Jacqueline Franchetti has turned her nightmare into a cause for change, specifically for the family courts system in New York. The Manhasset resident recently went up to Albany to testify on the matter, previously working on a federal resolution passed in the House
of Representatives last year, but has yet to be taken up by the Senate.
Franchetti’s 2 year-old daughter Kyra was with her father in Virginia on a court-sanctioned visit when he shot her twice in the back. He then proceeded to set his home on fire and killed himself as well.
“I had ended the relationship when I was pregnant with Kyra at the time,” Franchetti said. “It was an abusive relationship and similar to many others who have been in abusive relationships, you leave many times before it’s final. I left to keep Kyra safe. Many abusers will use the family courts as another way to not only abuse the other person, but also, it’s all about power and control. He wanted to use the family court system as a way to torture me. Ultimately, he used it as a way to murder Kyra.”
After Kyra was born in April 2014, Franchetti found herself in family court a month later fighting for custody. She also warned the judge that the father was abusive, cursed at her in front of Kyra, stalked her and was not following medical directives for Kyra. The judge, Danielle Peterson, told her to “grow up,” and at the last court hearing, said, “this is not a life or death situation,” according to Franchetti.
Franchetti was rebuffed by Peterson after trying to set up a meeting in the wake of Kyra’s death. She believes that the court is not set up to protect children, but protect those that may endanger them.
“Family court is not a place that you’d want to be,” Franchetti said. “I was shocked to find out that our court system is set up to protect the abuser and not the child, and that needs to change.”
She is now focusing her activism at the state level to make changes that could have saved Kyra’s life and others in the future.
“I’m focusing in my efforts now in New York State and making changes in New York State,” she said. “Congressional resolutions are a message to the state, things are wrong, so see what you can do to make amends or fix them. Federal courts and federal legislation does not have jurisdiction over state courts. That’s why I’ve been approaching and talking to New York state legislators about making changes happen here.”
While there is no current legislation in New York State, Franchetti believes her message was well received and Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz might be the one to sponsor such a bill. Dinowitz could not be reached for comment.
“I testified in front of the New York State Assembly, the chairman of the judiciary, chairman of families and children and the chairwoman of social services held a joint committee hearing on family court and the rights of children,” Franchetti said. “I was one of the people who spoke and asked for legislative changes. I’m very hopeful that we’ll see some wonderful things stem from this. I want to commend, especially Assemblyman Dinowitz who heads up the judiciary committee. He’s certainly taking a leadership role and I’m very thankful for that.”
Franchetti now runs the Kyra Franchetti Foundation full-time after previously being the chief marketing officer of Franchetti Communications in Port Washington.
So, what change, exactly, is Ms. Franchetti proposing? Your article makes no reference as to what the proposed legislation would change.
I want to see change in our 50 States, regarding Juvenile Courts. These Judges need to be held accountable for their decisions and actions taken. Our Laws has to be obeyed when it comes to the United States Constitution and our Constitutional Rights, along with our Civil, Human and Disability Rights that the Judicial System overlooks and it clearly a one sided decision. We have to have a full investigation on domestic violence and Child Protective Services that have kidnapped thousands of Children and falsifying documents and spending so much money of our Tax dollars paying for Foster Care when all this Federal Funding MONEY should go to help the Parents especially if the Child is Disabled or Special Needs. They are lining their pockets and preying on innocent Children and Families. Then they refuse to return the Children home and hold up the Juvenile Court System for years. In the meantime these Children are mentally disturbed and tormented by this Dept. Because they don’t understand what happened to their parents because Child Protective Services uses the Court System to get what they want and to keep the Families from having any contact with these Children. It’s a nightmare and a disgrace that Children are being used for MONEY. The Legislation are Cowards and they will not do anything to protect innocent Families and Children. We have to start impeaching the bad behavior of these Judges and Attorneys that will not represent the Families in a Fair Way. It is a Corrupt System and the American Taxpayers and Citizens needs to open their eyes up WIDE and demand change. We are loosing our Family Values and the Government is taking over as the Parents. IT HAS TO STOP AND IT HAS TO STOP NOW. GO ON FACEBOOK UNDER STOP CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES FROM KIDNAPPING OUR CHILDREN AND READ THOUSANDS OF MOTHER’S CRYING OUT AND WE ALL HAVE THE SAME STORY TO TELL. WAKE UP AMERICA, DO SOMETHING AND PUT A END TO THIS.. THEY WILL BE COMING AFTER YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR GRANDCHILDREN NEXT!!!! ARE YOU PREPARED TO FIGHT THESE EVIL SOCIAL WORKER’S.
In my daughters case, this judge Danielle Peterson, refused to look at CPS reports, the forensic report, the probation report and refused to listen to the child’s in camera testimony right in front of her face. All of these reports and testimony were court ordered and I had to pay for them, also court ordered. This judge knows about the abuse and neglect my daughter has to endure and willingly refused to do anything. My daughter has faced strangulation, falling down a staircase, being shoved out of the apartment, slapped in the face, struck in the face with an object, medical neglect, and basically tortured. Even before ordering all these reports this and another judge both said that the mother would get custody and will not consider the evidence that weighed on the best interest of the child. This despite the fact that the child is with me most of the time. The forensic expert came out and said the mother was unfit and a danger to the child. So why bother with all these reports ? CPS gave the mother a parenting class; what a f-ing joke. This system is built on corruption and fraud. These judges are not fit to judge anyone.They want dead children; there is no other explanation.
In my daughters case, this judge Danielle Peterson, refused to look at CPS reports, the forensic report, the probation report and refused to listen to the child’s in camera testimony right in front of her face. All of these reports and testimony were court ordered and I had to pay for them, also court ordered. This judge knows about the abuse and neglect my daughter has to endure and willingly refused to do anything. My daughter has faced strangulation, falling down a staircase, being shoved out of the apartment, slapped in the face, struck in the face with an object, medical neglect, and basically tortured. Even before ordering all these reports this and another judge both said that the mother would get custody and will not consider the evidence that weighed on the best interest of the child. And despite the fact that the child is with me most of the time. The forensic expert came out and said the mother was unfit and a danger to the child. So why bother with all these reports ? CPS gave the mother a parenting class; what a f-ing joke. This system is built on corruption and fraud. These judges are not fit to judge anyone.They want dead children; there is no other explanation.