Tammy Rief, mother of internationally trafficked child, declared mother of hte year

Tammy Rief has sacrificed her freedom, her career and much of her life, in an attempt to rescue her son trafficked through California into Australia and who knows where. Tammy and her son Jonah used to live a happy life with her parents in Alabama. But then a man known as Brian Sullivan AKA Kevin Sullivan claimed to have been married to Tammy. Tammy has never been married and Brian is not related to Jonah. Brian managed to obtain a false passport for Jonah and entered Australia with the boy on February 26, 2013. In March, 2013, nude pictures of Jonah appeared on the Facebook site of Sara Francis AKA Sara Frances AKA Denise Glasier AKA Denise Sullivan, who had accompanied Brian and Jonah to Australia. Jonah has not been seen alive since.

Despite death threats, Tammy pursued the matter with the State Department in an attempt to save her son. Suddenly, she was grabbed and held prisoner for 91 days without any notice of why she was being held. She was the victim of secret hearings presided over by Kenneth So in San Diego and hidden away under a false name whilst she continued to received threats. She was repeatedly told to give up on her son. She was even told at points that Jonah was dead. But she did not give up and she is seeking the return of her trafficked child, whom she has proven she loves more than even her life.

Prayer vigils have been held internationally. Concerned civil rights activists are hopeful that Jonah will still be found safe and returned to his mother. There are reports of a tie-in to the Antony Kidman murder and sex trafficking scandal and this has increased the fear level among authorities looking for the child and among Jonah's and Tammy's supporters.