Dr. Hymowitz,

There is a longstanding history of abuse and over-medication of the Walsh children by their parents, Stephen and Maura Walsh, that is well documented by their biological children, Brienne and Tara. This history is ongoing and now, recently, has been extended to their adopted children, Kiara and Mariah, as well as to Evelyn Grace (Evie), Tara Walsh and Steve Russell’s daughter, who lives with her mother in the attic of her parents’ Chappaqua estate.

A series of events that took place primarily between March 20 - April 10 of this year has caused significant concerns over Evie’s welfare.

After several escalating attempts by the Walshes to deny visits with Steve Russell, Evie’s father, Steve was finally able to visit with Evie on March 30^thand31^st. On the 31^st Evie arrived for the visitation with two sets of odd bruises. The first was a deep pinch mark bruise on her left leg under the band of her diaper. The second was a 3 - 4-inch series of symmetrical strike marks on her shin. These bruises were witnessed by a court appointed supervisor, nanny, her father Steve Russell, and her mother Tara.

On the same day, Tara independently contacted the AFC (Attorney for the Child) Jennifer Jackman, to express concerns over the bruises – which were extraordinary enough that she, as the primary custodial parent, felt the need to contact the court.

Ten days later, on April 9th, after learning that both parents had concerns about these bruises and that the AFC had not followed up – concerns that were deepened by Tara’s previous accusation of abuse against her parents – Steve Russell went to the Newcastle Police Department and filed a report. When the police visited the Walsh household that evening, Tara, in the presence of her parents, stated that the bruises were normal. The next day her attorney wrote a letter to the court contradicting Tara’s previous statements to the AFC and police, instead stating that there were no bruises and that there was no history of abuse at the Walsh household. The letter then went on to accuse Steve Russell of filing the police report purely to harass Tara. There have been no visits permitted between Evie and her father since the incident and no further explanation given in or outside the court.

A longstanding and well-documented history of abuse

Evidence of abuse among the Walsh family exists in several forms:

Current court and sealed historical court records,
Diaries and blogs of family members including an extensive blog by Tara’s sister, Brie,
Emails and text messages obtained during discovery and criminal investigations,
Numerous personal interactions between Steve Russell, Tara, and her siblings over the past 4 years.

This evidence is presented below, with footnotes identifying the source.

The lives of both Walsh parents have been connected to violence and abuse

Steve and Maura Walsh grew up in a dangerous neighborhood in the Bronx.

When Steve was younger he was a boxer and would regularly get into fights. Some of his friends died from knife fights. “My father got in a fight with his friends on an MTA bus one day, and the next day, lost two of the same friends in a retaliatory knife fight.” He almost joined the NYPD but instead became a bond trader for Drexel Burnham and Lambert and became very wealthy. “My dad was a prince of Wall Street.”

Though it is unclear what the exact catalyst was, approximately 25 years ago Steve Walsh attempted to deal with his anger and alcoholism by entering AA and Anger Management and continues to be sober. “To me, recovery from alcoholism seemed like a rite of passage into adulthood.”

Maura comes from a very violent family. Her own mother was blinded as a young girl while being beaten with a belt. “When she was younger, my great-grandmother hit her with a belt, and blinded her right eye.”

Maura’s father was schizophrenic and often unable to work. “[W]as schizophrenic, unable to work for long periods of time.”

Her family has a history of alcoholism as well. “I grew up with the fear of alcoholism instilled in my heart by my mother, who gave me a shot of whiskey when I was 8-years-old and said to me, ‘Isn’t that disgusting? You know you’re an alcoholic, right?” “I’ve written before about how my mother told me, from a very young age, that I would likely be an alcoholic due to our genetics – Irish, many family members who were alcoholics, etc.”

With Steve Walsh’s success, the Walsh family moved from a tiny apartment to a gated 10-bedroom mansion in Chappaqua just two streets away from the where the Clintons live. “The house is a small mansion. It’s set on 7 acres of land, and it’s surrounded by a 100 acre nature preserve. It has a guest house, a pool house, a play house, and a shed.” “In a house that size you don’t need to share a room with anyone. The room is roughly the size of our apartment. The closet had a walk-in closet.”

Overview of abuse as told by Steve and Maura Walsh’s children

Violence and other forms of physical abuse were the norm, not the exception. “I never talk about my childhood being ‘abusive,’ which it was.”

Hitting: “My Mom punished us both for being strong willed. We were hit.”

Being thrown by the hair: Brie talks about an incident where she and Tara were thrown around by the hair.

Pinching: “The softer her voice gets, the more angry you know she’s getting. Once you can’t hear her anymore, you know that she is going to take you into a corner and dig her nails into your forearm.”

Humiliation and other exotic punishments: Like being forced to sit at the kitchen table all night if any child accidentally woke the father getting up to use the bathroom. This particular punishment led to Brienne Walsh wetting the bed until she was 16. “I peed in the bed until I was 16, and part of the reason for that was that if I couldn’t fall asleep at night, my father used to make me go sit at the kitchen table so that I wouldn’t keep on waking him up.”

Tara called CPS 35 times or more when she was younger and filed for emancipation from her parents at 14 with help from her Aunt. “My sister, who had just escaped from boarding school, and was suing my parents for emancipation, called Child Protective Services on my parents and myself over 35 times.”

All Walsh children were put on psychiatric medication early in their lives and told their poor behavior was the reason their parents were so “strict” with them.

Brie’s blog talks about multiple breakdowns she had, starting in 8th grade, that were caused by, “more than anything, modifying my behavior as to keep the abusive situation at home under control, which meant trying to make my mother happy.”

Brie’s blog often alludes to being over-medicated but doesn’t say it outright. “And I don’t want to be an abusive parent. I don’t want to be a screamer, or a hitter. I don’t want Cleo to have an eating disorder, or a complex, or be medicated from the time she can pee in an adult toilet. But I honestly do not have the tools at my disposal to figure out how to be a ‘good’ parent. My mother is not there for the lesson.”

This pattern continues: Tara’s adopted Korean sisters

Brie and Tara are now adults but this pattern persists today with Tara’s Korean adopted siblings. Tara describes them as regularly getting into physical fights with Tara’s parents. “It’s honestly horrible living here – it’s not healthy. I feel sorry for my sisters. And they get into physical fights and stuff with my parents.”

In one instance, Tara described an incident where a fight escalated to the point that her 12-year-old adopted sister grabbed a knife and threatened to kill Steve Walsh. The incident is referenced more generally in Brie’s blog: “My siblings and I were very well behaved in public, but our house in private was basically like a horror movie where you never knew if someone was going to run out of a dark corner brandishing a knife because they were in the midst of an anxiety-fueled mental breakdown. Like, literally.”

The adopted sisters Kiara and Mariah, though three years apart, are forced by Maura Walsh to dress alike. This mortifies the girls and is a well discussed topic of gossip among townies.

The sisters endure all sorts of exotic punishments as well. In one case one sister, because she wore heels, was forced to walk home from graduation in those heels.

Borderline Personality Disorder is a serious mental illness caused by a child’s upbringing; it is not genetic. While in Chappaqua, Tara mentions in a text to Steve in June 2018 that “Kiara was having a mental breakdown – I can’t help but think my mom gave bpd to 4/6 of us.”

One of the adopted daughters has been put on Lithium and Abilify, the same heavy medication commonly used for the hereditary condition, bipolar disorder. It was also used to drug Steve in 2017 according to his toxicology report. This evidence is available to authorities, as needed, to protect her privacy.

This pattern continues: Tara’s and Evie’s experience

Tara has made cries for help to Steve Russell, Steve’s mother, and the Court, but then changes her story as soon as her parents find out about it. Some examples:

Tara talked to Steve about how unhealthy the situation was shortly after she arrived in Chappaqua in June 2018.

“It’s honestly horrible living here – it’s not healthy.”

“My whole family wants me to be close, but living with my parents is honestly not good for my mental health.”

“Can you talk fast mom is out. She listened whenever she’s home.”

Tara talked of mistreatment and abuse by parents and siblings in texts to Linda Russell (Steve’s mother) in July 2018, but denied meaning any of it when AFC Jackman confronted her about it.

“My Mom is furious I want to leave and stopped getting me dinner last night and have no car to drive – so just eating cereal for past 48 hours.”

“They love Evie so much – my mom doesn’t ever want her to leave.”

“It really only gets bad when I say I want to leave”

Tara made further pleas around the time visits began in September 2018 with Delia Farquharson, a court-appointed supervisor, but told Delia when her mother was present “things are fine now.”

In February 2019, Yoanny Lora, a court-appointed Supervisor from Comprehensive Family Services (CFS), noted that Evie would cry when someone from the Walsh household would come to the car to pick up Evie after a visit. She asked Tara to keep everyone in the house and that she would walk Evie into the home to reduce her stress upon return to the Walsh household.

When on the stand in Court for a child support hearing on 2/7/2019, Tara complained that she and Evie were being kept together in a small and cold room in the attic with little heat and no suitable crib, despite the home’s ample and large bedrooms. “We share a small bedroom in their attic... it’s actually like freezing up there all the time, so I have like a small heater in the room for us... My daughter’s been sleeping in a temporary crib. She has like a temporary set of drawers... We share a bathroom with three of my other siblings.” A new crib has since been purchased and Tara and Evie possibly were moved, as well, though it is difficult to tell as no further discussion of the matter is permitted.

Tara has been diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder and Bipolar Disorder and the court ordered Tara to live at her parents’ house. Without informing the court, however, she recently elected to stop her own treatment. This detail came to light at a separate support hearing on 2/7/19. “My therapist was $2,000 a month, which my parents were helping me pay for, but I had to cut that down. Now, it’s just $1,000 a month, but I really can’t afford it, so I’m going to have to stop that.”

This decision is in direct contrast to her doctor’s emphasis on professional care. One of her doctors told her she was at risk of psychosis if she did not continue her anti-psychotic medication Seroquel. This is the same medication Tara testified to secretly drugging Steve with in San Francisco in 2018. Her psychiatrist in San Francisco recommended a higher standard of care for her in 2018 as well.

Tara’s parents are aware of the importance of her continuing treatment. While living there, however, Tara isn’t getting the professional help she needs to move out and be a healthy parent to Evie; instead she’s becoming increasingly dependent on her own parents. Steve Russell and Steve Walsh discuss Tara’s Borderline Personality Disorder diagnosis and how to best help her in a text exchange on 6/4/18:

Steve Russell: Tara fired her doctor yesterday and says she will be flying back today at 3pm. She also says that she has been planting stories of abuse and mental illness for months and that I would “regret” breaking up with her and that she intended to deny me of my rights as a father. Alternately she begs that I not ‘break up with her.’ She is not acting rationally, sobs for hours, requires a lot of help with Evie, and absent you coming to get her I don’t think it’s safe for her to fly or be alone with the baby right now. I am talking to Dr. Gopal today to get his advice. From a legal standpoint I am being encouraged to press charges against her for drugging me and conspiring to run off with the baby and quite a bit of my money under false pretenses. It is still my very strong recommendation that she be checked into full time care and I’d like you, her attorney or a different psychiatrist appointed to act on her behalf in what is increasing looking to be an awful and ugly battle of Evie.

Steve Walsh: I’m at a loss for words – not sure what I can say or do at this point

Steve Russell: Her running from this diagnosis is creating the situation she fears most. I’d ask you support me in getting her into a facility or fly out here and talk/meet with everyone before deciding to help her back to NY if that ends up being what is best

Steve Walsh: I will do my best

Steve Russell: This and other research on BPD has been helpful to me in explaining what Tara is going through and how to best help her. (Texts YouTube video.)

Steve Walsh: Will take a look

Tara’s hesitancy towards treatment can also be seen after a conversation with her father. On 6/5/2018, Tara texted Linda Russell, Steve’s Mom: “I’m not ready to get inpatient treatment – it could be used against me.”

During previous moments when Tara was not getting treatment, two children were sent to the emergency room. Brie chronicled one experience in an email to Tara and the Walsh’s on 2/5/18: “You have yet to apologize for gravely hurting my daughter, who had to experience the trauma of being in the emergency room for eight hours the other night because of your carelessness.” In a separate episode, Tara’s daughter, Evie, suffered a head injury and was taken to the emergency room during an episode. Steve Russell was texting Steve Walsh during the incident, “Tara just dropped the baby on the floor.”

Events of August 2018 and March/April 2019 show escalation of both passive and active attempts to deny Steve’s visits with Evie

Escalation of passive denial

On August 20, 2018, Steve Russell flew from San Francisco to Westchester to visit Evie based on an agreement between attorneys. However, he did not receive any response to his calls or texts to visit his daughter. Two days later, on August 22, Audrey Courson, Tara’s attorney in San Francisco, sent an email saying that Steve could email Tara’s mother, Maura, to schedule a visit.

Steve subsequently sent the following email to Maura Walsh:

“Hi Maura, I am going to be in the area until the jurisdiction issues are resolved and brought Evie’s nanny Abby Tedla and a couple of other people to help me. We are renting a lovely house nearby and would like to begin by taking Evie to the park today and similar outing each day until we get the issue of overnight visitation resolved. Abby has agreed to ‘supervise’ pending any change in the visitation agreement or a settlement, and I assume there are no objections to that. Let me know what works best for you and feel free to call me anytime.”

Steve did not receive a response from Maura, but instead Steve Walsh sent an email to Steve’s attorney:

“Please direct all inquiries to me and this email. The email sent to my wife’s address was an intrusion and will be reported as such. You are also abetting what is clearly a harassment and intimidation campaign which I believe is in moral violation of your trade. I respect your client’s right to see his child but *I* also need to assured [sic] of Evie’s safety.”

On August 25, 2018, Steve Russell returned to San Francisco without having seen his daughter. On August 27, 2018, Tara Walsh stated through her attorney, Audrey Courson, that she “wants to leave her parents out of this moving forward.”

Another example can be seen in an email Steve Russell sent to the court on 2/8/19 after weeks working to schedule a time to see his daughter and flying to NY, then being told that Evie could no longer make the visits because there was a “family party”. “I have spent more than 3 of the last 7 months in Chappaqua and have seen my daughter for 5 hours, not for lack of love or competence or family or resources, but because a general failure of this process and adherents to simply put Evie’s interests first.”

Escalation of active denial

In March 2019, the Walshes were not explicitly confirming nor denying Steve’s visits with Evie. Steve was advised by his attorneys to notify them as per the court order, which he did, and then arrived with the supervisor.

On March 23 after being notified of the visit, Mr. Walsh followed Steve Russell from where he was staying at the Crabtree Kittle House and confronted him in the Walsh driveway, which was also the pickup location for Evie. The Supervisor described the incident in her report which is summarized here:

Upon arrival at the driveway, Steve Russell was texting to inform the Walshes they arrived. Steve Walsh pulled in behind them, walked up to Steve Russell, and angrily asked him to move his car. Steve Russell asked if the visit with Evie was happening and Steve Walsh replied that *THEY* had not been able to meet the supervisor and the visit wasn’t happening. Steve Russell calmly asked again and Steve Walsh again denied the visit.

Steve Walsh denied any incident when the police called him that evening. The police report states:

“I spoke with Steve Walsh who denies following Russell and states that if he had pulled in behind him it was only by chance. I advised him that if he was following Russell to stop immediately. Russell was updated with the results of my conversation with Walsh.”

Retaliation and intimidation:

On 3/27/19, Tara filed an order of protection against Steve Russell based on the incident at which she was not present and yet wrote about in the first person. Not only would Tara’s presence at the pick-up be a violation of the court order, her statement contradicts the court-appointed supervisor’s account, Steve Russell’s statement to police, and even Steve Walsh’s statement to police where he denied any incident. The immediate result of this was Steve and his partner, Kelly, being “swatted” by six heavily armed police officers with bulletproof vests at 12:45 am since she falsely claimed he had a gun. From Tara’s TOP:

“On or about March 23, 2019, Respondent (Steve) showed up at Petitioner’s home demanding to see the parties daughter, Evelyn Walsh (DOB 1/27/18) in violation of the parties court order dated January 30, 2019. Respondent became angry when asked to leave.”

However, Steve fully complied with the court order which states that,

“the Respondent shall have supervised visitation with the Child when he is in New York upon forty-eight hours’ notice to the mother. The Respondent shall have supervised visitation up to four (4) days per week, with each visit being at least 3 hours in duration, subject to availability of the supervisor… The Respondent shall be responsible for all pick-ups and drop-offs of the Child from the driveway of the Peitioner’s parent’s residence and petitioner shall not be present at pick-ups and drop-offs. If the Respondent personally picks up or drops off the Child, the Supervisor shall be present.”

A few days later a canister of roach spray or something similar was set off in the apartment, resulting in a rash on Kelly’s back/neck. She visited the doctor for treatment and Steve and Kelly filed a police report the next day.

On 3/31/19, Steve Walsh again followed Steve Russell and purposefully waited until he thought there were no witnesses before confronting him. Fortunately, Evie’s nanny was present. Again, a police report was filed.

Nanny’s statement from 3/31: “At the drop off of Evie I witnessed Steve Walsh pull up at the top of the driveway after the supervisor headed toward the house with Evie, so the supervisor was not there to see this. Steve Walsh exited his car and had a rude attitude toward Steve and proceeded to say that he was “bringing his kids home from school” on Sunday March 31st at approximately 5:30. Steve Russell did not respond and simply sat in the car to wait for the supervisor to return. Once the supervisor returned she asked if that was Tara’s father behind us and Steve Russell confirmed and we drove off the property. Steve Russell remained calm throughout the entire interaction with Steve Walsh.”

This was an escalation of the first physical case of harassment on 2/6/19, the night before the child support hearing, when the air had been let out of Steve and Kelly’s left front tire. The rental car company stated there was nothing wrong with the tire – they simply refilled it and rented the car again. The only explanation they could think of was that someone had deliberately let the air out. This was the first time a police report was filed.

Medical excuses: Maura Walsh took Evie to the doctor and claimed she was having terrible diarrhea 5x per day on March 28, but her doctor found no signs of diarrhea, fever, poor mood, or dehydration. The doctor diagnosed a possible intestinal infection even in the absence of any measurable symptoms based solely on the statement of Mrs. Walsh, who is an RN.

Physical irritants: A requirement that visits be ended early if Evie was “inconsolable” was insisted upon again to the supervisor before the visit on March 30th where Evie was found to have a dark red, raised rash under her chin. It was another item that Tara had mentioned to Jennifer Jackman. Evie was clearly uncomfortable because of it, but still generally in a good mood. The nanny noticed that the rash seemed to wipe off. After simply washing off the area it quickly subsided and was consistent with a physical irritant. The explanation given was bib rash, but it was another injury Tara mentioned to Jennifer Jackman – which is concerning.

Bruises: On March 31st, the last time Steve Russell was allowed to see Evie, she arrived with two strange patterns of bruises. They were discovered during her first changing – a pair of deep purple bruises under the elastic leg band of Evie’s diaper. The second was a set of four symmetrical bruises running up and down her shin. The first set of bruises was consistent with being pinched and the second set was consistent with being struck multiple times with an item the width of a spoon. Tara, the mother, and Steve, the father, both independently contacted Jennifer Jackman, Attorney for the Child (AFC) with their

concerns over the bruises. A few days later, when Steve learned that Tara had also reported the bruises and that Jennifer Jackman had not followed up, he filed a police report with the Newcastle Police. That evening when the police visited their home, Tara, when her parents were present, told police that the now faded bruises were perfectly normal – contradicting her earlier statement. The following day her story changed again. Her attorney sent a letter to the court on Tara’s behalf stating that there never were bruises, nor history of abuse, and claims the issue was purely made up to harass her family. No mention was made of the fact that Tara was the first parent to voice concerns over the unusual pattern of bruises.

Key statements and evidence about Evie’s bruises

Tara Walsh’s statement via Jennifer Jackman: Jennifer Jackman mentioned to Steve’s attorney over the phone that Tara was the one who complained about the bruises on Evie’s shin and neck on 3/31. This was the catalyst to go to the police. “With respect to ‘bruises’, I advised you that Tara reported to me that Evie returned from a visit with her father on Sunday, March 31 with a big bruise on her shin that was not there when she left for the visit. I told Ms. Walsh that it wasn’t unusual for a child Evie’s age to sustain bruises on her legs now that she is walking.” When Steve Russell followed-up to speak with Jennifer Jackman about the bruises she responded that it was now a “criminal matter” and advised Mr. Russell that he was late on her bill.

Nanny’s statement: “During my time acting as nanny on March 30th, I observed a raised, red and clearly irritated rash on Evie’s chin, hidden in her baby fat. Otherwise she seemed to be perfectly fine aside from having a ravenous hunger for the food we had for her. Both myself and the supervisor both noticed and discussed the rash and her hunger. On March 31st I acted as Nanny again and that day I observed a bruise on Evie’s left shin as Steve was changing her diaper. The day before I did not see a bruise as he changed her but on March 31st it was very visible. The Supervisor made a note of it and said she had to make a report of it. Steve mentioned he would follow-up and give her a bath the next time to check for any other areas. On March 31st she had the same ravenous hunger but the rash was less noticeable than it was the day before.”

Supervisor’s report: Mentions two bruises on Evie’s leg. States that there was a low level of risk and no safety factors during the visit – the only concern were the two bruises that Evie had arrived with.

Ongoing Efforts to Resolve Concerns Over Evie’s Safety

In October 2018, Steve Russell submitted a motion that has yet to be addressed, “requesting an order from this Court that Tara or the court provide me access to the filings in that emancipation proceeding. I am certain that the filings in that case will shed light on what was occurring in the household at that time, and raise significant concerns about the Walsh’s continued care for Evie.”

In March 2019, Steve Russell raised the issue again with Jennifer Jackman and this time involved the Newcastle Police Department.

After evading service, Steve and Maura Walsh were finally both subpoenaed to appear in court on 7/31/19 to discuss the living conditions in their home, Evie’s safety, and the TOP. Neither showed up. Despite being the sole witness in the TOP against Steve Russell, Steve Walsh wrote a letter directly to the judge, without the aid of an attorney, starting, “I believe this subpoena is yet another effort to harass and threaten my family by Stephen Russell and his attorneys.”

Conclusion

Much has been made of Steve Russell’s decision to “allow” Tara to live with her parents, considering that he felt they were abusive. The truth is that Steve did not know Mr. and Mrs. Walsh or their history. He met them once in the three years Tara and Steve dated prior to their daughter’s birth. Tara was estranged from them. They did not even come to San Francisco when Steve begged them to after Tara’s breakdown and diagnosis with Borderline Personality after being caught drugging Steve. Most of what Steve has learned about the Walsh family has been during investigations that occurred after Steve allowed Tara to visit her parents for what was supposed to be a 2-3 week vacation. Steve never consented for Tara to live with her parents beyond 2-3 weeks. In fact, he, together with a court order, explicitly demanded her return. The fact that she is still there stems from the fact that she violated a court order requiring her to return to San Francisco and the Westchester Judge forbade her from moving out based on concerns over Tara, but without any knowledge of the Wash family history.

The Wash family history is well known and well documented. Stories violence, alcoholism, and abuse span generations of the family. The stories are remarkably consistent and apply to biological and adopted children alike. In every case, the Walsh parents apply an abusive level of control over the lives of the Wash children. A child who disturbs Steve or

Maura Walsh’s sense of control is labeled “difficult” and “mentally ill” and prescribed a cocktail of drugs that is commonly used throughout the family, at levels that are extreme. They are physically assaulted and forced to endure severe and humiliating punishments. And when they cry for help, they rarely get it because the Walsh parents, in a perverse reversal of logic, use the diagnosis of disorders they helped to create as reasons to ignore their children’s pleas and then present themselves as dutiful victims raising ‘difficult’ children. And then the cycle continues, as it did when Tara did the very same thing to Steve Russell (i.e., drugged and gaslit him).

So while his visits are being denied and he is personally unable to check on her, he is working with the Court and police to ensure Evie’s safety.

Appendix Available on Dropbox

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4glplwsoqtz79yg/AADZVbt6YYRJN6hON5cQpk0Fa?dl=0