A Plea to Stop Using Craig’sList in Favor of SafeList

By Donna R. Gore, M.A.

In the aftermath of Donna Jou’s disapperance and possible murder, another example of the predatory behavior of Craig’s List looms large…..  (See Garrett Berki story below)

Reza Jou found a solution to the lack of security  problem that contributed to the  in the form of a blog posting from a businessman named Karim Pirani, the president and founder of SafeList.com, a website that requires users to submit to questions to confirm who they are before gaining access to the site's core features.

Pirani came up with the idea not because of a personal tragedy but because he saw a market disconnect with sites like craigslist.org.

"If you see a must-have item on eBay, what do you do?" Pirani asked rhetorically. "You look up the seller's ratings, you then can buy through PayPal, which gives you a certain amount of protection. Craigslist has no PayPal, so a transaction is like Russian roulette. People are nonchalant where they should be vigiliant."

To become a verified user of SafeList, individuals must submit themselves to a series of questions based on their personal life history that the system pulls from a comprehensive public database. They must correctly answer these questions within 240 seconds.

In addition, failure to respond correctly will keep the person at the basic user level, and SafeList will also report any convicted felon or sexual predator that attempts to register on the website to law enforcement.

***Currently, SafeList is available only in San Diego, but other West Coast cities are expected to be added in 2011.

About SafeList Ventures
SafeList Ventures, Inc. a privately held start-up, is working to make online classified advertising safer and more secure. The SafeList.com portal provides a “one click” ID verification and criminal background check, allowing members of its community, both individuals and merchants, to interact within a safer online marketplace. To learn more about the company, please visit its website at www.safelist.com.


Calling for Justice for Garrett-San Diego Style

An 18-year-old Mission Beach man was shot and killed and three 17-year-old boys were arrested Wednesday night in Paradise Hills after a Craigslist deal turned into a robbery, San Diego police said. Family and friends identified the victim as Garrett Berki, a 2010 La Jolla High School graduate who was attending Mesa College.

Three teenagers charged in the shooting death of Garrett Burki stood in court during their arraignment. The judge ordered not to show their faces.

San Diego police said, family and friends identified the victim as Garrett Berki, a 2010 La Jolla High School graduate who was attending Mesa College.

Vigil held for teen slain answering Craigslist ad

SAN DIEGO — Three San Diego teenagers accused in the death of an 18-year-old man who was robbed and shot after he responded to a Craigslist ad for a $600 computer pleaded not guilty Friday to murder and other felony charges.

Rashon Abernathy, Seandell Jones and Shaquille Jordan, all 17, also face counts of robbery and shooting into an occupied vehicle, as well as gun and gang allegations. They have been charged as adults.

If convicted, they each face a potential prison sentence of 50 years to life.

Dressed in orange Juvenile Hall-issued clothing, the three teens stood together Friday in front of a San Diego Superior Court judge to answer to the charges. One looked down at the floor as attorneys asked for appropriate bail amounts, given the seriousness of the case and available information about the boys, such as their criminal histories, if any.

Judge Joseph Brannigan ordered the teens held in lieu of $5 million bail.

Defense attorney Kevin Milmoe had asked that bail be set at $1 million each, adding that two of the boys — Abernathy and Jordan — did not have criminal records. A prosecutor asked for $2 million bail.

The teens are accused in the Wednesday night shooting of Garrett Berki of Mission Beach. Berki was a 2010 La Jolla High School graduate and was attending Mesa College.

San Diego police said Berki went with his girlfriend to Casey Street off Alta View Drive in Paradise Hills shortly before 10:30 p.m. to buy an item that was advertised for sale on the Craigslist website. Deputy District Attorney Kristian Trocha told the judge the item was a computer.

The couple met three teens who pretended to be sellers, and one of the three produced a handgun.

The robbers took cash and cellphones from the couple and drove away in a green Honda Accord. Berki and his girlfriend followed the Honda to try to get its license plate number.

Authorities said the Honda driver, identified as Jones, pulled onto Artemia Way, a cul-de-sac, and turned the car around. Berki then tried to “box in” the Honda but was unsuccessful.

As the Honda passed the couple’s car, someone inside the suspect vehicle fired a single shot, hitting Berki in the chest. The driver of the Honda kept going, jumped a curb about two blocks away and crashed at the end of Fleming Drive.

The driver and passengers got out and ran.

Officers found three suspects minutes later, hiding in backyards about a block away.

Trocha said Abernathy is believed to be the shooter. Investigators recovered a computer and an expended .45-caliber shell casing.

The prosecutor said all three defendants are members or affiliates of a southeastern San Diego gang. Only only one of them has been documented as such by police.

Mothers of two of the teens said after the hearing that they were sorry for Berki and his family but stressed that their sons did not fire the fatal shot.

Patricia Dykes said police told her that her son, Shaquille Jordan, was in the car Wednesday night when the robbery occurred.

Both she and Shearese Johnson, mother of Seandell Jones, described their sons as good students who were poised to graduate this year from local charter schools.

“I just want my son back safely with me,” Johnson said.About 100 people gathered Thursday night at a vigil for Berki at Mission Beach, including his father, mother and sister. Berki has four siblings.

dana.littlefield@uniontrib.com • (619) 293-1287 • Twitter @danalittlefield

Donna R. Gore, M.A., aka "Lady Justice," is a homicide survivor and victim's advocate, and so much more!  To learn more about Donna, please visit her website:  www.donnagore.com

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