• A Fitchburg, Massachusetts family were terrorized and put in grave danger after they declined vaccinations for their nine-month-old baby on religious grounds.

• The parents, Isael Rivera and Ruth Encarnacion, were arrested and charged with “familial kidnapping” after fleeing to Texas to avoid the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) and local police.

• The coercive and vindictive pediatrician who reported the parents to DCF is under scrutiny for overstepping boundaries, and violating the family’s fundamental rights.

• The case has sparked national outrage and calls for reform in how DCF and law enforcement handle parental decisions regarding unnecessary medical interventions.

A family’s fight for freedom and faith

In a shocking turn of events that has sent ripples of outrage across the nation, a Fitchburg, Massachusetts family is now at the center of a heated debate over parental rights and government overreach. Isael Rivera and Ruth Encarnacion, a homeschooling couple, found themselves in the crosshairs of the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and local law enforcement after they made the informed decision to decline vaccinations for their nine-month-old baby based on their religious beliefs.

The ordeal began in February when the family’s pediatrician, a mandatory reporter, threatened to report the parents to DCF if they did not vaccinate their infant. Despite Massachusetts law allowing for religious exemptions to vaccinations, the doctor proceeded to file a 51A child “neglect” report, setting off a chain of events that would terrorize the family and would ultimately lead law enforcement to tear the family apart.

“The doctor said if we didn’t vaccinate, he’d have to report us,” Rivera told an advocate who provided safe harbor for the family in Texas. “We were clear that our decision was based on our religious beliefs, and we were confident in our ability to care for our child.” Massachusetts statutory law includes religious exemptions for parents, but these exemptions are for school attendance, and this family home-schooled to begin with, so the pediatrician had no justification one way or the other. The pediatrician had no legal grounds to harass this family, not for school attendance, nor for any reason whatsoever. Vaccines are not a mandatory requirement for school or life in general, so the pediatrician is acting unlawfully and against any basic medical standard. He has not only violated basic medical ethics and his oath, but he has violated the parent’s fundamental rights in the most egregious and coercive way imaginable.

DCFS and local PD escalate situation, prompting family’s exile from Massachusetts

After the disgusting pediatrician conscripted law enforcement to further the harassment and abuse, what followed was a dramatic and terrifying escalation. DCF left a notice on the family’s door demanding a home visit, which the parents refused, citing their rights. Fitchburg police, at the direction of Leominster DCF, surrounded their apartment, banging on doors and circling the property for up to 30 minutes. Encarnacion, fearing for her children’s safety, hid in the closet with the five children.

The next day, the situation worsened as police and DCF returned in greater numbers. The family, feeling cornered and fearing for their lives, decided to flee Massachusetts for Texas. They embarked on a three-day journey, aided by a Texas woman who provided them with an RV, food, and supplies.

For a brief moment, the family found refuge in Texas, but their peace was short-lived. A credit card charge for baby formula revealed their location, and on March 8th, authorities tracked them down in Whitney, Texas. Rivera and Encarnacion were arrested and charged with five misdemeanor counts each of “kidnapping a minor by a relative.” The children were seized by Child Protective Services (CPS).

National outrage and calls for reform

The case has sparked national outrage, with many questioning the actions of DCF and the Fitchburg Police Department. Kevin Larson, Encarnacion’s attorney, accused DCF of overstepping their bounds. “There was no basis for the neglect report,” Larson said. “The doctor’s appointment confirmed that the child was healthy. This is a clear violation of the family’s rights.”

Ron Bouchard, a constitutional law strategist, emphasized the broader implications of the case. “This is a blatant violation of fundamental rights on multiple levels,” Bouchard said. “By what authority has this family been apprehended and for what? A family has the right to travel with their children. How and why have they been reported missing, and by whom? What laws have they broken, and what imminent danger exists to justify the drastic action of DCF and the Fitchburg Police Department?”

The pediatrician’s office, DCF, and the Fitchburg Police Department have declined to comment, further fueling suspicions of a cover-up. Advocates and legal experts are calling for a thorough investigation into the actions of the pediatrician and the agencies involved.

A call to action

As the case continues to unfold, the Rivera-Encarnacion family remains in a state of limbo. Rivera is being held in Worcester County Jail on a $200,000 bond, while Encarnacion is incarcerated in Chicopee. The children have been placed with family members in Massachusetts, but the trauma of the experience has left deep scars.

“This case is a wake-up call for all parents,” said Ann Vandersteel, an activist supporting the family. “We must stand together to protect our rights and prevent government agencies from weaponizing medical mandates against families.”

The family’s plight has also drawn attention to the need for legislative reform. “Doctors should not have the power to report parents to DCF based on personal beliefs,” said Texas Republican congressional candidate Ava Zolari. “This is a clear case of government overreach and a violation of constitutional rights.” Congress should act on this issue, making it illegal and punishable for doctors to retaliate against parents who decline childhood vaccinations.

As the nation watches, the Rivera-Encarnacion family’s story serves as a stark reminder of the importance of parental authority and the dangers of a medical-police state. The fight for their rights and the safety of their children continues, and the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for families across the country.

The Fitchburg Police Department (978) 345-4355 are responsible for escalating this further. This must stop. There is no evidence of abuse or neglect on part of the parents. The abuse and neglect stems from the false authorities – the pediatrician, the compliant police department, the out of control DCF and CPS, who think they can harass, separate, punish, terrorize, and extort this family.

This Rivera-Encarnacion family should immediately be released and reunited, and charges should be pursued against all false authorities acting unlawfully against them!

Sources include:

LifesiteNews.com

BostonBroadside.com

Substack.com