I thought the mom was amazing, but she said she never came forward after Johnny revisited her because he asked her not to tell anyone about it. So…now she's telling everyone via this documentary?? Does she no longer care what happens to him?
Also, Johnny would be in his 40s now. His 'value' to child predators is long gone, so I highly doubt he's still being held captive somewhere.
Could Stockholm syndrome be in play?
I'm probably going to be attacked for saying this...but, what if Johnny told his mother that he is now part of the trafficking ring? What if he told her that he's so ashamed of what he's become that he can't bear to look her in the eye, and so now must flea?
What if his captors told him that if he left that they would kill his family, or him?
As for your question, about her revealing his visit in this documentary, (that could very well be a death sentence for her son).
My guess would be that she no longer harbors the belief that his life is in danger?
Maybe she can no longer bear this heavy burden on her own?
Maybe it's a cry for help?
Also, most pedophiles were abused themselves as children, sad to say.
His captors could have groomed him into believing that now that he has abused children himself which they have on film (even though they forced him), or maybe they made him to lure the other paper boy that was kidnapped 2 years later. Add in the pornography charges, conspiracy charges, RICO, Racketeering, tax evasion, etc etc etc
He may think that he will go to prison for the rest of his life, or he may think that it's impossible for him to integrate himself back into "normal" society, with no education, no experience, no resume or he may consider himself a monster.
Perhaps they convinced him that they can protect him because, they have low people in high places!
My guess is they've been in contact ever since. He's sent letters and in time probably found a safe place. But if you look at what was done to the throwaway kids in Omaha (several were jailed for "perjury") and this sex ring goes to the highest level of government you can imagine (read Nick Bryant's book). I'm sure he doesn't want what Paul got.
shareI don't get how she didn't keep him at home if he really did visit her. She said he left in the night. I wouldn't let my child out of my sight (let alone arms) the first time he returned after being away for years. How can Noreen so casually discuss his one-hour visit? It sounds like she just let him walk out the door without any protest. Considering what she then knew about what had been done to him, how could she possibly allow him to go back to continue to be tortured? It makes no sense.
Then she says that she has to do what's best for her child. Does she really think that leaving him with paedophiles is in his best interest?
If he's still alive, he's a man in his mid-40s. I can't imagine how brainwashed, scarred and traumatised he must be if he has chosen that sick life over going home.
It is truly sad and bizarre.
Keep in mind that he was an adult by then, and remember that mom said he got upset at one point, I forget after what she said. So, she really had no control anymore. What if he said he was now part of that ring, as the guy in jail was forced to be. What if that's what the ring does to make sure they won't run away and squeal. What if sadly he was already in too deep. He might have just wanted to reassure his mom that he was alive, but share with her the horrors at the same time he was subjected to, and now part of because he had no choice.
And I had this thought too: What if they have these boys sometimes get young girls pregnant to then eventually hold their children against them. Yes, as in breeding their victims and repeating the vicious cycle of having more children to exploit at the same time.
Who knows what elaborate plans go into such rings of people with status and money. They probably brainswash the kids and tell them they will kill their mom and dad if they run or talk.
Read Nick Bryant's book on the Franklin scandal. It delves deeper into the world of child sex trafficking in America. You're right about pregnancies being used as leverage.
shareI think it's possible she's in contact with him, too. But I would think he's so ruined/changed/damaged by whatever, and possibly also partook in the ring like Paul Bonacci did...he'd rather just never be known to the public.
shareI thought it was incredibly ironic that the pedophile guy said that he didn't understand why Johnny didn't come forward, after all, he was a victim. Bonacci also started out as a victim and spent a decade or two in prison for molestation. I would be willing to bet Johnny did the same thing.
shareOne possibility is that they're scared of powerful people who might knock him off (as a victim and witness) if they found him or if he spoke out about them. Could be some police, government or other powerful people in the pedo ring.
shareafter years of abuse perhaps he didn't feel worthy of coming home as an adult if he finally got the chance. since his childhood was over and his life was so tortured by then. or maybe she promised him his privacy from the press. or maybe she imagined the whole thing that he visited her as a coping mechanism to not go crazy with grief so she could go on living.
shareI thought it was odd that she wouldn't try to convince him to stay with her more adamantly but by the point he showed up she had a pretty good idea of the power of the trafficking ring and had no illusions that the police would/could do anything to protect her son. Plus, he was an adult, she couldn't physically force him to stay that night, and probably wanted to keep his wishes in hopes of future contact. Anything he said that night about what they were capable of probably matched the things she'd learned in her investigation, so I can see her wanting to keep his visit a secret so that he would be safe. As for why talk about it now, I think it makes sense that they've had continued contact and she knows he's safe. When she talked at the end about him not coming forward now and making his own life the best he can, it seemed like it could have been more than speculation, maybe she has talked to him. I hope so. I hope he is able to overcome all this and I don't blame him at all for not coming forward and subjecting himself to the media circus that would be born.
shareAt first I rolled my eyes and thought, no way did she see her son and spend an hour talking with him but never mentioned it to anyone, considering she was very comfortable talking to police and reporters. But then I actually thought about it for a minute. I'm not a parent, but if her son really was convinced he'd be killed and she believed he would be too, I don't know if I would report it either. There's so many twist and turns in this case.
I think if Johnny was to finally come home now, maybe after seeing this documentary, his mother wouldn't report it. Like she said he doesn't need all the media attention now and if he is alive he doesn't deserve to be bombarded with questions now. Maybe he has come home since and we may never know.
I hope that's the case :)
This documentary was a HUGE disappointment. There are SO MANY important details left out of this film. This would have better served the public in a 6-hour "Making Of A Murderer" style format. The ONLY way to get the ACTUAL details - which include allegations supporting a theory that Gosch's father was involved in his abduction - is to read Noreen's book "Why Johnny Can't Come Home." And that book, friends, is nearly IMPOSSIBLE to find. [Expect to pay between $175 - $450 if you can find a copy online. It was a limited pressing.]
Gosch's father comes off like an alter boy in this movie. Not so, in Noreen's book. She indicates that he was deeply involved in Johnny's abduction.
Interesting. There is something very off about this whole story, even the confessed kidnapper/pedophile. Do people just get rid of the multiple personalities ?...and if the guy truly did have multiple personalities, how did he remember what they did? Think there are multiple people lying about what they have experienced and its hard to tell what is lies, fantasy or the truth.
shareIf you're interested in this topic, I recommend an interview on youtube that was posted by Francisco Figueira. It is a radio interview [2:50:00 in length]. Notice how Noreen's story has changed between the time she published her book in 2000 and her interview for this 2014 documentary.
shareI’ve read Noreen’s book too and absolutely believe that Johnny visited her.
Also, you can reach out to Noreen on Facebook or her website and ask for an address to mail a check for her book. She only charges around $35.