lesly Reyes, Accused Kidnapper
"From the beginning the father - oh my God, he's tormented. He never gives up, he always get my kids, turn around, drop my kids, frustrated, very abusive person and I never had any other option. He, every time get the kids, drop them off and I decide to okay, you want the kids? here are rge kids, so he could leave me alone. But unfortunately, he did not, because I realize his obsession not over the kids and that's the reason why my kids are in all this mess and when I have to tell him to just hand over my kids, because my kids are innocent and they don't need to go through this. All he said, I have to suffer."
Reyes says that she was able to clear up her name at the station and that the matter has been settled. The children have been returned to the Children's Home - according to her family.
