Thanks for all the advice. I'm working with a lawyer now, waiting for a response from him. This whole thing is a nightmare.

I used to post on these forums but it's been a while. Long story short, my spouse ("Luke") stormed out of our home after an argument, took our children an hour away, and won't allow me to be with them. It's been more than a month now. "Luke" has filed paperwork full of lies to get temporary custody from the court (I have not been able to offer any defense yet) until a full hearing. That paperwork was only filed to preempt me, because I threatened to report "Luke" to CPS after I learned one of my sons was being abused after they left (I have photos). The last time I spoke with that son he told me he is still being abused. If I file a report now it's unclear whether I will be granted custody, given the outstanding case, or put into foster care which I do not want. But I don't want my kids to keep suffering either. What to do? I am lonely and heartsick. We have a baby girl I am especially close to, and "Luke" isn't even letting her talk with me. When she was allowed to talk she would cry every time the phone was taken from her. I didn't think "Luke" was capable of hurting me and our children like this. "Luke" used to say we are albatrosses, but albatrosses mate for life. I never thought "Luke" would leave me, much less resort to such selfishness and vindictiveness. The only thing I can think is "Luke" is suffering some kind of mental breakdown. "Luke" has talked about suicide in recent years, and has even mentioned having thoughts of killing our children. I didn't take it too seriously - "Luke" never took concrete steps towards any of that - but I never would have thought this recent cruelty was possible either.