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A mother who is raising her child alone shared that she was deeply disturbed when police stopped her at an airport, suspecting her of child trafficking.
Upon arrival at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, Bridgetta Tomarchio, 45, was greeted by officers while on her way to visit her child’s father with her four-year-old son.
She claims to have been at a rental car agency when two officials entered and began to interrogate her about her son, informing her that they had received a report regarding possible child trafficking.
Ms. Tomarchio, who frequently travels with her son and has a companion pass, stated that the officers requested to view identification for her son.
She informed Fox19, “My son and I have different last names, so I gave them both of our tickets and clarified, ‘This is mine and this is his.’ They responded, ‘He also has a ticket?'”
In a video captured on body-worn cameras and shared by multiple news sources, Ms. Tomarchio was standing in a Hertz store when an individual, possibly a police officer, mentioned receiving multiple calls and inquired if the child with her was her own.
“I am unsure of the situation, but it seems that a pilot had concerns about potential trafficking. I do not have any information on what was said or what he may have heard,” said the officer.
She described the experience as traumatic, saying, “I feel shaken inside, wondering to myself, ‘What did I do wrong?’ I am completely at a loss for what could have occurred.”
On the plane, she mentioned that her son was feeling chilly and exhausted, so he slept through the entire trip, covered by her jacket.
According to the outlet, Ms Tomarchio stated that the investigation was initiated by a call from a Southwest Airlines pilot, which she believed was unjust.
After conducting an investigation, Southwest Airlines informed Fox19 that they do not believe their employees were involved in the incident.
Upon further investigation, it has been determined that Southwest employees were not involved in this incident. Calls made to local authorities seem to have come from individuals not associated with Southwest Airlines.
The airline acknowledged the customer’s patience in allowing them to investigate the serious allegations. They will be contacting the customer through their customer engagement team to discuss the investigation in more detail.
Based on a report from the airport, the caller was identified as “a pilot,” but it was not confirmed if they were a Southwest pilot specifically, reported Fox19.
Ms. Tomarchio is advocating for airlines to implement better procedures for handling suspected cases of child trafficking.
Recently, she initiated a digital motion that calls for all minors who travel by air to have government-issued identification cards with the names of both legal parents. Her goal is to enhance the safety of children.
She expressed to the Daily Mail, “The unfounded accusation made me feel ashamed and emotionally distressed, shedding light on a recurring issue of prejudiced treatment towards single parents, especially those whose last names or physical appearances differ from their children’s.”
She stated that it is not acceptable for a single mother and her child to be accused of a terrible crime without any evidence or procedures, especially in modern times.
The Independent has reached out to Southwest Airlines for a response.
The source is the independent.co.uk.
