McALESTER, Oklahoma -
She is a young
mother on the run and in hiding from the law. She says she's trying to
protect her son from abuse from his father. An attorney representing the
child's father says his client is scared to death he will never see his boy
again.
Kayla Harmon came
to News 9 a year ago with pictures she says was evidence her son her son had
been abused. At the time, a criminal pathologist agreed.
"Somebody needs to
look at this," Harmon told News 9 during an interview last February.
Now there's a warrant
for Harmon's arrest for failing to return her son to his father. She spoke to News 9 on Tuesday over the phone from a restricted number. She wouldn't tell
us where she is.
"I would rather go
to jail, I would rather die than hand my son over," said Harmon on
Thursday. "I promised him I would keep him safe."
Harmon says on
Saturday, Benjamin, during a routine visit, told her that his father was
touching him inappropriately, and physically abusing him. She quickly
grabbed a recorder she had in her car and recorded the conversation.
2/22/2012
Related Story: Mother Begs For Help Before Baby Dies In DHS Care
"Your dad loves
you, but he can't do that to you okay," Harmon said on the recording.
"He already did,"
replied 4-year-old Benjamin.
"He tied me up and
put tape on me," said Benjamin at another part of the recording.
Harmon immediately
took Benjamin and the recording to the McAlester Police Department.
"They were
accusing me of making this stuff up," said Harmon.
So Harmon didn't
give Benjamin back to his father and took off.
Monday morning,
Harmon says she made numerous calls to DHS. Police confirm she was in contact
with a detective that encouraged her to bring Benjamin back where they could
have a professional interview him.
"I told them I
would meet with them and do whatever they wanted as long as they would put him
in some sort of protection and wouldn't give him back to his father," said
Harmon.
A police captain
and detective on the case tell News 9, there have been several court battles
over custody and DHS has done numerous investigations and all claims of abuse
by the father were unfounded.
Benjamin's
father's attorney also says several doctors testified in the past there was no
abuse. Harmon, however, wants another law enforcement agency to listen to the
recording and investigate.
"I cannot let my
son be harmed," she said.
Benjamin's
father's attorney says because of a several unsubstantiated claims of abuse in
the past the recording has no credibility.
Kayla Harmon came to News 9 a year ago with pictures she says was evidence her son her son, Benjamin, had been abused. At the time, a criminal pathologist agreed.
