Alex and Zaven Silah

What could be a mother’s worse nightmare? 

Azad-Hye Special

By Sylvia Bourdjian - Matta

Some of us may have received emails about the abducted Soulahian (or Silah) children in the U.S., but I wonder how many have reacted to do something in this regard? May the best they have done is to forward the email to other friends and then forget about it.

On 02 July 2008, the lives of three children and two families changed forever.

On that day, while on a court appointed visit with their fathers, Alex and Zaven Silah along with their cousin Greg Silah were abducted. What make this parental abduction so disturbing are the criminal activities of their fathers; not only are the police looking for the men but also a number of possible killers that have left threatening messages in voicemails. They are on the run from members of the Armenian community from which they have allegedly scammed about $5 million.

The missing boys are: Alexander Silah (12), Zaven Silah (8) and Greg Silah (10). They have been missing since 02 July 2008.

Alexander and Zaven are brothers. Greg is their cousin. Los Angeles Police is currently looking for George Silah (46, Alex and Zaven's dad) and Jean John Silah (47, Greg's dad); both Syrian-Armenians suspected of abducting their sons. They were supposed to spend summer vacation together. Neither the fathers nor the children ever checked into the vacation resort they were supposed to be. Greg was supposed to return home to his mother on 06 July 2008; Alex and Zaven on 10 July 2008.

Greg Silah

Zanni Meguerian, mother of Alex and Zaven, and Christine Jeanbart, mother of Greg are pleading for the fathers to return their sons unharmed. “We’re begging them to drop the children off in a safe place so they may return home,” said Zanni Merguerian.

“Our children must be terrified,” stated Christine Jeanbart.

The men may have been involved in selling fake identities to people entering the country illegally. Police have discovered in their home shredded fake documents and immigration applications, other persons’ identification documents, passport photos, notes verifying suspected illegal transactions for thousands of dollars, evidence of bank and credit card fraud. 

Both mothers are asking organizations dedicated to finding abducted children and have been using the media to help them find their missing children. They were both interviewed by Dr. Phil in his televised program, by Fox News channel also on MSNBC. You can watch the above interviews by clicking the following links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxg8rY5G5zw&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5a3TL1VBgY&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0uPzjqM3eA&feature=channel_page

The latest televised appeal of the mothers was on CBS – Without a Trace program:

http://cbs2.com/video/?id=83796@kcbs.dayport.com

And on December 19, 2008, CNN broadcasted an interview with  Kristen Anderson of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children featuring the missing Silah kids:

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/crime/2008/12/19/dcl.find.the.children.cnn

Nobody knows where the children might be, but both mothers believe they may still be in the United States. They have refused to provide the fathers with the children’s passports, though they have asked for it, also because their names and photos were already presented to Los Angeles Police and added to the FBI’s “Wanted List”. When the Silah brothers’ family in Syria was contacted for their whereabouts, they gave no comments.

Upon contacting the mothers, Azad-Hye asked them the following:

Were the children in good terms with their fathers? How did the fathers treat them usually?

Zanni Meguerian: “The children were on good terms with their fathers. Christine and I both never spoke ill of the fathers. The children were not generally suspecting of their fathers. My 2 boys, Alex and Zaven on occasion doubted their father in terms of his sincerity and trustworthiness. They have in the past mentioned to me on a number of occasions that they did not  trust him much because, in their own words "he never kept his promises”.

Christian Jeanbart: “As Zanni had mentioned, the children were on good terms with their fathers. My ex always tried to keep Greg happy in every possible way. My son never discussed with me any problems or concerns that he had with his father. As a matter of fact, he would always keep quiet and would avoid any subject related to his dad. I knew that Greg to a certain degree was being controlled by his father to what to say and what not to say”.

Why do you think the Silah brothers would consider kidnapping their children, knowing that they themselves are in danger?

Zanni Meguerian: “My personal opinion is that the Silah brothers took the children with them when they escaped and became fugitives given, they believe, the lives of the children may be directly threatened. The Silah brothers have conned so many people and have ruined so many lives that they're afraid their scammed victims might retaliate and get to them through hurting the children. This, of course, does not justify their actions. On the contrary, victimizing the children and putting them in harm's way only makes them the worst of criminals”.

Christian Jeanbart: “because to them it is a sense of ownership. To John and George the kids belong to them and they wouldn't care much about us the mothers or about the emotional trauma that the boys are going through. Also, I think the Silah brothers are using the children as a shield to protect themselves from the people whom they have scammed while victimizing their own sons and putting them in harm's way. How selfish is that! I pray to God that justice prevails and both brothers get the punishment that they deserve!”

Anyone with information, please call +1 (310) 482-6334. A website has been created with the latest updated information www.findthesilahchildren.com.

Let’s hope for a Christmas miracle to bring Alex, Zaven and Greg back to their mothers safe, because there is nothing crueler than taking a child away from his family.

Good luck Zanni and Christine… our hearts are with you and we will remember you in our prayers.

Poster about the missed children (photos of abducting fathers included).