On Aug. 4, 2004, the Associated Press reported that Mary Kay Letourneau was released from prison early that day after serving 7 1/2 years for second-degree child rape (Cook, 2004). Letourneau, now 42, has said that she wants to reunite with Vili Fualaau, who was a sixth grader when the two first became lovers and is now 21. As a part of Mary Kay's conviction, a court order was instituted forbidding her from contact with Vili Fualaau. However, on August 6, 2004, the Associated Press reported that a Superior Court Judge in King County lifted the no-contact order (Modbee.com). Team Amber Alert has commented that the two now plan to get married.
The couple has two daughters, ages 7 and 5, who are being raised by Soona Vili, Fualaau's mother. The girls have visited their mother in prison regularly. After their marriage, Mary Kay and Fualaau plan to seek full custody of their biological children (Team Amber Alert, 2004). Letourneau's four older children live with their father Steve Letourneau in Alaska. They have seen her less frequently then the Vili children. Rich Calder and Gregg Olsen for an article in the New York Post note that Letourneau would now like to restore a relationship with her four older children. The Post quotes Cristina Dress, a jailhouse friend, “Her [Letourneau’s] priority right now is her children … She made it crystal clear she's really into her kids right now.” Relatives feel fairly certain that Steve Letourneau will attempt to block these efforts (Calder & Olsen).
While Vili is a high school dropout and unemployed, Letourneau, on the other hand, has the potential to make a great deal of money, as she is allowed by law to profit from selling her story. Jim Beistle, Chairman of Team Amber Alert, is quite infuriated by the idea of Letourneau profiting from all of this. He writes, "It is time for America to stand opposed to any book or movie deals. We must send a clear advanced message to the entertainment world that America will boycott any production that glorifies, in film, a story that portrays a 35 year old woman seducing a 12 year old boy and subsequently ends with a reunited family” (Team Amber Alert).
Cleary the controversy surrounding this case is a long way from settled. Further, nothing has been said about whether Mary is required to continue treatment for her bipolar disorder.
References
Calder, R. & Olsen, G. (2004, August 10). Let Me See My 4 Kids.
Cook, R. (2004, August 4). Mary Kay Letourneau Freed from Prison.
Modbee.com. (2004, August 6). Judge Lifts No-Contact Order in Mary Kay Letourneau Case.
Team Amber Alert. (2004, August). Mary Kay Letourneau Alert.
