Is There Hope When A Loved One Is Missing?

By Cynthia Caron

When a loved one goes missing it is important to always offer hope. Even when the circumstances may appear to look grim, who are we, as people, to decide for a family of a missing loved one that "things will not be good?" We cannot determine an outcome will for surely be a bad one.

Hope is what makes life bearable when times are difficult and more so when one is living with the fear of what has happened to their missing family member. It is important, that no matter how difficult it may be, to maintain hope. This can be achieved by surrounding oneself with caring people who are there to listen, comfort them, provide a shoulder to lean on and offer hope. Hope is a definite positive.

Love can create hope when families see none. This is such a profound statement and is most especially important for those having so many unanswered questions with aching hearts of needing to be able to hold and know their loved missing is safe. While nobody can change what may have already happened, we can help the family keep their stamina through hope. No, we cannot provide a miracle, but we can provide love. There are a number of ways that friends, extended family and colleagues can offer to help the family. One can offer to help hang missing posters in the community for the family or even simple offerings of bringing dinner to the family or help with babysitting. Every gesture is appreciated and the more love the family receives the easier it is to bear with their pain and fears.

Hope is expectation moderated by realization that nothing is certain. This is so true and we’ve all seen cases in which a missing loved was located safely that we surely thought was not going to have a good outcome, as well as those we felt would be located safely and were not. Again, we are mere mortals and nobody can guarantee an outcome with certainty.

The belief in a positive outcome, is hope. Therefore, nobody should ever tell a family of a missing loved one that hope does not exist and certainly not by law enforcement or any advocate who work with families of missing. Hope is an emotion, a needed bar to grab onto when one feels they may fall. It is what enables all humans to wake each morning to face another day. Nobody has the right to ever take away another person’s hope.

If you believe in miracles, then hope always exists. No matter how grim, no matter what the evidence may suggest it has happened time and again in which miracles have happened. Even those who may not be religious have to admit that they’ve seen, read or heard of miracles in which a positive outcome came from a very grave situation.

Hope is faith. While I personally believe hope is faith, not everyone holds a religious perspective and so I would like to say that for those who do not have the same belief as I, to think of your hope as a personal journey, within yourself, to whatever place in your mind that you can go that helps to bring out the positive encouragement for yourself and your family. Faith can be from your personal religious beliefs, or can be from your own self-positive comforting measures.

The light within us is hope that pierces the darkness of doubt, fears and discouragement. Think of infants that are just learning to walk. Do they have hope? Absolutely! They have doubt, fears of falling and even may feel discouraged but something within them, some may call it determination but I call it hope…hope and the excitement on their faces when they toddle a few steps with their arms raised and always with a smile on their faces. So when things look bleak, when all may seem ominous know that as long as you have hope…the days ahead will be more manageable.

Always hope. Should things turn differently there will be plenty of time for sorrow.

AN UNFORGIVABLE CRIME – The Donna Jou Story

By Cynthia Caron

Beautiful Donna Jou, age 19, pushed aside her college books and decided to grab a quick bite to eat. The beautiful 78 degree weather that June day in 2007 made indoor air conditioning feel refreshing. Donna, an honor roll student on the Dean’s List at San Diego University had decided that she needed to be ready to meet with a young man named Sinjin Stevens whom she had exchanged email messages with since late May, early June. Donna met Sinjin on Craigslist where she advertised as a Math Tutor to help earn extra spending money during her own college days. This was not unusual for Donna as she always volunteered or helped others since her early teen years.

Donna graduated from Clear Lake High School in May 2006 with a GPA of 4.4 and SAT scores of 1,570.
She was tutoring mathematics during her last two years of high school and donated over 100 hours of her time to help her fellow students. She also worked full time as a volunteer in St. John Hospital's Pathology Laboratories under direction of Dr. Moore in the summer of 2005. Donna had a fondness for all people in need so it was very proud moments for her family to know that she also supported the Interfaith Ministries as a volunteer including collecting nonperishable foods from grocery stores and delivering to food pantries for those less fortunate. That was who Donna was. A caring person who always wanted to do well and help others.

She also was quite brilliant. During her senior year at Clear Lake High School, she took a course named "Independent Study Mentor ship” under the direction of her mentor, NASA Senior Scientist,Dr. Deborah Harm. Donna studied Neurophysiology, Vestibular System, Spaceflight and negative effects on astronauts' balance upon their return to earth at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the Johnson Space Center ,Houston, Texas. Shortly after she was admitted to the NASA's Summer High School Apprenticeship Program. As well as baby sitting for the Battered Women Shelters, she has volunteered as a cashier in the Bay Area Turning Point Resale Shop in Nassau Bay, Texas in support of women shelters. The pretty teenager had a full life and many happy days to look forward.

Most importantly, Donna’s dream was to become a Neurosurgeon. However, that was not to become. Her life was cut short on that beautiful evening of June 23, 2007. All dreams and ambitions came to a halt that eve, while her parent’s and sibling’s nightmare began.

Around 5:30 p.m. Sinjin Stevens showed up to pick up Donna on his motorcycle. However, he was not named Sinjin and was actually a man named Steven Burgess, a convicted child molester who was supposed to be registered in the state of California.

Donna grabbed her books and hopped on the back of Burgess's 1981 Yamaha motorcycle outside her Rancho Santa Margarita apartment. At the same time, her family leaves for dinner and watches the motorcycle exit the 241 at Portola. At 6:08 p.m., Nili Jou, Donna’s mother, receives a text message from her daughter's cell phone that read "Battery's dying. I'm in San Diego. Be home soon. I love you Mommy.” She smiled as she set her cell phone down. She knew her daughter was very responsible and still loved when she called her “Mommy.” However, as any mother will tell you, a deep nagging thought bothered her and she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.

The next morning Donna was due to be at her classes and at work. She did not show up. Friends looked around and realizing that Donna was not in class began to worry. Donna always texted her small circle of close friends and had she been ill, she surely would have sent them a message. At the least, the young responsible young woman would have asked her friends to gather her needed assignments. When Donna did not show up to work it was a certain sign that something was not right. Upon realizing that she never came home Donna’s parents began making frantic phone calls looking for her. They immediately filed a report with the local police department. Fear gripped their hearts. Maybe she lost track of time? Perhaps she and the man she was to tutor were in an accident? No matter the thoughts none were good. As the days moved forward without their beautiful daughter and sister, Donna’s family was in a terrible state of shock. How can their daughter just disappear from the face of this earth? If ever a responsible and wonderful person, why their beautiful child? Where was Donna?

The Orange County Sheriff's Department began their search of Donna’s computer and entered her into the NCIC FBI database for missing persons. An intense investigation began and soon Sheriff's officials narrow their search to a man named Steven Burgess aka Sinjin Stevens. The license plates and descriptions of his Ford Ranger pickup and motorcycle are publicized as well as his photograph. It was soon discovered that Burgess’s roommates reported seeing him pack up his truck with cardboard boxes and that was the last they saw of him. A few days later, a citizen finds a plastic tool box stuffed under bougainvillea vines about a mile and a half from Burgess's house. Inside the box are the vanity license plates "SINJIN 1" from Burgess' truck, a black motorcycle helmet, rubber dishwashing gloves, rope and a scrub brush. The family’s heart was gripped in a state of shock. Could he have abducted Donna and taken her somewhere? Is she drugged and tied up? They were relentless and would not sleep and barely ate and would not until their child was safely brought home.

On July 9, a little over two weeks since Donna became missing, the Orange County sheriff's investigators and members of LAPD's Robbery and Homicide Division
return to Burgess' house and spend hours interviewing his roommates and searching the property.
Several knives are found in a backyard cabinet and were processed to be tested for blood residue. Meanwhile missing posters have been hung in every possible high-trafficked area hoping that someone will recognize Donna and have the needed answers for her return home. There was very little doubt in the minds of the investigators. Donna was not going to be home safely.

Steven Burgess

Investigators worked around the clock to locate Steven Burgess and soon found him in Florida. He was extradited to Los Angeles and booked into the LA County Jail. Bond was set at $250,000.00 on a host of charges. Burgess was able to make bail and proceeded to flee the state of California. On September 30 he was once again located in Florida under an assumed name of Logan Anderson. He had a fake ID, drivers license and social security card. He was extradited once again back to Los Angeles where his bail was now set at $500,000.00. Because Burgess was supposed to be registered as a sex offender; and did not, along with other felony charges, on October 10 he was sentenced to 3-years in prison. None of the charges related to the disappearance of Donna. Ongoing searches for Donna was conducted and led by the Trinity Search and Rescue team. They searched, along with over 198 volunteers, the Santa Monica mountains for any signs of Donna. She was never located.

A full year went by while Burgess served time in the California Correctional Institute and a Grand Jury investigation was called and throughout the process it convened with a confession from Steven Burgess. On March 14, 2009 Burgess released from Prison (for charges un-related to Donna), was re-arrested and brought to LA county Jail to stand charges related for the disappearance of Donna. He was arraigned & charged with killing Donna Jou, bail set at 1,000,000.00. Donna’s family retained the famous lawyer, Gloria Allred and while they had excellent representation Steven Burgess chose to dismiss his lawyer and represent himself at trial. Burgess was brought to court, he signed the paperwork to represent himself and waived his right to an attorney.

On May 06, 2009, further trauma was added to the heartache and pain of losing their beautiful daughter as Steven Burgess pleaded guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter and Concealment of Accidental
Death and claimed that Donna died during a self administered accidental drug overdose and that he panicked and dumped her body into the Pacific Ocean. Due to the fact that no body was found, to prove or disprove his story, he was sentenced to only 5 years in the state prison and 3 years probation! Groups marched outside the courtroom for justice but justice was not to be served!

Protesters demand to know “Where is Donna?”

The family and friends of Donna were horrified! They knew that their daughter never would have taken drugs willingly and certainly would not have joined in any type of “partying” and her death was no accident! Donna’s father, Reza Jou, hired an independent team to do water searches hoping to find the earthly body of his daughter to bring her home for a proper burial. Donna’s mother lived in a state of shock. How can the very same system that she swore to uphold while making her American Citizenship fail them?

Donna’s family live with the pain every day since that awful morning of June 24, 2007 when they realized their child was missing. Compounding that grief was the injustice that the very person that Donna set out to tutor, who in their eyes and in the eyes of many, was clearly responsible for them to never see Donna’s beautiful smile, her happy disposition and her kind and caring soul ever again. Further adding to the horror and pain, it was learned that of the 5 years sentenced that Burgess would be released, on good behavior, two full years before his five year sentence was completed. This was determined without a parole hearing and was automatically granted.

Steven Burgess is due to be released in April 2011. In a public letter to his daughter, Donna’s father writes “I have and will continue to do whatever is necessary to maintain my strength and courage throughout this ordeal. While I have many days when my world seems to be spinning out of control, I counter that with a sense of hope that you will still one day return to us. Even against all odds and even when things seem not to be going our way, I keep in my memory and I know in my soul that miracles really do happen and that justice will ultimately prevail.”tat

Donna and her father, Reza Jou

Donna and her mother, Nila Jou

How much more pain can this family endure? In my many conversations with Donna’s parents, one thing is clear. They will stop at nothing to be sure the public is aware that Steven Burgess is about to be released and warns that the residents of California needs to know that a cruel sick man is about to be released onto the streets to perhaps one day cause harm to another child. This is the outrage that they are facing and pray that no family ever has to experience what they’ve endured. They know that Steven Burgess may have    committed many more crimes that have not yet been reported and they ask if any young person, who now may be of age, to please come forward. If any victims of Steven Burgess, who may have been molested, to please come forward and make those charges public. It is known that a predator does not stop and that many victims are in the past of predators and molesters and if any those potential victims can find the strength to please come forward, Donna’s family needs you. They need all possible charges of crimes that he’s committed to be accounted for before he is released into the world to commit more monstrous crimes against others. They also ask if anyone has viable information on what happened to Donna to please contact authorities.

FURTHER INFORMATION CAN BE READ ONLINE AT: http://www.donnajou.com

Donna Jou

$15,000 Reward for any information in finding Donna Jou.

If you have any information regarding Donna please

contact your local police department or call:
Los Angeles Police Department at 213-486-6900

The Dangers Of Using Date Of Birth on Missing Love One’s Posters

By Cynthia Caron

It is very stressful and difficult for a family when their loved one becomes missing. Many times the first thought is to get a poster made and start hanging in the neighborhood. This is a good thing, however, it is not a wise situation to place a missing loved one’s date of birth on a missing poster, internet banner or website. While this has been standard practice for many years, LostNMissing Inc. is trying to change that practice.

At LostNMissing, we never post publicly our missing loved one’s date of birth. We believe it is an easy target for someone to steal the identity of a missing person. At the same time, it can literally throw an investigation off in the wrong direction.

Let’s take for example when an adult becomes missing. For one, the police sometimes have the mentality that “adults have the right to go missing” and shouldJane Doe go missing from Colorado, and her identity becomes stolen and credit card purchases start happening in Ohio, it can waste valuable time on behalf of the police in having to prove if in fact that is Jane Doe. Worse, they may simply tell the family that “your daughter is alive and well and living in Ohio and because she is an adult and has the right to go missing we are going to close the case.” Can you imagine?

I do not understand the point in putting someone’s date of birth on the missing poster. Their age, yes. Absolutely. Should a loved one be missing for a couple of years, one could update the poster with Jane Doe, 22 at time of missing in 2008. Age 24 in 2010. That is all that is needed. I especially become very concerned when I see children who are missing and their posters contain their date of birth! They are the easiest targets of all due to their “clean credit history.” Let’s hope police agencies and other missing organizations take notice and consider the practice of not adding date of births.


Cynthia L. Caron
President/Founder
LostNMissing, Inc
Cell: 603-548-6548
Office: 603-965-4621
www.lostnmissing.com

Who is Shannon Gilbert and Megan Waterman?

By Cynthia Caron 

The media is sometimes so full of short words and the words they use to convey a message can be biting and hurtful.  I am referencing two beautiful young women who are both missing loved ones and being tagged as “prostitutes” and “hookers” by some members of the media.  First I would like to state that while both may have made bad choices, their personal errors in judgment should not be what the public bases their opinions regarding these young woman.  They are both loved, both have families who are living a nightmare and would give anything to know that their daughters are safe, and at home.  Their families depend on you, the readers and public, to help find their missing and loved family members.

Because of the recent findings of four unidentified bodies on Gilgo Beach, in Long Island, NY, the police and media instantly jumped to the thought processes that the four unidentified women were prostitutes.  Because this was in a location that Shannon, who advertised as an escort on Craigslist, was last seen in early May 2010 and it was determined that the possibility existed that she was among one of the four.  At the same time, Megan went missing only 20 minutes away in Hauppauge, NY, in early June 2010,  and she also advertised as an escort on Craigslist.  Therefore, it was now thrust into the media that both young women may have been victims and that all four may be prostitutes. 

The media reporting of “hookers and prostitutes” is unfair to the families, and more importantly to Shannon and Megan.  While neither made good choices with choosing escorting as a means to earn money, the negative image that most people have as “hookers and prostitutes” are those who are living on the streets, may or may not have family support, are usually addicted to drugs and are beaten regularly by pimps.  Neither Megan nor Shannon lived that kind of life.  (Those who do live that kind of life need all of the possible resources available to them in order to help them. They are usually so despondent for drug money they will go to any length and are extremely vulnerable and many times have emotional and psychological traumas.  Prostitutes living on the streets need help, not scorned.)

I would like to present another side of Shannon and Megan.

Megan loves her daughter dearly.  Watching alongside her little one, she treasured the times spent watching Dora the Explorer,  Cinderella and Snow White.  Shopping for her and throwing beautiful “princess parties” was something Megan loved doing for her daughter.  She always looks forward to a family barbeque and get-together. Did you know she also loved roller skating and looked towards the days that she could teach her young daughter to skate? Or that she always looked happily towards family birthdays and loves the color pink.  Megan loves her music, is witty and always playing practical jokes on those she loves.  She has a gentle spirit, is passionate and trusting.  She would give the shirt off her back to a total stranger if they needed it.  Megan has a soft place in her heart for anyone who lived with disabilities.  She formed special bonds with all members of her family including distant cousins.  Megan loves all and is loved by all who’ve had the honor to know her.

Did you know that Shannon loves to sing and writes good poetry? She is an excellent cook and loves to give people gifts. Shannon graduated high school at the age of 16 and enrolled in Kaplan University.  She loves animals and once rescued a cat from an animal shelter that nobody else wanted. She was the peacemaker among all her friends, loves to read, loves shopping and would give away anything she owned that she could not put to good use.  She loves performing, telling jokes and laughing. Her friends and family say that Shannon cares about everyone to whom she befriends. She is a true “people person.”  She is best known by her family and friends as one who cherishes the good, forgets the bad and always treats others with respect.  Perhaps some of those so quick to judge should have some of the same attributes that both Megan and Shannon share?

Cynthia L. Caron

President/Founder

LostNMissing, Inc

Cell:  603-548-6548

Office: 603-965-4621

www.lostnmissing.com

Silver Alert!

By Cynthia Caron

Many ask LostNMissing Inc “What exactly is a Silver Alert?”  Most are under the assumption that Silver Alerts are specifically for the elderly who have wandered away from home.  In reality it is thankfully much more!  Many states include not only our seniors but anyone who may have cognitive impairments or developmentally disabled.  Our younger generation, usually over the age of 14, who have autism may also qualify should they wander and go missing.

The Silver Alert does vary from State to State and not all US States have adopted a Silver Alert program.  Some states, such as Connecticut, will also include those with mental or emotional disorders such as bipolar and schizophrenia.  Because Silver Alerts are relatively new in the United States many police agencies and the general public will need educated regarding the program provided by their individual state.  As of this writing, approximately 24 states are active participants in this program.  Many more states are in the process of presenting their state legislatures to petition for Silver Alerts or are in the process of implementing a program.

(*)26 states have Silver Alert or similar programs targeting missing seniors. 18 states have missing senior recovery programs that are formally called “Silver Alert”:

• Arkansas
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• New Jersey
• North Carolina
• Oklahoma
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• West Virginia

Additionally, 8 states have programs to help locate missing seniors that are not officially called “Silver Alert” but contain criteria similar to existing Silver Alert programs:

• Alabama, Missing Senior Alert
• Delaware, Gold Alert
• Colorado, Missing Senior Citizen Alert
• Georgia, Mattie’s Call
• Kentucky, Golden Alert
• New Hampshire, Missing Senior Citizen Alert
• Ohio, Missing Adult Alert
• Virginia, Senior Alert

Plus, 8 states have missing persons alert systems with broader criteria than conventional Silver Alert programs. These missing person alerts apply to larger categories of endangered persons, or apply to all missing people, regardless of age or impairment:

• Arizona, Endangered Persons Alert
• Minnesota, Brandon’s Law
• Missouri, Endangered Person Advisory
• Montana, Missing and Endangered Persons Advisory
• New Mexico, Endangered Person Advisory
• South Dakota, Endangered Persons Advisory
• Utah, Endangered Person Advisory
• Wyoming, Endangered Person Advisory

10 states have considered Silver Alert legislation in the past year:

• California
• Hawaii
• Iowa
• Massachusetts-House passes Bill to Instate Program. (July 2010)
• Michigan
• Nevada
• New York
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Wisconsin

Local law enforcement must activate a Silver Alert by following the criteria set forth in their state.  States that do not have a present Silver Alert may be close to implementing.  Massachusetts just voted and the bill is before the Senate and will then need signed by the Governor.   States that have adopted the Silver Alert have patterned their criteria by the Silver Alert Initiative which can be read here:  http://www.nasua.org/pdf/Silver%20Alert%20Initiatives%20in%20the%20states.pdf

The public can check with their local Alzheimer’s Association to find out if their state is close to having a program in place, or to even volunteer to assist with helping to get the program implemented.  Most all states that do have active programs  have been very successful in helping to locate those who have wandered away from home.  If you know a family who has a loved one who may potentially wander away from home, or have cognitive disorders, do help spread the word about the Silver Alert Program as the better educated those families are, the better chance that should their love one wander from home be located safely.  There are many programs that enable families to be proactive and register a potential “wanderer” ahead of time so that should they go missing a simple phone call and the police can have all the pertinent information on hand regarding the missing person. This can save valuable time and enable the police to actively pursue looking for their family member.  Some programs which offer free registrations are Missing Patient.Com, www.missingpatient.com , another is a private company (not a government agency) called National Silver Alert Programhttp://nationalsilveralert.org/.  There are also numerous products available to help keep track of those who may wander from GPS devices to alarms and even special shoes that have a GPS device installed in the heels.

Family and private caretakers, facilities, home health agencies and group homes should all be aware if a program exists in their state and also have something in place to help monitor their family member, or resident, as well as have as much information readily available including a recent photograph (preferable a head and shoulder photo) of those in their care.  Minutes count when a loved one with a cognitive disorder wanders away from home.

(*)updated information on statistics gathered from Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_Alert

Cynthia L. Caron
President/Founder
LostNMissing, Inc.
PH: 603.548.6548
www.lostnmissing.com

OPRAH, JANE VALEZ MITCHELL AND THE NANCY GRACE SHOW!

By Cyndi Caron

I’m going to be brutally honest here.  Families of missing loved ones have a better chance of winning their state lottery, or in receiving an all expense paid trip around the world, including flights and hotel stays, than they do of getting their missing family member on those shows. 


Why?  Because for one most of what is presented has been on schedule for weeks by the producers and writers as well as the already interruptions when breaking news happens such as the devastating Haiti earthquake.  Unless there is serious foul play involved, in which your local media is constantly portraying, and the surroundings of your missing loved one includes sensationalism, such as the spouse is a suspect who has been found to be committing adultery after your loved one goes missing and more so if children involved, along with your missing “Suzy” having a pristine background, it’s highly unlikely that her status will be aired. 
Unfortunately, it’s television.  The more scandal the better chance of your “story” being aired.


When is the last time you’ve seen a missing overweight runaway teen with acne, or a missing black male teenager portrayed on a nationally syndicated news or show?  Is physical beauty a necessary requirement to capture the attention of viewers?  Or as some African Americans will say “only white missing kids make it to those shows?” 


What about missing adults? Why aren’t they portrayed? Is it due to the wrong mentality that “adults have a right to go missing?”  Yes, nationally syndicated news agencies picked up on Ohio’s “missing mom” Tiffany Tehan, but that was only after it was realized she was spotted on video cameras weeks before with a mystery male. Yes, that story was indeed picked up due to the startling fact that missing mom was seemingly becoming a “runaway mom” leaving behind a church-going husband and her infant daughter. Personally, no adult has the right to go missing unless they are willing to notify their local police agency first. They have a right to leave, but to go missing? No.

So what are the criteria and how do families of missing get their loved ones on these shows?


Let’s start off with Nancy Grace’s show.  While at times her show can be quite interesting, it is nearly always about the same case over and again with “breaking news” that happened days or even weeks ago and already known from online readers.  While Nancy “gets to the matter” and nearly asks all the questions, that you the viewer want to know, her show is really not set up to portray multiple cases in an equal amount of airtime.  Shame because from those I’ve talked with would love to see each nightly episode featuring two new missing cases each eve with no carry over, unless real breaking news exists. This could then be announced in a brief comment prior to commercial interruptions.  Course, I’m neither an executive producer nor Nancy Grace’s producer so I will leave well enough said.  On a positive note, Nancy does have a great blog online that various cases and missing loved ones are portrayed.  There have been a time or two in which I’ve seen some of our LostNMissing loved ones’ banners posted and I welcome her staff to utilize any and as many as they like at any time.  Banners are not copyright and all we ask is that they are kept intact as designed when posted.


Jane’s show, which I find has a more variety of topics, along with entire teams of professionals who voice their opinions and present updated facts to a case, is also extremely difficult to reach as producers schedule either far in advance or very near or immediate to whatever has happened the day before.  It’s unfortunate as I feel her show is probably one of the most ideal to have a variety of missing loved ones portrayed.  I invite Jane’s show to go through our website and feel free to pick and choose as many missing loved one’s banners and flash on the screen before or after the show anytime.


Oh Oprah! I don’t know what to say other than its hard to explain to family members of missing loved ones that it is nearly impossible to reach Oprah or any of her producers.  Believe me, I’ve tried.  I think as a non runner I could win the Boston Marathon before I could achieve having a missing loved one portrayed on Oprah’s show.  It doesn’t matter that I personally beat Oprah, by one place, on the Ms. Twitterworld Contest.  I came in 16th and she in 17th place.  Even though she has over a million followers, to my 4300, you can bet I celebrated…a little anyhow. Did I really beat out Oprah on Twitter? I doubt it. For one, Oprah is so spread out far and wide with her many ventures that I really wonder if it’s Oprah tweeting anyhow.  It’s my guess that one of her hundreds of “assistants” represents her.  Or could it be that she was just “too kind” to tweet her followers to vote for her? Let the “little guy” win. Either way it doesn’t matter as it was merely a silly contest. 


What does matter is what are the true criteria that I can tell crying parents, in emotional turmoil, as to why nationally syndicated shows would rather use valuable airtime listing all the mistresses of Tiger Woods and Jessie James as opposed to listing even a handful of missing loved ones? Yes, even adults who are missing have distraught and grieving parents who beg for any airtime possible for their missing child.  Ask the parents of Jeramy Carl Burt, Brian Sullivan’s mom, or the family of missing Beverly Meadows.  They would give anything to have their loved ones portrayed.  Or the grandmother of 15 year old Peyton Borden, a young black male who bolted from an Illinois courthouse in the fall of 2009 after learning that he would have to go back and live with his father in Georgia, instead of residing with his maternal grandmother since his own mom was killed in a car accident when Peyton was only 8 years old, only to never be seen again!  Perhaps talking with the family of Thomas and Jimmy Zinza would be ideal.  Two brothers, both missing years apart.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Jimmy went missing in 1992 and could be living on the streets anywhere in the US and a nationally syndicated show could literally bring about recognition.  Thomas went missing, under strange circumstances from a hotel room in PA while traveling on business from Hawaii in 2008. Imagine the turmoil their family endures, it’s incomprehensible.


I will close this with a challenge.  Which nationally syndicated show will make contact with LostNMissing to offer to portray one of the many missing loved ones that we represent who has never received their much needed national airtime? Will it be Oprah? Nancy Grace? Or the Jane Valez Mitchell show? Stay tuned as I will update in my next report.  My phone line is open.


Cynthia L. Caron 
President/Founder 
LostNMissing, Inc.
PH: 603.548.6548
www.lostnmissing.com

Vulnerable Adults Who Go Missing

By Cynthia L. Caron

The passing of Sarah Rogers, 29, a young mother from New Hampshire who went missing and located deceased is not the first in which a loved one reported missing is remarked, by law enforcement, as "an adult has the right to go missing" to the family. Police had only entered Sarah's name into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) two days after Sarah vanished. Due to her emotional state she should have been entered immediately.  Had she been entered, the Maine State Troopers who happened upon her vehicle would have done a more thorough search upon knowing a vulnerable and endangered adult was reported missing.  Barrington, N.H., police said a statewide "BOLO" [Be on the Look Out] alert was issued the morning Sarah Rogers went missing. That warning would not have been seen by Maine police, however.

This happens far too often in all areas of the country. Yes, there are adults who decide to leave home or family members who may panic and report a loved one missing because they failed to call home or check in while living away or on vacation.  However, law enforcement need to really listen to family when they exclaim that their loved one "would not just go away and not make contact."  More often than not the family is correct.

According to a recent article by Susan Donaldson James, of ABC News, she reported a conversation with the President of The National Center for Missing Persons, now known as "Let's Bring Them Home", in which LaDonna  Meridith states "There isn't much attention [or care] put on missing adults cases in America because quite frankly, it isn't illegal for an adult to go missing,"  She also stated "We have the right to come and go as we please," she said. "Unfortunately, this mentality has crippled any system that is in place to help find missing adults." 

Many states with Silver Alerts have no provisions for those who have mental disorders who may be in a state of panic, such as Sarah Rogers.  It is the opinion of many that a revision needs to transpire and that the fate of Sarah be an example as to how important it is to have those with mental illness to be included in the alerts. There are many across the USA  missing who have similar conditions. Some of those which are listed at LostNMissing, Inc are:

Christina Whittaker Young, 21, who is bipolar and has anxiety and panic attacks  was last seen Nov. 13, 2009, leaving a local bar late at night after erratic behavior led to an argument with the bartender in Missouri.

Jamie Fraley, 22, who suffers from bipolar and anxiety and went missing on April 08, 2008, from Gastonia, NC after making numerous trips to the ER that day.

Thomas Joel Zinza, 44, a business man from Hawaii who disappeared from his hotel room in PA on February 16, 2008.  Mr. Zinza suffers from schizophrenia.

Adam Christopher Kellner, 34, who disappeared from his California home on November 08, 2007. Adam also suffers from schizophrenia and hears voices.

Emillie Hoyt, 23, missing since January 2006 in Florida. Suffers from bipolar disorder.

Mitrice Richardson, 24, missing since September 17, 2009 in California. Suffers from mental health issues.

If you recognize or see any of these missing loved ones, please go to the LostNMissing website at www.lostnmissing.com to locate the missing person’s banner with information so that you may contact the appropriate authorities.

What happened to Sarah Rogers? Was Foul Play Involved?

By Cynthia Caron

Sarah Rogers, 29, a talented artist and musician left her home in Barrington, NH in a frantic state on a cold snowy morning on December 13, 2010. 

Sarah, a loving wife and devoted mother to her toddler son suffers from a bipolar-schizophrenic condition.  Sarah discontinued her medications three weeks prior to her disappearance as she felt they inhibited her painting abilities.  She not only has exceptional artist abilities but also is a talented musician.   Her paintings have sold in various areas of the country.  Sarah also possesses a musical talent, both as a guitar player, singer and writer.  A very talented young mother, she has sung in coffee shops and has written her own music.  Playing the guitar and singing to her young son was a common occurrence in her household.  Sarah has aspirations to obtain a degree in music.  Until Sarah returns, the home she shares with her husband and toddler son has become solemn and the music has stopped.  Her unfinished paintings sit by the wayside and her hung paintings are reminders of her love and passion and the terrible sadness of her missing from her home. Sarah’s young son, Elias, holds his toy car keys, along with her purse, on his arm and runs to the door throughout the day as if to indicate he is ready to go and search for his mommy himself.

Sarah did not leave her husband and child willingly or with purpose.  She ran from whatever fear, paranoia and emotional duress that her mind was going through during a frenzied state.  A state of mind that she had no control over.  On the morning of December 13th family members were visiting and along with Sarah’s husband tried to calm her.  Her husband phoned 911 and at that point Sarah feared being hospitalized and ran out  the door and drove off into the cold wintry weather wearing only a light jacket, tank top, shorts and dress shoes without socks.  She had no cell phone with her.

Nobody knows if Sarah made any stops during the day or where she was headed.  All that is known is that Sarah ended up a full 2 ½ hours away from her warm and comfortable NH home and was in Maine.  According to records, it appears Sarah was driving endlessly and without a sense of direction or plan.  Due to a video camera stationed on the turnpike toll areas,  it was found that Sarah drove through the Maine I95 turnpike in circles.  Going northbound on I95 for a long period of time and then going southbound.  She would then go back again through the northbound I95 lanes.  The cameras snapped photographs of her license plate and the times recorded as she went through the Fast Lane without an EZ Pass.  Sarah had a couple hundred dollars in her wallet and easily could have driven through the pay booths, however, her frame of mind was manic.  Sometime between 5:30 pm and 6:10 pm, while the snow was falling fast,  Sarah lost control of her vehicle and ran off the highway.  In the meantime, after reporting her missing to the police, her family waited anxiously and worriedly for her return.  Her father stood by his telephone in Florida hoping to receive the call that she was located and safe.  Her mother, and sister, numb with fear, waited the same.  Her toddler son played with his toys, unknown to the circumstances and confused by the worried looks of his father and grandmother.  Sarah did not return.

Sarah’s vehicle, a Scion, was discovered at 6:15 p.m. by a passing tow truck driver on Maine I95 North near the 140.5 mile marker shortly before Clinton, Maine.  Sarah was nowhere in sight.  Her vehicle was in gear, the engine running and the keys in the ignition.  30 feet from her vehicle was her backpack/purse with two wallets missing.  Did anyone happen upon Sarah or her vehicle?  Did someone flag Sarah down to help her? Did anyone see this young mother in summer attire fleeing from her vehicle in the snow? 

Maine State Troopers saw footprints which led from the vehicle across the median onto the southbound I95 highway and stopped.  Footprints were not made going into woods on either side.  By all indications Sarah obtained a ride from somebody driving south bound on I95.  Who gave Sarah a ride?    Did Sarah meet up with a dreadful unsavory person who may have harmed her?  Or was it a good Samaritan? If a good Samaritan helped Sarah, why haven’t they come forward?

Nearly 12 weeks have gone by with no sign of Sarah.  Her credit cards in her wallet have never been used.  Is Sarah wandering the streets in some unknown city with the homeless?  Has someone provided Sarah with shelter? Has she suffered memory loss or in a serious state of paranoia or even catatonic? Is she wandering the streets and  avoiding public contact due to her fears and delusions? Did she leave her wallets behind and a passerby happened upon her stalled vehicle and rummaged through her purse and took her wallets throwing her backpack/purse into the snow?  Or did Sarah herself grab her wallets and flung her back/pack purse into the snow? Who gave Sarah a ride? Where was she dropped off?  These are questions the family have asked over and again each day to themselves.  In the meantime, a child cries for his mother, a husband is tormented with fears, a mother and sister numb and on pins and needles and a father feeling helpless, worried and distressed. 

Can you help? Do you have information that can help the family towards their search for Sarah?

Who has information on what happened to Sarah Rogers? A reward of $5,000 has been established for information leading to locating Sarah and her safe return. Please see www.findsarahrogers.com for more detailed information and various photographs.  Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling (800) 422-0944, or the Maine State Police at (800) 452-4664.




UPDATE ON SARAH ROGERS 3/13/2010


http://www.wabi.tv/news/10606/body-of-missing-new-hampshire-woman-found-in-clinton

Body of Missing New Hampshire Woman found in Clinton

by Meghan Hayward · Mar 14th 2010 

The body of a missing New Hampshire woman was found Saturday afternoon in Clinton.

Maine State Police say the body of 29-year-old Sarah Rogers of Barrington, New Hampshire was found a short distance from where her abandoned car was found on I-95 in December.

Police say the body was found by nearby neighbors who were looking on their property for any signs of the missing woman.

The body was located off the southbound lane of the interstate, near the Mutton Lane overpass.

They say there were no signs of foul play, but the cause of death will await an autopsy scheduled for Monday.

Innocently Labeling Our Children

By Cynthia Caron 

Are we innocently labeling our children towards danger? As parents we love our children and naturally, as all parents do, we like to make our children proud of who they are and what they’ve accomplished.  At the same time, we are all a bit guilty of bragging. Why not? We’re proud of our kids, however, it’s important to not publicly display our children’s names on objects that are sure to catch the eyes of those we do not want to attract. Child predators.

Let’s start with the cute-looking families that are scrawled onto stickers that tend to appear on mini-vans and other vehicles. While these cute characters are..well, cute…they pose a serious danger due to divulging too much information.  To a watching predator they’ll learn that Johnny plays baseball, has a dog named Mitch and a sister named Lucy.  Worse are those that name the parents, Joe and Liz.  So now a predator has a means to approach your children.  Telling Johnny that his mom had an accident and that his dad, Joe, sent him to pick him Johnny and take to the hospital is a predator’s dream.  To further enforce his “reliability” he may say “Don’t worry about Liz as she is already on her way and my wife is staying at your home to walk and take care of Mitch.”

Labeling childrens clothing is a huge no-no.  Again, while cute and personalized it also makes the job of a predator much easier. Seeing Suzy walk to school and her name in bold lettering on her lunch box or backpack makes another ideal situation for a predator to make his move.

This is not only wise to not do for children, but also for teenagers as well.  There is nothing more personal than ones name.  When teenage girls display necklaces with their names written across their chest, it makes it much easier for one to use “personalization” to gain the confidence of a naïve or gullible teenager…especially should it be a nice looking 23 year old male with less than good intentions.

Advertising that a home has just been blessed with a newborn is another means that attracts unwanted predators.  Predators are not only child molesters but can also be those who wish to abduct children for whatever reason from black market baby sales to wanting a newborn child of their own. The worst form of advertising that exists are the “storks in the yard.”  This advertises to all the neighbors that finally the new little one has been born and how happy the family is to bring home little Molly, 6 pounds and  4ounces, home from the hospital!  However, this also is an enticing bit of news to those who may now begin to watch your home for the coming and going of traffic and make their move when they know the new exhausted mom is home alone.  Unfortunately, this has resulted in crimes that have been committed in which the mothers of newborns have been murdered and their new child abducted.  Please do not advertise that you have a newborn in your home.  Send those birth announcements to friends and relatives by mail, instead.

Tommy’s fort in the backyard is great! How about hanging a “no girls allowed” sign, instead of announcing your child’s name?

I’d like to make another important message to all those who Twitter and place their precious children into the public view.  Again, we all are proud parents and I especially want to discuss Twitter because there is an application that can actually take someone to the home of the Twitter user. Yes. You read that correctly.  When one announces on Twitter that they’ve finally given birth and all is well and are now proud parents of baby Sam, a predator can utilize an application that nearly pin points the home in which that Twitterer resides.  I’m not going to name the application as I don’t want to alert predators.  But I can assure you that they are out there and I’ve personally seen tweets made from specific locations that will appear on a map.  You then click on the Twitter icon and you will see who just made that new Tweet. You can then switch to Terrain and be able to zoom in clear to what street and approximation that the Twitter’s home is situated.  Now that is some scary tools that can be abused in many ways from stalkers to those who want to create malicious havoc.  I’ve seen Twitter applications that have actually shown the photograph of the home on maps pinpointing who just made that Tweet!  So please, be very careful about divulging too much information.  Especially announcing when home alone, children’s names and functions that you are about to attend.  The world does not need to know that you are about to take Melissa to soccer practice and that you’re totally bored as hubby is away for 3 days for a work convention!

We all have seen the “Baby on Board” cautionary placards that are displayed in car windows.  For one, they are obstructive to the drivers view in certain situations.  Another concern is that watchful eyes do not need to see a young mom driving solo with an infant in the backseat.  It wouldn’t take much to snatch mom’s purse while she is bent over trying to retrieve an infant out of the car seat  or worse… your infant snatched!  These really are not necessary because unfortunately a reckless driver is not going to sit up straight and pay attention because you are displaying a baby is on board placard. The less information you provide publicly…the better.

For more insightful tips and protecting children, please see http://www.lostnmissing.com/15.html . We have the “Seal of Approval” from the New Parent’s Guide and hope that you take the time to review other ways to help keep your children protected.  After all, as parent, it’s our job to be aware and to protect our children in every possible way