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A single mother, Mary Bridgetta Tomarchio, 45, has reported feeling traumatized after Southwest Airlines allegedly accused her of child trafficking while traveling with her four-year-old son from Florida to Ohio. Video footage captured the distressing moment when Tomarchio was confronted by two armed police officers at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on February 17, following a suspicious report from a pilot.
Initially perceiving the situation as a joke, Tomarchio soon became terrified as the officers questioned her and demanded proof of her relationship with her son, Lucian Merk. The 45-year-old publicist acknowledged the visual differences between herself and her blonde son, even mentioning that she had recently lightened her hair to appear more alike. Additionally, the mother and son share different last names, with Lucian using his father's surname.
Expressing her dissatisfaction with the incident, Tomarchio called for the aviation industry to establish a proper protocol to prevent such unjust accusations. She emphasized the emotional toll of being targeted based on unfounded suspicions and highlighted the need for a more considerate approach, especially for single parents with children who may not share the same last names or physical appearances.
Tomarchio, a Rapid Rewards member who frequently travels with her son to visit his father in Ohio, underscored the unacceptable nature of such accusations in the modern age. She urged the airline industry to adopt measures ensuring that single mothers and their children are not subjected to discriminatory behavior or unfounded suspicions during their travels.