On June 24, 2009 Christy Ragas received a phone call from her 26 year old son, Zachary Pittman. Little did she know this would be the last time she would ever hear from him again.
Now I know a father has pain when he loses a child, but a mother has more than just pain. A mother that has carried a child from the moment of conception to the minute they are born into this world, knows this child better than anyone else could ever dream of. Please don’t for one second think I am saying a father doesn’t have pain, I am only saying that a mother’s feelings are so different.
My case of course was different from Christy’s but when I had to bury my twin boys (they were born pre-mature) a part of me was buried with them. This was 28 years ago and I still have that feeling of emptiness inside me and even though not too many others understood why I couldn’t just move on, I would cry at night and walk the floor as the years passed by and when I have time alone I still cry for them. I had two other children after this and I love them dearly but I still grieve for my twin boys.
My point in bringing this up is because I grieve for two babies that I never had a chance to hold or cuddle with. I was cheated out of my right as a mother to raise the boys. Maybe this is why this case hit me so close to my heart. When I heard of the pleas from Christy needing help in finding her son Zach, my heart reached out to her. She is going through the kind of pain that I would not wish on my worse enemy.
Christy has lost her son. She looks at her granddaughter (Zachary’s daughter) who doesn’t understand where her Daddy is and I am sure she hurts even more. Christy knew her son better than anyone else. He trusted her to tell her everything that he did. He knew there was nothing he couldn’t talk to her about, no matter what the subject was. She had an awesome relationship with Zach and she knows he would never have walked away from her and his children. The first thing everyone wanted to know was if he was on drugs.
Some automatically want to know if Zach was using drugs. As I said Christy talked to him just a few minutes before he was last seen and she says he wasn’t talking like he was on an all time high. Should he be forgotten if he had been on drugs? NO! He should not be. What would you do if it were your son? Would you like for his case to go unsolved leaving you to have to live the rest of your life not knowing where he was or what happened within those few minutes after he called his mother and the police arrived at the home where he was.
Simon and I had the pleasure of meeting with Christy this past Saturday and I can say I honestly could see the pain in her eyes. I had to hug her when she got here because my heart goes out to her and so she knew we was here to do whatever we can do to help. This woman thought she was in this battle to find her son all alone til now. Thanks to all of you readers and the friends on Facebook she doesn’t feel that way anymore. The support from everyone has given her hope. She is fueled up and ready to fight more in finding Zach but now she doesn’t feel like she is fighting alone.
We have covered several missing persons cases on BNN before this and I remember several of the families immediately setting up fund raising organizations and somehow those funds remain a secret to those that donated as to where the money went to. Haleigh Cummings family did it, and so did Caylee Anthony’s family just as two examples. Christy has not asked anyone for a dime.
I am asking all of you to please keep Christy and her family in your prayers. Also please pray that someone that knows something will come forward with the information that could help locate Zachary. His mother needs to find him so she will know where he is. I can go visit my twins grave when I want to go talk to them but Christy can’t even do that right now, so if you know anything PLEASE call the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s office at 985-726-7836. If you are not comfortable talking to them feel free to email me at jannyo@gmail.com or my husband Simon at zzsimonb@gmail.com.
Please join us in this search by passing this around. The word of mouth is the best way to get this kind of information out. God bless you all and I personally thank all of you for giving your support to Christy when she desperately needs you. Simon and I will be keeping up with this case. We want more than anything to help give Christy and her family what they need. God bless her and her family and may God be watching over Zachary where ever he may be.
Jan and Simon Barrett
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29 users commented in " Missing Person Case – Zachary Pittman: From A Mother’s Point of View "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackJan,
Zachary Pittman’s mom is a very strong, brave woman and now a very blessed one to have you and Simon helping her in the search for her son. My heart breaks for her and also for your loss. You all have been added to our prayer list.
Now a question totally off point – I’ve been following the Haleigh Cummings case right here since the first day you and Simon posted the first article, and can not let this go – it has almost consumed me, a feeling I’m sure you are very familiar with. One day I’m convinced I’ve got this thing almost figured out and then BAM! one of these characters will say or do something and I’m right back to square one.
Can you or someone please tell me what happened to Tommy in court yesterday. I can’t find it anywhere on the internet – and I always depend on BNN for the latest news!
Jan
I dont know how to discribe the words I feel right now, I am truly thankful for a wonderful article and I am truly proud to call you my friend. They say in a lifetime you can count on your hand how many true friends you have, you and your family are ones that I can count. It was beautifully written and I appreciate it. I am sorry for your loss, I know we have talked about it, but I am truly sorry. Thanks again Jan and Simon may God Bless you and yours always.
Jessie, we thank you very much for your prayers. I agree with you about Christy. She is amazing.
And Tommy’s sentencing hearing has been postponed until the first part of next month, sorry I can’t remember the exact date right now. There has been no explanation given yet as far as I know.
Have a great afternoon
Jan Barrett
Chrisy I meant it when I said you were amazing. I would like nothing more at this moment for you to get what you need. I also feel I have found a lifetime friend in you too. Take care and remember we will be here for you
Jan Barrett
I will definitely keep Christy, Zach and family in my prayers. I have a son close to Zach’s age and I can’t even imagine how I would cope. I had not heard the story of Jan’s twins before – I am very sorry for your loss.
The question of drug involvement is valid. It gives one an insight into the mindset of the missing person. Was he a user? Was it an occasional thing? Was he hooked? How did drugs affect him? How did he get them? What was his state of mind? Was he lucid? Was he depressed? Et cetera.
For instance, a person using drugs because his world has collapsed would be putting himself in grave danger out alone. An habitual user, an addict, could possibly have gone out in desperation looking for a fix – again, putting himself in harms way, meeting up with violent drug users.
I understand a family being defensive when asked these questions (why is it important? shouldn’t you be out searching?) but these questions only help an investigation, not hinder it, if being asked by the right people for the right reasons. It’s always best to be honest with investigators.
Thanks for another fine article on Zachary. Parents who’ve lost children understand the need to find the missing child, the need to know what happened, and in the worst case scenario, to know he’s in his final resting place. It’s part of parenthood. We want to take care of our children, even in the end.
I pray for Zach’s mom and family and for you too Jan, you’ve suffered many losses and have gone through so much. I want to help so I don’t understand why I am being ignored. I’m just a person out here,I’m not an organization, I don’t ask for money, I do my flyers free and without even signing them because I don’t want people thinking about me I want the flyers to speak for themselves and people seem to respond to them. They are eye catching and they touch people enough to remember the face. I’ve written your email, I’ve left two messages in comments, you respond to others after my post, and I just don’t get it. I am really hurt that you won’t even respond. You simply ignore me and I don’t know why. Do you view me as a nut? What have I done wrong ? Please, please, let me know something. Being totally disreguarded in this way has me questioning myself if maybe what I do is a bad thing somehow. I didn’t think it was but you know something more than I and I would like to know what am I doing or have done that warrents being ignored, dismissed, and not treated like any other poster here. I’ve been doing this almost 3 years since Caylee went missing. I’d just like you to explain why the ignore?
Thank you for a very touching article Jan. OUr family as a whole has had some tough cards dealt us over the years, we lost both our parents at early ages within months of each other to cancer and etc. But I have watched, listened and been by my sister over this last year and have been so impressed with her strength. CHristy never once has waivered in her strong convivtion that Zach did not just walk away. A mother knows! Christy does not realize it but she has become my hero. I try hard to be strong and be there for her, but i have other distractions and engagements that keep me busy. She has all day, every day to do nothing but think about her son. SHe doesnt give up hope of finding answers and bringinghim home in one way or another. She makes phone calls, researches the internet, writed emails, etc trying to get support and help. I would probably roll into a hole have a pity party and cry at such circumstances. SHe is an incredibly strong woman. I love her an am very fortunate to be her baby sister, but even more so blessed to call her my friend.
Thank you everyone for your following this case, comments, support, and prayers. Thank ou to the volunteers who have helped w/ searches, the people who helped her make the flyers/signs, etc. PLease continue to pray and help spread the word. Lets bring Zach home!
n2kayaks1965 I am sorry for what your family is going through, it’s a difficult thing waiting, not knowing. I would like to make a flyer for Zach and I have some pictures to make it. After I make it I post it on my myspace page which has other missing people’s organizations and regular people like me who will pass it around the internet. Let me know, you can add my page http://www.myspace.com/dreamfinder1997 or email me at dreamfinder1997@yahoo.com Let me know. I’d like to help. Elizabeth
To Dreamfinder, Hi I am Zachs mom, I saw your post and I appreciate any help we can get. I emailed you but I dont know if it went through.If you wnat to post flyers of Zach go ahead with Godspeed! Thank you for caring and helping, our family.
Your so welcome, I’ll check my email and work on it tonight. God Bless! Elizabeth
Hi Jan,
Beautiful article and I’m so sorry for your loss. I know that many here, myself including, can understand the loss and the pain that will always follow you, no matter how many years pass.
Christy, my prayers are with you, your family and your son. I pray that you find answers, and that your son is found.
May I please have the address to your facebook page so that I can add it to mine and follow you there?
I’m so glad that you have hooked up with Jan and the BNN family. A wonderful, caring group of people with huge hearts!
J
Hi, thank you so much, Zacharys fb page is under Missing Zachary Pittman. It will have updates and articles on him. My fb page will be under Christy D Ragas, I appreciate your interest and concern. I am very glad I hookded up with Jan, Simon and the BNN family. Thanks again and God Bless you.
Jan,
Thank you so much for the beautiful article. I can only imagine my sister’s pain. I know my own and hers is 100 times that I’m sure. She has had to endure so much uncertainty and you have given her the hope that we haven’t been able to. For that I am truly grateful. I know I have felt such helplessness not being able to give her any answers or for others not assisting her. Zach and Christy have an extremely strong bond. It’s so painful for her to not have that communication with him. She has to look into the eyes of his little girl and remember he isn’t here any longer. Of course, she is also Zachary’s legacy and we all feel connected to him through her.I hope with all of this exposure something will happen as a result. We can only continue to pray for answers and thank God for the wonderful people like you, Simon and Rob who are helping my sister. I love her with all of my heart. She has no idea how much strength she really has. I will continue to be her sounding board, support and just plain ole big sister or whatever it takes. Thanks again.
Thank you Jan & Simon for helping Zach’s family and being a voice for them in seeking answers as to where Zach is at. Jan, I lost twin boys 2 and so understand your pain the only thing that helped me through the years was understanding first my boys belong to God and were gifts to me! Knowing that God took the home and that he loves them as much as I do has helped me cope with the pin and grief through the years. They woul have been 35 this past June, so prayers for u 2 Jan. angel blessings Sass
My prayers are with all of you and your losses. I am praying for Christy to find Zach and be able to heal the best she can. If someone took Zachs life; I pray for Justice.
Jan, you and Simon are really awesome people. God Bless you both. Gods Speed
In all fairness I have to thank my brother, Rob for leading me to Christy. I saw his message on Facebook where he was asking for everyone’s help in passing the word around about Zachary so I got in touch with him and offered our help on BNN. So he gave me her email address to talk to her and I thank him for that.
I know with everyone’s help the word is spreading more and more and hopefully one day the right person will see it that has some kind of information about what happened to Zach. We plan on keeping this on the internet as long as we have to.
Thank you all for your support of Christy and her family. I can assure you that this family is not one that is looking for fame and fortune. All they want is to find out what happened to Zachary. I admire Christy for her love and strength she has for her son. I pray everyone will continue their support until we get the answers she needs.
God bless you all! My prayers are with Christy and family!
Praying for chirsty, and her family. Hoping to bring Zach home!
Dreamfinder! If I have ignored you I honestly haven’t done it on purpose. I am so sorry. I will send you an email and talk to you about this. But I do not always get to read these comments because of the volumes I receive daily on here. I try to keep up with them but can’t always catch everyone of them. Please accept my apology if I have upset you because the last thing in the world I want to do is to hurt anyone. I thank you for offering to help.
To Christy, Dreamfinder does some fantastic work so I hope you can work with her for her flyers. I have seen many of them that she has made, and I have to admit she is good.
Once again I am truly sorry.
Jan Barrett
Thank you Jan and Dreamfinder,
I responded to Dreamfinder that anything she could do to help, please do, I really appreciate it. Jan thank you for the posts, I can only keep thanking you. But I will be home soon and we have a date, Simon too! I will talk to you later, I actually have internet at this moment, imagine that! I have been calling Corey all week, I am hoping he chasing that lead we talked about. I wanted to tell him about the search we are trying to get together. Yall have a great day and God Bless you and all the people who have spread the news about Zachary.
Dreamfinder does beautiful, beautiful work. I have always loved to see her poster/fliers for all the missing person cases. They are bright and beautifully done. You can tell they are done with love. Thank you Dreamfinder for all your hard work! Anyone with a missing loved one is lucky to have you working for their “team”!
And Christy, I went to Facebook last night and found your page for Zachary and also your page! I will now help spread the word and hopefully with the BNN family working with you, we can find some answers that you and your family deserve! God Bless You!
Thank you so much J and many thanks to you Dreamfinder for offering to help spread the word. I am looking forward to seeing your flyers. Thanks again and have a great day.
Beautifully written Jan! My heart goes out to Christy. I am praying for her every day.
Wow I am touched and am relieved, had me worried I admit. lol I’m glad people like my flyers and I should have it done tonight and will get half the posting done tonight and the other half tomorrow night. God Bless and Let’s find Zach!
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh125/Dreamfinder1997/ZachPittman.jpg
Zach’s Flyer :*)
DREAMFINDER your flyer is beautiful, thanks for taking the time to do that for Mr. Pittman and his family.
Just listened to last Sundays program, Christy must be so strong to be able to go on air and talk about something so heartbreaking, Mr. Pittman must be so proud of his mom.
To Dreamfinder
THe flyer is so nice, I hope you got my message on fb, thanks so much for such beautiful work. May God Bless you for all the work you do to help families like mine. Thanks again for all your help.
Sorry about that one post with the article in it, I don’t know how that happened…?
Love how my posts were deleted. I wasn’t lying.
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