Mother’s Day – 2020

Ruth Parker recalls, with tears flowing, the many nights her two young sons, Charles and William, would ask her to read their favorite bedtime story to them, ‘What Do You Do With a Kangaroo?’.

Nicknamed CJ and Billy, the toddlers had their specific story-telling roles when she was reading the book. “Billy would say, ‘You throw them out’, but CJ would say, ‘You let them stay,'” she said. The kangaroos would always safely stay by the end of the story.

While their book had a happy ending, Parker vividly recalls the day in October 1986 – 33 years ago – when her ex-husband Charles Vosseler failed to return 3-year-old CJ and 2-year-old Billy from a weekend visitation.

She went to his home in Rochester, New Hampshire to find them; they weren’t there. She went to his office, but he was gone, and employees said he’d closed the office. All the recent photos she had of her sons, except for a video, were taken by her ex-husband, making it difficult to have missing posters made.

“As they get older, I get older,” said Parker, 72, pointing out that CJ would now be 37, and Billy would be 36 this year. “I think it is very probable that my children do not believe I’m still alive.”

Parker recalled a distressing incident that happened before her children were kidnapped. The boys’ pet kitten lived at their father’s house and, according to the boys, their father said Muggins passed away. The father had orchestrated a funeral for the cat with CJ and Billy, paved the way, she believes, for telling the children their mom had also died. Parker said her sons told her the kitten was in Heaven, and they couldn’t see him anymore. “I think he had rehearsed this funeral,” she said. “I think my children do not know they are missing.” Parker later discovered the kitten was alive at her ex-husband’s parents’ house.

As a mother looking for her missing children, Parker understands that CJ and Billy probably have no idea she’s been searching for them for more than three decades.

During a 2018 Mother’s Day Sunday Service at her church, Parker’s pastor passed around flowers to all mothers in attendance. While she bowed her head and reflected on her sons, a flower appeared under her face. “The pastor leaned down and told me I was still a mom,” Parker said. “I replied to him, ‘Of course.'” “I’m a mom until my last breath,” she added. She still has their favorite story book.

A federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was issued for Charles Vosseler, Jr. on April 3, 1987. They may be using the alias last names of Wilson, Foster, or Amidon. The father may use the nickname Charlie or the middle name Malcolm.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Charles and William Vosseler, please call 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). You could be the hero who helps reunite these two men with their loving mother who has been waiting and searching for 33 years for their return home.

Thank you to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for posting my story on their website on Mother’s Day 2020. My search continues.

For more information, see Ruth’s Boys Facebook page.