The Men and Women Standing with me

I have spent a lot of time talking about all of the people who didn’t fight for Prince.  I would like to take the time to tell you a story about some people who DID stand with me in an attempt to save my little boy.  These people should be named and I believe that Prince is watching over all of them.

Alexis Washington

Alexis Washington dated Luc before me.  She met Luc when she was very young and he psychologically (and physically) tortured her for years.  Finally, in early 2009, Alexis had the courage to leave him.  After she left, Luc became angry and in an attempt to force her return he sent naked videos of her to her friends and family and then created a porn site in her name.  Alexis also attempted to hold Luc accountable in court both criminally and civilly.  Luc was able to walk away from this charge a free man after the state waited too long and until it was too late to obtain the evidence they needed to convict him.

Days before my first court hearing (for the Custody War) with Luc, my attorneys were preparing me for the worst.  They said, we need witnesses and we need live ones…or else its just your word against Luc’s.  The mother of Luc’s older son was dead, Luc’s own mother was dead (found in Luc’s home lying on a plastic bag – which was ruled a suicide) but there was one other woman who had lived with Luc (other than me) in the past ten years who WAS still alive – Alexis.  I asked the attorneys if it would help if Alexis testified.  They laughed and said, “well yea, but how are you going to get her here?  You don’t even know her and the trial is in two days!”

I drove home from the attorneys office in tears.  I felt completely desperate and scared of what would happen to my son.  I took a chance and called Alexis.  (I had gotten her number from a Private Investigator I had hired after I fled Luc’s house)  It was the first time she had ever heard my voice.  I knew it was a long shot when I asked her if she would come and fight with me.  She said yes.

I asked Alexis why she chose to help me.  She could have walked away.  Prince wasn’t her child and she no longer had any reason to deal with this monster.  In what was possibly the best answer she could have given, she said, “I am helping you because Luc needs to be stopped and because I wish someone had helped me when I needed help.”

Luc has attempted to smear Alexis’ name all over the internet.  I write this with strong admiration – Alexis is one strong woman.  She has been through hell and when Prince needed her…when I needed her…she stood up to help two complete strangers.  Thank you Alexis.  I wish we could have saved my Prince.

My Mother – Prince’s “Dama” (Mary-Alice McLeod)

My son didn’t just have one mother – he had two.  When I wasn’t there – Dama was. (Dama was what Prince called her) From the beginning of this nightmare, my mother has been standing right beside me in this crusade for justice.  She never believed Luc’s lies and she has been fighting to protect her family ever since this monster walked into our lives.   When I had to go back to work, my mother stayed with Prince so that I could devote my entire salary to paying legal fees.

Months before Prince died, my mother would go out to Prince William County, VA and beg the police and the District Attorney to help us.  She was told to stop bothering them.  She was told that they couldn’t get involved in a child custody case.   There is enough blame to go around for many people – but my mother, Prince’s “Dama”, can honestly say she fought as hard as she could and did everything she could in order to protect her grandson.

I did not stand alone and do not stand alone – my mother stands with me.

My Sister – Prince’s favorite singer – Lara McLeod

My sister has gone through hell this past year.  After reporting that Luc raped her, the Prince William County police arrested her for false report.  Luc then tried to smear her name all over the internet the best he could.  My sister endured possibly the worst outcome a victim can expect.  The police decided not to charge Luc, because they believed that both me and Lara deserved what happened to us.  (See my post about Prince William Police Officer Bradford Cavender)

Prince adored Lara.  He used to listen to her sing on YouTube (Gravity – by Soundbytes – the blue version) over and over again.  While Lara was initially terrified to tell her story after what the police did to her, she came to court on July 12th.  She was ready to face Luc and tell Judge Algeo what happened to her at the hands of this monster.  My attorneys, however, chose to not put her on the stand.

My sister was 19 when the incident with Luc occurred.  Luc was almost 40.  I won’t go into detail about what happened to her, however, Luc should not have walked away a free man.  With reference to what happened to my sister, Luc’s story changed as many times as he told it and got more ridiculous evey time.  If his version were true, it wouldn’t have changed so many times and so drastically.

Shawn Katrina Mason and her mother Sheryl

Shawn Mason died before I could ever meet her.  She died on March 20, 2003 in Manassas, VA.   Luc happens to be the prime person of interest in Shawn’s murder.  (As was testified to in open court during the Custody Trial by an officer with the Manassas City Police)  I list Shawn as one of the women who stands with me, because her story and her memory was a prominent theme in my Custody War with Luc.  Had Shawn still been living, I am sure she too would have fought for her son as she tried to do before she was killed – and as I tried to fight for mine.  I also believe she stands with all of us in spirit.

I have thought a lot about God in the past month, and why he sent my son only to be taken away so soon.  I sometimes wonder if Shawn sent Prince to protect HER only son whom still lives with Luc to this day.  Prince is my guardian angel.  Of that, I am sure.  I wonder, however, for whom else he was sent to guard.

Shawn’s mother Sheryl also came to court to protect Prince.  She also did not know either of us and took a great risk by coming.  She came to represent her daughter who could not speak for herself.  Thank you Sheryl for your courage.

 

These women are not the only ones who stood, and continue to stand with me.  My aunts and uncles, brother and sister-in-law, cousins, friends, and even co-workers have all come through with tremendous support and love for both me and Prince.

Me and my father (Gustavus McLeod) have had our ups and downs, but he has shown tremendous strength over these past few years.  Not a lot of men could have had the strength NOT to go after Luc after all he has done to us.  My father, however, knew that we needed him at home and showed his true strength in his ability to continue to financially and emotionally support the family in the face of a disasterous situation.  My son was not really just Mama and “Dama”‘s boy, he was Grandpa’s boy.

My son used to smile from ear to ear when my father placed his hat on Prince’s head.  When Prince was lying in his casket, his hair cut where the Medical Examiner had taken a specimen for study, my dad placed Grandpa’s hat on him for the last time.  He was buried with Grandpa’s hat.

I have the strength I have today because of the people who stand with me.  Thank you all.  May Prince continue to be a guardian angel to you too.