WSVN — His father is accused of murdering his mother when he was a child. Now as an 18-year-old, he is trying to get a birth certificate but can’t without a state ID — but can’t get that without a birth certificate. Confused? It’s why the call came in to Help Me Howard with Patrick Fraser.
As you watch 18-year-old Raul Villafanez skateboard you might think a typical happy teenager and then you hear his story…
Raul Villafanez: “I was in middle school at the time.”
Raul was in an eighth grade class when a friend came to take him home.
As they pulled up in front of the families’ Opa-locka apartment, Raul found out why he had to rush over.
Raul Villafanez: “Back in 2010 my father killed my mother and my cousin.”
On April 29, 2010 Raul’s father was accused of murdering Raul’s mother and his cousin.
Raul Villafanez: “It was rough. I was confused, lost. I had no idea what was going on.”
For the next five years Raul lived with family and friends, eventually graduating from high school. Then he says he realized what he wanted to do…
Raul Villafanez: “It hit me after high school: I want to become a police officer.”
But to go to through the training to be an officer, to get a job to pay for it, to get a car, he needs a drivers license. And that’s when his unusual story takes another strange twist.
Raul Villafanez: “To get my birth certificate I need a Florida ID card. To get my florida ID card I need my birth certificate. It’s not that easy.”
That’s right. To get a drivers license, you need a state-certified original birth certificate. And to get the birth certificate, you need that state issued ID.
Raul Villafanez: “I explained the situation at the vital records place and the guy was like ‘We never had anything like this. He has no idea what he can do.'”
His original birth certificate disappeared when his mother’s apartment was cleared out after her murder. His father went to jail, leaving him alone to try and solve this.
Raul Villafanez: “It’s really complicated for such a simple thing. It’s really complicated. Basically, at this time I am a John Doe. Nobody knows who I am. I don’t have an ID card.”
No ID, no original birth certificate and no luck in getting either one. Howard, can the state do this to someone?
Howard Finkelstein: “Yes they can. But there are avenues to solve the problem. One, hire a lawyer and sue the state. But that can get expensive. But the best and cheapest way is to work directly with the department of vital statistics, who has the authority to issue a certified birth certificate.”
Sometimes you can get frustrated and make fun of Florida’s government agencies, but this time the Department of Health was amazing. Ken Jones with their Bureau of Vital Statistics asked me to gather any information Raul had. We sent a copy of his high school student ID, a copy of his birth certificate from the school, and his North Miami Senior High transcripts with a note from his guidance counselor that read “Raul attended school and received his diploma in June 2013.” I mailed it off. A few days later, Raul says an envelope came for him with the certified document.
Raul Villafanez: “I opened it up and saw my birth certificate and was so exited. I can go and get my identification. I am not a John Doe anymore.”
He can now prove he is the young man named Raul Villafanez who can now pursue his dream of becoming a police officer.
Raul Villafanez: “It was giant mess and thanks to Patrick, I got it right here.”
Glad we could help Raul. And the people at the Bureau of Vital Statistics said if you are having a problem like Raul did, work with them like we did to get the birth certificate you need.
Raul still has some hurdles. He now has a job and his first plan: earn some money to be able to afford to get a drivers license, then save up to get a place to live and pay for the classes to get into law enforcement. Good luck, Raul.
A disaster left you searching for help? Wanna ID someone who can help? Contact us. We don’t issues certificates, but we do hand out original solutions hopefully.
With this Help Me Howard, I’m Patrick Fraser 7News.
If you are having a problem getting a Birth Certificate, contact VitalStats@FLHealth.gov
CONTACT HELP ME HOWARD:
E-mail: helpmeHoward@wsvn.com (please include your contact phone number when e-mailing)
Reporter: Patrick Fraser at pfraser@wsvn.com
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