Caretaker fights to get 2 abandoned boys into school

Sam Restifo says the children, now 14 and 12 years old, were dropped off at his home in February 2025 by a woman he did not know. He has been caring for them ever since in a home on Holland Avenue that currently has no running water or electricity. (Credit: WJRT via CNN Newsource)

SAGINAW, Michigan -- Two boys living in a Saginaw home have no school to attend as the new school year begins.

Sam Restifo says the children, now 14 and 12 years old, were dropped off at his home in February 2025 by a woman he did not know. He has been caring for them ever since in a home on Holland Avenue that currently has no running water or electricity.

“They have nobody, the mom is missing pretty much, they have no dads that are in their life, never had Christmas presents,” Restifo said.

The home was owned by a friend of Restifo’s who passed away five years ago. Restifo says he has been trying to save the home but faces challenges.

Restifo and his family members say they have reached out for help trying to get the two boys enrolled in school as the new year starts. They have been told without guardianship papers, they cannot get them enrolled in a district.

“I’m not a parent, I can’t do anything for it,” Restifo said.

He says the mother is not helping. The last time he spoke with her, she said she was working for a carnival.

Restifo believes the mother still lives in Michigan. He says the boys’ former principal from a Bay City school has had police check on the boys, and police have come, but nothing changes. Child Protective Services has been to the home as well.

“They ended up giving me a six month power of attorney, said I could get them into school with it, and the school said no,” Restifo said.

Restifo says he owns a gutter company, but times are tough. There has been no running water at the home for some time, and recently, the power was shut off. He is using a generator for now.

Restifo’s main goal now is to get the children into a school together.

“They are terrified of being separated, they have no one but each other, and me,” Restifo said.

Restifo and his family have been trying to get into the Carrollton or Bridgeport school districts, but so far have had no luck. ABC12 reached out to Child Protective Services about this situation but did not hear back.