Captain Bret Alan Smith Part 5: Still No Trial Update: He Plead Guilty

[SolomonFundy]

My totally unsubstantiated pet theory for a year or so now is that the Smiths DID inform the Mortons about some degree of deviant behavior during one of the pre-betrothal Life Planning Sessions, and the eventual disclosure of this information to Katie is what caused her to outright question the match/hesitate and ask for her parents to direct her. I also suspect that a similar disclosure could have impacted the earlier failed courtship attempt between Alan and his first love interest.

I just can not conceive of a yielding, easily manipulated vessel like teenage Katie Morton questioning the veracity of a suitor who had already been approved for her by her father. As she well knew, the only reason Alan was even allowed to court her was because Pa Morton had deemed him to be Husband Material. Her hesitancy in resisting the betrothal doesn't make sense if she was simply unsure about whether to accept him. She knew exactly what she was expected to do, and she ultimately did it. (Just as two of her other siblings did when they were presented with their hand-picked Smith spouses.) Therefore, I think her uncertainty (and the fact that it was ever acknowledged by either family) is due to something more specific and significant. A known "character issue", if you will.

This could have ranged from just standard porn that he had in his possession (print media or on the computers, since he was the family "IT" guy), to actual knowledge of lewd behavior towards people in the past. It could have been literally anything, though if this happened,  I suspect whatever the Smiths disclosed was significantly minimized. Just enough to satisfy their own sense of guilt over knowing their son wasn't truly "walking the walk", but probably far short of whatever the truth was. 

[Lurky]

17 hours ago, SolomonFundy said:

Her hesitancy in resisting the betrothal doesn't make sense if she was simply unsure about whether to accept him.

I don't know, I think he could have given her all the right answers, and she thought there was something "off" about him, but didn't have the vocabulary to explain it.  I am 100% not blaming her, because from their courtship story, it sounded like she really tried to get out of it, but her father told her he was God's will, and who was she, brought up to be completely submissive, to question her father, the word of God on earth? 

It's so interesting that even when the story was told by the Smiths and Mortons as an example of how perfect they were, what *still* comes across is Katie very much hesitating, and in my reading of it, trying to get her father to hear that she didn't think it was right, without contradicting him.  It breaks my heart, and I really hope that the younger Mortons and the third generation, are given more of a say in who they marry, and aren't pushed into arranged marriages to satisfy the egos of their fathers.

[browngrl]

3 hours ago, Lurky said:

I really hope that the younger Mortons and the third generation, are given more of a say in who they marry, and aren't pushed into arranged marriages to satisfy the egos of their fathers.

I think this is the what is happening. All the Morton's who have married recently seem to have chosen for themselves (from the same circle of friends) and they all seem to be attracted to and like their spouses. I have only seen the limited sample of their lives shown on their public instagrams (side note I asked to join Adeline's instagram and was rejected and I'm still salty about that) but the Morton parents don't seem to be running much of anything any more.

[Lurky]

17 hours ago, browngrl said:

All the Morton's who have married recently seem to have chosen for themselves (from the same circle of friends) and they all seem to be attracted to and like their spouses. I have only seen the limited sample of their lives shown on their public instagrams (side note I asked to join Adeline's instagram and was rejected and I'm still salty about that) but the Morton parents don't seem to be running much of anything any more.

I think the bolded is key, though.  They still seem to be living in isolation, none of them seem to have left the compounds, and they're still inter-marrying very young, in very tight circles.  Now, this could 100% be their free choice, but there isn't any proof that much has changed, except for the modesty standards. 

If, for example, Katie or one of the S'Mortons on the US compound wanted to send their kids to a school, would they be allowed?  If a young Morton man wanted to go to trade school/college, and get a job outside the family, or wait to get married, could they?  Could Adeline get a job, or get married to someone from outside their family group?  Of course, none of them could want any of this, but I don't think we can say the Morton parents aren't running things, when the compound just keeps expanding, and nothing seems to change - it's not like the Smiths, where, for whatever reason, social service mandated or not, Madara is living outside the home, and Sitara and some of her brothers are in school etc etc. 

[browngrl]

Oh I'm not saying the Mortons aren't still deep in the fundie koolaid. I definitely agree with you that they still believe in all repugnant things that are part of fundamentalists religion. They just don't talk about it  as publicly as their parents did.  

I agree that the children are sticking to their own group for mates but the younger children do seem happy and attracted to their spouses. I am not surprised they are sticking to their own group though - to some extent don't many non fundies do the same thing? People tend to marry people who share their culture and/or beliefs and/or history.

I just don't see the parents being very active on their instagrams (which admittedly is a very narrow focus). I do wonder if illness related to aging is not a factor. Judging father Morton by his body habitus I would not be surprised if he had diabetes or heart disease. In any case I doubt the parents would need to do much any more. They long ago "blanket trained" their children into submission.

 

[lilith]

Re Pa Morton and how he would spin his disastrous choice of husband for Katie:

I suspect they tell Katie to look at her beautiful children, who she wouldn’t have without Alan. Remind her that she and her children are safe and cared for under the patriarchal authority of her father, not struggling as a single parent family in the wider world. Encourage her to think of all the ways she is “blessed”. Point out that they supported her and took her and the kids in when the abuse came to light. So, you know, in the end Papa Morton’s patriarchal wisdom brought her to a good place with 8 beautiful children, with just a small diversion into hellish rape and abuse.......

It’s all absolutely sickening, but I’m SO glad Alan won’t be our next year as previously thought - cause you know he’d be demanding access to the kids, and even if the courts didn’t give it just the threat of it would be terrifying to Katie and the kids.

Edited March 25, 2019 by lilith

[Black Aliss]

On 3/23/2019 at 11:29 AM, browngrl said:

I do wonder if illness related to aging is not a factor. Judging father Morton by his body habitus I would not be surprised if he had diabetes or heart disease. In any case I doubt the parents would need to do much any more. They long ago "blanket trained" their children into submission.

 

I seem to remember a photo on Addie's blog many years ago where all the menfolk were laying hands on and praying for Papa Morton. It sticks in my mind because it was, I think, the only post she ever made that wasn't goofy-giddy, just some oblique reference to trouble in paradise.

[DangerNoodle]

One of the Smith's sons is at a military high school. I guess they are there for some type of family day. I don't think I see their son in any of the pics though. 

[Kylolo]

@DangerNoodleHe's the non-African-American one facing the camera, named Yerik I think?

Edited April 5, 2019 by Kylolo
edit to add DangerNoodle name

[JermajestyDuggar]

22 minutes ago, Kylolo said:

@DangerNoodleHe's the non-African-American one facing the camera, named Yerik I think?

I agree. His head is shaved so it doesn’t look like him. But his smile is distinct so I think it’s him. 

[VVV]

5 hours ago, DangerNoodle said:

One of the Smith's sons is at a military high school. I guess they are there for some type of family day. I don't think I see their son in any of the pics though. 

Whoa, that's a high school? That looks frighteningly like the inside of the local juvenile detention center, which I have visited several times with a group of colleagues to play Christmas carols.

[bea]

I was just about to say that - military schools don’t usually have that much of a penitentiary vibe going on. I used to work in the prison system, and that setup looks mighty familiar.

[DangerNoodle]

I was going to say their uniforms look like they are going to be extras in a remake of Bill Murray's Stripes. That seemed petty though. I wouldn't be surprised if the school is it just a repurposed old army building. 

[fundiefan]

He's at Challenge Academy. I don't know the full scope, but largetly sold as a program for troubled and at risk youth. Oddly, I know four teens that went there as a last resort; all pretty messed up & in need of something their families couldnt provide. Two were addicts, one was a habitual runaway with many problems that went with that, and one was mentally ill but refusted to stick to meds or treatment. All four went, graduated, and went right back to their own choices after the first period of weeks out where they are paired with an outside mentor & involved in things like community service. 

I don't think every child who goes there is troubled, but as a whole, that's what Challenge Academy caters to and promotes itself as an alternative for. I think some parents probably use it as an easy way out (and to be honest, I think the Smith's fall in that category; Yerik has a cleft pallette and several other issues; he was being "specially" homeschooled when the rest went to public school but Jacquie bailed on that and sent him to Challenge). 

One of their other adopted sons was there last year. I don't know if either are troubled or at risk or fit any of that criteria; I have such a low opinion of the Smiths that I just assume the kids didn't bow to Bret or their version of god so they sent them to a place to "set them straight". Or, they were not mentally typical or academically "easy", so they were sent away so Jacqueline didn't have to try to educate them when she is clueless. 

[DangerNoodle]

There are some pictures of now with him. I have to say I think he looks happy. If I had to guess I would say fundiefan hit the nail on the head- his home schooling was probably shady. Public school might not have been able to help him play catch-up as much as this place. 

[Lurky]

12 hours ago, fundiefan said:

One of their other adopted sons was there last year. I don't know if either are troubled or at risk or fit any of that criteria; I have such a low opinion of the Smiths that I just assume the kids didn't bow to Bret or their version of god so they sent them to a place to "set them straight". Or, they were not mentally typical or academically "easy", so they were sent away so Jacqueline didn't have to try to educate them when she is clueless. 

Weren't a lot of their adopted children adopted as older children from other countries, so would have naturally had attachment issues, culture shock, language barriers etc etc?  It makes me rage-ful, because I bet the Smith approach to all this was "pray more", beating them, making them dance in the Captain's narcissistic music videos, and giving them half-arsed "education" where the different aged kids are meant to learn together.   Then when they become young men, ship them off to military school for "troubled" youth with "issues" - what the hell does that do to their feelings, especially when siblings stayed at home?

Do we know what is happening to the Smith kids once they kit 18?  Are they still living in the house?  Do they work for a living?  Someone said Madara has moved out - does she work?  These poor kids, adopted to be brought up in this deliberately experimental lifestyle, and treated so badly.  I hope they can have successful lives, and I really hope they have support systems to help them, as their toxic parents have demonstrated that THEY won't.

[JermajestyDuggar]

1 hour ago, Lurky said:

Weren't a lot of their adopted children adopted as older children from other countries, so would have naturally had attachment issues, culture shock, language barriers etc etc?  It makes me rage-ful, because I bet the Smith approach to all this was "pray more", beating them, making them dance in the Captain's narcissistic music videos, and giving them half-arsed "education" where the different aged kids are meant to learn together.   Then when they become young men, ship them off to military school for "troubled" youth with "issues" - what the hell does that do to their feelings, especially when siblings stayed at home?

Do we know what is happening to the Smith kids once they kit 18?  Are they still living in the house?  Do they work for a living?  Someone said Madara has moved out - does she work?  These poor kids, adopted to be brought up in this deliberately experimental lifestyle, and treated so badly.  I hope they can have successful lives, and I really hope they have support systems to help them, as their toxic parents have demonstrated that THEY won't.

I don’t think Wally lives at home either. He works in HVAC. Yerik was one of the youngest kids they adopted. They adopted two sibling sets from other countries and then Sitara here in the US. I think the kids going to school in one way or another has likely been the best thing for them. 

[Bethella]

9 hours ago, Lurky said:

Weren't a lot of their adopted children adopted as older children from other countries, so would have naturally had attachment issues, culture shock, language barriers etc etc? 

8 hours ago, JermajestyDuggar said:

I don’t think Wally lives at home either. He works in HVAC. Yerik was one of the youngest kids they adopted. They adopted two sibling sets from other countries and then Sitara here in the US. I think the kids going to school in one way or another has likely been the best thing for them. 

I don't follow the Smiths all that closely but based on the lists:

• Before September 2005 they adopted Armando (b. June 1997) and Yerik (b. May 2002) from Kazakhstan.
• In July 2007 they adopted Madara (b. November 1995) from Latvia.
• In October 2007 they adopted Wallace (b. October 1998), Joshua (b. December 2001), Ronald (b. May 2003) and Daniel (b. about 2005) also from Lativa.
• In the Spring 2010 they adopted Sitara (b. 2002-2003) from the US.

[fundiefan]

I feel tremendously sad for all the kids in their world, born & adopted. 

But I especially sympathize with those adopted. 

In order to be available for adoption, they suffered trauma. Loss. Pain. 

Then, they landed, through no fault of their own, in the world of Bret Smith. 

How fucked up is that?

A million things I could say but I know it won't accomplish anything. Let's just say I reserve hate for incomprehensible evil. I believe the Smits fit that and I hate them; despise them. 

Look at Yerik. I presume the parents had to provide attire, because his shoes are several sizes too big and his coat is a few too big. He looks like a clown. He's a small kid, and I can't believe Challenge has no way to accomodate smaller build, if they are the one's responsible. 

Bret is going to demean that boy for the entirety of his life. 

 

Spoiler

 

Edited April 7, 2019 by fundiefan

[DaisyD]

If an older sibling went there first, then that's probably his old uniform. Poor kid. 

[VVV]

How despicable a human being do you have to be to deliberately clothe your child in ill-fitting hand-me-downs when you can afford better? If the repulsive Captain really is a flight controller, he is making a good income, certainly enough to buy shoes that fit and a jacket that doesn't make the kid a laughingstock.

[fundiefan]

4 hours ago, DaisyD said:

If an older sibling went there first, then that's probably his old uniform. Poor kid. 

I think so too. I think it was Madisen who was there last year and they just passed the clothes on to Yerik, despite the fact that they're far too big. 

Can you image that poor kid trying to march or muster in those boots? 

Lazy parenting at it's "finest".

[AlwaysExcited]

On 4/6/2019 at 2:36 PM, Lurky said:

Weren't a lot of their adopted children adopted as older children from other countries, so would have naturally had attachment issues, culture shock, language barriers etc etc?  It makes me rage-ful, because I bet the Smith approach to all this was "pray more", beating them, making them dance in the Captain's narcissistic music videos, and giving them half-arsed "education" where the different aged kids are meant to learn together.   Then when they become young men, ship them off to military school for "troubled" youth with "issues" - what the hell does that do to their feelings, especially when siblings stayed at home?

On top of that, it looks like they changed names for some of their adopted kids. So they lost that part of their identity as well. 

[lexiloumarie]

2 hours ago, AlwaysExcited said:

On top of that, it looks like they changed names for some of their adopted kids. So they lost that part of their identity as well. 

I believe legally they moved several of the kids birth first names to be their middle names and gave them family first names. But it was inconsistent and some kids use the original first name and some the new name. Usual story with them.

[DangerNoodle]

Just for the sake of clarification, the uniforms are provided by the Department of Defense who funds the school.