Peas In Their Pods

By Gaetane Borders

Few realize that a child is abducted every forty seconds in the United States, or that 42 percent of these children are African American. Despite these alarming statistics, children of color receive the least amount of media exposure when such heinous crimes occur. Peas In Their Pods was established in March of 2007 by Iowa native, Janice Lowery, to bring awareness about the epidemic rate at which African American children are abducted or endangered. It’s an issue that staff of the organization fight hard each day to change since the lack of exposure negatively impacts the likelihood that these children will successfully and safely be reunited with their loved ones.

The reality is that many people have not heard the stories of Adji Desir, Aleacia Stancil, and Hassani Campbell. Or the stories of Marti Lee Bell, Rebecca Candace Tribble, or Maurice Laron Jefferson. They are children who disappeared without a trace. They are children whose familiy must live each day not knowing where they are, or if they are safe. Sadly, there are hundreds of thousand of families coping with this same issue. Though the circumstances regarding their loved one’s disappearance is different, one commonality that they share is that they are precious and Black.

The first 24 hours after a child goes missing is crucial, and can make all the difference in the outcome. Therefore, the organization works closely with families to guide them through the necessary steps that they should take when their child is missing. The organization is also very active in implementing preventative measures that ensure child safety. This is done through parent and caregiver education seminars, outreach services, and through various media outlets including a weekly radio show and monthly ezine.

In addition, Peas In Their Pods has created an alert method called the RILYA Alert system. The more popular Amber Alert’s criteria do not often seem to be met by missing Black children. While the benefits and value of the Amber Alert are undeniable, the RILYA Alert helps to bridge the gap that exists. This alert system helps reduce the response time in which the crucial information is shared with the public. It was named after a youngster called Rilya Wilson who went missing for over eight months before anyone realized she was gone.

The staff at Peas In Their Pods is asking everyone to visit the organization’s website to view the pictures of missing children. Viewers may recognize a child, and could, perhaps, offer clues that may help solve a crime. Your help is needed because it is everyone’s job to help save our children!

Sincerely,

Gaétane F. Borders

President, Peas In Their Pods

hfmbc@hotmail.com

www.peasintheirpods.com

Caylee’s Law is not a great idea?

By Cynthia Caron

Caylee’s Law is not a great idea?

An article caught my attention this morning by a reporter, who wrote “Caylee’s Law not a great idea” by Sue Carlton , a columnist for the St. Petersburg Times.

A poster named Maril pointed out the case of Baby Grace, who was never reported missing by her mother (since convicted) also known as Riley Ann Sawyers and Zahra Baker.

Riyla Wilson was also not reported missing. Her foster parents killed her. What about Adam Herrman who was not reported missing for a decade? What about sweet Gerren Joseph Isgrigg, a special needs child left to die in the park and not reported by his grandmother as missing? (convicted) Or a similar case in which a beautiful healthy child, Camden Pierce Hughes left on a roadside in Maine and not reported missing by his mother? (arrested) He took the hearts of many across the country as the “unidentified deceased child” photograph was posted on the internet. His mother is alleged to have suffocated him and left him, who also did not report him missing. Had days and months gone by before his remains were located his mother, from Texas, could have literally gotten away with his death…possibly even clues could have been gone and she too could have claimed he was “abducted” and she was searching “on her own” for him…just as Casey Anthony told the courts. Caylee’s Law, if enacted, and if this scenario occurred.. would have been enough to imprison her until the case solved. As for Camden his case did not go on for years and was solved timely and his mother arrested. But for those who have not…yes, Caylee’s Law is one to support.

Many children are deceased and unidentified in morgues across the country, also more than likely murdered by a parent, or parents who did not report them missing. We have 3 unidentified deceased children in NH and a mother, unidentified deceased, (parent to at least two of the three children) that has yet to be solved. I can assure you whomever murdered them did not report them missing. Recently on Long Island, Gilgo Beach, a young child around 18 months...little girl...also unidentified deceased, was more than likely not reported missing by an abusive husband or boyfriend. Remains of her mother, also unidentified, were located the same. I suggested that Sue, the columnist, check out www.namus.gov and research the unidentified deceased children. How many of those were true abductions? I'm pretty confident the majority were killed and dumped by someone that knew them and as horrid as it may be...more than probably by a family member...perhaps who never reported them missing.

Parents who are unaware their child is missing and go beyond the 12 hours before reporting are not going to be held responsible for "hiding the fact their child is missing." Caylee’s Law is for those that do not report a missing child timely because they are guilty of having knowledge as to what happened to the child.

I say error on the side of caution. While Sue brings up valid points, such as this law will stop anyone from committing heinous crimes against children, but I do believe it will help imprison those who invariably do report their child missing days, or hours, after the fact. Perhaps the use of Caylee’s Law will help solve and bring home missing children to the families left behind who are grieving for them.

As we all know, there are so many young women who bring bad boyfriends into the household that I cannot begin to list all those cases in which the child was killed and they "the boyfriend and/or the mother and boyfriend" plot for a number of hours on how they are going to cover up the crime. This bill would fit them, as well. Both. Toss them both in jail under Caylee's Law and you can be assured one of them will break down and start talking.

Caylee's Law gives law enforcement and the legal community the right to convict on this charge while investigating and hoping to locate the missing child. Even though more than likely the child is sadly…deceased.


Read more about Sue Carlton’s article, and viewpoints, here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/26/2426507/caylees-law-not-a-great-idea.html#ixzz1Z9Ww8ipA

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