COBB COUNTY, Ga. -- Two years ago, police say Marilyn Edge took her two Cobb County kids to California and killed them. The story shocked the nation and emotionally paralyzed their father, who until now has resisted talking publicly about his loss.
In a letter Mark Edge wrote to his children after their deaths he said, “I hope you realize how hard I tried for you.” Edge says it's important he speaks up now to make sure their deaths are not in vain.
Mark and Jaelen Edge Family photo
Fullscreen
“She drowned my son, and then she basically beat and drown my daughter,” said Mark Edge.
Marilyn Edge now sits behind bars, waiting to go on trial for the murders of Jaelen and Faith. In her first court appearance she begged for the death penalty, but entered a plea of not guilty.
Marilyn Edge (Photo: 11Alive)
“She wants to control what happens to her now. The same as she controlled the courts here in Georgia,” said Mark Edge.
For six years, he says his ex-wife fought his efforts to get regular, unsupervised visits with their children. A judge finally ruled on his behalf, giving him not only visitation, but full custody. But three days later, police knocked on his door to tell him his children would come back to Georgia, but only to be buried.
“It destroyed, it hurt me so badly," Mark Edge said. "Basically I fell to my knees.”
In court records, Mark Edge is never accused of abuse. He says his children were eager to be with him. In the end, a judge would admit Marilyn Edge “willfully failed and refused to allow the father any type of meaningful relationship with his children” for no justifiable reason.
“It was all systematic," Mark Edge said. "OK, if he wants to visit them at school, then I’m going to home school them, and to keep him from coming to my home I’m going to file a trespass or some type of restraining order. Whether it’s valid or not, that’s what she did.
Psychologist Howard Drutman says there’s a name for it.
“Gatekeeping is when a parent is restricting some manner of information or access to the children,” Drutman said.
And in Edge’s case, the gate was locked shut. Drutman says there are valid reasons for gatekeeping, such as a parent prone to physical or emotional abuse. Drutman wasn’t involved in the Edge case, but says predicting what would happen next was impossible.
“What you’re really talking about is predicting dangerousness. And whether it’s kidnapping or ultimately it’s murder, psychologists, mental health professionals, lawyers, judges… are not good at predicting (it).”
But Drutman says there were warning signs that should have made the courts take pause.
“Any time you have a case of a child that doesn’t want to visit or a parent restricting access to the other child it needs to be investigated,” he said.
But Edge says no such investigation ever took place. Instead he was criticized, his ex-wife given 100% of the parenting time due to his “failure to exercise visitation.”
“I was reduced to an ATM,” said Edge.
So Edge says he used his six years of experience in the Air Force to take a dangerous, high paying job as a contractor in Afghanistan. His plan was to raise enough money to fight for his rights. When he returned, court records show Marilyn retaliated by hiding the children in Arizona. When she lost her custody rights nine months later, Edge wonders why the judge sent her back to get the children, instead of calling police in Arizona or child protective services. Edge has started a
begged for the death penalty, but entered a plea of not guilty.
petition on Moveon.org to have divorce proceedings stop any time a parent complains they are being pushed away.
“I think both parents should be ordered to therapy and not individual therapy. I think a qualified professional should speak to them about parental alienation and how it affects children.”
Edge also wants judges, attorneys and therapists trained to recognize the signs of alienation and gatekeeping. Drutman says families would benefit from a forensic custody evaluation, a third-party investigation into the family dynamics and what would ultimately be best for the children. But Drutman admits, at roughly $8,000, many families wouldn’t be able to afford it.
Edge says he wants to be proactive in helping families understand the risks, to protect other children. He’s trying to start a non-profit called Purple Man, a name based off a drawing his daughter drew for him on her first day of school. He can still hear her words.
“This is for my dad. I love my dad and this is for him, this is for you daddy,” remembers Edge, fighting back the tears. “It touches my heart still.”
Father: Deaths of children could have been prevented
In a letter Mark Edge wrote to his children after their deaths he said, “I hope you realize how hard I tried for you.” Edge says it's important he speaks up now to make sure their deaths are not in vain.
Mark and Jaelen Edge Family photo
Fullscreen
“She drowned my son, and then she basically beat and drown my daughter,” said Mark Edge.
Marilyn Edge now sits behind bars, waiting to go on trial for the murders of Jaelen and Faith. In her first court appearance she begged for the death penalty, but entered a plea of not guilty.
Marilyn Edge (Photo: 11Alive)
“She wants to control what happens to her now. The same as she controlled the courts here in Georgia,” said Mark Edge.
For six years, he says his ex-wife fought his efforts to get regular, unsupervised visits with their children. A judge finally ruled on his behalf, giving him not only visitation, but full custody. But three days later, police knocked on his door to tell him his children would come back to Georgia, but only to be buried.
“It destroyed, it hurt me so badly," Mark Edge said. "Basically I fell to my knees.”
In court records, Mark Edge is never accused of abuse. He says his children were eager to be with him. In the end, a judge would admit Marilyn Edge “willfully failed and refused to allow the father any type of meaningful relationship with his children” for no justifiable reason.
“It was all systematic," Mark Edge said. "OK, if he wants to visit them at school, then I’m going to home school them, and to keep him from coming to my home I’m going to file a trespass or some type of restraining order. Whether it’s valid or not, that’s what she did.
Psychologist Howard Drutman says there’s a name for it.
“Gatekeeping is when a parent is restricting some manner of information or access to the children,” Drutman said.
And in Edge’s case, the gate was locked shut. Drutman says there are valid reasons for gatekeeping, such as a parent prone to physical or emotional abuse. Drutman wasn’t involved in the Edge case, but says predicting what would happen next was impossible.
“What you’re really talking about is predicting dangerousness. And whether it’s kidnapping or ultimately it’s murder, psychologists, mental health professionals, lawyers, judges… are not good at predicting (it).”
But Drutman says there were warning signs that should have made the courts take pause.
“Any time you have a case of a child that doesn’t want to visit or a parent restricting access to the other child it needs to be investigated,” he said.
But Edge says no such investigation ever took place. Instead he was criticized, his ex-wife given 100% of the parenting time due to his “failure to exercise visitation.”
“I was reduced to an ATM,” said Edge.
So Edge says he used his six years of experience in the Air Force to take a dangerous, high paying job as a contractor in Afghanistan. His plan was to raise enough money to fight for his rights. When he returned, court records show Marilyn retaliated by hiding the children in Arizona. When she lost her custody rights nine months later, Edge wonders why the judge sent her back to get the children, instead of calling police in Arizona or child protective services. Edge has started a
begged for the death penalty, but entered a plea of not guilty.
petition on Moveon.org to have divorce proceedings stop any time a parent complains they are being pushed away.
“I think both parents should be ordered to therapy and not individual therapy. I think a qualified professional should speak to them about parental alienation and how it affects children.”
Edge also wants judges, attorneys and therapists trained to recognize the signs of alienation and gatekeeping. Drutman says families would benefit from a forensic custody evaluation, a third-party investigation into the family dynamics and what would ultimately be best for the children. But Drutman admits, at roughly $8,000, many families wouldn’t be able to afford it.
Edge says he wants to be proactive in helping families understand the risks, to protect other children. He’s trying to start a non-profit called Purple Man, a name based off a drawing his daughter drew for him on her first day of school. He can still hear her words.
“This is for my dad. I love my dad and this is for him, this is for you daddy,” remembers Edge, fighting back the tears. “It touches my heart still.”
Father: Deaths of children could have been prevented
He should put ALL the blame on the fukking courts that judge failed... They knew this woman was doing all this shyt and they let her skate the law witholding this man's kids for a long time... and treating her with kids gloves...
this has nothing to do with CAC's?!?!
then by all means critism is rightfully needed..
that is just evil!!
