American Army Captain Rescues Son After Ex-Wife Kidnapped Him to Romania, Now Helps Other Separated Fathers

Nicholas C. DauSchmidt and his son, now togheter. Photo

Nicholas C. DauSchmidt, a 27-year-old American Army Captain stationed in Vicenza, Italy, lived a parent's nightmare when his estranged wife took their 6-year-old son to Romania without notifying or receiving permission from Nicholas. Nicholas immediately initiated legal steps to get his son home, including a trip to get a court order granting himself sole custody of Henry. Depending on the legal rights of his opposing petition, Nicholas discovered Romanian laws offered little to no help in getting Henry back home. Nicholas became frustrated with the actions of the authorities and organized a 4-man team, called, “Gardaland”, with a private investigator, a flight instructor, and a British veteran. After eight days, Nicholas successfully recovered his son, Henry, in an astonishing escapade.

Nicholas's story was dramatic and inspiring. As a veteran, lawyer, and devoted father, Nicholas fought against not only his ex-wife, but fought through numerous emotional struggles, bureaucratic difficulties, and institutions with remote indifference; to build a path to get his son home. Henry loves Pokémon, dinosaurs, and biking, and is now safe in Italy.

After leaving the army, Nicholas is action-oriented to offer assistance to fathers who are separated and are pursued by parental rights custody claims from a foreign country. Nicholas's plans, as a traveled parent, is to provide legal and logistical support to parents who eventually fall into the wrong hands of these types of custody disputes that span international borders. Nicholas discovered many people, institutions, and systems using their power and authority against each other, with appalling protection mechanisms in place for our families and especially children, resulting in limited and indecisive paths for parents or retaining the welfare of their children across these borders.

References:

https://www.ilgiornaledivicenza.it/territorio-vicentino/vicenza/vicenza-romania-figlio-sottratto-blitz-del-militare-aereo-007-1.12772608

https://www.liberoquotidiano.it/news/italia/43871231/blitz-militare-riprendersi-figlio-portato-romania-ex/