Chapter 4 - VANESSA’S FIRST HUSBAND HAD NOT BEEN INVESTIGATING ONLY CHILD ABUSEJulian Cross came from money.
Not flashy wealth.
Old Boston philanthropic money.
His family created the Crosswell Foundation, a private charitable foundation funding foster care, pediatric mental health, and residential programs.
Vanessa worked there during their marriage.
So did Marcus.
Marcus had been chief operating officer.
Julian served on the board.
Then Mateo came to live with them temporarily.
That was when Julian began noticing something.
Vanessa’s treatment of Mateo was one problem.
The foundation’s payments to certain residential behavior programs were another.
Large grants.
Repeated.
Minimal documentation.
Several facilities shared consultants.
One consultant:
Marcus Bell.
Julian suspected self-dealing.
Not millions disappearing directly into Marcus’s pocket.
More subtle.
Grant-funded vendors paid consulting companies connected to relatives and friends.
Services might have existed.
Pricing questionable.
Conflicts undisclosed.
Julian started an audit.
Three days before he disappeared, he signed an affidavit documenting both:
concerns about Mateo;
concerns about foundation transactions.
Same witness:
Marcus.
Why would Marcus witness a document implicating himself?
Because the copy I had was not final.
That became important.
Marcus told investigators Julian asked him to witness only the family portion.
Later pages were added.
Possible.
Forensic document analysis would determine.
May you like
Again:
Do not overclaim.
