CONFIDENTIAL

Relations/Interviews with Zenith Elaine Helton, Id. No. 201092-3539

In accordance with a Decree by the District Court a visit was paid to the Marbakki Nursery School to fetch Zenith on Tuesday 21 January, 1997. The decision was made to fetch her at the Nursery School rather than fetching her at her home because, according to documentation to which the Criminal Investigation Police (RLR) had access, her grandmother, Connie Hanes, could lose control of her temper if she felt under pressure. It was not considered advisable that the child would be a witness to such an occurrence.

At about 0930 hrs notice was received from RLR, which had been watching the Nursery School, that Zenith had arrived. The undersigned went along with the Head of the Family Department to fetch the girl. Before that time contact had been made with the Assistant Head of the Nursery School and the situation had been explained to her. Upon arrival at the Nursery School Zenith was playing with clay and the undersigned sat down by her and talked with her about what she was doing and how she liked the Nursery School. She seemed very calm in spite of the fact that she was talking to a complete stranger. She was then told that she would have to go on a visit with the undersigned and she agreed to that immediately and went with the undersigned to get her clothes and accepted help getting dressed. She then said goodbye to the children and employees at the Nursery School. Upon arrival at the car the undersigned sat down in the back with Zenith and the Head of the Family Department drove. At the same time the shelter home was contacted and they were told to expect us. Zenith asked a little bit about where she was going and she was told that we were going on a visit, that everybody would be nice to her and she did not have to be afraid. She was also told that she would be told why she were going on a visit when we got there. She appeared to accept that for the time being.

Upon arrival at the shelter home Zenith said hello to the shelter parents and their children. The younger child, the elder one was in school. Two dogs were at the home and Zenith was immediately content with them. There were also lots of toys and she went right off to play and did not want to talk about why she were at this home. The undersigned remained at the home, but the Head of the Family Department went quickly to take care of other things. As noontime approached the undersigned sat down with Zenith and talked to her about why she were at the home. The subject was approached by talking to her about her family and finding out how much she knew about circumstances. It came to light that she knew who her elder sister is, who lives with her mother Kelly, on the other hand she did not seem to know who Kelly was. She was then told that she had another mother who wanted to meet her, and she had been looking for her a long time and she had now found her. Hereto she answered, "But my mother's name is Connie". The undersigned said that was right, but she also had another mother who had missed her a lot and was coming to Iceland to meet her. Until she arrived she would have to stay with Thora, a shelter parent, what did she think of that. She agreed thereto without further ado and did not want to talk about this matter any more. She said, "You will tell me why tomorrow". Just after 1200 hrs she was asked whether it were in order that the undersigned left and she would remain at Thora's and she said yes thereto. Until this time Zenith spoke almost exclusively Icelandic. At about two o'clock the undersigned called Thora to check on how things were going. Thora said that things were going well, her elder daughter had come home from school and Zenith had told her that she was going to sleep at her home that night. She appeared to be stable and played and seemed happy. She had not asked about her grandmother whom she calls mom. After having discussed the matter on a professional basis with Thora the shelter mother, who is a Social Counsellor, a decision was made not to confuse the child any more with more visits at this juncture. The undersigned called the shelter home about eight o'clock and again about ten. Both times things with Zenith were doing fine and on the latter occasion she had fallen asleep.

On the Wednesday at about 0930 hrs. the undersigned telephoned to see how things were doing with Zenith and then she still remained asleep. Thora said that she had slept well during the night, waking up a little whining about seven o'clock, but falling asleep again forthwith. Thereupon she had woken up again just after 0800 hrs. and went to the toilet, back to bed and fallen asleep. The undersigned visited the home at about 1030 hrs. and then obtained information from Thora to the effect that Zenith had said that she had been in the stomach of another woman when she was little and that lady's name was Kelly. She told this in English. The undersigned sat down with Zenith and talked to her about this. It was revealed that she knew about her elder sister and had seen photographs of her and also that she had been in the stomach of another woman, Kelly, but she said that she had seen pictures of her. The undersigned now told her that this woman who had had her in her stomach had been looking for her everywhere and had now found her. She lived in America and she would be coming to Iceland tomorrow to meet her. Zenith wanted to know why and she was told that she had come to Iceland with her grandmother whom she called mommy and Kelly had not known about that, but had been looking for her. Whereas she had found her she wanted to see her and get her. I know, Zenith replied and would not discuss this further. It was decided to leave it that at the present stage, but to continue after obtaining pictures of Kelly, her mother. The undersigned then remained at the home until 1345 hrs., following Zenith's progress and playing with her. She appeared to be in somewhat good balance, playing with the toys and the dogs, smiling and laughing. Following upon the meeting at the Embassy at 1500 hrs. the undersigned telephoned Thora in order to enquire about Zenith. All was in order with her, she had actually started whining a little and asking about her mother, Connie, but ceased as soon as she got Thora's attention. She was now playing. Whereas the police had arrived at the home the undersigned wanted to know how Zenith and her own children had taken this and Thora said that they had taken it well and not enquired specifically about it. She said that she had told her elder daughter that she would explain this to her later.

On the Wednesday it was discussed whether or not it were sensible to allow Zenith to say goodbye to her grandmother, Connie, before she left the country. It was the opinion of professionals that this could cause more disruption in the child than not, particularly since she now seemed to be somewhat stable considering the circumstances, considering that it was deemed somewhat certain, according to documentation, that the girl's grandmother could not get to reasonable grips with the matter and make the departure easier, but that she would, in all probability, make the departure more difficult for the child.

On the Thursday morning the undersigned went to Zenith at 0910 a.m. She had gotten out of bed and was playing. She saw to it that both the undersigned and the custodian parents and both the policemen had enough to do. She was playing with a balloon and wanted us to play with her one at a time. The undersigned talked with her a bit about the fact that now Kelly, her mother, had arrived in Iceland by airplane they would be meeting. She wanted to know why and again the same thing was gone over, that she had been looking for her and now she had found her again. "I know", answered Zenith and did not want to talk anymore. The undersigned left about 1230 hrs. and said she would be back later in the day. At 1330 hrs the undersigned went to the custodian home with clothing, pictures and gifts to Zenith from her grandmother and friends. The undersigned sat down with her and went over the pictures which were of her grandmother Connie, her husband and son. Zenith never spoke about Donald as papa, but said that Michael was her brother. The facts of the matter were gone through again and it was explained to her who her mother and who her grandmother were. Also that her mother had come to meet her and take her to her sister who lived in America. "I'm not bad", answered Zenith. The undersigned told her that she were a good girl and that Kelly were also good. "I know", she answered.

The undersigned now went with the Head of the Family Department to the Embassy to talk with Zenith's mother, Kelly Helton. She looked good and was preoccupied over her daughter's being prepared as well as possible for the reunion of mother and daughter. She had pictures which were taken while Zenith lived with her and these pictures were of the mother and daughter along with Zenith's older sister. Kelly was also very preoccupied over telling us that she had a Counsellor at home in Scottsdale who was going to assist her with making the changes as easy as possible for Zenith and the family. She also said she had been to a psychologist for the last four years with a view to working on her own matters and she said that then she particularly had in mind her relationship with her mother which had been difficult for many years. Kelly said that she lived in a house having four apartments with a beautiful garden. There were also at the home a cat and a hamster, besides which they expected a dog, but were waiting to get it until Zenith comes so she could be in on the choosing of a dog. Kelly said she were a hair and cosmetologist and worked at the job part-time. She said she had one full-brother who lived near her and he also had children of similar age as herself. She also mentioned other relatives, the sister of her mother. After the interview with the mother it was decided how best to go about bringing Zenith. It was decide that the employees of FK would come in the back door with her and would thereupon get a chance to prepare her for the reunion with her mother, explain the cameras and get used to the environment before Kelly came into the room.

The undersigned then went back to the custody home with the pictures and talked to Zenith in private. She explained to her who were in the pictures and where she was going. Tears come into her eyes and she said:- "I am not bad". She was told that she were a good girl and that Kelly were also good and fond of her. No one would do her any harm, but now she would live with Kelly in America and it were a long way away. She was going by an airplane and would be a long time on the trip. Then she said that she would be bored and she was told that she could watch video and play on board the airplane so she wouldn't be bored and she could also rest. "But Connie is my mother", she said. Again it was explained to her that Connie had brought her to Iceland without her mother's knowledge and she had been looking for her everywhere. Perhaps she could not remember when she lived with Kelly, but Kelly were fond of her and was looking forward to meeting her, her sister were also waiting for her to come home to America. "I know", she answered and appeared to feel better. We look at the pictures again and talked about who were in the pictures and she seemed finally resigned to what was coming and went to play with the balloon with the help of the adults who were there. The discussion took place in English since it seemed easier for Zenith to speak about these matters in that language, although in other cases she spoke to the undersigned in Icelandic.

On the way to the Embassy we talked about what was coming and then she said again that she is not bad. The undersigned repeated that she were a good girl and then she said "yes". It was also reiterated that Kelly were good and fond of her and wanted to take her to meet her sister in America. Zenith appears happy with that explanation.

When we arrived at the Embassy at 1930 hrs. we went in by the back- door and up to the room where the cameras had been arranged. Zenith made no complaints about the outfit. It was explained to her that she would have her picture taken when she met her mother Kelly since she had been lost for so long and her mother were so happy to have found her. "I know" she then answered. After a brief while when she had been looking around, we sat on the sofa Zenith in the middle and the undersigned and the Head of the Family Department on either side of her. Then her mother came into the room, and sat on the floor in front of Zenith and started talking to her. Zenith did not say much at first, but all of a sudden she said "May I see what is in the bag there?" This was a Barbie bag which she had noticed when she first came into the room, her mother stood up and got the bag and the undersigned and the Head of the Family Department left the room. The mother and daughter talked for about five minutes while the cameras were running and Zenith asked about everything between heaven and earth. The mother and daughter did not seem to have any difficulty in talking together.

About nine o'clock the undersigned went and discussed with mother and daughter where they were to sleep and asked Zenith where she was going to sleep tonight. "Here", she said and pointed to the bed in the room. "Where is Kelly going to sleep?" the undersigned asked. Then she glanced at her mother and then at the bed and said, "here". The undersigned asked whether it were in order that she went now and she would remain with Kelly and she answered "yes". She then went to her mother and asked her to come with her to watch a cartoon and so they did. They undersigned and the Head of the Family Department left the Embassy.

On Friday morning there was a call from the Marbakki Nursery School and the Head of the School wanted to get some pictures and things to Zenith. The undersigned talked to the Embassy and it was decided that the undersigned should bring the things. The mother and daughter had got dressed in their traveling clothes and were ready for departure. They had gone to sleep late the night before and had slept long in the morning. Zenith had slept well and seemed content considering the circumstances. We discussed slightly what was coming and she said she was looking forward to meeting her sister. The mother and daughter seemed to have established contact with each other through Zenith's sister whom they both were looking forward to meeting and had talked to on the telephone the evening before.

(Sgd.) Dagbjoert Baldursdottir Dagbjoert Baldursdottir

Youth Representative

This is to certify that I have corrected the foregoing text submitted to me and compared it with the Icelandic original and that it has been brought into con- formity therewith.

Reykjavik February 2nd, 1998.

--Name withheld by request-- Authorized Translator & Court Interpreter Reykjavik Iceland

Although this is an authorized translation, there was one mistake in the use of the word "were" instead of "was". Though it was only one mistake, it appears almost 2 dozen times in the text. Since this was an "official translation" other than it having been transcribed into web format and color highlight added, the original was transcribed "as is". Another 'unofficial' translation has been done and has only minor differences.