Sara Ybarra Johnson's story started off sounding like a sadly typical case of government sanctioned child theft. You will, and I did learn through the interview there was a lot more going on than that, and I began to get a little uncomfortable with their odd and somewhat questionable way of thinking. I started to wonder some things. I received regular texts from her asking when I was going to release the interview. Finally I edited it, reluctantly. I told her to review it before I made it public because they struck me as the type that were potentially sue happy. I told her I had to add some commentary to this because I felt obligated to make it clear I had been left with some questions. I didn't endorse what her and her mother's goals were.

After all her prompts for me to get the video made, when I finally posted it UNLISTED and gave her the link to review the video, I heard nothing back. A week went by. I said if I don't hear back I'm going to take that as a disapproval, and I'm just going to delete it. I waited a couple days, and then I deleted it. I told Christina, Dr Ardis's booking agent who sent me Sarah to interview, that she seemed a little off, and that she hadn't replied. That's when she said, "Do you know that she's DEAD?"

Obviously I didn't. That's probably the best excuse for not replying to an email. Sure enough. Look up her name. You'll find the obituary. Was it because she and her mom took on CPS? Who knows? I don't think so, because anyone taking a closer look at her would have their doubts about her intent. It seemed to me to be an attempt to live off government money for having the children back if she got them more than it was about the children's best interest. She hadn't worked in a decade, hadn't attempted to, either because of complications with her [probably unjustified] criminal status related to her situation explained in the video. Her mother was elderly, so she wasn't working either. What were they going to do to support 4 children if she got them back, and would that be a better, or a worse life for the children?
That's why I held onto this video until I had her look at it. I don't know if she even saw it before she passed away. I do not know the details of how that happened, either. It's unfortunate, and in my mind a little peculiar given the powers she and her mother were tangling with. A couple times in the interview I feel her mother had exacerbated the situation for Sarah throughout her ordeal, giving her correct advice, but not in a rigged game. If life doesn't play by the rules, knowing the rules of law only get you so far, and choosing your battles is important.
What are your thoughts? Leave a comment