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Mother and son in sexual relationship 'forced to go into hiding' | Mother and son in sexual relationship 'forced to go into hiding' |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A British mother and her son, who have admitted to having a sexual relationship, have gone into hiding following warnings they could face up to 15 years in prison. | A British mother and her son, who have admitted to having a sexual relationship, have gone into hiding following warnings they could face up to 15 years in prison. |
Kim West, 51, and her son Ben Ford, 32, who live in Michigan, have been in a relationship since 2014 when they met for the first time since Ms West put her son up for adoption a week after he was born. | Kim West, 51, and her son Ben Ford, 32, who live in Michigan, have been in a relationship since 2014 when they met for the first time since Ms West put her son up for adoption a week after he was born. |
The couple are now in hiding after warnings from US authorities they would be forced to investigate their relationship if made aware of it by the public , according to the Mirror. | The couple are now in hiding after warnings from US authorities they would be forced to investigate their relationship if made aware of it by the public , according to the Mirror. |
In Michigan state consensual incestual relationships between adults are a third degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Those convicted are required to sign the sex offenders register for life. | |
A spokeswoman for Michigan State police told the Mirror she was “not aware” of a complaint regarding to the couple. | A spokeswoman for Michigan State police told the Mirror she was “not aware” of a complaint regarding to the couple. |
Ms West, from Islington, became pregnant while studying in California and gave her son up for adoption aged 19, after which she returned to the UK. | Ms West, from Islington, became pregnant while studying in California and gave her son up for adoption aged 19, after which she returned to the UK. |
In December 2013, Mr Ford – who at the time was married and living in Colorado – wrote to his mother in an attempt to track down his biological parents. | In December 2013, Mr Ford – who at the time was married and living in Colorado – wrote to his mother in an attempt to track down his biological parents. |
Two years later, Mr Ford, a freelance computer coder, left his wife and began to live with his mother in Michigan. | Two years later, Mr Ford, a freelance computer coder, left his wife and began to live with his mother in Michigan. |
The pair told the New Day their relationship is not incest, but Genetic Sexual Attraction (GSA) – sexual attraction between close relatives who meet first at adults. | The pair told the New Day their relationship is not incest, but Genetic Sexual Attraction (GSA) – sexual attraction between close relatives who meet first at adults. |
The term was coined in the late 1980s by Barbara Gonyo, the founder of Truth Seekers in Adoption, a Chicago-based support group for adoptees and their new found relatives. | The term was coined in the late 1980s by Barbara Gonyo, the founder of Truth Seekers in Adoption, a Chicago-based support group for adoptees and their new found relatives. |
In a book written about the subject, Ms Gonyo says romantic and erotic arousal maybe the delayed consequence of “missed bonding" that normally takes place between a mother and her new born infant, or between siblings, had they not been separated by adoption. | In a book written about the subject, Ms Gonyo says romantic and erotic arousal maybe the delayed consequence of “missed bonding" that normally takes place between a mother and her new born infant, or between siblings, had they not been separated by adoption. |
Ms West said: “This is not incest, it is GSA. We are like peas in a pod and are meant to be together.” | Ms West said: “This is not incest, it is GSA. We are like peas in a pod and are meant to be together.” |
Mr Ford added: “When I met Kim, I couldn’t think of her as my mum but instead as a sexual being. | Mr Ford added: “When I met Kim, I couldn’t think of her as my mum but instead as a sexual being. |
“I had seen a therapist at an adoption support group and had learnt about the GSA phenomenon.” | “I had seen a therapist at an adoption support group and had learnt about the GSA phenomenon.” |
The couple say they would like to marry and have children. | The couple say they would like to marry and have children. |
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