Over the objections of his mother, Zachary was declared legally dead today. His father filed the petition earlier this month, seeking “closure” and also wanting to collect on Zach’s $20,000 life insurance policy. Mom insists that Zach is still alive. I think she’s a tad delusional.
Zach has been missing since 1996, when he was ten years old. Authorities have good reason to believe that he was butchered and eaten by super-scary [alleged] child serial killer Nathaniel Bar-Jonah, who was responsible for God knows how many deaths over the years. Bar-Jonah was actually charged with Zachary’s murder, but the charges were dropped for lack of evidence, in part because of Zachary’s mother’s campaigning. Fortunately, Bar-Jonah is no longer wasting oxygen; he died in prison in 2008. He was in prison not for murder, but for sex assault. I don’t think he was ever convicted of a single murder, but they know he did a lot of them. Zachary appears to have been one of the last, maybe the very last.
The Charley Project Blog 
My God. I cannot imagine – or even begin to imagine – how it feels to attempt to think that your child was butchered and then eaten. She CAN’T think anything else. If she does she’ll probably drop dead. There is no way I could know that and go on living. I doubt I even could if I had another child to live for. I’d end it all. That is so far off into crazy it’s not even on the charts.
Jesus. This world is…. I don’t know what it is.
Yeah, no wonder she is in denial, though closure must be so hard when you have no body anyway…
There would be no way I could not be in denial. No way. The quote someone put in another comment is all good and fine but they could have me. My everything. My brain isn’t equipped to handle that type of information.
It’s horrifying that something like that is in this world and not in some type of zombie fiction. I read a lot and I read a lot of non-fiction, a lot of what some people call “mis-lit” (short for misery) and a lot of what I’ve read by these people, recalling their lives, is far more harsh than anything in the fictional stories I’ve read. it’s frightening and I’m starting to understand the people who say they haven’t/aren’t going to have kids because they don’t want to leave them in this world. 😦
Eva, I have noted elsewhere that the parents of missing children tend to die young. I don’t think any studies have been made, but I’ve seen a lot of cases and I’ve seen a lot of parents dying (of natural causes) in their fifties or even sooner. The mother of Sofia Juarez, a four-year-old who was abducted in 2003 and never found, died at only 26, and earlier this month I noted the mother of the missing child Tania Murrell died suddenly at 55. I think it has to be grief as well as the stress and uncertainty of not knowing the child’s fate.
I saw that about Murrell’s mother. That would be quite an interesting study I think. It’s hard to even think about but since I’ve read this it’s been on my mind a lot. I honestly think the only thing that could even *maybe* keep me going is another child dependent on me. It pains me to say that because I don’t believe in suicide, I don’t believe in just giving up but how mauch can one person take?
It’s bad enough to have to fall asleep at night, wake in the morning, go through your day knowing (or possibly NOT knowing) that you’re child was killed, was beaten, was molested, raped, etc. but to add butchered and EATEN to that is actually unimaginable for me.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – this world is getting more frightening by the day.
By the way, all of these comments with the info on the pigs is news to me – very enlightening!
….eaten???
Zachary’s father has accepted the fact that his son is probably dead and yes even eaten by Bar-Jonah. As much as I advocate look for missing children, even long term missing children, in cases such as this I believe acceptance is best. Not only for the “missing” child but also for those left behind. Patty Wetterling said it best in a previous interview,”You cant let the person who took you child also claim another life. You cant have my marriage, you cant have my other children, and you cant have my belief that there is more good people in this world then bad.
That is a very powerful quote from a very brave and selfless woman.
His mom must of had quite an influence if her insisting Zachary was still alive could of played such a big part in getting the charges dropped, even with lack of evidence. I mean they had to of had some evidence to start with or they wouldn’t of filed charges.
You know what’s realy scary? Bar-Jonah is supposed to of fed human remains to his neighbors without them knowing it. He probably got his biggest thrill out of fooling them like that.
There’s been several cases in Russia and therabouts where killers have sold their victims as meat on the black market. And nobody knew. Well, I guess how would they know? How could you tell human meat anyway?
Albert Fish (another child serial killer and cannibal) said that it tasted like veal.
There have been a few studies on the long-term affects of cannibalism on the human body (on the cannibal, that is). Human beings are not meant to eat other human beings. Apparently, one of the things that happens if you eat other people on a regular basis is that you start to emit a peculiar smell.
Do I want to know what kind of smell it is? Probably not.
Some tribes in the Pacific call humans long pig and say we taste like pork.
They say that the body of a pig is remarkably similar to the human body. In fact they have even used pig parts (like heart valves and stuff) in human bodies. I wouldn’t be surprised if we tasted like them too.
Not planning to find out though.
In the Middle Ages, human autopsies were prohibited, so medical students learned on pigs instead. (This was only in Europe – the medical schools in the Middle East/Northern Africa cut people up just fine.)
At the Body Farm in Tennessee they use pigs to help them learn how humans decompose in different ways. They use people too, but pigs are easier to come by.
I don’t understand why people consider the bit that he was eaten to be the worst thing. I would be more concerned about the pain and suffering the boy endured before he died. If he had been eaten by an wild animal, I don’t think there would be such an outcry.
I’m not advocating cannibalism and I think it’s disgusting, only to be condoned when there are no other alternatives to starvation, but frankly, it’s not the worst thing that can happen to someone.
The reason people consider that the “worst thing” is because it doesn’t happen nearly as often as everything else. That’s why you’ll hear more about a case where, say, a child was buried alive than a case where a child was killed.
Sadly, children are killed every day. However, not too often are they eaten or buried alive or some other like situation.
That’s why this gets to people even more than some others things that happen.
And actually, I think it IS one of the worst things that can happen to someone. Imagine being the parent or sister or brother or cousin to someone who was a victim in this way. That takes away a lot of what could be used for comfort later on from the survivor. No place to visit and grieve your loved one for one. Imagine the thoughts that would race through your mind, the questions.
That’s why people look at this like that, IMHO.
I am Zachary Ramsay’s Mother!!! All the evidence the authorities had acquired came back negative (the blood, the tissue, the hair & the bone) it DID NOT…I repeat…DID NOT match Zachary’s DNA. There never was any actual concrete evidence…just assumptions and theories based off his past history of abducting children…and by the way he never killed any!! Nathan was not the only child abductor/molester residing in the area, just the one targeted to close the case. I, being Zachary’s Mother, need IRREFUTABLE/FACTUAL CONCRETE EVIDENCE to authenticate Zachary is dead. There NEVER has been and so I have NEVER given up the belief MY SON IS ALIVE nor will I EVER give up searching for him!!
There is an abundance of information that was never allowed to be made available to the public…the public was and still is being manipulated to believe Nathan Bar Jonah was the abductor/cannibal of my son.
Zachary’s father stated in court a few months after Zachary’s abduction that he believed Zachary was dead and had no desire to pursue any further investigation of Zachary being alive.!! The father needed the Death Certificate to collect the money from the matured life insurance policy. This is MY SON…I could not nor will I ever give up on finding Zachary!!!
Aware of the fact most of you are ignorant to the ENTIRETY of the instance eases the distress of the disturbing judgments/allegations and comments posted on the web and discussed amongst each other. If one of you could apply your thoughts and efforts to HELPING FIND Zachary how commendable and grateful I would be for such support!
Many may not understand my FAITH in God but GOD DOES and he has blessed me time and time again with enlightenment that MY SON IS ALIVE!!!
Many Blessings,
Zachary’s Mother..Rachel
Rachel, first I feel the need to tell you I’m sorry for this world we live in, where mothers and their children can even be put through something like this.
Second, I don’t blame you in the least for wanting PROOF before believing anything. Everyone is different but I know I’d want the same. I wouldn’t be willing to swallow some reasoning about my child without the police PROOVING it to me.
Third and about the comments on-line, most people comment because they care about stories such as these. I know myself, I prayed hard the night I read this, for you, your son and your family, that Zachary be found alive and well.
One of the reasons I know to be as careful and observant as I am with my 6 year old daughter is because I read the news and other stories and am aware of what goes on.
Lastly, I’m not sure what you mean by helping to find Zachary. I’d love to help you find Zachary. I’m sure most, if not all, of the people that frequent this site would agree. How is one supposed to do this? I’m not in an authoritive position. I live in Delaware. I don’t know you or your family. I have no money to give. How could I help, besides what I’ve already done, which is pray?
I think you misunderstand the comments from some people. It’s understandable because you’re looking at them in a different light. But the fact of the matter is most people would LOVE for your son – and ALL of the missing children in this country and world – to be found. Commenting and speaking about it in forums and sites such as this one aren’t hindering that. If anything, they’re keeping the lines of communication open. Keeping Zachary’s name in people’s heads. I’d never heard of him before the date of my first comment here.
I would try to understand that and try to understand that reading something like this hurts us too, even if we are removed from it.
I hope you find your son. I hope every single mother out there who has a missing child finds them. It breaks my heart to think about it. I will continue to pray for you and Zachary, as well as the others.
Dear Marie….Your prayers are exactly the help I need…for God is my help and my confidant!! Also keeping your eyes and ears open to anything that may lead to his whereabouts…the more eyes I have helping look and ears to listen the greater the opportunity for finding Zachary!!!
Many Blessings to all & Thank You!!
Hello Rachel, I think about your son time and time again, Zachary, I always have looked up children that have been abducted for years, When I was younger I just wanted to know why, so I just look up all cases, and its still mind boggling to think that there are horrendous people in the world that do these types or atrocities, If you believe Zachary is still alive, I hope someday soon you or someone can find him safe and everything be happy again, To you Rachel, stay strong and I hope you do find your precious angel Zachary. My many blessings to you, and my heart goes out to you and Zachary, may you find him soon. Andrea
Life insurnace money is used to bury someone and the expenses that come along with that.. Not to make 1 wealthy after someone’s demise. Does child support cease while the child is missing but not found yet? If the child now adult reappears life insurance goes back… Child’s demeanor when he left – were their any extras hugs, special love ya etc. Hold on to the faith until you know otherwise.
I just can’t wrap my head around this. That poor family will never have any peace, I couldn’t imagine what that has done, especially being a mother. It would be so hard to live everyday knowing that you may never find the answers you so desperately seek.