DAYTON, Ohio -- The e-mails came by the dozens.

One opened with: “I don’t know where to begin.”

They were letters that came from mothers and fathers from the Miami Valley in response to a WHIOTV.COM story about child support enforcement.

It featured Kim Robinson of New Carlisle, who sought $35,000 in back child support and $50,000 in back medical bills from her ex-husband.

The responses ranged from support for Kim to outrage at the system.

Many women detailed how they are owed thousands of dollars in back support and yet have little hope of seeing it ever paid.

Tanya wrote: “I have no faith in the system and just really have given up.”

One mother, who identified herself only as “Mad Single Mother,” told the story of finally receiving a check for $700, only to be told later that it must be repaid because it was issued in error.

Others vented frustration with their ex-husbands who have fled to other states and frequently move from job to job.

Cheryl added: “How do you deal with losers like this, when responsibility isn’t anywhere near their vocabulary?”

In Greene County, one woman said she was so frustrated she hired a private company to find her ex-husband, even though it would cost her 28 percent of anything she might receive from him later. So far, the company has not produced results.

On the other side of the controversy, several parents said the coverage and the court system itself have been one-sided.

Doug called the coverage “unfair and unbalanced.”

He agreed with non-custodial mothers on one point. “The system is badly flawed and in need of an overhaul,” Doug said.

Stacey, of Warren County, voiced support for many of the enforcement changes made over the last 10 years. Those changes include driver’s license suspension, seizure of bank accounts and declining passport applications.

“Imagine what could happen if this state truly enforced such sanctions. Perhaps there would be fewer folks needing to utilize the welfare system currently in place,” Stacey said.

One man offered his solution to the problem: make it harder for people to get married and divorced.

Jim.otte@whiotv.com