(1) How Unsolved Missing Person Cases Are Solved (Pt. 1)
Last edited Wed Feb 3, 2021, 01:06 PM - Edit history (23)
Pt. 2: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016286404
An Interview I Did: https://www.democraticunderground.com/12022158
I'm not an expert, by any means, but I've been involved with this for a while.
Missing person records are retained indefinitely—unless a missing individual is located or the reporting agency cancels the entry. During 2019, law enforcement agencies across the country entered more than 609,000 missing person records. During the same time period, reporting agencies canceled more than 607,000 records.
https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/cjis-link/fbi-releases-2019-missing-person-statistics
STATISTICAL PDF:
https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/2019-ncic-missing-person-and-unidentified-person-statistics.pdf/view
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The Doe Network is where I learned the most about finding missing persons.
http://www.doenetwork.org/index.php
To be honest, finding missing persons is NOT easy, especially when you're dealing with cases that date all the way back to when the NCIC started keeping records in 1975. I make it seem easy in my books, but this group is not only serious about what they do, they've also solved some missing person cases themselves, and not only that, but they also have a close connection with many LE agencies in this country and also up in Canada, including the FBI, NAMUS, and the RCMP.
The sheer volume of missing and unidentified person cases poses one of the greatest challenges to agencies tasked with resolving these important cases.
Over 600,000 individuals go missing in the United States every year. Fortunately, many missing children and adults are quickly found, alive and well. However, tens of thousands of individuals remain missing for more than one year – what many agencies consider “cold cases”.
It is estimated that 4,400 unidentified bodies are recovered each year, with approximately 1,000 of those bodies remaining unidentified after one year.
NamUs is a national information clearinghouse and resource center for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases across the United States. Funded and administered by the National Institute of Justice and managed through a cooperative agreement with the UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth, Texas, all NamUs resources are provided at no cost to law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, allied forensic professionals, and family members of missing persons.
https://www.namus.gov/
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Ok, how does the Doe Network help solve these cases?
In the group that I was in, each of us would sort of gravitate towards one specific unidentified body, and then try to deduce clues from the evidence that LE had given us.
After that, it was a free-for-all, with everyone going in different directions, looking for national and international missing person websites, including personal ones, or anything else they could think of that matched their deductions.
One of the founders of the group, Todd Matthews, actually solved a case by using these very same techniques:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11593868/amateur-detectives-dleuths-solve-crimes-cold-cases-home/
Once someone found a possible, they'd present their evidence, we'd discuss it, and then vote on it. If it was approved, the evidence was sent off to the appropriate LE agency for confirmation.
One time, we got a letter from one of the families we'd helped, and it made me cry. They'd lost all hope of ever finding their daughter, but at least now, they had some kind of closure. It's never really enough, but most of the time, it's still better than not knowing at all.
Even though most of the evidence was from the web, it was fascinating the different ways folks figured out how to find it. There's my porn lady friend (that I mention below), the website hunters, and then there were the folks searching for tattoo matches, researching clothing and hair styles, different kinds of footwear, knives, guns, old news articles, obituaries, neighborhood newsletters, message boards, and even police records.
My porn lady friend concentrated mostly on sex trafficking victims and spent most of her time scouring porn sites for possibles. You can joke if you want, but she's the one who originally got me interested in missing persons. We both met in a group about ghost, and she was trying to find a missing friend. She recommended that I join the Doe Network, and the rest is history.
(As an aside, my friend found her missing friend, but she was dead from a bizarre car accident, and unfortunately, I haven't kept in touch with her, so I have no idea what the status of the case is today.)
My original job was to post articles about bodies found and missing persons, but after a while, I was getting too emotionally traumatized with the latter and had to switch to just posting UID (UnIdentified Decedents) reports. For some reason, those didn't traumatize me as much.
It was bedlam in many ways, but because of the guidelines and procedures that we had to follow, it was an organized kind of crazy, but I still learned a lot, and maybe you can too, or if have your own personal missing person story, feel free to post it here, but please, always remember that:
One Missing Person is One Person too Many
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ETA: If you have a minute, could you please take a poll about missing persons here:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214801094
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Indykatie
(3,695 posts)I retired this year but am still working on a part time basis as a consultant for the company. That means I have plenty of free time on my hands especially with my self imposed isolation because of COVID. I love mysteries of all kinds so this sounds intriguing to me.
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
It's folks like you that help solve these kind of cases.
Hope is all that the families and friends have now.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)Last edited Tue Jan 26, 2021, 03:16 AM - Edit history (2)
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Approximately 2,000 unsolved missing person cases a year averages out to about 3 persons (per state) that go missing EVERY SINGLE MONTH and are never found.
ETA: Also, that averages out to at least five people going missing every single day that are NEVER EVER seen again.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
New program takes proactive stance on missing persons cases
Donald Hudson and Sheldon Bell were two sons present at Zachary City Hall on a recent Saturday, when local families took proactive measures in case they are ever the focus of an at-risk missing persons search.
Sheldon is a special-needs child being registered by his mother, and Hudson is a concerned son registering his elderly mother.
Sheldon’s mother, Nina Bell, filled out the needed paperwork as Sheldon marveled in the lights and Christmas decorations. His sweet innocence is only rivaled by his vulnerability to harm if he is ever lost or if someone attempts to take advantage of him. Luckily, for him, all that matters as he is registered is the size of the city’s tree and the awesome bright lights.
Hudson is quiet in comparison. He holds a stunning photo of his elderly mother and enters vital information onto a form that he hopes is never used. Hudson is motivated by Zachary’s recent worst-case-scenario Welton “Wick” Pierce, an elderly Zachary resident drove his truck from his home and was never seen alive again.
[SNIP]
https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/communities/zachary/article_f56de5a0-3fdf-11eb-9765-7fd4a64e2c72.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
HOMEPAGE
https://www.missingkids.org/
24-Hour Hotline
1-800-843-5678
THE ISSUES:
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues
Autism & Wandering
Children on the autism spectrum may wander and become lost at rates higher than their peers.
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/autism
Family Abductions
Abductions in which a child is taken, wrongfully detained, or concealed by a parent or other family member.
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/familyabduction
Child Sex Trafficking
Child sex trafficking involves the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, or advertising of a minor child for the purpose of a commercial sex act.
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/trafficking
Help ID Me!
When the remains of a deceased child are recovered, NCMEC assists in helping give that child back their name. Can you ID any of these children?
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/helpidme
Infant Abduction
This type of abduction can take various forms; from a noncustodial parent abducting the infant, to a stranger abducting the child from the hospital, home, or a public place.
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/infantabductions
Long Term Missing
Children who have been missing for more than 6 months become classified as “Long Term Missing”.
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/longtermmissing
Missing From Care
Children who go missing from state care must, by law, be reported to NCMEC.
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/cmfc
Nonfamily Abductions & Attempts
This includes abductions or attempted abductions by someone known to the child (like a neighbor or online acquaintance, etc.) as well as abductions by someone unknown to the child.
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/nonfamily
Online Enticement
A range of online victimization that includes enticing a child to share sexually explicit images, meet in person for sex, engage a child in sexual conversations or role-playing, or to sell/trade the child’s sexual images to others online.
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/onlineenticement
Other Types of Missing
Learn more about children who are lost, injured or otherwise missing and critically missing young adults.
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/othertypes
Endangered Runaways
An “Endangered runaway” is any child under 18 years old who has run away from a parent, guardian, or state care facility.
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/runaways
Sextortion
A form of sexual exploitation in which non-physical forms of coercion are utilized, such as blackmail, to acquire sexual content (photos/videos) of the child, obtain money from the child or engage in sex with the child.
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/sextortion
Sexual Abuse Materials
Child sexual abuse materials, more commonly known as child pornography, make up the majority of NCMEC’s CyberTipline reports.
https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/csam
SEARCH MISSING POSTERS:
https://www.missingkids.org/search
MAKE A CyberTipLine REPORT:
https://report.cybertip.org/
AMBER ALETS:
https://www.missingkids.org/gethelpnow/amber
Copyright © 2020 National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. All rights reserved.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Helen's Law on missing victims might not stop killers being freed
Murderers who refuse to disclose where they disposed of their victim's body could still be freed from jail despite new laws designed to deny them parole.
Martin Jones, the chief executive of the Parole Board, has issued the warning as "Helen's Law" is due to come into force early next year.
Mr Jones has said convicts will be questioned about where they have hidden a body and failure to co-operate will not work in their favour.
However, he added they will still be released if it is decided they are no longer a risk to the public.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/helens-law-on-missing-victims-might-not-stop-killers-being-freed/ar-BB1c9R6u
Helen's Law, officially called the Prisoners (Disclosure Of Information About Victims) Bill, is named after murder victim Helen McCourt. She went missing on her way home from work in 1988
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)Last edited Sun Dec 27, 2020, 05:56 PM - Edit history (1)
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Missing In Maryland: 7 People Have Disappeared
MARYLAND — Multiple people have been reported missing across Maryland in recent weeks, and we are hoping you can help bring them home.
Have you seen any of these individuals? Call the number listed with each person or call 911 to provide information.
Sanaa Moore, 14, disappeared from the Pikesville area at 4 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18. She was last seen in the 4200 block of Old Milford Mill Road wearing a black coat with fur-lined hood and black pants. She is 5 feet, 2 inches tall and 160 pounds. Police said Sanaa needs medication for cognitive conditions and may appear disoriented. Call the Baltimore County Police Department at 410-887-1279.
https://www.facebook.com/BaltCoPolice/photos/a.290154684868137/781970902353177/
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Dominic Railey, 28, was last seen Thursday, Dec. 17, in northeast Baltimore in the 5200 block of Bowleys Lane. He is 6 feet, 1 inch tall and 190 pounds and is classified as a vulnerable adult. Call the Baltimore Police Department's missing persons detectives at 443-984-7385.
https://www.facebook.com/BaltimoreCityPolice/posts/10157412517941956
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Sefi Dechamdemoit, 15, disappeared from Bethesda on Wednesday, Dec. 15. He is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and was wearing a black hoodie with blue soccer shorts. He has black hair and brown eyes. Call the Montgomery County Police Department's Special Victims Investigations Division at 301-279-8000.
No website--possibly already FOUND
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McKenzie Johnson, 16, was last seen in Takoma Park on Wednesday, Dec. 9, wearing a red face mask with black jeans, red Jordan sneakers and a black and gray Adidas sweatshirt. She is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 120 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Call the Takoma Park Police Department at 301-891-7111.
https://www.missingkids.org/poster/USMD/200048415?bclid=IwAR0jIdVXEBoGK1PPsDP800K2ttgHq9guyr9ehjWu_MJoOqb5oONtBzP5YL
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Carmelo Santiago, 17, was last seen in Brookville in Montgomery County on Monday, Dec. 7. He may frequent the Baltimore City or Cecil County areas. He is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and 140 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Call the Montgomery County Police Department at 301-279-8000.
https://www.missingkids.org/poster/USMD/200048142?fbclid=IwAR35Mw-n94u5BVOe7olyuYM-jdOb1d1Az4j2GV713xvxd32QX6gYjwaqZo0
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Kayla Washington-Crosby, 14, of Catonsville was last seen at 12:54 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 7. She is described as 5 feet, 3 inches tall and 110 pounds with black hair. She went missing from Grand Bend Drive in Catonsville and may be heading to Baltimore City, according to police. Call the Wilkens Precinct of the Baltimore County Police Department at 410-887-0872.
https://www.facebook.com/BaltCoPolice/photos/a.290154684868137/774804189736515/
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Jeimi Aquino, 15, was last seen in Gaithersburg on Nov. 9, officials said. She is 5 feet tall and 148 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Call the Montgomery County Police Department at 301-279-8000.
https://www.missingkids.org/poster/USMD/200044197?fbclid=IwAR2dNQkCrsj0jKWZ7t-Z2SvY4yvoPtIhbyknnDwG5uLwIHliHz2kZt-sak4
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/missing-in-maryland-7-people-have-disappeared/ar-BB1c5nxk
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Bipartisan missing persons bill passes US House
A bipartisan bill introduced last month to help border communities with the resources to identify unidentified remains is likely to become law.
During a voice vote Wednesday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, along with other lawmakers, voted to pass the Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act. The bill will go to the President to be officially signed into law.
The Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains Act of 2020, was introduced by Congressmen Gonzalez and Will Hurd as a companion bill to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s and Vice President-Elect and California Sen. Kamala Harris’s legislation passed in the senate last month.
“Border communities are currently shouldering the costs of identifying and recovering the remains of migrants who tragically perish while migrating to the United States,” Gonzalez said.
“This legislation will provide much needed aid for South Texas municipalities, sheriffs, farmers and ranchers to address this critical issue.
https://www.themonitor.com/2020/12/19/bipartisan-missing-persons-bill-passes-us-house/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Mystery Surrounds Discovery of Young Girl's Remains in Oregon Woodland
Police are appealing for help to identify a young girl whose remains were unearthed in woodland in Oregon.
The remains of the child, who is believed to have been between 6.5 and 10 years old when she died, were found near a rest stop in a heavily wooded area in Lincoln County. The discover was made off the H.B. Van Duzer Forest State Scenic Corridor—a state park which travels along Highway 18 from Polk County to Lincoln City.
After the discovery was announced on Tuesday, officials confirmed to KPTV that the remains were found near the Van Duzer rest area.
Oregon State Medical Examiner's Office estimated the girl had had long dark brown or black hair, and stood between 3 ft 10 in and 4 ft 6 tall. DNA analysis is underway to help determine the child's race or ethnic origin, Oregon State Police said.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/mystery-surrounds-discovery-of-young-girls-remains-in-oregon-woodland/ar-BB1clOHY?ocid=msedgntp
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
‘We are throwing everything at it’: Genetic genealogy may help ID girl found off Oregon highway
By Noelle Crombie | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Updated Jan 12, 2021; Posted Jan 12, 2021
Keepsakes are left in the parking area at H.B. Van Duzer Forest State Scenic Corridor
in Lincoln County, near where unidentified remains of a young girl were discovered.
Oregon State Police are awaiting the results of detailed – and promising -- forensic testing that they hope will help break the case of the young girl whose remains were found last month along a riverbank off Oregon 18.
The suite of tests will provide details about the girl’s eye and skin color, her ethnicity and the geographic origin of ancestry, said Dr. Nici Vance, the state’s forensic anthropologist.
Little is known about the child, whose remains were discovered Dec. 10 near the rest area along the H.B. Van Duzer Forest State Scenic Corridor in Lincoln County. A person who had stopped by the rest area came across her remains along the muddy banks of the Salmon River.
Vance said forensic scientists and investigators feel a sense of urgency to identify the girl.
[SNIP]
https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2021/01/we-are-throwing-everything-at-it-genetic-genealogy-may-help-id-girl-found-off-oregon-highway.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
OSP gets 150 tips after child’s remains found near coast; several cases now excluded
By KTVZ news sources
Published January 11, 2021 2:44 pm
Approximate sketch of young girl whose remains were found Dec. 10 in rural Lincoln County
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- As part of the ongoing investigation into the discovery of a female child’s remains at the Van Duzer Rest Area in Lincoln County, Oregon State Police said Monday they continue to solicit the public’s help in identifying the child and the circumstances around her death. To date, OSP said, they have received over 150 tips from citizens in the United States and Canada. "We are deeply appreciative of the public’s input so far, and continue to accept information which may lead to the identification of the child," the agency said in a news release update, which continues in full below:
The Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office has estimated the child's age to be 6.5 to 10 years old. She is approximately 3’10” to 4’6” tall, and has long hair that is dark brown or black. Her race or ethnic origin has yet to be determined, but DNA analysis is not complete. A sketch completed by the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office at our request has also been released.
OSP, in partnership with the Oregon State Medical Examiner’s Office, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and numerous state and local agencies across the United States are using a variety of means to include or exclude known missing persons who match the general description and/or sketch previously released. This may include, but is not limited to, dental records, age, descriptors, and confirmed sightings via verifiable sources, and/or recent contacts with family or friends that demonstrate they were alive after the remains of the unidentified female were discovered in Lincoln County.
In an effort to refocus the public’s attention and reduce duplicative tips, OSP is now prepared to publicly exclude the following reported missing children from our investigation:
Dulce Alavez, age 6, from Bridgeton, NJ
Addyson Gibson, age 12, from Portland, OR
Noelle Johnson, age 7, from Portland, OR
Niayah Bylenga (AKA Niayah Crawford), age 7, from Pendleton, OR or Ritzville, WA
Tarie Price, age 8, from Gretna, NE
Breasia Terrell, age 10, from Davenport, IA
OSP reminds the public that while these children have been excluded from our investigation, they are all still reported missing and we ask the public to continue to be vigilant for these children and all other missing persons reported across the nation.
[SNIP]
https://ktvz.com/news/oregon-northwest/2021/01/11/osp-gets-150-tips-after-childs-remains-found-near-coast-several-cases-now-excluded/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Artists confront the plight of missing and murdered Indigenous women
A week after "Bring Her Home 2020: Sacred Womxn of Resistance" opened at All My Relations Gallery in Minneapolis, a young Indigenous girl named Miikawaadizi went missing.
Coincidentally, the show — focusing on the epidemic of missing or murdered Indigenous women — includes a photo of the girl with a red handprint over her mouth, shot by her cousin Ne-Dah-Ness Greene.
"It was my fear realized," said Angela Two Stars, director of All My Relations. "It gets you in the heart, so we asked: What can we do to help?"
The gallery shared Miikawaadizi's disappearance on its social media; a few days later, Greene posted that the girl had been returned home unharmed.
[SNIP]
American Indian women deal with murder rates 10 times the national average, and homicide is their third-leading cause of death. Minnesota has the ninth-highest rate of missing or murdered Indigenous women. In 2016, 5,712 such cases were reported nationally, according to a study by the Urban Indian Health Institute.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/artists-confront-the-plight-of-missing-and-murdered-indigenous-women/ar-BB1cnHKD
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
33 Years of Tracking Missing Persons in West Palm Beach
BY JULIUS WHIGHAM II, The Palm Beach Post
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Bobbi Conklin never wore a uniform or had a badge during her time with the West Palm Beach Police Department. But for three decades, she was considered vital in helping the city’s detectives track missing persons, runaways and other cases.
Conklin, 77, recently retired after 32 years of volunteering in the police department’s Missing Persons Unit. She was honored for her service this month with a vehicle parade in front of her West Palm Beach home. Mayor Keith James issued a special proclamation and presented Conklin with a key to the city.
“It was very rewarding,” Conklin said of her time as a volunteer. “The one thing that meant more to me than anything was the respect and the confidence and trust of my supervisors.”
Conklin said she began volunteering in 1988 as a way spend more time with her husband, John Conklin, a retired lieutenant who at the time oversaw the police department’s homicide division.
[SNIP]
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/florida/articles/2020-12-06/33-years-of-tracking-missing-persons-in-west-palm-beach
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Seven years of Dateline's Missing in America: 156 still missing
Dateline NBC's social and digital series 'Missing in America' began on December 5, 2013, following a question the night before to our Facebook community, "Do you know anyone who has simply vanished?" The response was overwhelming. Since that first post, every week we have tried to feature the story of a different missing person brought to our attention by a member of our social communities.
On this seventh anniversary of the series, approximately 43% of those we have featured are still missing. Please take a moment to look at their faces and read and share their stories. Someone, somewhere, saw something that may help authorities. Could it be you or one of your friends?
If a loved one or someone from your area is missing and you would like us to possibly feature their story in the series, please reach out to us on our Facebook, Twitter or Instagram pages.
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/datelinenbc/
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/DatelineNBC/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/datelinenbc/
[SNIP]
https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/seven-years-dateline-s-missing-america-156-still-missing-n1250083
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Enter The Disturbing World Of Body Farms
While body farms that leave the dead out to rot may be unbelievably creepy, they're also incredibly important. Here's why.
What do you think happens to your body after you die? You probably have a vague idea, but not a thoroughly realistic conception of the changes your body will undergo after the chilly grip of death has taken hold.
You are not alone. Most people possess very little understanding of the grisly process of human death and decay. In fact, we go to great lengths to keep death and its aftermath out of sight and out of mind.
Just in the United States, about 70 percent of people now die in hospitals, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities, instead of in their homes. And once we’ve died, our bodies are preserved and coated in makeup if there’s going to be a viewing at all, then usually either cremated or buried in a coffin deep underground.
Now, even with this ritualistic practice of concealing death, the human body still endures the process of decomposition, it is simply delayed for a short period of time. And as much as we try to keep this decomposition at bay and out of mind, there’s a subset of scientists who study it intently and up close.
[SNIP]
https://allthatsinteresting.com/body-farms
ETA: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_farm
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Australia Has 2,000 Missing Persons and 500 Unidentified Human Remains – a Dedicated Lab Could Find Matches
New research shows 38,000 Australians are reported missing each year, around half of which are young people.
By Jodie Ward, University of Canberra
It’s been 52 years since the Beaumont children disappeared from Glenelg beach, Adelaide on Australia Day 1966.
In this case, excavation of a new area of interest – based on new evidence pointing to possible shallow graves – is expected to commence this week.
Sadly however, the Beaumont children are just three of around 2,000 long-term missing people in Australia. And we also have more than 500 sets of human remains believed to be archived across the country, that have not yet been identified.
It’s time Australia committed to a laboratory solely dedicated to missing persons casework. Current capability in DNA forensics could allow us to match up remains with some of these missing persons cases, and potentially give families relief.
[SNIP]
https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/australia-has-2000-missing-persons-and-500-unidentified-human-remains-a-dedicated-lab-could-find-matches/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Christmas tradition honors missing people
For the seventh year, Missouri Missing co-founder Marianne Asher-Chapman is continuing her Christmas tradition of honoring missing people and those found who are no longer with us.
For the seventh year, Missouri Missing co-founder Marianne Asher-Chapman is continuing her Christmas tradition of honoring missing people and those found who are no longer with us.
It started with Asher-Chapman putting up a Christmas tree in her Holts Summit home and making cookie ornaments. There are now two trees.
Through Sunday, Asher-Chapman will take requests for those who want their loved ones remembered with an ornament on the tree.
[SNIP]
https://www.newstribune.com/news/local/story/2020/dec/17/christmas-tradition-honors-missing-people/852928/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Billboards for missing persons, pepper spray to help victims of attacks
To encourage public assistance and interaction to unravel the mystery of missing persons reports, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) will post billboards bearing the pictures of those in the reports at supermarkets and other agencies.
Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith said that system of billboard advertising has been used in the United States in large chain superstores such as Walmart, and has proven to be effective.
In making the announcement at the TTPS media briefing on Tuesday, Griffith has already contacted the management of Massy Stores, Tru Value Limited, Xtra Foods and others which attract heavy foot traffic to place the billboards.
However, Griffith said over 50 per cent of missing persons reports are in the age group 15 to 19 years old.
[SNIP]
https://trinidadexpress.com/newsextra/billboards-for-missing-persons-pepper-spray-to-help-victims-of-attacks/article_8b3c637a-397a-11eb-aa05-1f3e3e57f982.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
New DNA Technology Is Helping Ohio Identify Missing Persons
Ohio has its first success in identifying skeletal remains using a technology not previously available to the state's crime labs.
Twenty-two-year-old Dewayne Lewis went missing from his Toledo home in 2013. This spring, hunters discovered human bones. In November, detectives at the Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) were able to identify those remains as Lewis thanks to a partnership with the global research and development organization Battelle.
Battelle picked out the instrumentation and processes that would work best for BCI to take mitochondrial DNA and test it using massively parallel sequencing. Mitochondrial DNA lives in the energy pockets of the cells and is passed down on the mother's side. It's present in tens of thousands of copies of every cell in the body, and because there are so many, scientists are able to generate a profile even when they don't have much to work with, as was the case of Dewayne Lewis.
"We now may be able to match, identify them with a missing person report," Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost told WVXU. "That opens up a whole new investigating avenue."
The state used to send off skeletal remains to the University of Texas for testing. But that took time and money. In addition, the university says it will stop any outside testing in January 2021 due to lack of funding.
[SNIP]
https://www.wvxu.org/post/new-dna-technology-helping-ohio-identify-missing-persons#stream/0
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Holly Bobo Act now in effect; raises age limit for missing person alerts
JACKSON, Tenn. — Last year, Tennessee lawmakers passed the Holly Bobo Act. As of 2021, it is now in effect.
“Ideally, anytime you have a missing person, there should be an Amber Alert or something like that, because if you put that information out there to the public, you’ve got more eyes out there that knows somebody is missing, and your probability of finding that person is increased if the public knows about it,” said Decatur County Sheriff Keith Byrd.
The high-profile case of Holly Bobo’s murder gained national attention after the 20-year-old nursing student went missing from her Parsons home in 2011.
The Holly Bobo Act increases the age limit from 18 to 21 for endangered or missing adult alerts.
[SNIP]
https://www.wbbjtv.com/2021/01/04/holly-bobo-act-now-in-effect-raises-age-limit-for-missing-person-alerts/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Task force looks at Montana's missing Indigenous people, CSKT works to finish response plan
The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes are wrapping up a federal project to create a tribal community response plan for missing Indigenous people.
Once completed, the response plan created by the CSKT, its tribal police, and federal partners will be used as a blueprint for guidelines for other tribes catered to their community's specific needs.
“We felt ahead of the game, but were able to find gaps in our plan,” said task force member and CSKT council person Ellie Bundy, during a virtual Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force meeting on Thursday.
“The biggest piece from law enforcement is that all of those agencies are willing to have one plan in place, so we don’t have 10 different protocols when someone goes missing,” Bundy said. “They all agree to work on CSKT’s plan.”
[SNIP]
https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/task-force-looks-at-montanas-missing-indigenous-people-cskt-works-to-finish-response-plan/article_e01ca446-2c02-5a37-83d3-46d017ea2e4d.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Better data, more leads: State patrol effort on missing Native people starts to yield results
After working for the Spokane Tribe of Indians for more than 20 years, Dawn Pullin has a new job. Pullin began her role Tuesday as Eastern Washington tribal liaison for the Washington State Patrol. She has been working closely with Patti Gosch, who was hired in November 2019 as the first full-time tribal liaison in the history of the State Patrol. Like Gosch, Pullin’s role is new.
The positions were created to help address the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people in Washington. Their work has already yielded more collaboration and information about cold cases.
Pullin has experience working for the Indian Health Services, Spokane Tribal Enterprises and its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, making a positive impact on her tribal nation, which is important to her. She sought the role with the WSP for more personal reasons. “Patti and I received notification regarding a missing, now 8-year-old female, along with her picture. When I saw it, I couldn’t help but think about my young granddaughter,” Pullin said. “This is my why.”
Native American women and girls have disappeared and have suffered sexual and physical violence at disproportionate levels for decades. A report from the National Institute of Justice found that more than four out of five Native women have experienced violence in their lives. The Department of Justice has said Native women are 10 times more likely to be murdered than other Americans.
[SNIP]
https://www.yakimaherald.com/special_projects/vanished/better-data-more-leads-state-patrol-effort-on-missing-native-people-starts-to-yield-results/article_b915ad62-35b6-5792-8d83-0b3c8d079152.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Rights group: Tripoli should probe town's 338 missing people
CAIRO — A leading rights group on Thursday urged Libya's U.N.-backed government to investigate the fate of hundreds of people missing from a key town near the capital, Tripoli. Dozens of mass graves were found there after the withdrawal of a much-feared militia last summer.
In a statement, Human Rights Watch quoted Libyan officials as saying that at least 338 residents of the town of Tarhuna were reported missing. The majority of them disappeared during a 14-month-long military campaign led by forces loyal to a rival government, based in eastern Libya, to capture the capital, according to the report.
Since 2015, Libya has been divided between two governments, the U.N.-supported one based in Tripoli and the one in the east, each backed by a vast array of militias.
In April 2019, east-based commander Khalifa Hifter and his forces marched on Tripoli in an attempt to take the city and tried to co-opt some rival militias. At the time, the town of Tarhuna was under the control of the notorious al-Kaniyat militia, which had initially sworn allegiance to the Tripoli government.
[SNIP]
https://www.startribune.com/rights-group-tripoli-should-probe-towns-338-missing-people/600007687/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
The future of a national missing persons database uncertain
by: Arezow Doost Posted: Jan 7, 2021 / 06:47 PM CST / Updated: Jan 7, 2021 / 11:21 PM CST
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Multiple sources tell KXAN investigators it’s not clear what will happen to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NamUs, based in north Texas.
It’s used by police, the medical examiner and families in Central Texas and across the country to help with missing persons cases.
Sources explained about 30 employees were laid off after the holidays, but this morning some got their jobs back.
“I don’t know what is going on,” explained one source, who has been taking calls from families all week finding out about the layoffs. “I’ve gotten calls from law enforcement agencies wanting to know what’s going on — is NamUs going to continue.”
The federal database housed at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth (UNTHSC), which already had a separate forensics lab, uses fingerprints, DNA profiles and dental records to help solve missing and unidentified person cases.
Funding cut concerns
Sources said recent federal funding cuts have impacted services including DNA testing.
[SNIP]
https://www.kxan.com/investigations/the-future-of-a-national-missing-persons-database-uncertain/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)Last edited Mon Jan 11, 2021, 10:15 AM - Edit history (1)
-
Digging Deeper: Cold cases, missing persons investigations stalled
by: Hannah Ray Lambert
Posted: Dec 29, 2020 / 08:31 AM PST / Updated: Dec 29, 2020 / 09:01 AM PST
CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. (KOIN) — The news that a prolific DNA lab would no longer accept their cases sent investigators in Oregon and Washington into a tailspin.
Funding standoff halts forensic ID of human remains
KOIN 6 News spoke with forensic anthropologists in both states about how a fight over federal funding is impacting missing persons cases, unidentified remains, and even homicide investigations.
Listen to the podcast below or download and listen from Apple Podcasts, GooglePlay, Spotify, Stitcher or Podbean.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0NX0nRcyvNTOT4FGKXGHPN
[SNIP]
https://www.koin.com/podcasts/digging-deeper-cold-cases-missing-persons-investigations-stalled/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
National missing persons database staying in Texas
FORT WORTH, Texas (KXAN) — The University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) will continue to manage a federal database created to help law enforcement and families of missing persons for now.
KXAN Investigators started asking questions about the database, after concerns were raised that the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) was being defunded.
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) has funded the program since 2011.
“NIJ can continue the online system service without UNT, but would prefer to maintain the relationship in order to address the existing backlog of casework,” said NIJ spokesperson Sheila Jerusalem, in an email. “NIJ has no intention of discontinuing the NamUs program.”
The NamUs database uses fingerprints, DNA profiles and dental records to gather and verify material that can be matched with unsolved cases.
[SNIP]
https://www.kxan.com/investigations/national-missing-persons-database-staying-in-texas/
===============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)Last edited Mon Jan 25, 2021, 08:57 AM - Edit history (2)
-
Pets go missing too...
Maine Cat Missing for 5 Years Back Home After Owner Spots Feline's Photo on Shelter Website
Kendra Armstrong told TV station WGME that her cat named Moose had been in and out of animal shelters for a number of years until she recently discovered his picture on a local shelter's website.
"It felt like a dream at first, I was so happy," Armstrong said of seeing Moose's photo on Midcoast Humane Society's adoption page.
Armstrong said she immediately reached out to the shelter and was shocked to discover that the cat, who the shelter renamed "Oldest," was still nearby.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/maine-cat-missing-for-5-years-back-home-after-owner-spots-felines-photo-on-shelter-website/ar-BB1cyYyi
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To help find a missing pet, or if yours goes missing, some important sites to remember:
-
Pet FBI
https://petfbi.org/
Search Pet FBI’s big, user-friendly database!
Post your own report and get automatic alerts!
Learn what to do and whom to contact!
Sign up to help lost pets in your area!
Pet FBI is a non-profit all-volunteer organization, helping people recover lost pets since 1998.
Humane Society
Lost Pets Bulletin Board:
https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/search/lost-pets
Found Pets Bulletin Board:
https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/search/found-pets
Find Your Lost Pet:
https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/find-your-lost-pet
Found a Stray Animal?
https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/lost-and-found/found-stray-animal
Pet Amber Alert
(this one’s NOT free: $39.95 to $99.95, and they have an annoying pop-up window, but they do have a high success rate--according to them anyway.)
https://www.petamberalert.com/
When a child is missing, an Amber Alert is issued and the surrounding area, even the nation, goes to work to locate the child and return them safely home to their loved ones.
PetAmberAlert.com uses the same advanced technology to help spread the word rapidly about your lost dog, lost cat, or any type of lost pet!
Pet Chip Registry
(This one cost money too)
https://www.petchipregistry-us.info/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
New investigation aims to shed light on missing person case 75 years later
SHELBY, Ohio (WTVG) - Whatever happened to Mary Jane? It’s a question that has haunted one family for decades. Now, a new investigation aims to shed light on a missing person case dating back to 1945.
Mary Jane (Croft) VanGilder moved from Fairmont, West Virginia, to Plymouth, Ohio, during World War II. She left behind five children, sending them war bonds she earned from her job as a civilian forklift operator at the Wilkins Air Force Depot in Shelby.
In 1945, Mary Jane filed for divorce, quit her job, and was never heard from again.
Misty James, who lives in Georgia, and Mindy Wilson, who lives in South Carolina, never met their grandmother. Now, they are hoping new technology could help solve a mystery dating back 75 years.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/new-investigation-aims-to-shed-light-on-missing-person-case-75-years-later/ar-BB1ccQWC
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Michigan family reunited with cat lost during devastating Midland floods
Dam failures caused massive flooding in mid-May
The historic flooding in Midland forced 10,000 residents to evacuate. One family has been without their cat since it went missing when the water surged, but they were recently reunited in a story of survival and -- perhaps -- divine interventions.
“We’re religious folks and we think that God played a hand in it,” Jeremy Flood said.
“She did find us for a reason, I believe,” Ashley Flood said. “And so, we actually, we definitely played our part, I think.”
On a cold snowy winter day, The Flood family heard a cat outside meowing for hours.
[SNIP]
https://www.clickondetroit.com/pets/2021/01/11/michigan-family-reunited-with-cat-lost-during-devastating-midland-floods/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
‘Police to go hi-tech in 2021 with apps on missing persons & stolen vehicles’
The year 2020 has been a roller-coaster one for the Ludhiana police. On one side the city witnessed big sensational robberies, armed firing cases, controversies of police personnel amid the Covid-19 pandemic, while on the other hand, the city police also worked beyond their duty limitations by distributing ration and cooked food among the needy ones. Besides, the city police also started some new projects, which included creche facility for girls to curb minor girls’ rape cases, clamp down on illegal lottery, disposal of pending complaints, handing over of seized vehicles, etc.
In the New Year, city residents may expect Ludhiana police to be more hi-tech. The city police are planning to come up with some mobile applications to trace the missing children and stolen vehicles and manage auto-rickshaws also. This was stated by commissioner of police Rakesh Agarwal in a conversation with the TOI correspondent Payal Dhawan.
[SNIP]
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/police-to-go-hi-tech-in-2021-with-apps-on-missing-persons-stolen-vehicles/articleshow/80102686.cms
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Montana legislators to discuss Senate Bill 4, extending MMIP Task Force
BILLINGS - Legislators set to kick off 2021 with a bill to keep the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Task Force intact.
The MMIP Task Force is designed to help law enforcement agencies locate missing persons, better communicate with policy makers and help communities prevent people from going missing.
As Senate Bill Four explains, the people who make up the task force are an individual from the Montana Department of Justice, a representative from each of the federally recognized tribes, a member of the Montana Highway Patrol and a representative from the Attorney General's Office.
Since forming in 2019, the task force collected data from 2017 to 2019 using the Montana Missing Persons Clearinghouse. According to their analysis, over 3,000 unique individuals were identified as a missing person in that three year time frame, and 80% of those individuals were under the age of 18.
[SNIP]
https://www.kulr8.com/news/montana-legislators-to-discuss-senate-bill-4-extending-mmip-task-force/article_1e9eab74-4fb9-11eb-8768-c772dcfe53ce.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Bills on missing, murdered Indigenous people face uncertain future in Leg
By Austin Amestoy | UM Legislative News Service | January 18, 2021
[SNIP]
In Montana, where Native Americans make up 6.6% of the population, they comprise 26% of all missing person cases. Indigenous people in the state are four times more likely to go missing than whites, according to data from the 2019 U.S. Census.
That’s part of the reason why advocates were excited when the 66th Montana Legislature passed several landmark laws in 2019 to help address the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women crisis. Now, nearly two years later, the Montana Legislature is poised to tackle the MMIP crisis once again, with several bills promising bolstered support for the grassroots organizers who started the movement in the first place. But with a large class of freshman lawmakers, a new face in the governor’s office and especially, a different budget situation, some of the bills’ supporters worry about keeping the legislative momentum going.
Sen. Susan Webber, D-Browning, said ultimately, she hopes the Legislature will be more willing to allocate more funding for the MMIP cause.
“It’s life and death. The rest of this stuff is just money,” she said. “But this is literally life and death.”
[SNIP]
https://missoulacurrent.com/government/2021/01/murdered-indigenous-people/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Taking a deep dive into Senate Bill 4 on "Vanished"
Senate Bill 4, which aims to extend Montana's Missing Indigenous Person's Task Force, is the focus of this week's episode of Vanished: A Native American Epidemic.
The episode outlines the history and goals of the task force and some data to underline the need for this task force in the Treasure State.
Indigenous people make up about 7% of Montana's population, but according to a report published by the Montana Department of Justice, they account for more than a quarter of the state's missing persons reports.
Several proponents spoke up during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the bill last week, including Lodge Grass resident Laurie Kindness.
During her testimony, Laurie said, "it is time the country and our state recognizes the magnitude of our need in establishing and maintaining a logistical database, while providing local personnel with proper training and equipment to conduct necessary security and preventative measures which could help mitigate a long ignored epidemic on our homelands."
The latest episode of Vanished is available now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. You can also download the podcast episode here:
https://www.khq.com/news/taking-a-deep-dive-into-senate-bill-4-on-vanished/article_92f0f4bc-3719-52db-a97f-11ad5bb3bbb5.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Bill to extend Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force passes Senate
Nora Mabie, Great Falls Tribune
The Montana Senate on Thursday passed Senate Bill 4, which extends the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Task Force by two years.
The Montana Legislature created the Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force in 2019 with the passage of Senate Bill 312, known as the Looping in Native Communities (LINC) Act.
The bill passed on a 43-7 vote and will move to the Montana House of Representatives next, according to a news release. If passed, the bill will move to Gov. Greg Gianforte's desk.
The task force was created in 2019 with the passage of the Looping in Native Communities Act. The bill also created the Looping in Native Communities (LINC) network grant program, which provides funding to tribal colleges (and reservations without tribal colleges) for the creation of online databases that help law enforcement and families access information on missing people.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/bill-to-extend-missing-indigenous-persons-task-force-passes-senate/ar-BB1cZQBO?ocid=uxbndlbing
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Missing Cat Turns Up 3 Years After California Disaster
A pet cat believed killed along with her owner in a huge mudslide has been found three years later.
By Associated Press
Published 12 January 2021
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — A pet cat believed killed along with her owner in a huge mudslide has been found three years later.
The Animal Shelter Assistance Program in Santa Barbara County says the calico named Patches was brought in as a stray last month and a microchip scan revealed her identity.
Patches had been missing since Jan. 9, 2018, when a rainstorm on the vast burn scar of the Thomas Fire sent a debris-laden torrent crashing down through hillside neighborhoods of Montecito, northwest of Los Angeles.
Twenty-three people were killed, including cat owner Josie Gower. The devastation of the debris flow was so terrible that the bodies of two victims were never found.
[SNIP]
https://www.snopes.com/ap/2021/01/12/missing-cat-turns-up-3-years-after-california-disaster/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
The dollhouses of death that changed forensic science
Frances Glessner Lee created dollhouses with dead dolls. In this episode of Vox Almanac, Vox's Phil Edwards explains why.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Introduction: Forensic Science
Forensic science has become a hot subject due to US television shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Law and Order. Forensics university courses have proliferated as students flock to this glamorous and exciting scientific discipline.
The reality may be more mundane, but forensic scientists do invaluable work linking evidence from crime scenes – such as fingerprints, injuries, weapons, DNA, computer data, drugs and counterfeit goods – to criminals themselves. Forensic scientists also help solve crimes by reconstructing faces from skulls, and sometimes animating or virtually ageing them, or studying corpses to pinpoint the cause and time of death.
Criminals almost always leave evidence at crime scenes, or unwittingly collected it. Our ability to detect this evidence is continually improving, and many court cases rely it. It is presented to juries and judges by expert witnesses and helps solve crimes from fraud and forgery to assault, rape, murder and terrorism. Forensics can even help uncover secret nuclear weapons programs, smuggled plutonium and thwart trafficking of drugs and endangered species.
Gruesome analysis
Dead bodies yield many clues. Forensic pathologists and anthropologists study them for injuries indicating violence and cause of death. Toxicology can indicate the presence of alcohol, drugs and poisons – arsenic in Napoleon’s hair, for example. Dental records are often used to identify unknown bodies – such as 75% of Thailand’s victims of the 2004 Asian tsunami and Saddam Hussein’s sons killed in Iraq in 2003.
[SNIP]
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn10501-introduction-forensic-science/
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The History of Forensic Science documentary
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Keeping Hope Alive: Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy
By Danielle Wagner
Published: Jan. 11, 2021 at 6:01 PM PST
WISCONSIN (WEAU) - May 1979. That’s when Dona Mae Bayerl of Muskego was last seen. Her daughter, Jackie Kort, was four years old. “I lived most of my life without really having anybody to talk about it to,” said Kort.
In 2019, Kort’s father was convicted of killing her mother and sentenced to life in prison. “One of those unusual cases because my mom is still missing. We are still looking for her. I still want answers,” she said.
However, a post-conviction relief hearing is scheduled for February, which means depending on what the judge decides, there could be a new trial.
“Just because there was a trial and a sentencing doesn’t mean family walked away with closure,” said Jackie Kort.
[SNIP]
https://www.weau.com/2021/01/12/keeping-hope-alive-wisconsin-missing-persons-advocacy/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Search and rescue organization helping to bring missing persons home
Jonathan Fortier
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - Rapid Search and Rescue was started in 2012 by Heather Vancil after a man had gone missing from the Wisconsin Rapids area.
“There was only so much law enforcement could do and that is how Rapid Search and Rescue was founded because there was a lack of a search and rescue team here in the Wisconsin Rapids area,” Vancil says.
Nine years later, Rapid Search and Rescue now works with five other search and rescue organizations in the state as part of Search Teams of Wisconsin.
“Initially we first formed to assist law enforcement on missing persons, now we also do networking with other missing persons organizations.”
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/search-and-rescue-organization-helping-to-bring-missing-persons-home/ar-BB1cJjIS
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Mantrailing for the Scent Driven Dog
By Gemma Johnstone
Jan 11, 2021
Though it’s been around in one form or another for hundreds of years, Mantrailing is still a helpful tool when hunting for missing persons, despite technological advances. Mantrailing dogs continue to prove their worth locating criminals, missing children, and people with Alzheimer’s, among others. In fact, these trained dogs’ trailing skills are so reliable that court proceedings accept their findings as evidence.
In recent years, the activity has been growing in popularity as a recreational and competitive dog sport. Increasingly, breeds other than Bloodhounds are also putting their scenting and trailing skills to the test. After all, a dog’s sense of smell is at least 40 times more sensitive than humans.
What Is Mantrailing?
Dogs learn to seek out an individual’s scent from skin rafts (dead or dying cells) that naturally shed from the body. Before the exercise begins, the dog will sniff an article that the person has touched. They then follow the trail on a long leash attached to a harness, aiming to locate that person.
Terri Heck and her husband Jim run Summit Search and Rescue in Pennsylvania, and they are also Mantrailing Judges for the American Bloodhound Club (ABC). They currently have two Bloodhounds, Briggs and Stratton, on their team. Seven-year-old seasoned detective K9 Briggs has worked hundreds of cases locating missing and wanted individuals. “The solid indications she has provided have led to numerous search warrants, arrests, and convictions,” explains Terri.
[SNIP]
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/sports/mantrailing-for-the-scent-driven-dog/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
AG Schmidt, KBI remind Kansans to stay vigilant on Amber Alert Awareness Day (Jan-13-2021)
Sarah Motter
TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) - Attorney General Derek Schmidt and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation are reminding Kansans to stay vigilant on Amber Alert Awareness Day.
Attorney General Derek Schmidt says he and Kansas Bureau of Investigation Director Kirk Thompson are reminding Kansans to stay alert when assistance is needed to help find a missing child. He said the reminder comes on National Amber Alert Awareness Day, Wednesday, Jan. 13.
“When a child is abducted, getting detailed information about the incident out to the public as quickly as possible can be critical,” Schmidt said. “The first hours after an abduction are crucial, and the watchful eyes of Kansas citizens can help save a child’s life.”
According to Schmidt, since the inception of the Amber Alert program in 1996, it has brought 1,029 children safely home. He said in Kansas, 56 children have been safely returned since 2002.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/ag-schmidt-kbi-remind-kansans-to-stay-vigilant-on-amber-alert-awareness-day/ar-BB1cJ9y5
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Everyday Hero: Woman Dedicated to Finding Missing Ohioans
By Lindsay Oliver | Ohio
PUBLISHED 3:30 PM ET Jan. 11, 2021
NASHPORT, Ohio — Currently, on the Ohio Attorney General’s website, there are more than 1,100 people listed as missing. Each name is a son, daughter, brother, or sister, but they're also names you've probably never heard of.
Lori Davis is one woman trying to change that.
Brian Shaffer is one of the names on the list you may have heard of. He was 27 years old when he disappeared after going to a Columbus bar in 2006.
That case still haunts central Ohio, including Davis.
[SNIP]
https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2021/01/09/woman-s-search-for-missing-ohioans
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
25 years after Amber Hagerman’s kidnapping, here’s why detectives stay hopeful for a breakthrough in her case
By Charles Scudder and Dana Branham
7:15 PM on Jan 12, 2021 CST
For the first time, police said they have DNA evidence that some day — with new technology that has solved other high-profile cold cases — could be the key to finding her killer.
When 9-year-old Amber Hagerman vanished Jan. 13, 1996, Sgt. Ben Lopez quickly realized hers wasn’t a typical missing-child case.
He was a patrol officer, driving around Arlington that afternoon looking for a black pickup connected to her disappearance. When he saw media vans lined up, he realized the seriousness of the case.
“I remember seeing that and knowing right away that this was a real stranger abduction,” Lopez said. “Of course, all of us were hoping that we would find her alive at that time.”
A few days later, Amber was found dead in an Arlington creekbed. No one has been arrested for her kidnapping or murder in the quarter-century since. Yet as detectives approach the anniversary of her kidnapping, they hold out hope that the case can be solved.
[SNIP]
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2021/01/13/25-years-after-amber-hagermans-kidnapping-heres-why-detectives-stay-hopeful-for-a-breakthrough-in-her-case/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Cat reunited with owner in Phippsburg after 5 years missing
By Kathleen O'Brien Times Record
“I didn't think he remembered me, but when I left the room to get his paperwork he was meowing so loud and frantically, it was like he was screaming for me to come back,” Kendra Armstrong said of her cat, Moose, after the pair were reunited. “I’ve never heard him meow like that. Now he wants my attention all the time.”
BRUNSWICK — When Kendra Armstrong of Phippsburg came home from work in 2015 to find her cat, Moose, had escaped her house, she assumed she’d never see him again.
“I looked around the neighborhood and on the Midcoast Humane’s stray page, but he wasn’t there,” said Armstrong. “I had lost hope. I was so certain he was long gone, like crossed the rainbow bridge gone, and I’d never see him again.”
Five years later, she glanced Midcoast Humane’s website, where she rediscovered the wayward feline.
“He was one of the first cats that popped up and I immediately recognized him,” Armstrong said.
Armstrong and Moose were reunited last week.
[SNIP]
https://www.pressherald.com/2021/01/12/cat-reunited-with-phippsburg-owner-after-five-years-apart/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
13 bodies of POWs from Iraq invasion of Kuwait identified
Yasmena Al Mulla, Correspondent
Kuwait City: Kuwait’s head of the Committee for Prisoners of War (POW) and Missing Persons, Rabih Al Adsani, announced they have determined the identity of 13 POWs that went missing during the 1990 Iraq invasion of Kuwait.
Al Adsani said in a statement that the POWs were arrested during the Iraqi invasion and their remains were brought back to Kuwait from Iraq a few months ago.
Once the bodies arrived in Kuwait in September, they underwent genetic analysis and DNA testing by the General Department of Forensic Evidence at the Ministry of Interior.
After their bodies were identified, Al Adsani said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the families of the prisoners, indicating that any information they had should be known to their family as it is their human and legal right.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-ae/news/other/13-bodies-of-pows-from-iraq-invasion-of-kuwait-identified/ar-BB1cE8sH
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
‘The Masked Dancer’ reveals identity of the Moth
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
JAN 14, 2021 AT 7:04 AM
Elizabeth Smart wasn’t interested at first in appearing on Fox’s “The Masked Dancer.” But after her grandmother passed away, Smart said she had an epiphany.
“She certainly lived life to the fullest,” Smart said. “As I was sitting at her funeral, thinking about life and death, I just thought, it’s okay to have fun. It’s okay to do something happy. Not everything I do has to be 100% serious all the time. I’m more than just a one-sided person, so why not.”
Smart was revealed to be the person under the Moth costume on Wednesday’s edition of “The Masked Dancer.” Smart said she also felt that after the dark events of 2020, she wanted to do something light hearted and fun.
“It was probably the most terrifying thing that I’ve ever voluntarily done,” Smart said. “But it was a lot of fun. I mean, how often does a person get to say that they have a whole team of people working out with them every single day, like five people working there to help make you be the best you can be.”
[SNIP]
https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-ent-masked-dancer-moth-reveal-20210114-qv6nohrx65arlo76thfmhgrihq-story.html
================
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)--
Search and rescue organization helping to bring missing persons home
By Jonathan Fortier
Published: Jan. 13, 2021 at 3:47 PM PST
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - Rapid Search and Rescue was started in 2012 by Heather Vancil after a man had gone missing from the Wisconsin Rapids area.
“There was only so much law enforcement could do and that is how Rapid Search and Rescue was founded because there was a lack of a search and rescue team here in the Wisconsin Rapids area,” Vancil says.
Nine years later, Rapid Search and Rescue now works with five other search and rescue organizations in the state as part of Search Teams of Wisconsin.
“Initially we first formed to assist law enforcement on missing persons, now we also do networking with other missing persons organizations.”
[SNIP]
https://www.weau.com/2021/01/13/search-and-rescue-organization-helping-to-bring-missing-persons-home/
==========
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
State police respond to attempted child abduction in Erie County
Posted: Jan 13, 2021 / 10:10 AM EST / Updated: Jan 13, 2021 / 10:11 AM EST
Pennsylvania State Police responded to an attempted child abduction on January 08 at 11690 W. Ridge Road, Girard, PA 16417, Springfield Township in Erie County. Troopers say Two Hispanic males parked their truck in a driveway at a residence on West Ridge Road in Girard, Pa. The suspects then whistled to an 11-year-old girl who was walking her dog in the backyard of her residence. The men yelled, “Come here girl.”
The father of the girl approached the occupants who stated that they were out of gas. After the father walked away, the suspects sped off in their vehicle. Police believe the vehicle to be a black 2000’s Chevrolet Silverado truck (possibly 2003), displaying an unknown Ohio registration.
The truck has three to five stickers attached to the left rear window, a black shaved after-market rear bumper, a lift kit, and tires that are larger than the stock tires.
Troopers say the first suspect is described as a dark-skinned Hispanic male, mid 30’s, approximately 5 feet 5 inches, 130-150 pounds, skinny build, with dark hair and a possible teardrop tattoo under his left eye. The second suspect is described as a dark-skinned Hispanic male, approximately 35-40 years of age, 250 pounds, and has a heavy-set build.
[SNIP]
https://www.abc27.com/news/local/state-police-respond-to-attempted-child-abduction-in-erie-county/
===============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
'I was raped, beaten and tortured:' Kidnap survivor opens up about how online predator gained her trust
By Yael Halon | Fox News
The survivor of one of the first widely covered cases of internet-related child abduction is speaking out about her experience in the hope of promoting child safety online.
Alicia Kozakiewicz sat down with Fox Nation host Tomi Lahren in a new episode of "No Interruption", in which Kozakiewicz detailed her online correspondence with former computer programmer Scott Tyree, who kidnapped and abused her after she agreed to meet with him at the age of 13.
"I met somebody online who I thought was my friend, who could understand me," Kozakiewicz recalled. "That's what predators do. They look to find vulnerabilities in a child. And the next thing I knew, I was in a car, and this man was squeezing my hand so tightly that I thought he had broken it."
Tyree, who had traveled to Pittsburgh to meet Kozakiewicz following weeks of online correspondence, drove her to his home in Virginia, where he held her captive for four days. "I was raped and beaten and tortured in that basement," Kozakiewicz told Lahren. "People often ask me 'did you think that he was going to kill you? And it wasn't a question of if, it was when.'"
[SNIP]
https://www.foxnews.com/media/tomi-lahren-kozakiewicz-kidnapped-online-abduction
=============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Police investigating TikTok video in connection to missing Arkansas girl
Author: THV11 Digital
Published: 11:51 AM EST January 14, 2021
Updated: 7:20 PM EST January 14, 2021
Stuttgart police are investigating after a TikTok video surfaced and people are theorizing it could be Cassie Compton, who has been missing since 2014.
The Stuttgart Police Department released a statement regarding the video:
"We appreciate all the tips and information about Cassie Compton. We have the video from TikTok and have the seen the Facebook posts. We are working diligently with the Arkansas State Police and FBI right now. Since this still an open investigation we can’t release any further information right now."
Compton, who has been missing since September 2014, has had countless people looking for her since that day.
[SNIP]
https://www.fox61.com/article/news/crime/police-investigating-after-tiktok-video-possibly-shows-missing-arkansas-girl/91-0dbfe0b6-daca-4736-917a-bf6d6295a9fa
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
'I started bawling' | Mother of missing girl reacts to viral TikTok that was thought to be daughter
A viral Tik Tok video was thought to have Cassie Compton in it... but now it's looking that may not be the case.
[SNIP]
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/police-investigating-after-tiktok-video-possibly-shows-missing-arkansas-girl/91-0dbfe0b6-daca-4736-917a-bf6d6295a9fa
============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Police say woman in viral TikTok is not missing Arkansas girl
Author: THV11 Digital, Ashley Godwin (THV11)
Published: 10:51 AM CST January 14, 2021
Updated: 1:40 PM CST January 15, 2021
A viral Tik Tok video was thought to have Cassie Compton in it... but now it's looking that may not be the case.
STUTTGART, Ark. — Update-- Police have identified the woman in the viral TikTok people believed was Cassie Compton.
According to the Stuttgart Police Department, it was not Compton but the FBI found the woman and interviewed her.
[SNIP]
Despite the confusion, this has brought Cassie Compton's case into a national spotlight once again, and her family says they're grateful people are still looking for her.
[SNIP]
https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/police-investigating-after-tiktok-video-possibly-shows-missing-arkansas-girl/91-0dbfe0b6-daca-4736-917a-bf6d6295a9fa
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Investigator takes tour of missing baby’s home
Oct. 30, 2011
The security consultant working on behalf of the family of Lisa Irwin, the Kansas City baby who vanished from her crib four weeks ago, made his first visit inside the family home and took NBC News along. NBC’s John Yang reports.
SEE VIDEO:
https://www.msnbc.com/today/watch/investigator-takes-tour-of-missing-babys-home-44508739690
==========
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Rockford cat missing is now home
Author: wzzm13.com
Published: 6:02 PM EST January 15, 2021
Updated: 6:01 PM EST January 15, 2021
Sookie the cat escaped from Tony Molnar's Rockford home in August 2020. Five months later, the cat was found, thanks to an online community never giving up.
SEE VIDEO HERE:
https://www.wzzm13.com/video/news/local/michigan-life/rockford-cat-missing-for-5-months-is-home/69-e041cbeb-03a5-47a9-9577-533e0d5f4c5c
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Local woman preserves memory of missing loved ones
by Gerry Tritz | Dec. 28 2020 @ 12:05am
Missouri Missing, a nonprofit charitable organization, has helped and comforted thousands of Missouri families searching for their missing loved ones since it started in 2007.
Marianne Asher Chapman poses in front of Missouri Missing's Christmas Trees of Hope containing cookie ornaments with the names of missing and recovered individuals. Chapman, who lives in Holts Summit, co-founded Missouri Missing after her daughter, Angie Yarnell, went missing, and she now advocates on behalf of the missing and their family and provides resources to aid in the search for them.
Its board of directors has undergone many iterations over the years, but through it all, Marianne Asher-Chapman has been the stabilizing force that has kept it going.
Asher-Chapman's daughter, Angie Yarnell, disappeared in 2003. Asher-Chapman made flyers, rented billboards and did everything she could to spread the word about the case. That persuaded her and another woman to start the missing persons advocacy group in 2007 to help families in their searches and to memorialize those who were never able to return to loved ones.
[SNIP]
https://www.newstribune.com/news/local/story/2020/dec/28/local-woman-preserves-memory-of-missing-loved-ones/854187/
=============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
2 cats missing after Christmas Day explosion in Nashville reunited with owners
WAPT Updated: 3:33 PM CST Jan 1, 2021
SOURCE: Nashville police
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The FBI on social media announced Thursday that two missing cats, Martin and Molly, had been reunited with their owners after one was found under blankets on a bed and the other found on top of a closet.
Martin's mom, Malory, confirmed to WSMV-TV that police found him in his normal spot in her closet of her apartment on 2nd Avenue North. The morning of the bombing, Malory escaped after hearing the explosion and hasn't been able to go back to her apartment.
She says Martin tore into his food and was happy.
He also supposedly wasn't happy when the officer grabbed him cutting his vacation short and injured the officer.
[SNIP]
https://www.wapt.com/article/2-cats-missing-after-christmas-day-explosion-in-nashville-reunited-with-owners/35108504#
===========
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Lost and never found: Hundreds of children, more girls than boys, go missing every year not to be found
Kathmandu Post
Kathmandu, Jan. 15 -- Last week, the border city of Birgunj was rocked after two children went missing. The two sixth graders did not return home after their tutorial classes on Saturday morning. "At first we thought that he must have stayed out playing cricket as it was Saturday," father of one of the children told the Post, requesting anonymity.
Family members, neighbours and the local police looked everywhere for them but there was no sign of the children anywhere. Apparently, both children had crossed the border and reached the Indian city of Patna-more than 200km away. "They crossed the border, took a bus and reached Patna after midnight. They slept in the bus," said the father. "After roaming around near the bus park on Sunday morning, they got scared and approached a nearby police station seeking help. The police then called his mum."
Family members, along with Nepal Police personnel, rushed to bring back the children. Both of them made it home on Monday. "We had given up our hope that we would get our kids back," said the father. "People were telling us that our kids might have been kidnapped. Anything could happen to them. We are middle-class families and worried how we could have even managed if there had been demands for ransom."
Not every family is as fortunate as these two from Birgunj.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/lost-and-never-found-hundreds-of-children-more-girls-than-boys-go-missing-every-year-not-to-be-found/ar-BB1cLIb3
===========
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Two bodies in Sullivant Avenue basement may be tied to missing persons
Bethany Bruner | The Columbus Dispatch
Published 4:15 p.m. ET Jan. 15. 2021
Updated 7:10 p.m. ET Jan. 15, 2021
The remains of a man and woman found buried in concrete in the basement of a home on Sullivant Avenue on the West Side may be those of two reported missing persons, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio said Friday.
U.S. Attorney David DeVillers said in a release that the remains found following the execution of a search warrant at 2448 Sullivant Ave., on the city's West Side, were male and female.
The remains could be those of Henry Clay Watson, 49, and Tera Lynn Pennington, 46, both of the West Side, who were reported missing on Aug. 26, 2018, DeVillers said.
[SNIP]
https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/crime/2021/01/15/bodies-sullivant-avenue-basement-may-tied-2018-missing-person-report/4180608001/
===========
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Authorities: Bodies buried in Hilltop residence were partially dismembered, covered in concrete
Author: 10TV Web Staff
Published: 3:48 AM EST January 14, 2021
Updated: 5:54 PM EST January 15, 2021
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The U.S. Southern District Attorney's Office has provided more information after two bodies were found inside a basement of a residence in the 2400 block of Sullivant Avenue in west Columbus.
The remains were found during the execution of a search warrant on Thursday. The bodies were discovered partially dismembered, buried in the basement and covered in concrete.
Authorities are investigating the possibility that the bodies may be connected to the Aug. 26, 2018 missing persons report of Henry Clay Watson and Tera Lynn Pennington.
[SNIP]
https://www.10tv.com/article/news/homeland-security-investigation/530-a118f7c7-b66c-4ab2-9213-a38e2787da14
=============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
List of unidentified murder victims in the United States
The Walker County Jane Doe is an unidentified murder victim found in Texas. She was aged between 14 and 18 when she died between October 31 and November 1, 1980. Her identity remains unknown.
Of the thousands of people murdered every year in the United States, several remain unidentified. Many of these individuals remain unidentified for years or even decades after their deaths. These cases include that of Tammy Jo Alexander, who was murdered in 1979 and remained an unidentified decedent until 2015, Reet Jurvetson, who was murdered in 1969 and whose body remained unidentified for 46 years, and Alisha Heinrich, a toddler thrown alive from the Interstate 10 bridge in 1982 and identified via genetic genealogy in 2020.
Including murder victims and those who died via natural causes or otherwise, approximately 40,000 decedents remain unidentified in the United States.
[SNIP]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unidentified_murder_victims_in_the_United_States
============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Family, friends hopeful for answers, closure in mysterious 1987 disappearance of New York teen Joseph Helt
Jan. 16, 2021, 2:11 PM PST
By Andrea Cavallier
Snow flurries had just begun to fall over the village of Ellenville, New York, on the evening of Saturday, January 17, 1987, in what would soon turn into a treacherous snowstorm.
It was around 5:30 p.m. when single mother of four Lee Ann Housman got a call that would change her life forever. Her son’s boss at the Napanoch Auction Barn called to ask why the teenager had not shown up for work. Lee Ann knew her son had been out the night before, but it was uncharacteristic for him to not show up for work.
Joseph “Joe” Helt, 17, a junior at Ellenville High, never missed a chance to make money. And that meant he never missed a chance to work at the auction barn, which only operated on the weekends. So when he hadn’t shown up that night, Joe’s family began to worry.
Joe’s aunt, Beth Churchill, told Dateline she remembers the night clearly, from the first snow flurries that pelted her skin moments before she stepped into her mother's house, to the gnawing pain in the pit of her stomach when they told her about the call.
[SNIP]
https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/family-friends-hopeful-answers-closure-mysterious-1987-disappearance-new-york-n1254523
==============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Eleven 'unclaimed' bodies washed up on beaches that police are still trying to identify
By Kelly-Ann Mills & Olivia Tobin
23:04, 16 JAN 2021
UPDATED 23:15, 16 JAN 2021
WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT. Eleven people are yet to be identified and returned to the families, with some going back almost 50 years
The identities of eleven people whose bodies have washed up in the waters around Merseyside have yet to be discovered.
Some turned up almost 50 years ago, and all are yet to be returned to their families as the mystery surrounding their deaths continue.
From a man found wearing a suit in water at Morpeth Dock to human remains that washed up on beaches, the cases have never been solved, the Liverpool Echo reports.
Detectives are still desperately trying to piece together the identities of each individual, but with some of the investigations decades old, every lead was exhausted long ago.
[SNIP]
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/eleven-unclaimed-bodies-washed-up-23332516
==========
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Which States Have the Most Missing Persons?
By Cade Kynaston
According to NamUS, over 600,000 people go missing each year in the United States, ranging from young children to older individuals.
Famous missing person cases such as the Elizabeth Smart or Jayme Closs disappearances are well-known missing persons cases, but countless other cases never make it to the spotlight.
National Missing Persons Day—February 3—gives the nation an opportunity to focus more on finding those missing persons, and some states are even expanding those efforts. Arizona holds a Missing in Arizona Day each year where forensic experts and law enforcement take information, notes, and records about missing individuals in hopes of finding some of those people.
[SNIP]
https://www.vivintsource.com/smart-home-academy/2019-missing-persons-by-state/
============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Police investigating Virginia teen Samantha Clarke’s 2010 disappearance as a homicide
Posted: Jan 15, 2021 / 05:07 PM EST / Updated: Jan 15, 2021 / 05:07 PM EST
by: Laura Perrot
ORANGE, Va. (WRIC) — Police gave an update Friday to a missing person’s case out of Virginia that has received national attention.
More than 10 years after Samantha Clarke went missing from her home in Orange County, investigators are reclassifying the case as an abduction and murder investigation.
On Sept. 13, 2010, then 19-year-old Samantha Ann Clarke left her Orange home late at night, according to Police Chief James Fenwick. Then 19-year-old Samantha Clarke went missing from her Orange home on Sept. 13, 2010. Samantha told her brother she was leaving. The only thing she took with her was her house key.
“She was never seen or heard from again,” said Fenwick.
[SNIP]
https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/police-investigating-virginia-teen-samantha-clarkes-2010-disappearance-as-a-homicide/
============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
A $38 million injury verdict is in limbo after the court reporter — and trial transcript — go missing
Bruce Vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
After a Racine County jury returned a $38.1 million verdict against Hyundai Motors Co. last year, no one was surprised the Korean automaker planned to appeal.
But no one expected that, nearly a year later, that appeal would remain on hold because of a missing person — the court reporter responsible for providing a transcript of the trial.
"Of all the things you consider that might go wrong, the one you never thought about was the disappearance of the court reporter before certifying the transcript," said Timothy Trecek, the Habush, Habush & Rottier attorney who represented the plaintiff in the trial that ended in February 2020.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/a-2438-million-injury-verdict-is-in-limbo-after-the-court-reporter-e2-80-94-and-trial-transcript-e2-80-94-go-missing/ar-BB1cJluX
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Body parts found in suitcases by workers clearing snow in Colorado
Updated Dec 31, 2020; Posted Dec 31, 2020
By The Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — Police are investigating after human remains were found in two large suitcases near a trail in southwest Denver.
Lt. Matt Clark with the Denver Police Department’s Major Crimes Division said during a news conference Wednesday that city workers were clearing snow from the sidewalks in a residential area near Sanderson Gulch on Tuesday morning when they found the suitcases abandoned off the side of the road. The workers examined the luggage and called police.
The Denver coroner’s office, which determined the unidentified remains belonged to one person, has not released a cause or manner of death.
Clark said the death is being investigated as a homicide, but he did not have any information about possible suspects. He described the victim as a “recently deceased” white man and declined to comment about the state of the remains.
[SNIP]
https://www.pennlive.com/nation-world/2020/12/body-parts-found-in-suitcases-by-workers-clearing-snow-in-colorado.html
============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Human remains found in two suitcases in Denver identified using DNA analysis
By Kieran Nicholson | January 16, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
The human remains found in two suitcases along a trail in southwest Denver have been positively identified.
The remains are of 33-year-old Joshua Lockard, according to the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner. DNA analysis performed by the Denver Crime Lab Forensic and Evidence Division positively identified the remains.
Benjamin David Satterthwaite, 28, is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder in the case. The remains were discovered Dec. 29 in the 1700 block of South Java Way.
The cause and manner of Lockard’s death is pending, the coroner’s office said in a news release.
https://www.greeleytribune.com/2021/01/16/identification-human-remains-suitcases-denver/
==============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Small child found inside missing woman's car abandoned at Houston shopping center, officials say
Author: KHOU 11 Staff
Published: 11:16 AM EST January 17, 2021
Updated: 5:09 PM EST January 17, 2021
HOUSTON — A small child was found alive inside an abandoned vehicle belonging to missing Houston woman Laura Read, according to Texas EquuSearch officials.
Texas EquuSearch has joined police efforts to find the 34-year-old woman after she was last seen about 7 p.m. Saturday in the 3300 block of Smith Street in Midtown.
The child and her vehicle were found at a shopping center in the 1400 block of Gray Street, according to Asst. Dir. Frank Black with Texas Equusearch.
Read is still missing.
[SNIP]
https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/missing-laura-read-houston/285-883cd207-168d-4109-a9e8-3ab2dce3c20e
============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Family of ‘missing’ Texas woman whose baby was left in a car says she called to assure them she’s safe
By Brian Niemietz New York Daily News | Jan 18, 2021 at 6:03 pm
A missing Texas woman whose baby was found safe in a mall parking lot has called her family to tell rescue workers they can stop looking for her, according to KHOU news in Houston.
Laura Read, 34, was thought to be missing Sunday when her child was located in an abandoned vehicle. The search and rescue organization Texas EquuSearch reportedly called off their search Monday when Read’s father Randy called to tell them his daughter had phoned to say she was safe.
Tim Miller, who works with Texas Equusearch, told KHOU he believes Read is alive and well, but that neither he nor her dad, Randy Read, know the woman’s whereabouts. Police have not confirmed her status.
[SNIP]
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-missing-texas-woman-baby-in-car-20210118-63nnjsvck5eqzbjp2jkq5p7x7m-story.html
============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Family reunites with missing dog
Mike Beiermeister | January 16, 2021 | 8:31 pm
BLAIR, Wis. (WXOW) - The Larson family is happy to have their dog, Buddy, back in their life.
Buddy went missing over a year and a half ago. The Larson's were losing faith that they would find their four-legged friend. An old couple was able to find Buddy and return him on Friday night.
Mother Sara Larson cried with tears of joy as she held Buddy in her arms once again. She shared the moment they were back together on social media.
[SNIP]
https://wxow.com/2021/01/16/family-reunites-with-missing-dog/
=============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Serial Murder: Multi-Disciplinary Perspective for Investigators
[SNIP]
Forward
The topic of serial murder occupies a unique niche within the criminal justice community. In addition to the significant investigative challenges they bring to law enforcement, serial murder cases attract an over-abundance of attention from the media, mental health experts, academia, and the general public. While there has been significant, independent work conducted by a variety of experts to identify and analyze the many issues related to serial murder, there have been few efforts to reach a consensus between law enforcement and other experts, regarding these matters.
In an effort to bridge the gap between the many views of issues related to serial murder, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) hosted a multi-disciplinary Symposium in San Antonio, Texas, on August 29, 2005 through September 2, 2005. The goal of the Symposium was to bring together a group of respected experts on serial murder from a variety of fields and specialties, to identify the commonalities of knowledge regarding serial murder.
A total of 135 subject matter experts attended the five-day event. These individuals included law enforcement officials who have successfully investigated and apprehended serial killers; mental health, academic, and other experts who have studied serial killers and shared their expertise through education and publication; officers of the court, who have judged, prosecuted, and defended serial killers; and members of the media, who inform and educate the public when serial killers strike. The attendees also reflected the international nature of the serial murder problem, as there were attendees from ten different countries on five continents.
The agenda encompassed a variety of topics related to serial murder including common myths, definitions, typologies, pathology and causality, forensics, the role of the media, prosecution issues, investigative task force organization, and major case management issues. Each day included panel discussions, case presentations, and discussion groups addressing a range of topics related to serial murder.
This monograph is a culmination of the input and discussion of the attendees on the major issues related to serial murder. The contents are based upon the notes taken during the presentations, panel discussions, and break-out group sessions. The goal in publishing this monograph is to outline the consensus views from a variety of disciplines on the causality, motivations, and characteristics of serial murderers, which will enable the criminal justice community to generate a more effective response in the identification, investigation, and adjudication of these cases.
[SNIP]
https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/serial-murder
Download Viewable PDF (+2MB), or get it from the link above:
http://www.amystrange.org/serial_murder.pdf
==============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
The Most Dangerous Active Serial Killer In 2019
BY Jim Dykstra/Sept. 26, 2019 7:29 PM EST/UPDATED: March 13, 2020 5:22 PM EST
Shutterstock
There are two kinds of serial killers: those who get caught and those who don't. Based on FBI statistics, the U.S. has around 50 active serial killers at any one time. Not cool. In fact, becoming a serial killer is possibly the least cool thing you can do. Just don't become a serial killer, okay? Promise?
Some serial killers are smarter than others, eluding capture through false evidence and an uncanny ability to leave little trace, while others seem to get off through sheer luck.
Such was the case with Pedro Lopez, one of the most prolific serial killers of all time. Biography tells us he was convicted in 1980 of killing 110 people in Peru and Ecuador. His conviction amounted to a grand total of 14 years behind bars before he was deported to Colombia, which institutionalized him and then released him. His whereabouts are currently unknown, but assuming he is still alive and hasn't magically seen the light, this tragic, sadistic being would take the cake for the most dangerous active serial killer in 2019.
But the fact that we are aware of Lopez's identity makes him the exception to the rule.
[SNIP]
https://www.grunge.com/167775/the-most-dangerous-active-serial-killer-in-2019/
Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pedro_L%C3%B3pez_%28serial_killer%29
Serial Killer: Pedro Lopez - The Monster of the Andes (Full Documentary)
============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Pet FBI
https://petfbi.org/
Search Pet FBI’s big, user-friendly database!
Post your own report and get automatic alerts!
Learn what to do and whom to contact!
Sign up to help lost pets in your area!
Pet FBI is a non-profit all-volunteer organization, helping people recover lost pets since 1998.
Humane Society
Lost Pets Bulletin Board:
https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/search/lost-pets
Found Pets Bulletin Board:
https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/search/found-pets
Find Your Lost Pet:
https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/find-your-lost-pet
Found a Stray Animal?
https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/lost-and-found/found-stray-animal
Pet Amber Alert
(this ones NOT free: $39.95 to $99.95, and they have an annoying pop-up window, but they do have a high success rate--according to them anyway.)
https://www.petamberalert.com/
When a child is missing, an Amber Alert is issued and the surrounding area, even the nation, goes to work to locate the child and return them safely home to their loved ones.
PetAmberAlert.com uses the same advanced technology to help spread the word rapidly about your lost dog, lost cat, or any type of lost pet!
Pet Chip Registry
(This one cost money too)
https://www.petchipregistry-us.info/
============
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
MISSING PERSONS GUIDE:
Ground searches
An MPAN initiative
Police searches
Police will usually only conduct a search if they believe your loved one’s disappearance is suspicious, and the State Emergency Service (SES) can only conduct searches for missing persons with approval from police. You may need to consider conducting your own search. Appeal to able-bodied and trusted friends, family and community members (e.g. Lions, Rotary, bushwalking clubs etc). As every case is different, use your discretion to judge what is and isn’t appropriate.
Organising a search
Here are some steps you will need to take to organise a search:
Ask permission from the land owner before you search on anyone’s property.
Call the local law enforcement and make sure there is not an active search being conducted there at the moment.
Record the names and contact details of all volunteers prior to them embarking on the search. Children 18 and under should not participate, remembering you may find the missing person, no matter his or her condition.
Make small teams of 8-12 people per area and make sure they know not to touch anything that could be evidence, instead taking a photo of anything they think may be of significance.
Make a plan based on how many volunteers you have.
Small groups
Get a map of the area and separate it into grids.
Appoint one person as the “Map Holder” and have them assign people to different areas of the grid.
Break into smaller groups of 4 or 5 people if possible and spread those groups in several places of the area.
Go slowly and look at your surroundings.
Walk along the area side by side, arm-length apart try and maintain the same pace as your team.
If you come across something suspicious tag an area near it with a piece of bright colored tape and call the police.
Take a picture of any and all things you find and give them to the police.
Do not forget about trees, cliffs, ditches, etc.
Be mentally prepared and alert at all times.
if you are searching outside in “wilderness area” beware of the wild plants and animals.
Make sure you hand out flyers and give information to any of the people you come across.
Also be on the lookout video cameras, you can later ask the owner to view them or ask the police to analyze the footage.
Larger groups
Again grid the map and appoint one person to control the searches via the map. Separate into groups of 10 people.
Again line up along the grid area and walk at arms-length, slowly, side by side.
Follow the same system as the small groups.
Items to bring for searches on foot
Here’s a list of items the group may want to take:
Walking sticks
Maps
First Aid Kit
Boots (recommended but any shoe that covers the entire foot is fine)
Long pants and long sleeve shirts
Something to cover the neck and chest
Some form of protective eyewear
Reflective clothing
Torches/flashlights
Brightly coloured tape
Mobile phone (do not touch anything, if you find something immediately call the police and follow their instructions)
Camera
Sunscreen
Insect repellent
Whistles
Water and food/snacks
Flyers/posters of the missing person
http://www.missingpersonsguide.com/ground-searches/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
How to Search for a Lost Person in the Wilderness
The first 48 hours after a person goes missing in the wild are the most important. The lost individual faces dangers from wild animals and cold temperatures. He may also become disoriented, forget where the trail is and end up deeper into the woods. Forming a search party is only one part of bringing that person home safely, however. You also need to tell the proper authorities of the disappearance.
ITEMS YOU WILL NEED
Flashlights
Walkie-talkies
Maps
Fliers
STEP 1
Inform the local police department of the missing person immediately. It’s helpful to have a detailed account of when the person left and when he was expected back. If it’s an adult, the police might wait 24 hours to start a search, but the search begins immediately for children. If you have proof that the person is lost, the police should start looking right away.
STEP 2
Get help from people in your neighborhood, as well as from friends and family members. The more people you have searching, the better your chances are of finding the missing person. It helps you cover more ground and spend more time searching.
STEP 3
Gather supplies to aid the search. Flashlights are necessary, as is a form of communication such as walkie-talkies. You also need maps to mark the locations where you've searched.
STEP 4
Place signs or fliers around the person's neighborhood, local hospitals and where the person disappeared. Post a clear and recent photograph of the person on the flier.
STEP 5
Visit the last known spot where the person was and check for any signs of her. If there’s a trail, look for signs where she went off the trail, such as a trampled bush or cloth caught on a tree. Remember to look near the beginning and end of the trail. Check for any water sources, such as rivers or streams, as these are likely places for people to set up camp.
STEP 6
Watch for unusual signs in the area. A candy bar wrapper in an otherwise serene clearing means someone was there. Keep your eyes peeled for any light reflecting in the wilderness, which might be the lost person signaling for help.
STEP 7
Signal for the person with flare guns around the spot where he disappeared. Set off the flares and shout his name. Building a fire also to create smoke may also reveal your location.
https://traveltips.usatoday.com/search-lost-person-wilderness-2338.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
How Does a Private Investigator Find a Missing Person?
Each year, over 800,000 people are officially reported missing according to the FBI's National Crime Information Center. Of this number, around 80-90% are minors. Locating a missing person is an extremely time-sensitive matter, and the police generally work under limitations that prevent them from being as effective as they could be. Private investigators can be much more effective in locating a missing person.
Police only begin looking for a missing person after a certain amount of time has passed; by that time, it can be far too late if the person was abducted or otherwise harmed. Police also don't spring to action right away to search for people who may have left their homes voluntarily or who live on the streets. Additionally, police stop looking for a person after a certain amount of time and the case is declared closed so that resources can be devoted to other cases. Private investigators aren't bound by these restrictions. A private investigator can begin looking for a missing person as soon as they're notified of the person's disappearance. They can also continue trying to locate the person as long as you're still seeking information.
Private investigators have many skills and strategies they can use to locate a missing person depending on the situation:
Surveillance - Private investigators can observe places where a missing person might be and can track a suspect's movements to determine the missing person's location.
Searches of hospitals or mortuaries - Private investigators have the knowledge to easily access these facilities to determine the presence of a missing person.
Investigative techniques - Private investigators might use background checks, witness questioning, or other investigative techniques to identify suspects or individuals who can help locate the missing person.
Networking - Private investigators often have a large network of fellow private investigators or informants they can pay to help them in a search or to provide useful information.
Physical searches - Private investigators may be able to use specialized vehicles to search air, land, and sea; areas the average person can't easily access.
https://www.dibailbonds.com/blog/how-does-private-investigator-find-missing-person
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
The Missing Person Who Joined Her Own Search Party
By Simon Brew
June 16, 2015
One Saturday night in 2012, a search party was organized in Iceland to hunt for a woman who had apparently failed to return to her tour bus. But the twist? She had. She became part of the search party looking for her, unaware that she was the subject of everyone's concern.
The tour bus in question had stopped near Iceland's Eldgja canyon, and the woman in question took the opportunity to go freshen up and change clothes. When she reboarded the bus, the rest of the passengers didn't realize it was her. Instead, they became alarmed that she'd gone missing. The driver waited for an hour before the police were called.
Things escalated. A search of the area took place, joined by around 50 people, some in vehicles, many on foot. The coast guard was alerted, and the search went on for several hours.
It wasn't until three in the morning that the truth became apparent: that the woman everyone thought was missing was actually helping them in the search. Once she realized she was the missing tourist, she informed the police. The search was called off.
Moral of the story? It's always worth properly counting the number of people on a tour bus. No matter what they happen to be wearing.
https://www.mentalfloss.com/uk/travel/27027/the-missing-person-who-joined-her-own-search-party
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
True Crime: Augmented Reality App CRIMEDOOR Allows Public to Help Solve “The Delphi Murders”
by Josh Millican
Today, CrimeDoor, the augmented reality app that accurately recreates real crime scenes, announces a partnership with Kelsi German. German is the sister of Libby German who was tragically murdered alongside Abby Williams in Delphi, Indiana, in 2017. This partnership includes the launch of the Delphi Murders CrimeDoor on the platform where users can “step inside” the crime scene in augmented reality, in hopes of shedding new light on the case.
The Delphi Murders are among the most infamous cold cases to date receiving national attention. Despite law enforcement retrieving an audio recording of the suspect that was released to the public and over 26,000 tips, no arrests have been made in the case to date. CrimeDoor, an augmented reality experience developed by the husband and wife team Neil and Lauren Mandt, lets users experience and investigate these cases in hopes of bringing resolution to the families.
“CrimeDoor does not celebrate killers but gives a voice to the victims. Our attention to detail in recreating the crime scenes is our highest concern. Helping to solve a crime would be the most important moment in my life, and I feel confident this technology will be pivotal in doing just that,” said Neil Mandt, Founder of CrimeDoor.
Cold-Case Detective, Paul Holes, famous for his involvement in the Zodiac, Golden State Killer, and Jaycee Dugard cases, has partnered with CrimeDoor on this mission. Holes is working directly with Kelsi German and other families to help bring renewed attention to cold cases and use the current technology to source the help of the public in bringing closure to these families.
“I believe this AR experience may help someone identify the killer, based on being able to have a spatial presence with him. I’m working directly with Paul Holes and the CrimeDoor team on the accuracy of this experience in hopes of finally bringing justice for my sister, Abby, and our loved ones,” said Kelsi German.
[SNIP]
https://www.dreadcentral.com/news/369123/augmented-reality-app-crimedoor-allows-public-to-help-solve-the-delphi-murders/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Alone in a van and trapped by snowstorm for five days, SoCal woman rescues herself and two dogs
Ashley Harrell | Jan. 17, 2021
Updated: Jan. 17, 2021 7:04 a.m.
Holly Casner’s plan was to van camp with her two dogs in Big Bear for a few nights between Christmas and New Year's. As a roving professional equine photographer, the 32-year-old had been living and working out of her van for a couple of months, occasionally dropping by Orange County, where she grew up, to be with her mom.
Most of the time, though, Casner was all about solo exploring or hanging around with animals. She dreamed of traveling around Scandinavia photographing Norwegian Fjord and Icelandic horses, and maybe someday owning a sustainable farm full of rescue creatures. “I go well out of my way to pet every horse, dog, cat, goat, mini and donkey I see,” she explains on her photography website.
Even her hair was an adventure; on occasion, she cut it short and dyed it pink.
Big Bear was supposed to get about 6 inches of snow Dec. 27 and then get warmer for a couple of days, and that was appealing. So Casner made the 2.5-hour trip in her white 1991 Dodge van, Betty, along with her rescue dogs, Mose and Nova, hoping to enjoy some fluffy, temporary snow. But when she reached the service road, she found it closed.
[SNIP]
https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/joshua-tree-van-camping-snow-rescue-holly-casner-15872419.php
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)Last edited Wed Jan 20, 2021, 07:22 AM - Edit history (1)
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Boyfriend charged with murder of missing Battle Creek woman
By Ryan Boldrey | rboldrey@mlive.com
Posted Jun 29, 2020; Updated Jun 29, 2020
BATTLE CREEK, MI — The June 22 disappearance of a Battle Creek woman is now being treated as a homicide by police, who have arrested and charged her boyfriend with open murder.
Derek Horton, 25, was arraigned Monday, June 29 in Calhoun County District Court on a single count of open murder in the death of Amber Griffin, who was reported missing a week earlier. He is being held at the Calhoun County Jail without bond.
Horton, according to a news release from the Battle Creek Police Department, was Griffin’s boyfriend.
Griffin’s body is yet to be found, police said.
Griffin was reported missing on June 24 by her mother and Horton, who came into the police station together, Sgt. Joel Case told MLive.
Griffin’s mother reported last seeing her daughter the evening of June 22. Horton, according to Case, said he last saw Griffin around midnight that night at the couple’s Bedford Township home.
As police began to investigate the missing person complaint, numerous inconsistencies were discovered in Horton’s story, Case said.
[SNIP]
https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2020/06/boyfriend-charged-with-murder-of-missing-battle-creek-woman.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)Last edited Wed Jan 20, 2021, 07:22 AM - Edit history (1)
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Testimony begins in homicide case involving missing Battle Creek woman yet to be found
By Ryan Boldrey | rboldrey@mlive.com
BATTLE CREEK, MI — Preliminary testimony began Tuesday in the homicide case involving the boyfriend of a missing Battle Creek woman presumed dead.
Derek Depree Horton, 26, was charged June 27 with killing his 27-year-old girlfriend Amber Griffin, who he had reported missing to the Battle Creek police three days earlier. Griffin still has not been found by police or heard from by family members or friends, according to police.
“I have to prove she is dead,” Calhoun County Prosecutor David Gilbert said at one point. “There’s no body.”
Related: Boyfriend charged with murder of missing Battle Creek woman
Horton appeared Tuesday, Jan. 19 in front of Calhoun County District Judge Tracie Tomak via Zoom from the county jail, where he has been held without bond since late June.
Griffin’s mother, Carmen Griffin, was the first of five witnesses to testify in the matter, saying she last saw her daughter the night of June 22 when she met her at a Battle Creek gas station to fill up her car with her gas.
[SNIP]
https://www.khq.com/news/taking-a-deep-dive-into-senate-bill-4-on-vanished/article_92f0f4bc-3719-52db-a97f-11ad5bb3bbb5.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Missing dog Watson found after disappearing from Hilton home eight-years-ago
Staff writers | The West Australian
Tue, 12 January 2021 5:04PM
Beloved pet dog Watson has been reunited with his family after going missing nearly a decade ago.
The Maltese Shih Tzu disappeared from his family’s Hilton home in August 2012.
But in an extraordinary stroke of luck, the now 13-year-old dog was found last Friday on the side of Wattleup Road in blistering 41C heat.
He was taken to the Hammond Park Vet in Success where the veterinarian was able to scan his microchip and use the details to return Watson to his family.
“He’s been very good with us at home, having cuddles and being patted by the kids,” owner Sheri Yeoman told 10NEWS.
“So I think that he knows he is home.”
[SNIP]
https://thewest.com.au/lifestyle/pets/missing-dog-watson-found-after-disappearing-from-hilton-home-eight-years-ago-ng-b881768018z
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Andy Schmookler: The case of the missing cat
By Andy Schmookler Jan 16, 2021
The two previous columns I’ve published that involved the two kittens I adopted last year – “Fortunate kittens” and in “Observing my kittens in an evolutionary perspective” – doubtless conveyed, in addition to the ideas I had in mind, my love of those two good-hearted felines.
So you can imagine that it was a pretty heavy thing when one of them disappeared recently. One morning, Wilbur failed to come home for breakfast from his nighttime enjoyment of the outdoors. (We live on a piece of land, partly landscaped, on a forested mountain). We looked, and we called in vain, for our missing furry friend. For six days – no Wilbur.
I quickly feared the worst. Knowing Wilbur, I felt certain that if he were able to come home, he would. Therefore, he was either lost, trapped or dead. And of those three, dead was the one that seemed most plausible. Most likely he’d been caught by some predator – a fox? an owl? – out in the forest near our house. And most likely, we’d never know what happened.
That likelihood of “never knowing” gave me a sense of how weird it must be to have a “Missing Persons.” Suddenly, someone you love – someone important in the landscape of your life – is not there, and that absence is a mystery. Losing a loved one is always strange – the strangeness of “here today, gone tomorrow.” But not to know a thing about what happened is especially strange.
[SNIP]
That’s the background for what happened next.
[SNIP]
It was a bit after midnight. I was in bed, minding my own business. No, I wasn’t even minding my own business – I was half asleep.
I heard a cat give a “Hello, pay attention to me” call upon entering the room. I figured, of course, that it was Millie, Wilbur’s sister, who’d been especially desirous of loving contact with us since her brother disappeared. I turned over onto my back, and the cat climbed onto my chest. The room was very dark, and I could feel the cat, but not see it.
Gradually, I registered with surprise how intense the cat was being – enthusiastically absorbing cuddles, kneading my chest, pressing against my hands, rolling over on top of me, purring very loudly. I started to wonder: Millie can be enthusiastic and affectionate, but this had an intensity I wouldn’t have expected of her.
Also, this whole choreography of affection reminded me of what Wilbur and I had called, since way back when he was still a kitten, Wilbur’s “Chest time.” (This was Wilbur’s and my most passionate make-out time. And Wilbur’s declining interest in “Chest time,” as the months had gone by, had saddened me.) So I felt compelled to turn on the light and to take a look at my ecstatic furry companion.
With the light on, the cat turned its face to look at me. And lo and behold there was the tell-tale white mustache. It was Wilbur!
[SNIP]
https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/andy-schmookler-the-case-of-the-missing-cat/article_ec122b7d-630b-57c3-9c53-03fffaf18f9e.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
‘Can you send somebody here?’: Man pleads for help on 911 call before disappearance
Juan Santiago’s skeletal remains were found about 6 months after he made a 911 call; family seeks answers from SAPD
SAN ANTONIO – A Massachusetts family is frustrated by the lack of action taken regarding their missing loved one, who disappeared days after arriving in San Antonio from Boston for a new job. Marlyn Rosa says her nephew, 37-year-old Juan Santiago, was with his girlfriend and checked into Motel 6 near I-35 and Rittman Road the weekend of June 20, 2020.
Walkers found his partial skeletal remains along Salado Creek on Ft. Sam Houston Base on Dec. 27, 2020, just over a mile away from the hotel where he made a desperate 911 call. The 911 call obtained by the family and shared with KSAT is about 4 minutes long. A man can be heard telling dispatchers he had a “situation” and asked that they track his phone to determine his location. He claimed someone tried to rob him.
“Please, can you send somebody here?” the man told dispatchers. The call continues with the man arguing with someone. Then there are muffled sounds, and the caller is heard telling the dispatcher, “I had to run for my life. Call me back. I’ll just keep you in my pocket,” before the call goes silent.
SAPD says officers were dispatched to the motel on June 19, 2020, around 4:15 p.m., but no formal complaint was generated.
Rosa said when the family heard from Santiago’s girlfriend about his disappearance, they tried to file a missing person’s report but were given the runaround. “There was some back and forth there at the police station. We were like, ‘Somebody used to help us. We’re desperate here. We’re getting doors shut over there. We need a report,” Rosa said.
She said the family was forced to file a police report in Chelsea, Massachusetts, although Santiago was in San Antonio. They say the person who likely had all the answers, Santiago’s girlfriend, was never questioned.
[SNIP]
https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2021/01/20/can-you-send-somebody-here-man-pleads-for-help-on-911-call-before-disappearance/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Police: There’s no need to wait to report a missing person - Bermuda
Fiona McWhirter
Created: Jan 05, 2021 09:21 AM
Residents were urged to contact police immediately if there are concerns about the safety or wellbeing of someone believed to be missing.
The Bermuda Police Service said that there is no need to wait 48 hours to file a report “particularly in the case of a minor or someone whose mental or emotional state may be compromised”.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Martin Weekes explained: “It has come to our attention via social media posts, that some members of the community are of the belief that a certain period of time must elapse before they are able to file a missing person’s report.
“That is simply not so.
“We urge that should you have concerns about the whereabouts of an individual and fear for their safety or wellbeing, please get in contact with the Bermuda Police Service right away.”
He added: “While each situation will be addressed according to its specific merit, it is important that information about individuals who have gone missing be immediately provided to the police in order to minimise any risk to that individual, by ensuring that they are located in the shortest possible time.
“We are grateful to the community for their continued support in providing information when we issue appeals for assistance in locating individuals who have been reported missing.”
https://www.royalgazette.com/general/news/article/20210105/police-theres-no-need-to-wait-to-report-a-missing-person/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
As Black Women and Girls Go Missing, and the Media and the Police Do Little, a National Task Force is Required to Address the Issue
National Green Party Women's Caucus
www.gp.org
For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Contact:
Monica James, monicajames3409@aol.com, National Green Party Women’s Caucus Spokesperson
The Green Party of the United States National Women’s Caucus released a statement today calling for a national task force to focus on solving the disappearances of black women and girls.
Caucus spokesperson Monica James said, “As Black women and girls go missing, and the media hardly gives coverage and the police do very little to solve their cases, the GPUS Women’s Caucus believes a national task force is required to address this issue. As the Caucus spokesperson, this topic of the invisible, unknown numbers of missing Black women and girls has touched me personally and many of us the hardest. Some have never heard these stories, but in the Black communities, it’s the silent wishes of family and friends, exhausted, crying for help, that these women be acknowledged and found.”
The task force would accurately collect and share data on missing Black women and girls and provide financial and logistical support to local government agencies in solving the disappearances, among other goals.
Green Party 2020 vice-presidential nominee Angela Walker said, “The epidemic of missing Black girls and women (both cisgender and transgender) in the United States has been underreported for far too long. It is unacceptable that these disappearances are not prioritized, and this disregard only highlights the fact that this country does not protect or respect Black girls and women. It is past time for a task force that focuses on this national tragedy and brings aid to the families affected. As a Black woman, parent and grandparent, this is personal to me.”
The statement highlights research demonstrating that Black people make up a disproportionate number of missing persons. However, when Black women and girls are reported missing, they are frequently inappropriately classified as runaways, which removes the sense of urgency in the response. Public knowledge of the missing is limited because many of the stories never make it to the media, and few are prioritized or solved by the police, but the numbers are estimated to be in the tens of thousands. Except for primarily Black journalists and publications that have covered the issue, few of the stories are reported or ever resolved.
[SNIP]
https://www.gp.org/as_black_women_and_girls_go_missing_and_the_media_and_the_police_do_little_a_national_task_force_is_required_to_address_the_issue
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Turns Out “Missing” Main Line Man Was Just a Sex Offender in Hiding
The feds say Tim Dillon was living 2,000 miles away under an assumed name.
by Victor Fiorillo · 1/20/2021, 2:34 p.m.
Back in 2019, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System issued a missing persons alert for Paoli’s Timothy Patrick Dillon, who was 25 at the time. Dillon had been living with his parents, who contacted their local police department after Dillon didn’t come home one night in 2019.
“Timothy is 5’5? and weighs about 130 to 140 pounds, he has sandy color hair and hazel eyes,” read the bulletin. “Timothy left home for an appointment after dinner on August 27 and never returned home. His car was found a week later abandoned at the Paoli train station.”
[SNIP]
That alert was shared on Facebook as far away as New Mexico and Goose Creek, South Carolina. Strangers on social media expressed their well-wishes for Dillon and his family. “Prayer for a safe return,” wrote one woman on the Missing People in America Facebook page.
But it turns out that Dillon was a-okay. No harm had befallen him. He wasn’t missing so much as not wanting to be found.
[SNIP]
https://www.phillymag.com/news/2021/01/20/tim-dillon-paoli-sex-offender/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Fresno woman arrested for human trafficking of minor, kidnap and torture
Tyler Moyer, Eyewitness News
The Bakersfield Police Department announced they have arrested Javonna Lewis (22) of Fresno for torture, kidnap, human trafficking with force, human trafficking of a minor, pandering of a minor, and penetration with a foreign object with force.
On December 23, 2020, BPD was alerted to the possible human trafficking of a 17-year old victim. Detectives were able to identify Lewis and obtained a warrant for her arrest.
The victim was safely recovered and has been reunited with family members.
On January 15, 2021, BPD with the assistance of the Fresno MAGEC (Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium) arrested Lewis and she was booked into the Kern County Jail.
BPD says the investigation is on-going and detectives are working to identify all suspects involved.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/fresno-woman-arrested-for-human-trafficking-of-minor-kidnap-and-torture/ar-BB1cWlha?ocid=msedgntp
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Missing and incarcerated: What is happening within China’s borders?
Upwards of 10,000 Uighurs have been reported missing after detention.
By Victor Ordonez and Gerry Wagschal
January 5, 2021, 3:22 AM
COVID-19 travel bans and harsher media restrictions have provided the Chinese government some shade from the international spotlight in the wake of the country’s alleged human rights abuses.
Experts, however, say it’s "business as usual" behind the iron curtains.
A Chinese court sentenced Zhang Zhan, a 37-year-old citizen journalist who documented the early days of the novel coronavirus outbreak, to four years in prison last week after challenging the government’s official narrative of the pandemic.
She is the first known Chinese citizen to face trial for documenting China’s COVID-19 outbreak. Zhang, a former lawyer, traveled to Wuhan from her home in Shanghai earlier this year at the outbreak's peak to witness the virus's toll on the bustling city where the pandemic began. She shared videos that showed crowded hospitals and residents worrying about their financial state.
Zhang's trial lasted less than three hours and she was convicted of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble."
"Time and time again, we watch China violate its most basic domestic legal obligations, its own domestic legal obligations, simply to silence people whose views it doesn't like," Sophie Richardson, the China director at Human Rights Watch, told ABC News.
[SNIP]
https://abcnews.go.com/International/missing-incarcerated-happening-chinas-borders/story?id=75036837
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
One month after daughter goes missing, local mother continues to fight to find her
By: Julio Avila | Posted at 3:57 PM, Jan 04, 2021 and last updated 2:06 PM, Jan 04, 2021
GLOUCESTER, Va. -- Searching, but not getting answers – that is the plight Michelle Rocheleau continues to face one month after her daughter, Ashley Cerasole, went missing.
"She loved everybody; she was very loving, she was very complimentative,” Rocheleau described Cerasole. “She loved to sing; she'd sing you a song. She loved Jesus."
Cerasole went missing on Dec. 3.
"I have been through every possible feeling you could imagine,” Rocheleau said. “Fear, anger, sadness, sorrow, panic."
Earlier that day, Rocheleau said Cerasole called her saying she wished she could give her a hug for Christmas. That was the last time she heard from her.
[SNIP]
https://www.wtkr.com/news/one-month-after-daughter-goes-missing-mother-continues-to-fight-to-find-daughter
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Police Dog Helps Rescue Missing Person in Search Through Deep Snow
By Elmoudjaweb - January 20, 2021
A person is recovering in hospital after recently being located in the snow by RCMP police dog Jerry.
RCMP Dog Services were called in to help find an individual reported missing in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Weather conditions were bad at the time.
Corporal Jason Muzzerall and Police Service Dog Jerry were called in to assist in the search and tracked their way through deep snow to find the person partially buried in snow and unresponsive.
RCMP say the person might not have survived had it not been for the response of Muzzerall and Jerry.
[SNIP]
https://elmoudjaweb.com/police-dog-helps-rescue-missing-person-in-search-through-deep-snow-details/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Human Remains Found in Car at Bottom of NY Reservoir Are Tied to Missing Person Case
Published January 20, 2021 - Updated on January 21, 2021 at 7:13 am
A major clue in a decades-old missing persons case was found after crews pulled a car out of a reservoir in Westchester County.
The vehicle was removed from the Muscoot Reservoir in Katonah on Wednesday, with investigators finding human remains inside.
The car was found during a regular inspection of the body of water by the Department of Environmental Protection, and then removed by police from White Plains, New York State and the DEP.
White Plains police have only said that the car is connected to an old missing persons case that is still open, but did not specify which one or provide any additional information.
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/human-remains-recovered-in-car-found-at-bottom-of-new-york-reservoir/2841371/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Kansas legislators propose bill to start addressing high rates of missing, murdered Indigenous people
TOPEKA — While the world faces a global health crisis, advocates say, Indigenous people are facing an epidemic of their own with American Indians missing or murdered at disproportionately high rates.
Two legislators are acting to change that reality in Kansas.
As of Jan. 7, 2021, there are more than 696 missing American Indian or Alaskan Native people, including three in Kansas, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. A 2020 report using data from the Sovereign Bodies Institute, a nonprofit, Indigenous-led research organization, said 2,306 American Indian women and girls in the U.S have gone missing within the past 40 years, with 58% connected to homicide.
The U.S. Department of Justice reports American Indian women are murdered at rates more than 10 times the national average.
For this reason, Rep. Ponka-We Victors, a Wichita Democrat and one of two American Indian women in the Legislature, is taking another crack at legislation that would require training for law enforcement specific to missing and murdered Indigenous people.
[SNIP]
https://www2.ljworld.com/news/state-government/2021/jan/21/kansas-legislators-propose-bill-to-start-addressing-high-rates-of-missing-murdered-indigenous-people/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Family reunited with missing dog after three years
By: Jared Leone, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Updated: January 21, 2021 - 5:56 PM
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — A Virginia family was reunited with their dog after he went missing three years ago.
Judith Doughty said Skylar, a 6-year-old Maltese, disappeared after going outside with another dog, WTKR reported.
The family searched but was unable to find him. Last week, Sherae Battle was driving with her children to a hospital when they saw a dog.
“He was just walking in the street, and I’m like, ‘Oh, my gracious,’ so I did a U-turn in the middle of the street,” Battle said.
They followed the dog into a wooded area, where they were able to lure him back out with some Goldfish crackers. They kept him for two days until they took him to the Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter when it reopened. He was found about 15 miles from where he went missing.
[SNIP]
https://www.wftv.com/news/trending/family-reunited-with-missing-dog-after-three-years/6JFSSKLLABGNPIQLTGCI3YCIAM/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Terrorists, criminals, and missing persons - Inside the highly skilled Garda Air Support Unit
Andrew Byrne
From dealing with terrorists, pursuing criminals from the skies and helping in the search for missing persons, the Garda Air Support Unit is integral to policing in Ireland.
[SNIP]
Sgt. Mark Campbell from the Garda Air Support Unit said the team is operating 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.
He said: "We perform a range of functions from crime scene photography, pursuits, and missing persons searches and we'll also support a range of other units across the state.
"Generally on a call out from one of the communication rooms it's a two minute response. If we got a call at 10 past 12 at night, by twelve minutes past we should be in the aircraft and making our way out to the scene."
Usually the unit is based Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. Co Dublin but can be based in other locations within the Republic of Ireland.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/other/terrorists-criminals-and-missing-persons-inside-the-highly-skilled-garda-air-support-unit/ar-BB1d084R
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Lifetime's Long Island Serial Killer, Inspired by a True Story, Tracks Search for Missing Daughter
Jodi Guglielmi
Never underestimate how far a mother will go for her children.
In PEOPLE's exclusive first look at Lifetime's 400th original movie, The Long Island Serial Killer: A Mother's Hunt for Justice, a woman launches a desperate search to find her daughter after she goes missing following a night out on Long Island, New York.
In the trailer for the film, which is based on a true story, Mari Gilbert (Kim Delaney) becomes alarmed when her daughter Shannan (Katharine Isabelle) fails to return home. Knowing her daughter sometimes works as an escort, Mari immediately fears the worst.
"Shannan is alive — I have to believe that," she says.
But the search for Shannan leads to an even more unsettling discovery: the bodies of several other missing women.
Still determined to seek justice for her daughter, Mari becomes frustrated by what she perceives as lack of police action.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/lifetime-s-long-island-serial-killer-inspired-by-a-true-story-tracks-search-for-missing-daughter/ar-BB1d05iv
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Noel, the miracle dog, survives vehicle crash and 21 days in the wilderness
Scott Tady | Beaver County Times
HOPEWELL TWP. — Like the humans in the vehicle with her, the 7-pound Pomeranian survived a rollover crash on Interstate 376, though the frightened little dog immediately ran away.
Search teams spent days combing the snow-covered woods near the Hopewell Township exit crash site, hoping to find the 2-year-old pooch safe and sound.
A full 21 days after the accident, the dog was found healthy, next to a wooden cross, in the woods by the Independence Township line.
The dog's name is Noel. She went missing Christmas Eve.
[SNIP]
https://www.timesonline.com/story/news/local/2021/01/22/noel-7-pound-dog-survives-car-crash-and-21-days-wilderness/4209880001/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
IISc researchers develop software to track missing persons, cars
Hans News Service | 23 Jan 2021 12:18 AM
Bengaluru: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a novel software platform from which apps and algorithms can intelligently track and analyse video feeds from cameras spread across cities. Such analysis is not only useful for tracking missing persons or objects, but also for "smart city" initiatives such as automated traffic control.
Many cities worldwide have set up thousands of video cameras. Machine learning models can scour through the feeds from these cameras for a specific purpose ‒ tracking a stolen car, for example. These models cannot work by themselves; they have to run on a software platform or "environment" (somewhat similar to a computer operating system). But existing platforms are usually set in stone, and do not offer much flexibility to modify the model as the situation changes or test new models over the same camera network.
[SNIP]
https://www.thehansindia.com/news/cities/bengaluru/iisc-researchers-develop-software-to-track-missing-persons-cars-668137
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
33 missing children, including some who were sexually exploited, found during operation in SoCal: FBI
by: Cindy Von Quednow
Posted: Jan 22, 2021 / 02:40 PM PST / Updated: Jan 22, 2021 / 03:44 PM PST
A multi-agency investigation in Southern California led to the recovery of 33 children who had been missing, including eight who were sexually exploited, the FBI announced Friday.
Two of the children were rescued multiple times during Operation “Lost Angels.” They were apparently on the “track,” a term used to describe a known location for sex trafficking, officials explained.
The investigation began on Jan. 11, during Human Trafficking Awareness Month. More than two dozen agencies participated, including the Los Angeles police and sheriff’s departments, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the California Department of Child and Family Services and nongovernmental victim advocacy organizations.
“Several other victims located had been sexually exploited in the past and were considered vulnerable missing children prior to their recovery,” the FBI said in a news release.
[SNIP]
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/33-missing-children-including-some-who-were-sexually-exploited-found-during-multi-agency-operation-in-socal/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Missing cat lived in storm drain for nearly two months
By Ben Hooper | JAN. 13, 2021 / 11:38 AM
Jan. 13 (UPI) -- A cat that escaped from a California clinic was found to have been living in a storm drain for nearly two months before being recaptured and returned home.
Riverside County Animal Services said 8-month-old Jojo escaped from Animal Samaritans SPCA in Thousand Palms when he was brought in by owner Laodibet "Lala" Chavarria and her family.
"We brought him in to get neutered at Animal Samaritans and I guess something happened where the carrier dropped. Basically he fell and ran out, and he ended up just lost," Chavarria told KESQ-TV.
Jojo seemed to have vanished, with no sightings reported for weeks.
[SNIP]
https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/01/13/Missing-cat-lived-in-storm-drain-for-nearly-two-months/2211610555380/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Cat missing for 6 years reunites with owner who is battling COVID-19
By Lizzy Buczak RADIO.COM
January 9, 2021 2:51 pm
A cat that was missing for six years has found his way back home and is helping his owner battle COVID-19.
Ashley Orians, a nurse, said Charlie, who is about 10 years old, disappeared in 2015 while she was living near Charleston, SC.
She first found him in 2010 on her college campus when he was a tiny kitty “with a broken tail.”
Orians spent weeks looking for Charlie and never gave up hope. She even searched for him after she moved back to upstate New York.
[SNIP]
https://www.radio.com/news/cat-missing-for-6-years-reunites-with-owner-who-has-covid-19
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Dogs, drones and firefighters team up to find missing people
Susan Sarkauskas | Updated: 1/17/2021 9:37 AM
A medically fragile 79-year-old man was reported missing Dec. 19 in Elmhurst.
The sun had set and temperatures were dropping. Besides using their own police dog, Elmhurst officials asked for help.
A DuPage County sheriff bloodhound arrived, and so did a new team run by firefighters from throughout the suburbs -- the K9/Drone Search and Rescue Strike Team, which formed in early 2020.
German shepherds Irie and Thor, their handlers, a third team member, and two people manning drones with heat-sensing cameras picked up the man's trail, which by then was seven hours cold.
The man was found, alive, but suffering from hypothermia.
[SNIP]
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20210116/dogs-drones-and-firefighters-team-up-to-find-missing-people
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Amanda Berry joins U.S. Marshals to find missing people
by: fox8news | Posted: Jan 13, 2021 / 10:04 PM EST / Updated: Jan 13, 2021 / 10:04 PM EST
CLEVELAND – U.S. Marshals in Cleveland are at the forefront of a national movement to find missing children. Now they’re asking Fox 8 missing person advocate Amanda Berry to help.
Back in August, the U.S. Marshals Service teamed up with local police departments to help safely locate dozens of missing children across Northeast Ohio. They called it “Operation Safety Net,” and it was a huge success.
35 missing Northeast Ohio children recovered by U.S. Marshals
“We ended up recovering or safely locating 35 entered missing juveniles in that time period,” said Inspector Bill Boldin. “That’s three or four times more than what we’d normally find.”
Based on their success, Boldin and his team have been asked to teach other missing children units what they’ve learned.
“The lessons that we learned from doing this has actually developed into a training program where we’re now assisting other Marshals around the country,” Boldin said. “We’re trying to set up these programs and operations to do an even better job to get out there and find our missing.”
[SNIP]
https://fox8.com/news/amanda-berry-joins-u-s-marshals-to-find-missing-people/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
35 missing Northeast Ohio children recovered by U.S. Marshals
by: FOX 8 Web Central | Posted: Sep 21, 2020 / 09:52 AM EDT
Updated: Sep 21, 2020 / 11:23 AM EDT
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WJW) – Operation Safety Net has led to the recovery of 35 Northeast Ohio children in a joint operation by U.S. Marshals, the Cleveland Division of Police, East Cleveland Police, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office, and Newburgh Heights police.
35 missing and endangered children between the ages of 13 and 18 were recovered during the operation.
Just over 20% of those were tied to human trafficking, according to U.S. Marshals.
In a press release, they say only five cases that were referred to the Marshals Task Force remain open.
[SNIP]
If you have tips to share about missing children, call the tip line at 1-866-492-6833.
[SNIP]
https://fox8.com/news/35-missing-northeast-ohio-children-recovered-by-u-s-marshals/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
U.S. Marshals recover 25 missing Cuyahoga County children in 20 days
by: Jen Steer | Posted: Aug 27, 2020 / 10:48 AM EDT
Updated: Aug 27, 2020 / 02:58 PM EDT
CLEVELAND (WJW) – The U.S. Marshals recovered 25 missing and endangered children over the past 20 days as part of Operation Safety Net.
The children, between the ages of 13 and 18, were located in Cleveland, East Cleveland, Akron, Mansfield, Euclid, Willoughby and even Miami. According to the Marshals, about one fourth of the cases were related to human trafficking or prostitution.
Operation Safety Net involves the U.S. Marshals, the Cleveland Division of Police, the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department, the East Cleveland Police Department and the Newburgh Heights Police Department. It’s also a partnership with FOX 8 News.
Anyone with information on missing kids should call the U.S. Marshals tip line at 1-866-492-6833
https://fox8.com/news/u-s-marshals-recover-25-missing-cuyahoga-county-children-in-20-days/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Dog missing in stolen car returned after two weeks
By Jean Lotus
Jan. 15 (UPI) -- A dog stolen in Denver on New Year's Day inside an unlocked car was returned to its owner after being missing for two weeks.
Donna Lopez told police she left her black SUV in the parking lot of a convenience store with her Australian cattle dog, Spitfire, inside.
"I left her in the car, and apparently I left my keys in the car." Lopez told KDVR. "And when I turned around and came back out, the car was gone."
Police said a 41-year-old driver, allegedly drunk, crashed the car a few blocks away, but Spitfire was nowhere to be found.
[SNIP]
https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2021/01/15/Dog-missing-in-stolen-car-returned-after-two-weeks/3151610735475/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Here's how to make sure your pets return home if they're lost
Bill Choy | Siskiyou Daily News
The Siskiyou County Humane Society is implementing new strategies to ensure lost pets get home quickly and safely, which allows them to keep the shelter free for dogs and cats that don't yet have loving homes.
The best way to ensure your furry friend will be returned to you if they're lost? Proper identification – including microchips or ID collars.
“People need to abolish the 'old school' mentality, (that) losing a pet means you are a bad owner, and shift to the more enlightened attitude that things happen and, in many cases, are beyond pet owners’ control,” said Siskiyou Humane Society Executive Director Kim Latos.
Nationally, fewer than 2.5% of stray cats and 22% of stray dogs without microchips entering the shelter system are reunited with their families.
“Losing a pet can be one of the most stressful times in your life,” Latos said. “Most pet owners these days treat their pets like children or at least consider them part of the family."
[SNIP]
https://www.mtshastanews.com/story/news/2021/01/19/heres-how-make-sure-your-pets-return-home-if-theyre-lost/4211556001/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
We found 17-year-old Nicholas Allen in his car underwater, solving an 8-month-old missing person case in Linwood, NC.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
We found 22-year-old Ethan Kazmerzak in his car underwater, solving a 7-year-old missing person case in Hampton, Iowa.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
We found and recovered Timothy Robinson in his car 75' underwater, solving a 12-year-old missing person case in Portland, Oregon.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Top 3 IMPOSSIBLE places people were found
100s of people go missing every year under BAFFLING circumstances inside national parks and forests across North America. 1 former police detective, David Paulides, has researched 1000's of these cases, and some of them are truly mind blowing...
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Man tied to tree and burnt alive in UP’s Bareilly
Was killed over old enmity; FIR against two persons
Posted: Jan 25, 2021 09:59 AM (IST)
A 45-year-old man was tied to a tree with barbed wires and set on fire in Sheeshgarh area of Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, over an old enmity.
The charred body of Dharampal was found late on Saturday night and an FIR against two persons was filed on late Sunday evening.
Station House Officer (SHO) of Sheeshgarh, Rajkumar Bhardwaj, said: "Our forensic team has collected samples and we have also started investigation. The circumstantial evidence suggests the man was forcefully tied to the tree and set on fire."
The post-mortem examination was conducted on Sunday which confirmed the cause of death as shock due to ante-mortem burn injuries. This means that Dharampal was alive when he was set on fire.
The brother of the deceased, Bishanlal, said that Dharampal was abducted and murdered.
[SNIP]
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/man-tied-to-tree-with-barbed-wires-burnt-alive-in-ups-bareilly-203408
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Multiple people asked to take lie detector tests in missing California City toddlers case
By: Bayan Wang, 23ABCPosted at 7:44 PM, Jan 23, 2021
last updated 7:44 PM, Jan 23, 2021
CALIFORNIA CITY, Calif. (KERO) — Authorities have asked multiple people to take a lie detector test in the missing California City toddlers case.
California City Police Chief Jon Walker confirmed Saturday, that individuals "close to the investigation" were asked to take the test at some point after 3-year-old Orson West and 4-year-old Orrin West were reported missing on Dec. 21.
Walker did not disclose who those individuals are, when they were asked to take the test, or whether anyone took or denied the test.
This comes after Walker previously confirmed that authorities asked the adoptive parents of the missing brothers to take a lie detector test, the day after the boys were reporting missing. Walker did not confirm whether the parents took or denied the test.
[SNIP]
https://www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/multiple-people-asked-to-take-lie-detector-tests-in-missing-california-city-toddlers-case
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
‘Monster’ Slaughters Entire Family — Mom, Dad, 2 Young Sons — And Buries Them In The Desert
Nearly four years after vanishing without a trace, the remains of the McStay family were found in the Mojave Desert.
By Joe Dziemianowicz
Joseph McStay and his wife, Summer, and their 4- and 3-year sons, Gianni and Joseph Jr., were a fun-loving, happy family who’d recently settled into a comfortable life in Fallbrook, California. Situated in northern San Diego County, the community is known as “The Friendly Village.” Sadly, disaster would soon strike the tranquil town.
February 4, 2010 began typically enough for the busy family. Joseph, 40, whose business specialized in decorative indoor fountains, spoke with his father, Patrick, and told him he was in a hurry to get to a lunch meeting. Meanwhile, Summer, 43, who was busy doing home spruce-ups, spoke with her sister who’d recently had a baby.
It was an ordinary day until 5:47PM. After that, no one heard from them again. All credit card activity stopped. The family vanished.
“It was like they went, 'Poof,’” Joseph’s mother, Susan Blake, told “Killer Motive,” hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist Troy Roberts and airing Saturdays at 6/5c on Oxygen. “You don’t know what to think.”
Concerned, Joseph’s younger brother, Michael, went to the house and crawled in through a window on February 13. He found no sign of Michael and his family, but their dogs had been left unattended and there was food rotting in the kitchen. Summer’s prescription sunglasses were also in the house, just one sign making the possibility the McStays took a trip unlikely.
[SNIP]
https://www.oxygen.com/killer-motive/crime-news/mcstay-family-murders-who-killed-them
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Native Americans get voice in how to handle cases of missing, murdered
By Kristi Eaton
TULSA, Oklahoma (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - For nearly two years, Aubrey Dameron, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma, has been missing. Last seen in March 2019, Dameron disappeared while leaving her mother’s rural home early in the morning.
Her family has been following various leads, including draining a pond near her home, but is no closer to discovering what happened to Dameron, who was 25 when she disappeared, her aunt, Pam Smith, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Now, as two Oklahoma attorneys partner with the Cherokee Nation and the Muscogee (Creek) Nation on a new pilot project to raise awareness, resources and protocols for cases of missing and murdered indigenous people, Smith finally feels some hope.
“Since Aubrey’s gone missing and we’ve been fighting to get help, I hope they follow through and they understand what causes our people to go missing and become murdered,” she said.
[SNIP]
https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-indigenous-crime/feature-native-americans-get-voice-in-how-to-handle-cases-of-missing-murdered-idUSL8N2K04HM
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Sheriff: Human skeletal remains found in Freestone County may be linked to missing person
By Rusty Surette | Published: Jan. 24, 2021 at 11:49 AM PST
FREESTONE COUNTY, Texas (KBTX) - The Freestone County Sheriff’s Office received a call Friday afternoon from a person who reported that they “inadvertently discovered human skeletal remains” while gathering their horses in a wooded area on their property.
FCSO personnel along with a Texas Game Warden K-9 Unit searched the area Friday and “collected evidence,” then returned Saturday and “found additional items of evidentiary value and additional skeletal remains.”
The FCSO Sheriff said personal clothing items and personal verification that was found matches the description of a missing person that was reported missing from that same area in August of 2017.
Sheriff J. Shipley said, “the identity of the decedent is awaiting scientific verification, however, personal clothing items and personal verification that was found matches the description of a missing person that was reported missing from that same area in August of 2017.”
Skeletal remains and related evidence was turned over to the forensic examiners for further investigation and information, says FCSO.
https://www.kbtx.com/2021/01/24/sheriff-human-skeletal-remains-found-in-freestone-county-may-be-linked-to-missing-person/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Success! Paramus Assists Ridgewood & Bergen County Officers in Sunday Missing Person Search
By BOYD A. LOVING
January 25, 2021 at 11:06 AM
PARAMUS, NJ - An intense, multi-police agency search for an endangered adult female ended in success yesterday as Paramus Police assisted with a rescue one hour after the search began.
Approximately one hour after the Ridgewood-led search began, Paramus police located her in a residential neighborhood about a half mile from where she had last been seen entering Saddle River County Park early Sunday evening, Jan. 24. She was evaluated by Paramus EMS personnel before being driven home by a Ridgewood patrol officer.
A NJ State Police helicopter, a search dog and patrol officers of the Bergen County Sheriff's Office, Ridgewood firefighters, Ridgewood patrol officers, Ridgewood Emergency Services personnel, Paramus police, and Paramus Emergency Management staff were all deployed in an effort to locate the individual.
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/paramus/articles/success-paramus-assists-ridgewood-bergen-county-officers-in-sunday-missing-person-search
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Driver trying to avoid traffic jam gets lost for 18 days
He’s found more than a week after authorities called off the search
By CNN.COM WIRE SERVICE
PUBLISHED: January 25, 2021 at 8:20 a.m. | UPDATED: January 25, 2021 at 8:21 a.m.
(CNN) — A man who was missing for two and a half weeks in the Australian bush has been found alive after surviving on mushrooms, police say.
Missing man Robert Weber was found near a dam on Sunday morning by a property owner.Credit: Queensland Police
Police launched an extensive search for Robert Weber, who was last seen leaving a hotel in Kilkivan, Queensland, on January 6.
Authorities scoured the area’s dense bushland, rivers, dams and steep terrain in wet conditions to search for Weber, but called off the rescue mission after a week.
Weber, 58, was discovered on Sunday morning — 18 days after he was last seen — by a property owner.
[SNIP]
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/01/25/driver-trying-to-avoid-traffic-jam-gets-lost-for-18-days/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Newborn baby and woman 'close to death' among 13,000 people reported missing in West Midlands in past year
Ben Perrin
Specialist West Midlands Police Locate Teams - based in Solihull and Wednesfield - receive one missing person report every 40-minutes, but helped reunite thousands of missing people with their loved ones in 2020.
Officers recorded a total of 12,669 missing people reports, with almost 1,500 graded "high risk" meaning there were very serious concerns about the person’s well-being.
This includes children, pensioners, people with dementia or another vulnerability, while others may be experiencing a mental health crisis or those believed to be a self-harm or suicide risk, police said.
The oldest “misper" report police had last year was a 97-year-old man and the youngest a baby just a few weeks old. In another case officers tracked down and save a vulnerable woman, who was "close to death", at a derelict house in Smethwick.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/newsbirmingham/newborn-baby-and-woman-close-to-death-among-13000-people-reported-missing-in-west-midlands-in-past-year/ar-BB1d2Z3n
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Man Spends 10 Months Searching For Missing Dog — Only To Find Her On Adoption Site
Beverly L. Jenkins
Posted: January 24, 2021
Just when Dylan Summers had completely given up on ever finding his dog again, fate intervened in a big way.
Ten months ago, his pup Athena was hit by a car near their Bourbon, Missouri, home. She survived, but part of her tail and one of her back legs had to be amputated.
Dylan paid for her costly surgery and was nursing her back to health when she suddenly disappeared from the backyard. Especially since she was still recovering and on medication, Dylan desperately searched for her online and in person. Sadly, there was no sign of her, and he feared that she’d been taken.
“I had suspicions that she was stolen but I couldn’t confirm it. I was so worried about her,” Dylan said.
[SNIP]
https://www.inspiremore.com/dylan-summers-finds-missing-dog/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
List of solved missing person cases
This is a list of solved missing persons cases of people who went missing in unknown locations or unknown circumstances that were eventually explained by their reappearance or the recovery of their bodies, or the conviction of the perpetrator(s) responsible for their disappearances.
[SNIP]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_solved_missing_person_cases
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Search and rescue organization helping to bring missing persons home
Jonathan Fortier 1/13/2021
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - Rapid Search and Rescue was started in 2012 by Heather Vancil after a man had gone missing from the Wisconsin Rapids area.
“There was only so much law enforcement could do and that is how Rapid Search and Rescue was founded because there was a lack of a search and rescue team here in the Wisconsin Rapids area,” Vancil says.
Nine years later, Rapid Search and Rescue now works with five other search and rescue organizations in the state as part of Search Teams of Wisconsin.
“Initially we first formed to assist law enforcement on missing persons, now we also do networking with other missing persons organizations.”
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/search-and-rescue-organization-helping-to-bring-missing-persons-home/ar-BB1cJjIS?ocid=uxbndlbing
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Owner Of Missing Cat Transfers $300 To Scammer, Warns Others To Not Fall Prey To Their Demands
By Jonathan Yee - 25 Jan 2021, 11:02 am
Last month, the owners of a cat who went missing around East Coast put up a missing notice online. More than a month later, Homer has not been found yet.
While the owners have received information, they soon found that not everyone who contacts them does so with the intention of helping to find their pet.
One of the owners has warned other animal owners about the potential for scammers, after her brother was tricked by one into sending money to them.
After sending money over, the recipient failed to turn up at the arranged meeting point, and needless to say there was no cat.
The owners have made a police report.
[SNIP]
https://mustsharenews.com/missing-cat-owner-scammer/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Genetic genealogy helps ID victim of Green River Killer
By Gene Johnson
SEATTLE (AP) — Genetic genealogy helped identify the youngest known victim of one of the nation’s most prolific serial killers almost 37 years after her remains were discovered near a baseball field south of Seattle.
Wendy Stephens was 14 and had run away from her home in Denver before Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer, strangled her in 1983, the King County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday.
Ridgway terrorized the Seattle area in the 1980s, and since 2003, he has pleaded guilty to killing 49 women and girls. Four of the victims — including Stephens — had not been identified.
“Ridgway’s murderous spree left a trail of profound grief for so many families of murdered and missing women,” King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg said in a written statement. “We are thankful that Wendy Stephens’ family will now have answers to their enormous loss suffered nearly 40 years ago.”
[SNIP]
https://apnews.com/article/seattle-57d6512358f4196842aa236ec989741c
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
INTRO: Genetic Genealogy
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Genetic genealogy is the use of genealogical DNA tests, i.e. DNA profiling and DNA testing in combination with traditional genealogical methods, to infer biological relationships between individuals. Genetic genealogy involves the use of genealogical DNA testing to determine the level and type of the genetic relationship between individuals. This application of genetics came to be used by family historians in the 21st century, as tests became affordable. The tests have been promoted by amateur groups, such as surname study groups, or regional genealogical groups, as well as research projects such as the Genographic Project.
As of 2019, about 30 million people had been tested. As this field has developed, the aims of practitioners broadened, with many seeking knowledge of their ancestry beyond the recent centuries for which traditional pedigrees can be constructed.
[SNIP]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_genealogy
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
List of suspected perpetrators of crimes identified with GEDmatch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In December 2018, police forces in the United States said that, with the help of DNA testing, GEDmatch and genetic genealogy, they had been able to identify suspects in a total of 28 cold murder and rape cases in the year 2018.
Also in December 2018, Family Tree DNA allowed the law enforcement agencies including the FBI to upload DNA profiles from crime scenes to help solve cold cases. So from then onwards GEDmatch was not the only site that could be used by law enforcement officials to solve crimes using genetic genealogy.
As of April 2019, GEDmatch had been used in at least 59 cold case arrests, most of which were the work of Parabon Nanolabs and their chief genetic genealogist CeCe Moore, as well as 11 Jane and John Doe identifications across the United States, most of which were run and funded by the DNA Doe Project.
In May 2019 GEDmatch tightened its rules on privacy which were forecast to make it much more difficult for law enforcement agencies to find suspects using GEDmatch.
[SNIP]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suspected_perpetrators_of_crimes_identified_with_GEDmatch
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
DNA, genetic genealogy helping to solve the coldest of cold cases
By Robert Gearty | Fox News
Genetic genealogy helping to solve cold cases
Detectives are using DNA and genetic genealogy to crack even the coldest of cold cases.
In less than two years, the powerful new crime-solving tool that uploads crime scene DNA to a public genealogy website to identify suspects has closed dozens of cold cases, including nine that were very, very old.
Of these nine, the oldest was nearly 52 years cold when it was solved. The other eight were more than 42 years cold. Two of these cases are now being prosecuted in Orange County, Calif.
[SNIP]
https://www.foxnews.com/us/dna-genetic-genealogy-helping-to-solve-the-coldest-of-cold-cases
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Genetic genealogy can help solve cold cases. It can also accuse the wrong person
Science Nov 7, 2019 5:15 PM EST
On an August day in Washington state, fields of crops stretch like seas until they bump up against 100-foot-high pines. Cars are rolling over the High Bridge as locals swim in the coursing stream below. Thirty years ago, this serene scene was likely the site of a grisly crime — part of a double murder that would make legal history.
Under the bridge, on Thanksgiving Day in 1987, pheasant hunters found the body of Jay Cook. The 20-year-old had been beaten around the head and strangled with twine tied to dog collars. A pack of Camel Lights had been stuffed down his throat.
Two days earlier, a passerby, more than an hour’s drive away had also found a body. It was Cook’s girlfriend — 18-year-old Tanya Van Cuylenborg.
Thursday on the PBS NewsHour, William Brangham meets people who have taken DNA tests and as a result been inadvertently involved in murder investigations because of genetic genealogy. Check your local listings for the time, and watch Part 1 here.
“Tanya’s body was found mostly nude on the side of the road,” said James Scharf, who was a Snohomish County patrolman at the time. “She’d been raped and she’d been shot in the head probably right there on the side of the road.”
[SNIP]
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/genetic-genealogy-can-help-solve-cold-cases-it-can-also-accuse-the-wrong-person
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Officials announce world’s oldest cold case solved using genetic genealogy in Colorado
YouTube - 5/2/2020 - by FOX31 Denver
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Four-decade old cold case solved when Ga. woman uploaded DNA test results to public website
Jan 31, 2020
It was January 1980 when 21-year-old Helene Pruszynski was found raped, bound and stabbed to death in an empty Colorado field. Four-decades later an arrest was made based off a Georgia woman's DNA profile uploaded online. Police arrested her distant cousin.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
This app is helping reunite dogs with their owners using AI
It’s hard to imagine the stress that pet owners go through when their furry friends go missing. A US government survey suggests that 7% of lost dogs are never recovered. That’s why a startup named Shadow is trying to reunite dogs with their owners using AI.
The startup has a free iOS and Android app that works with shelters and rescue organizations to help owners find their lost dogs in the US. It also uses AI to match a missing dog’s picture with images posted by shelters, as well as posts on social networks. The model finds potential matches to the missing dog’s photos, and then volunteers help the owner find the pet.
A recent paper posted by researchers who worked with dog network pet2Net suggests that AI recognition solutions could achieve up to 95% accuracy in identifying individual dogs in social media images.
[SNIP]
TechCrunch noted that Shadow started its work in the New York area in 2018, and has reunited almost 10,000 dogs with their owners to date.
[SNIP]
https://thenextweb.com/plugged/2021/01/14/this-app-is-helping-reunite-dogs-with-their-owners-using-ai/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Fairbanks leaders plead for answers after string of unsolved missing persons cases
By Dan Bross, KUAC - Fairbanks -January 26, 2021
Fairbanks residents, families of the missing and Alaska Native leaders gathered at a vigil over the weekend to raise awareness about the unusually high number of local people who have gone missing, the majority of them Alaska Native.
The outdoor vigil offered families an opportunity to share their stories, thank those aiding the ongoing search for answers and call for new action.
Eight individuals have gone missing in the Fairbanks area since last May. Five of them are Alaska Native.
That’s unusually high, according to former Tanana Chiefs Conference VPSO Program Coordinator Jody Potts, who helped organize the Saturday afternoon vigil in front of TCC’s Chief Peter John tribal building.
[SNIP]
https://www.alaskapublic.org/2021/01/26/fairbanks-leaders-plead-for-answers-after-string-of-unsolved-missing-persons-cases/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)Last edited Thu Jan 28, 2021, 10:39 PM - Edit history (1)
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Fairbanks community members gather for vigil to raise awareness of missing people, ask for help, pray for answers
Author: Sam Ferrara, Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
FAIRBANKS — Hundreds of community members gathered at the Chief Peter John Tribal Building on First Avenue in Fairbanks on Saturday to hold a vigil for an alarmingly high number of people who have gone missing in the Fairbanks area over just the past 10 months.
Community leaders and family members of the missing spoke to those gathered at the vigil, asking for support and awareness from the community and action from leaders and law enforcement. Family members of the missing repeatedly asked for people to come forward with any information they have.
There were also calls for more transparency with the community from law enforcement about missing persons cases and for local leaders and law enforcement to do more to help, including a specific request that local police try to enlist the help of federal law enforcement.
“We are here to remind the leaders of the community that the community is hurting,” said Rev. Scott Fisher while speaking to the crowd.
Jody Potts, one of the organizers of the vigil, told the people gathered that in an average year five people go missing in the Fairbanks area, but 11 people have gone missing in the area just since May 2020. Five of the missing people are from the Alaska Native community.
[SNIP]
https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/fairbanks/2021/01/27/fairbanks-community-members-gather-for-vigil-to-raise-awareness-of-missing-person-ask-for-help-pray-for-answers/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Fairbanks Police Department launches webpage for missing persons information
Alex Bengel
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - In order to inform the public about its process for handling missing person cases, the City of Fairbanks has released a list of answers to Frequently Asked Questions on its website, as well as a listing of current cases open in the city.
Ron Dupee, Deputy Chief of the Fairbanks Police Department (FPD) said, “Fairbanks Police Department takes every missing person very seriously, and we do the best that we can to locate them as soon as possible.”
The city’s website recommends reporting an individual missing as soon as possible, stating that there is no time requirement. “The longer that the family waits to report or the friend waits to report, the less leads that we’re able to obtain as far as video footage or anything like that,” Dupee said.
He explained that the department regularly works with the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People Task Force. “It’s a federal program that we participate in. Chief [Richard] Sweet has been attending conference calls and zoom meetings on a regular basis, at least biweekly, at least for the past month, where we go over the cases that we have, we share information with other agencies - Alaska State Troopers, the FBI, any other state or local jurisdictions that would come into play with each other’s missing persons cases.”
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fairbanks-police-department-launches-webpage-for-missing-persons-information/ar-BB1dbKI9?ocid=uxbndlbing
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Why people of color get less attention than whites when they go missing
By Jessica Hill | Cape Cod Times
When friends and family failed to hear from Jalajhia Finklea a day after she went missing, they contacted police and media outlets — anybody who could help spread the word and help them find her.
Finklea, a pregnant 18-year-old member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, was last seen on Oct. 20, getting into a car with Luis Zaragoza on Coggeshall Street in New Bedford.
After more than a month of interstate investigations, by police in New Bedford, Mashpee and Florida, Finklea's body, with two shotgun wounds, was found in a field off Route 95 in Fellsmere, Florida. Her death was ruled a homicide, and Zaragoza, her suspected killer, died in a police shootout.
Finklea's story, although heart-wrenching, offered closure so her family, friends and the tribal community could begin to heal.
But her case is the exception, not the rule.
[SNIP]
https://www.capecodtimes.com/story/news/2021/01/26/jalajhia-finklea-missing-persons-african-americans-indigenous-people/6419505002/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
18-Month-Old Baby's Mutilated Body Found In Dumpster; Occult Link Being Investigated
By Suman Varandani | 01/25/21 AT 7:40 AM
In a horrific incident, the mutilated body of an 18-month-old baby girl was found in a dumpster a day after she went missing. The incident took place in the Busia district in eastern Uganda.
A person, identified as Salim Abdallah Tiff, was picking waste from the debris box Saturday when he found the body.
"I was picking waste when I saw a suspicious sack in the skip; and upon opening it, I found a baby's body with some of her body parts mutilated," Tiff told local outlet Daily Monitor.
Preliminary investigation suggested the baby girl was killed and her body parts were removed, which were then put in a sack and dumped in the waste bin to hide the crime.
[SNIP]
https://www.ibtimes.com/18-month-old-babys-mutilated-body-found-dumpster-occult-link-being-investigated-3129795
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
WikiHow: How to Find a Missing Person
Co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD
Last Updated: September 4, 2020
When you believe a person in your life has disappeared, it's important to act quickly to set a search in motion. Start by calling the police department to file a missing persons report, then take measures to conduct your own search. If the person does not return home, you may need to alert the media and hire a private investigator. By taking the right steps quickly, you increase the chances of finding a missing person.
PARTS:
1) Contacting the Police and Filing Reports
2) Conducting a Search
3) Getting Outside Parties Involved
OTHER SECTIONS:
Questions & Answers
Tips and Warnings
Related Articles
References
Article Summary
PART 1: Contacting the Police and Filing Reports
Step 1
Contact the police as soon as you have reason to worry. You don’t have to wait a mandatory amount of time to file a missing person report. The faster you notify the police that your loved one is missing, the faster they can begin searching. Go to your local police department to file a report.
You should understand the limits of what the police can do, especially if the missing person is an adult. It is not illegal for a person to go missing.
Step 2
Provide the police with information about the missing person. To complete the missing persons report, you'll need to provide detailed information about the missing person's physical characteristics and last known location. Have the following information ready when you go to the police station to file the report:
Three current photos of the person
A list of nicknames or aliases used by the person
A physical description, including height, weight, age, hair color, eye color, build, etc.
A description of the clothing and shoes the person was last seen wearing
A list of possessions the person might be carrying, such as jewelry, glasses, contact lenses, accessories, a purse, a wallet, ID
cards, etc.
A list of scars, tattoos, and other identifying characteristics
A list of medications the person was taking, as well as allergies, handicaps, and other medical conditions
A list of relatives or friends of the missing person, along with contact information
A list of places the person frequents
A description of the person’s car or a different mode of transportation (a bicycle, for example) if applicable
A description of the situation surrounding the person's disappearance
Step 3
Keep a record of the report. Make sure you obtain a case number for your missing person's report. Write down the name of the person in charge of your case. Contact this person when you wish to follow up.
Step 4
Contact the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). The US Department of Justice operates this system. NamUs lets you upload information about a missing person for use by law enforcement officials, agencies, and individuals. The site helps missing persons cases wrap up sooner by providing this information to the public.
Step 5
Register with other missing persons databases or review their resources. You can use other databases designed to help find missing persons, many of which are geared toward specific characteristics. Consider registering with additional databases to gain access to their free services and resources to help you find your missing person.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children specializes in providing services for families of children who are missing. After you have reported a missing child to law enforcement, you can call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST(1-800-843-5678).
The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides resources for families of people with mental illness who have gone missing. Their website contains potentially useful materials, including suggested guidelines and forums.
REFERENCES:
http://missingpersonsofamerica.com/2011/03/06/when-can-you-report-a-person-missing/
https://www.findthemissing.org/en
http://www.missingkids.com/home
http://www.nami.org/Find-Support/Family-Members-and-Caregivers/Finding-a-Missing-Loved-One
http://www.lapdonline.org/lapd_adult_missing_persons_unit
http://www.amberalert.gov/faqs.htm
[SNIP]
https://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Missing-Person
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Centum phone location technology approved for Airbus H145
Jan, 21, Source: CENTUM
CENTUM has announced that Lifeseeker, its life-saving technology, has been certified for linefit on Airbus H145 helicopters. Lifeseeker uses signals from a missing person’s mobile phone to guide search and rescue (SAR) teams to the right place quickly. It helps make SAR missions more effective and efficient, saving lives and optimizing operational costs.
Lifeseeker turns the phone into a beacon. It creates its own network to triangulate the exact location of the missing person’s phone, making it independent from mobile phone networks. Importantly, it does not rely on line of sight, meaning it is effective in all weathers and all terrains, night and day, even if the missing person is hidden by trees, or even buried in snow or rubble.
Lifeseeker can also be used to communicate with the missing person to assess any immediate medical needs, the best place to pick them up and so on. However, Lifeseeker does not rely on the missing person taking any action.
Héctor Estévez, CEO of CENTUM, said, “Everyone has a mobile phone which now means we all have a rescue beacon. As soon as we find the phone, we find the person. We know the technology works because it is already helping save lives in Europe.
[SNIP]
https://helihub.com/2021/01/27/centum-phone-location-technology-approved-for-airbus-h145/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Group of friends use tech to help missing teen with autism get home
WBAL Updated: 6:03 PM EST Jan 12, 2021
BALTIMORE — An act of kindness along with some handy technology saved a missing Baltimore teen last week.
Akoya Owens was near her home earlier this month when she found a 17-year-old girl with autism wandering the streets near Berger Avenue.
"There wasn't much I knew about her around that time, so I took her home, I fed her, I gave her, you know, a clean place to sleep," Owens said.
Later that day, there was a breakthrough. Owens and her friends pieced together that the girl was the same missing person identified in an alert from the Citizen app.
"So (Jawan Caldwell) downloaded the app and ended up getting in contact with the director (of the Creative Options Group Home) and (Assistant Director Kenya Lee) asked for her picture to be sent. So, when I sent the picture of the little girl, she confirmed that that was her," said Ayanna Richardson.
The group home director said thanks to some good thinking and the app's location tech, the girl was brought home safely soon after.
"It was through the app, people being, you know, having the app on their phone where they were able to know, 'Oh wow, I just saw this young lady,' and they were responsive. So that was very, very helpful," Lee said.
[SNIP]
https://www.wbaltv.com/article/group-of-friends-help-missing-teen-with-autism-return-home-citizen-app/35191911#
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Police should prioritise [sic] missing adults over children, new study suggests
Analysis of more than 90,000 missing person reports found adults were four times more likely to come to harm than children
By Martin Evans, CRIME CORRESPONDENT 3 January 2021
Police searching for missing people should prioritise adults over children because they are more likely to come to harm, a Cambridge University study has suggested.
Researchers who examined more than 90,000 missing person reports over an 11-year period found that those over the age of 18 were four times more likely to come to harm than youngsters.
In England and Wales a person is reported missing every two minutes and while the vast majority of those turn up safe and well, investigating each case puts a huge strain on police resources.
Every missing person case is assessed by a police officer as high, medium or low risk, with the person’s age playing a big part in deciding which category to assign.
But of the 92,681 reports examined for the study, 89 percent of high risk cases ended with the person being found safe and well, while almost 60 percent of cases, where the person was harmed, were initially classified as low or medium risk.
The data also revealed that the chances of a young person coming to harm when they went missing was four times lower than when an adults in their 30s disappeared.
The Cambridge study suggests that a more evidence based approach to assessing risk could help save time and money and could also even reduce the number of people who do come to harm when they go missing.
Superintendent Ryan Doyle from Devon and Cornwall Police, who carried out the research as part of a Masters degree in criminology, said he hoped the findings would help forces design a better system for dealing with missing person reports.
He said: “In Devon and Cornwall, missing people is one of the big areas of business we deal with, it is something that affects all our staff on a daily basis.
“The way missing people are assessed is from an investigative mindset where you ask the questions and then there is essentially a gut feeling from officers based on the information they have got from asking questions and what I wanted to understand was, was that the right way of doing it.
“The amount of resources we put into a high risk missing person is clearly going to be different to the amount of resources we put into a low risk missing person so it is really important that we get it right and are as accurate as possible in determining that.”
He said while it was vital to allow officers to use their “instinct” when handling a case, an evidence based approach was likely to have a better success rate than relying on subjective judgments.
Superintendent Doyle said while it was entirely understandable that an officer’s instinct was to respond more urgently when a young person went missing there were numerous other factors that needed to be assessed before the risk factor was calculated.
He said: “The percentage of juvenile males who come to harm is around one percent, while it is two percent for females. We are talking about really low numbers of those who come to harm.”
Other important factors that can help calculate the chances of someone coming to harm include the gender of the person and whether they had gone missing before.
Supt Doyle said: “If someone is suicidal then obviously whatever their age , they are going to be high risk, but there are other factors that you are going to want to know.
“For example if they are male and 35 and this is the first time they have gone missing then we need to be more worried than if they are 35 and female and have gone missing for the first time.
“Conversely if they are female and this is the eighth time they have gone missing then we need to be more worried than if they are male and this is the eighth time they have gone missing.”
He stressed that while the data was hugely valuable in calculating risk, there would always be a need for the experience and instinct of an officer making a subjective judgment.
“I don’t want to completely remove the subjective because the art of that investigative mindset is really, really important in policing.
“You don’t want to just punch numbers into a computer, you need to have that mix of evidence based and subjective investigative experience.”
(You need to register to get FREE 24 hour access)
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/01/03/police-should-prioritise-missing-adults-children-new-study-suggests/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Boy finds missing cat after 74 days, receives $1,000 reward
Angelo Aversa - CTV Windsor News Reporter
Published Tuesday, January 26, 2021 9:24PM EST
WINDSOR, ONT. -- A nine-year-old boy is being regarded as a hero, after finding a missing cat.
“Well, I feel like I did a good thing because I made some people happy,” said Braiden Benszsat, who helped find Gina Henderson’s cat “Hunter.”
Hunter went missing Nov. 8.
Henderson had posted flyers all around Windsor’s Little Italy neighbourhood after the cat was let out of the house.
Initially, she was offering a reward of $100, but after her search went viral, the community started to pitch in.
The financial reward climbed to more than $1,000.
After 74 days, Braiden found the cat and Henderson delivered the money to the young boy on Saturday.
[SNIP]
https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/boy-finds-missing-cat-after-74-days-receives-1-000-reward-1.5283633
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Turin_C3PO
(13,887 posts)Wow, I had no idea there were so many missing persons cases!
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)Last edited Wed Jan 27, 2021, 11:13 AM - Edit history (1)
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Rosalio Gutierrez Jr. Case: Man charged in missing person homicide case bound over for trial
Deneen Smith
Over the objection of his defense attorney, Zachariah Anderson was bound over for trial in a case where he is accused of killing a man whose body has never been found.
Anderson, 40, of Mequon, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse and stalking, accused of killing Kenosha resident Rosalio Gutierrez Jr.
Gutierrez, a 40-year-old father of two, was reported missing on May 19 after his girlfriend, who had been unable to reach him, went to his apartment on the 3700 block of 15th Street and found the patio door open and blood spattered on the floor and furniture. Gutierrez was never found.
Police focused on Anderson after the girlfriend reported that Anderson — her former partner and father of her children — had been stalking her after she began her relationship with Gutierrez.
Anderson has been in custody since shortly after Gutierrez’s disappearance, initially charged with stalking.
[SNIP]
https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/man-charged-in-missing-person-homicide-case-bound-over-for-trial/article_829f6910-7ed4-5024-9d6c-261dcc63e53a.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Couple, baby missing for days found dead with truck stuck in woods, Michigan cops say
By Chacour Koop | January 25, 2021 04:58 PM, UPDATED January 26, 2021 01:29 PM
A Michigan couple and their baby were found dead after vanishing for more than a week, news outlets report.
The disappearance of Amanda Pomeroy and Douglas Dougherty of Bay City, along with their son 7-month-old son Jacob, baffled relatives, WNEM reported.
Dougherty’s parents told WJRT the couple dropped off their 9-year-old daughter at a friend’s home on Jan. 12 and a gas station manager recalled seeing Pomeroy the next morning.
After they couldn’t be contacted by phone or social media, police issued a missing persons alert on Jan. 16, WJRT reported.
[SNIP]
https://www.sacbee.com/news/nation-world/national/article248759620.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Bay City couple, baby who froze to death weren't wearing shoes
Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press
In a remote area of the northern Michigan woods, a missing Bay City couple and their infant son — who had been reported missing for days — died outside their disabled pickup from exposure to the cold weather, authorities said.
The tragic mystery of what happened to them captivated the community for days, and spurred family and friends to contact police, pass out flyers, and frantically search trails.
A snowmobiler Saturday spotted a vehicle in Rose Township in Ogemaw County that matched the description in the missing persons report, and deputies recovered the bodies of Amanda Pomeroy, 32; Michael Dougherty, 35, and Jacob Dougherty, 8 months.
"No foul play was involved," Ogemaw County Undersheriff Paul Frechette concluded after a Wednesday autopsy of the bodies. "The deaths are the result of tragic circumstances of the family being stranded out in the winter elements."
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/bay-city-couple-baby-who-froze-to-death-werent-wearing-shoes/ar-BB1db8TL
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Arrest made in Saratoga County missing persons case, body still missing
Posted: Jan 26, 2021 / 12:47 PM EST / Updated: Jan 26, 2021 / 10:17 PM EST
by: Louis Finley, Johan Sheridan
BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Saratoga County law enforcement officials held a press briefing Tuesday afternoon. They announced the arrest and guilty plea of Jack Jeffers, 25, of Ballston Spa on a manslaughter charge.
Officials say Michael P. Ahern, then 42, disappeared from a building on Brickyard Road in Stillwater in January 2019, and that a missing persons complaint was filed with the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office on January 15 of that year. In time, the investigation would determine that Ahern, who lived at the former site of Rolling Pride Motorcycle Club, was shot and killed on January 6 over a personal dispute.
“This was a case that was a step-by-step, a piece-by-piece, investigation that resulted in the culmination of the charge and the plea for the death of Michael Ahern today,” said Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen.
Police say their lengthy investigation into Ahern’s violent disappearance led them to Jack Jeffers, who was arrested and charged with one count of manslaughter. Police said Jeffers was also charged with other offenses stemming from the confrontation, including grand larceny and tampering with evidence.
[SNIP]
https://www.news10.com/news/saratoga-county/saratoga-county-law-enforcement-holding-press-briefing/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Lagos Kidnappers' Tunnel: Cases Of Missing Children Are Common In Sari-Iganmu – Residents
By Sahara Reporters, New York Jan 13, 2021
Residents of the Lagos community where a tunnel believed to be used by kidnappers was discovered, have said cases of missing children are rampant in the area.
Last Wednesday, residents of Sari-Iganmu, Orile discovered a tunnel under a bridge which connects to Lagos Island and was believed to be used by kidnappers and ritualists.
In the tunnel, a lot of school pupils’ uniforms, a generator set, an air conditioner and other house items were discovered.
A suspect caught by residents was lynched to death and there have been speculations of dismembered human parts found in the tunnel.
[SNIP]
http://saharareporters.com/2021/01/13/lagos-kidnappers-tunnel-cases-missing-children-are-common-sari-iganmu-%E2%80%93-residents
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Missing cat returns home to family on anniversary of son’s death
Written By: Jennifer Kraus | Dec 20th 2020 - 5pm.
LAKE HUBERT, Minn. — It was a Christmas miracle for Gary and Deb Mosberger when their cat Abe came home after five weeks missing.
The Mosbergers said it was a gift from heaven from their deceased son Vincent "Vinny" Mosberger, who they believe spiritually brought Abe the cat home to them Dec. 9 — 18 years to the day the day Vinny died in a motor vehicle crash. Their son was killed by a drunk driver Dec. 9, 2002, at the age of 18, leaving his parents and three older siblings in heartache.
“It was pretty devastating,” Deb Mosberger recalled of her youngest son’s death 18 years ago. “I was sitting here that evening by the fire and he told me (spiritually) he was OK. He said, ‘Don’t worry. Don’t be real upset, I’m OK.’
“I had written something up and I spoke at his funeral, because he was only 18. He had so many friends that were at the funeral and I know they all needed that support.”
Mosberger said her son was a big animal lover and they had many kittens and cats when he was growing up.
The Mosbergers today have two cats — Abe and Lincoln — who were adopted about a year ago. The cats typically go in and out of the house in Lake Hubert, Minn., in Crow Wing County — through a window. On Nov. 5, that is exactly what happened; the cats went outdoors.
Lincoln came back, but not Abe.
“The next morning he still hadn't returned,” Mosberger said. “Sometimes he would be out all night, so that wasn't unusual to be gone all night. We always go out and call them ... and it was like 10 o'clock at night, we called them and this time he just didn't come home.”
The Mosbergers called their neighbors and notified them Abe was missing, enlisting more help to be on the lookout for the feline. One neighbor has a game camera and it showed a cat, so the Mosbergers thought he was in the neighborhood but “he's just been stubborn and doesn't want to come home.” The Mosbergers put up posters of their missing cat at a grocery store and contacted a few organizations in hopes someone saw Abe.
“Vinny knew how much cats meant to us,” Deb Mosberger said. “On that December (9th) morning, I woke up and it was the anniversary of our son that died when he was 18 years old in 2002. This was his 18th anniversary so that was a very special day for us. I woke up in the morning and I said, ‘OK Vinny, it would be nice if you bring Abe home.’ During the day I told a couple people, Vinny is gonna bring Abe home.
"So it was about 5:30 at night and I was in the kitchen and all of a sudden there's crying out the window and it was Abe. I couldn't believe it. I ran into the other room and said, ‘Gary, Gary, Abe’s home!’”
Mosberger said Abe was a lot thinner. He cried the whole night and stayed by her side. Since then he is getting better and not as scared.
The Mosbergers did get a third cat named Rowdy while Abe was missing to help Lincoln, who was sad as his brother was missing.
“Rowdy came to us on Thanksgiving and he’s been with us ever since,” she said.
Looking back, the Mosbergers think that maybe Abe got into one of the construction trucks in the neighborhood to investigate and then had to find his way home. But no one but Abe will ever know what happened in those five weeks — and he’s not talking.
Gary Mosberger said the entire time Abe was missing he and his wife stayed positive and had hope Abe would come home. The couple said you have to stay positive and have faith that good things will come — and they did.
Deb Mosberger said since Vinny died she has always hated the month of December. She said her mother also died in December and her father on New Year’s Eve.
“Now I can love December again because of this Christmas miracle,” Mosberger said. “And now the year 2020 is not so bad.”
(You need to register to read the article for free)
https://www.postbulletin.com/community/people/6809765-Missing-cat-returns-home-to-family-on-anniversary-of-son%E2%80%99s-death
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
How Cops Are Using Social Media to Find Missing Teens
By Suzy Khimm
March 23, 2017, 10:02am
Twitter posts by DC police about missing black and Hispanic teens raised the specter of human trafficking. Cops say it's just how we find missing people now.
The day he went missing, 16-year-old Anthony Barnes Jr. was wearing a jacket with fur around the hood. It was in the thick of last Tuesday's big winter storm, when the snow was still coming down hard in Washington, DC.
Barnes is among more than a dozen teenagers DC police have reported as "critically missing" since March 1—all of whom are black, like Barnes, or Latino. Flyers of the DC teens quickly became a social media sensation, fueling concern about an epidemic of missing kids, speculation about human trafficking, and rage that the national media wasn't paying enough attention. "Does Anyone Care About DC's Missing Black and Latinx Teens?" asked the Root. "Most Media Outlets Aren't Reporting on the Disappearance of Black and Latinx D.C. Teens," declared Teen Vogue.
But DC police deny that there's been any increase in the number of missing teens. About 200 juveniles are reported missing in DC every month, according to the cops; so far in 2017, it's been about 190 reports per month. Instead, authorities attribute the public outcry to a new social media strategy that uses Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms to publicize the cases—tools that are changing the search for missing persons across the country.
"What has changed is our getting that information out quickly," DC mayor Muriel Bowser said at a press conference last Thursday.
[SNIP]
https://www.vice.com/en/article/bmbknz/how-cops-are-using-social-media-to-find-missing-teens
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Search for missing person leads to discovery of ‘narcotics enterprise’ on East Side, sheriff says
YouTube - 10/20/2020 by KSAT 12[/t]
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Hackers Find Missing People For Fun
YouTube - 6/13/2019 by Freethink
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Online gamer solved missing child case from his bedroom in England
YouTube - 9/19/2017 by FOX 11 Los Angeles
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
DNA profiling helps solve case of remains found on Saturna Island
Katie DeRosa / Times Colonist
January 28, 2021 03:26 PM
A breakthrough in DNA profiling helped solve a nearly 54-year-old missing persons case involving a man from the B.C. Interior whose remains washed up on a beach on Saturna Island.
The 41-year-old man was last seen in Coquitlam on May 27, 1967. His family reported the disappearance to their local police in Kamloops, which launched what would become a decades-long investigation.
On August 20, 1972, unidentified human remains were found on a beach on Saturna Island. Despite an autopsy, the B.C. Coroners Service was not able to determine an identity. The body was buried on Salt Spring Island until it was exhumed for further investigation last September.
Although the remains had degraded, the B.C. Institute of Technology’s forensic DNA laboratory was able to produce a DNA profile, said Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, spokesman for the B.C. RCMP.
[SNIP]
https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/dna-profiling-helps-solve-case-of-remains-found-on-saturna-island-1.24274313
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
We don’t know whereabouts of missing people - Govt
Andrew Bagala
The Minister of Internal Affairs, Gen Jeje Odongo, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Martins Okoth Ochola, have failed to explain the whereabouts of Ugandans who are missing after they were picked up by armed personnel during the General Election.
Responding to journalists’ questions yesterday about the whereabouts of the people arrested and kept in unknown facilities, the duo said the inquiries were not specific on who was missing, where the incidents happened and dates.
“It would be more helpful to say that on Thursday at 2pm in Kamwokya, we saw a vehicle grabbing so and so. It becomes easier to find out. When you make a general statement, the inquiry becomes difficult,” Gen Odongo said.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/we-don-t-know-whereabouts-of-missing-people-govt/ar-BB1da3Hz
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Vanished at Sea: Baffling Cruise Ship Missing Persons Cases
By ALICE GOMSTYN and ABC NEWS STAFF
January 17, 2012, 1:09 PM
Families don't know what happened to loved ones who went missing years ago.
Jan. 20, 2012 — intro: Eleven people are dead and 21 remain missing a week after the cruise ship Costa Concordia collided with rocks and capsized Friday evening near the Italian island of Giglio. Families of those missing, including Minnesota couple Jerry and Barbara Heil, continue to hope that their loved ones will be found.
But it's not just maritime tragedies on the scale of the Costa Concordia that result in vacationers missing at sea. Long before last week's accident, dozens of men and women mysteriously vanished aboard cruise liners, confounding investigators and leaving their families heartbroken. A number of families have blamed cruise lines for failing to report disappearances in a timely fashion and not doing enough to ensure the safety of passengers. The cruise industry has maintained that accidents and crime aboard cruise ships are rare.
In the last two years, 41 people went overboard or went missing on cruise ships, according to CruiseJunkie.com, a cruise watchdog site. The cruise industry reported that nearly 15 million passengers traveled on cruise ships in 2010 alone.
"Cruising continues to be one of safest means of travel among all types of vacationing," the Cruise Lines International Association said in a statement released after the Costa Concordia tragedy.
[SNIP]
https://abcnews.go.com/US/vanished-sea-baffling-cruise-ship-missing-persons-cases/story?id=15380865
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
The heartache when a loved one disappears
By Vanessa Mills on Kimberley Breakfast
Research shows at least twelve people are directly impacted when someone goes missing.
Loren O'Keefe founded the Missing Persons Advocacy Network as a charity to help families searching for their loved ones.
There are unique challenges regional communities face when someone goes missing.
See video here:
https://www.abc.net.au/radio/kimberley/programs/breakfast/missing-people/13102318
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
DOJ, OPI Announce National Missing Children’s Day Poster Contest
01/29/2021 | News release | Distributed by Public on 01/29/2021 09:47
The Montana Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) are working together to give Montana students the opportunity to participate in state and national poster contests focusing on the theme of 'Bringing Our Missing Children Home.'
'This program not only allows our fifth-graders to compete in state and national poster contests; it gives parents and teachers a good opportunity to talk to young people about the importance of personal safety,' Attorney General Austin Knudsen said. 'I'm looking forward to partnering with Superintendent Arntzen to get the word out to Montana's fifth graders and to seeing their creative entries,' Knudsen added.
'As a former fifth grade teacher, I recognize students' ability to be authentic and creative. This year's contest theme of Bring Our Missing Children Home gives students an incredible opportunity to shine attention on a serious issue facing Montana,' said Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen. 'I encourage all Montana fifth grade students, teachers, and families to join the Department of Justice and the Office of Public Instruction in participating in this year's Missing Children poster contest.'
The student winning the state contest will celebrate with Attorney General Knudsen and Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen at a later date and receive a $100 cash prize. The winning Montana poster will then be submitted to the national contest. The national poster contest winner, along with his/her parents and teacher, will be awarded a trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the National Missing Children's Day ceremony on May 20, 2021.
[SNIP]
https://www.publicnow.com/view/F953A3B2ED8AB9A26127C35C26A09E52CEEF3BCC
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Innovation leads to a Cold Case closure with a silver lining
By Wayne Amann, OSI Public Affairs / Published January 29, 2021
QUANTICO, Va. -- Two years ago, Office of Special Investigations Special Agent Patrick Pipkins did, what his Chief of the OSI Cold Case Team called, “some amazing work,” to locate an Air Force deserter who went missing in 1984.
At the time of her disappearance it was believed the airman took off with a married man who had parentally kidnapped his 4-year-old son. Neither the airman, the man, nor the son were heard from since 1984.
The Air Force, the deserter’s family and the son’s mother were left with unanswered questions about the trio’s fate.
Fast forward to 2019, when SA Pipkins, through some innovative data mining, determined all three missing persons had assumed new identities and settled in Little Rock, Ark. Unfortunately, all three died of natural causes within a two year span dating back to 2007-2009.
[SNIP]
https://www.littlerock.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2486527/innovation-leads-to-a-cold-case-closure-with-a-silver-lining/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Police asks public for help solving missing persons cases
January 28, 2021
CRESCENT CITY, Calif. (KIEM) - A recent missing persons audit at the Crescent City Police Department showed 30 missing persons cases still open.
Redwood News sat down with the Crescent City’s Police Chief Richard Griffin says some of these cases are more than 10 years old with no new information or leads.
His mission is to close all open missing person cases – but to do that, he need the public’s help.
What started off as 30 open missing persons cases dwindled down to eight.
[SNIP]
https://kiem-tv.com/2021/01/28/police-asks-public-for-help-solving-missing-persons-cases/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Missing dog turns up at a shelter 3 hours away, 21 days later
January 28, 2021 Bek Shackelford
The family located the dog through a tip on Instagram.
Anyone who has had a pet disappear knows the drill. You print fliers, disperse them around your neighborhood. You call the local shelters and veterinarians in the area. Then, you hand things over to the social media gods and try to let them work their magic.
And then, you wait. On the edge of your seat, like Bill Hornbeck and his family did. The Hornbecks’ dog, a 13-year-old red lab, had gone missing New Year’s Eve from their back yard.
Hornbeck explained that the day Riley went missing he had come home for lunch and let her outside, something he often does. His wife and daughter were home, but they didn’t realize Riley was in the backyard and she waited outside for a little over an hour before deciding to take matters into her own hands (or . . . paws).
“I think she got kind of antsy and she went through an opening [in the fence] that’s been there for over a year.” Hornbeck says, “I knew she could stick her head out of it and I left it that way because she likes to look at pedestrians and dogs that walk by.”
[SNIP]
https://www.thepitchkc.com/missing-dog-turns-up-at-a-shelter-3-hours-away-21-days-later/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
The Most Important Thing to Do if You Lose Your Child in Public
Author: wgrz.com
Published: 10:56 AM EST January 29, 2021
A TikTok user offered a PSA on the very first thing you should do if your child goes missing in a public place. Veuer's Maria Mercedes Galuppo has the story.
View video here:
https://www.wgrz.com/video/syndication/veuer/the-most-important-thing-to-do-if-you-lose-your-child-in-public/602-03faa227-7321-4fad-bab1-8b087d2d846b
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Have Scientists Finally Unraveled the 60-Year Mystery Surrounding Nine Russian Hikers’ Deaths?
By Meilan Solly
New research identifies an unusual avalanche as the culprit behind the 1959 Dyatlov Pass Incident
In February 1959, university student Mikhail Sharavin made an unexpected discovery on the slopes of the Ural Mountains.
Dispatched as a member of a search party investigating a group of nine experienced hikers’ disappearance, Sharavin and his fellow rescuers spotted the corner of a tent peeking out beneath the snow, as he told BBC News’ Lucy Ash in 2019. Inside, they found supplies, including a flask of vodka, a map and a plate of salo (white pork fat), all seemingly abandoned without warning. A slash in the side of the tent suggested that someone had used a knife to carve out an escape route from within, while footprints leading away from the shelter indicated that some of the mountaineers had ventured out in sub-zero temperatures barefoot, or with only a single boot and socks.
Perplexed, the search party decided to toast to the missing group’s safety with the flask found in their tent.
“We shared [the vodka] out between us—there were 11 of us, including the guides,” Sharavin recalled. “We were about to drink it when one guy turned to me and said, ‘Best not drink to their health, but to their eternal peace.’”
[SNIP]
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-may-have-finally-unraveled-mystery-dyatlov-pass-incident-180976886/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Texas Dept. of Public Safety mistakenly sends out Amber Alert for Chucky doll
Author: Megan Ball
Published: 12:05 PM EST January 29, 2021
Updated: 12:26 PM EST January 29, 2021
While the alert appears to be a mistake, it was sent out via email to subscribers of the Texas Alerts System Friday morning.
SAN ANTONIO — An alert published from the Texas Alerts system with an Amber Alert for Chucky the doll and his child was sent out Friday morning.
The alert listed Chucky from Child's Play horror series as a suspect. He is described as a 28-year-old with red, auburn hair, blue eyes, stands at 3'1", and weighs 16 pounds. Chucky was described as wearing blue denim overalls with a multi-colored striped long sleeve shirt and wielding a kitchen knife prior to his "disappearance."
The alert also listed Glen as an abducted child who is 5 years old, weighs 6 pounds, stands at 2'3", and also has red, auburn hair and blue eyes. Glen was described as wearing a blue shirt and black collar prior to his "disappearance."
According to Chucky fandom pages, Glen is the son of Chucky and was introduced in the film Seed of Chucky.
[SNIP]
https://www.wthr.com/article/news/nation-world/dps-mistakenly-sends-out-amber-alert-for-chucky-doll-source-says/273-a1781aed-160a-4656-969f-641353732681
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
5 Chilling Last Photos Of People Before They Went Missing
Aug 22, 2020
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Top 10 Missing People Who Were Found Alive
Premiered Jul 29, 2020
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
SOLVED: Missing People Found in Secret Rooms | Solved Disappearances & Missing Persons Cases
Jun 28, 2020
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Missing Woman Called 911 In The Mountains & What Happened Next Is SHOCKING... Missing Persons Case
Nov 27, 2019
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Woman Who Helps Find Missing People Is Now Missing Herself
Aug 29, 2019
A single mother who volunteered to search for missing children and adults has vanished without a trace. Andrea Knabel, 37, was last seen two weeks ago, walking in the early morning hours of Aug. 13, according to a "Finding Andrea" Facebook page established to organize searches for her. Knabel has two children who "need her home," said a post on the site. Knabel, who volunteered with Missing in America, a nationwide group that searches for missing people, had recently fallen on hard times.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Top 10 Famous People Who Disappeared
Nov 24, 2018
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Celebs Who Vanished and Are Still Missing Today
Apr 4, 2019
There are plenty of celebrity conspiracy theories out there. Here are 10 celebrities who mysteriously vanished and are still missing today.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
250 people have disappeared from cruise ships in the last 10 years. What happened?
Dec 3, 2018
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
The Camera of Two Missing Girls Reveals Chilling Photos That Can't Be Explained | True Scary Stories
Jun 22, 2020
Today, we're covering the true scary story and unsolved mystery of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon. On April 1st, 2014, Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon disappeared without a trace into the jungle of Panama, remaining missing for only a couple of weeks. It wasn't long before locals began to stumble upon strange clues in the area they vanished, including a camera containing hundreds of disturbing photos that can't be explained. The investigation began. Detectives have combed over every single creepy photo searching for any possible clues or evidence to no avail. Although Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon have been found, no one can explain their scary disappearance to this day. Their missing persons case was utterly shocking and is still unexplained. Will this case ever be solved? What happened to the girls in the jungle, and who was snapping hundreds of photos DAYS after they disappeared? Today, we're giving our analysis of this creepy case and true story. Join us for a true crime storytime covering the unsolved mystery of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
He took the detectives to where he left her in the woods...and what they found there was a miracle
Dec 13, 2018
Police cameras are rolling as the search party stalks through the tangled overgrowth to a clearing, and the body of 17-year-old Ashley Reeves. But in this shocking tale of terror, everything changes in the blink of an eye.
=================
Exclusive: Illinois teen survives older lover's murderous attack, returns to scene where she was left for dead
Elizabeth Smart - 02/06/2017 12:08 pm PST
In a Crime Watch Daily exclusive, Ashley Reeves and Crime Watch Daily's Elizabeth Smart return to the scene of the crime.
It's the first time Ashley has been there since the day she was found. Ashley says she can barely remember the horror.
A criminal as callous as they come: Not only did he snap the neck of a 17-year-old and leave her for dead -- hours later he went out country line-dancing like nothing had happened.
Elizabeth Smart is in St. Louis with the disturbing details and the police video you have to see to believe.
It's the walk every policeman dreads: Deep into the dark woods in search of a body, led there by a suspected killer who's not only told them where to find his victim, but how he killed her.
Police cameras are rolling as the search party stalks through the tangled overgrowth to a clearing, and the body of 17-year-old Ashley Reeves. But in this shocking tale of terror, everything changes in the blink of an eye.
[SNIP]
https://truecrimedaily.com/2017/02/06/exclusive-illinois-teen-survives-older-lovers-murderous-attack-returns-to-scene-where-she-was-left-for-dead/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
She Vanished For 12 Days, Then Sister Looks Behind The Bookcase: 5 Solved Missing Persons Cases
Jun 18, 2020
Today, we're covering 5 solved missing persons cases with unexpected twists. From the cold case of George Carroll that was finally solved decades later to the true scary story of Mariesa Weber, these missing people were found in unbelievable places you'd never think to look. Each of these solved cases is a real life, true horror story that baffled detectives who tried to dig up any sort of evidence or strange clues to no avail - and although these cases are solved, some of the mystery still remains. How many unsolved cold cases have the same outcomes as these true stories? Join us for a true crime storytime covering 5 solved disappearances.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Family of missing man wants answers
Author: newscentermaine.com
Published: 6:15 PM EST January 29, 2021
A Maine family is hoping that a larger reward will lead to some answers in a missing person case that goes back nearly a decade.
Watch video here:
https://www.newscentermaine.com/video/news/local/as-seen-on-tv/family-of-missing-man-wants-answers/97-657e9fb0-41c6-4c09-aa12-1b1f054cb6b1
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Hiker locates missing person four years after mysterious disappearance
By Jerusalem Post Staff - JANUARY 28, 2021 20:10
A hiker traversing the western grounds of Jerusalem's Lifta on Thursday discovered the remains of a human skeleton hidden in a narrow cave, which was identified as a missing person who had disappeared four years ago.
She alerted the police, who arrived on the scene to investigate.
After passing the remains on for further medical analysis, they were identified as those of 32-year-old Yaakov Diskind.
On September 11, 2017, Israel Police received a report of a missing person. Diskind had left his Jerusalem apartment and made a phone call using a stranger's phone. That is when any record of his activity stops.
[SNIP]
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/police-locate-missing-person-four-years-after-mysterious-disappearance-657061
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Police investigate "unexplained death" after body found at golf club
Saturday 30 January 2021, 1:22 pm
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding an "unexplained death" at a golf course on Merseyside.
Officers were called to Brackenwood Golf Club in Bebington, Wirral on Friday afternoon.
A search of the area has been carried out and officers have cordoned off part of the golf course as enquiries continue.
Specialist officers are currently in attendance.
Police say the investigation is not connected to any current missing person enquiries.
https://www.itv.com/news/granada/2021-01-30/police-investigate-unexplained-body-on-golf-course
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Death Row Inmate Recently Linked To 1990 Murder Eyed In Other Cold Case Homicides
By Kevin Dolak - January 29, 2021, 3:08 PM ET
Roland "Rollie" Thomas Davis Sr., who had already been convicted and put on death row for the 2000 murder of an elderly Ohio woman, is now being looked at in multiple unsolved cases.
Cold case detectives in Florida said this week that they are eyeing a death row inmate, who late last year was connected through DNA evidence to a second, decades-old murder, as a possible suspect in other unsolved homicides and missing person cases from the 1980s and '90s.
Det. Kurt Mehl with the Charlotte County Cold Case Unit said in an interview this week that they are looking at convicted murderer Roland "Rollie" Thomas Davis Sr. in multiple unsolved cases. Davis was convicted of the murder of an elderly Ohio woman 15 years ago and was charged in November with the brutal 1990 murder of a Florida mother who was found stabbed dozens of times in her home. He was also arrested in Ohio in 2003 for severely beating a prostitute, detectives said.
“Because Mr. Davis has been involved in at least two homicides and an attempted homicide of a prostitute in Columbus, Ohio, he is on our radar for unsolved cases of missing women and murdered women,” Mehl said.
Davis, 68, has been on death row at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution in Ohio for over 15 years after his conviction in the stabbing death of 86-year-old Elizabeth Sheeler in her Newark, Ohio apartment in 2000. On July 11, he had entered Sheeler’s apartment overnight, where he stabbed her in the neck and chest multiple times, stole some cash, then fled the scene, as indicated in the state of Ohio’s case against him.
[SNIP]
https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/roland-thomas-davis-eyed-in-several-cold-case-homicides
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
California woman shares story of surviving abduction by cop
Feb 21, 2019
A daring escape caught on tape: a single mom on the run. But it was far from over. Bringing her attacker to justice would be difficult and dangerous.
72 minutes of Hell: Survivor shares story of abduction, assault by police officer
12/05/2017 2:16 pm PST Nerissa Knight
Just imagine you're walking to your car in the middle of a busy parking lot. A crazed man drives up, sticks a gun in your face and tells you to get in or you're dead. What would you do? It could happen to any one of us, and it actually did happen to one woman in Ontario, California.
It was 72 minutes a California woman will never forget, and now she's reliving those moments that began in a parking lot with her being abducted at gunpoint as she left her job.
Springtime about seven years ago, Erinn Orcutt was loving her life as a new mom. When she wasn't busy with her son, she was busy working.
Erinn was a cocktail waitress at a restaurant in Ontario, California. One Saturday in April, business was slow. Erinn suddenly had an afternoon to herself when she left work early.
[SNIP]
https://truecrimedaily.com/2017/12/05/72-minutes-of-hell-survivor-shares-story-of-abduction-assault-by-police-officer/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
The brave survival story of little Shasta Groene
1/9/2019
Kidnapped by a serial killer: Shasta Groene shares her horror story
12/02/2015 8:00 am PST
For nearly two months Shasta Groene lived in hell. She and her brother were kidnapped by a serial killer on the run in May 2005.
In a gripping new interview, Groene sits down to talk about those terrifying days with Crime Watch Daily's Melissa Moore, whose own father, known as the "Happy Face Killer," was convicted of mass murder.
Two kids, two months, trapped with a deranged monster by the name of Joseph Edward Duncan III.
Shasta Groene was 8 years old when she was kidnapped. During her two-month ordeal, she was tortured by Duncan.
Then in the middle of all this darkness, a guardian angel would appear at, of all places, a Denny's restaurant.
[SNIP]
https://truecrimedaily.com/2015/11/30/woman-kidnapped-by-serial-killer-as-a-child-tells-her-story/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Teen survives abduction by serial killer, now thrives in law enforcement
Apr 9, 2020
Kara Robinson was kidnapped and attacked by a madman when she was a teenager. She kept her wits and escaped, and helped catch the serial killer Richard Evonitz. Elizabeth Smart has the story.
Kidnapped: Kara Robinson survives abduction by serial killer, thrives in law enforcement
03/22/2018 4:26 pm PDT - Elizabeth Smart
Kara Robinson was kidnapped and attacked by a madman. The teen kept her wits and escaped, and helped catch the serial killer. Elizabeth Smart has the story.
Growing up in Lexington, South Carolina was a dream for young Kara Robinson.
"Everything definitely felt safe. I would play outside all the time, go on walks through the woods with friends, and never any problems," Kara tells Crime Watch Daily.
Kara had the freedom to roam. But that innocence was shattered on the morning of June 22, 2002, when the 15-year-old was at her best friend Heather's house.
"We thought it might be a good idea to go to the lake," said Kara.
[SNIP]
https://truecrimedaily.com/2018/03/22/kidnapped-kara-robinson-survives-abduction-by-serial-killer-thrives-in-law-enforcement/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
’The Abolitionists’: Trained team rescuing child sex-traffic victims across the globe
Jul 28, 2020
From 2016: Meet a team of people who have made it their life's mission to go undercover and bust traffickers and rescue as many children as they can.
Meet the team of 'Abolitionists' rescuing child sex-traffic victims
05/16/2016 5:40 pm PDT
Meet a team of people who have made it their life's mission to go undercover and bust traffickers and rescue as many children as they can.
Footage shows an alleged child trafficker negotiating with someone he thinks is a customer, but the purported buyer is actually an undercover agent. The remarkable video is featured in a new documentary called The Abolitionists.
Crime Watch Daily's Melissa Moore goes inside the film, featuring ex-CIA agent Tim Ballard and his team of highly trained operatives who crisscross the globe rescuing children from sexual slavery.
Tim Ballard is the founder of Operation Underground Railroad.
Elizabeth Smart, who was abducted as a teen and sexually assaulted, is joining up with this bold rescue operation.
[SNIP]
https://truecrimedaily.com/2016/05/16/meet-the-team-of-abolitionists-rescuing-child-sex-traffic-victims/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Bound, beaten, tortured: Students survive 40-hour ordeal
Jul 7, 2020
Nicholas Kollias and his college buddy spent nearly two days in hell, held captive, tortured, even shot. And just when they thought their time was up, a miracle occurred.
Bound, beaten, tortured: Students survive 40-hour ordeal
11/16/2017 1:42 pm PST Elizabeth Smart
Nicholas Kollias and his college buddy spent nearly two days in hell, held captive, tortured, even shot. And just when they thought their time was up, a miracle occurred.
Growing up in an upscale suburb of Chicago, Nicholas Kollias was the all-American high school kid.
"One of four boys, just a really close-knit family, very caring parents," Nicholas tells Crime Watch Daily. "For me playing sports and especially football was a huge aspect in my life. I always wanted to continue playing football in college. I was the first one out of my direct family to go to college."
His gridiron goal became a reality at the University of Rochester in New York.
But Nicholas wasn't all tackles and touchdowns. He's also a classical pianist.
[SNIP]
https://truecrimedaily.com/2017/11/16/bound-beaten-tortured-students-survive-40-hour-ordeal/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Drew Peterson and Stacy Peterson (Full episode)
Nov 5, 2018
The life and crimes of Drew Peterson have made international headlines. Now, his own sister-in-law is breaking her silence to talk about what it was like living under the same roof.
Crime Watch Daily Update: Ex-cop/convicted wife-killer Drew Peterson appeals for pension
11/04/2016 1:56 pm PDT Michelle Sigona
UPDATE March 30, 2018
Stacy Peterson’s sister says she knows where Peterson’s remains are located and is asking for help in recovering them, the Chicago Tribune reports.
More than 10 years after the disappearance of Drew Peterson’s fourth wife, her sister Cassandra Cales launched a GoFundMe campaign this week to support her continued search efforts. In an interview with the Tribune, Cales said she is planning to hire divers to conduct another search of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and started the fundraising page at supporters’ urging.
November 4, 2016:
He's been married four times. One of his wives his dead, another is missing, and the two others consider themselves very lucky to be alive. Now there are new details on headline-making former police sergeant Drew Peterson.
Four wives, a suspicious death and a disappearance. The life and crimes of Drew Peterson have made international headlines. But now, speaking publicly, for the first time in this Crime Watch Daily exclusive, Drew Peterson's own sister-in-law is breaking her silence to talk about what it was like to live under the same roof with a killer.
Before former police sergeant Drew Peterson was a household name for all the wrong reasons, Norma Peterson knew him as the sometimes over-the-top brother of her husband Paul.
First, there was wife Carol. After two kids, and six years of marriage, she caught Drew cheating, and that was the end.
[SNIP]
https://truecrimedaily.com/2016/11/04/crime-watch-daily-update-ex-cop-convicted-wife-killer-drew-peterson-appeals-for-pension/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Man brings pizza to teen’s house, meets Chris Hansen instead
Nov 10, 2018
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Renewed efforts seek to ID ‘83 homicide victim
JAN 30, 2021 Eric Tichy
For more than 37 years a marker at Sunset Hill Cemetery near Lakewood has noted the final resting place of a woman found slain along old Route 17 in the town of Ellery.
The bronze plate states “Jane Doe 1983,” a simple, yet painful reminder that the woman’s identity — and the puzzling events leading up to her murder — remain a mystery to this day.
“You’d think something would have come up by now,” said Randy Vanderschaaff, a retired criminal investigator with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office.
Efforts have been renewed to solve the decades-old homicide by the Sheriff’s Office with the help of a powerful tool unavailable to police in the early ’80s — social media.
The story of Jane Doe begins on the morning of Dec. 6, 1983, when a truck driver with Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. discovered a body between 8:30-9 a.m. in a drainage ditch along the Southern Tier Expressway, between the Chautauqua Lake bridge and Westman Road in Ellery.
[SNIP]
https://www.observertoday.com/news/page-one/2021/01/renewed-efforts-seek-to-id-83-homicide-victim/
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
NSW police to ask relatives of missing persons to offer their DNA
Australian Associated Press
Sat 30 Jan 2021 21.38 EST
Pilot scheme on mid north coast hopes to build up database to help identify 769 historical cases on missing persons registry
New South Wales police will ask relatives of missing persons to volunteer their DNA in a pilot being run on the state’s mid-north coast.
There are 769 long-term missing persons in NSW. Police have about 330 unidentified bodies or human remains cases, and NSW Health just over 100 unidentified bodies or partial remains.
The missing persons registry has reviewed all 769 cases and identified a lack of DNA profiles for a significant number of them.
The police and NSW Health have developed DNA profiles for all unidentified bodies and human remains.
[SNIP]
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/jan/31/nsw-police-to-ask-relatives-of-missing-persons-to-offer-their-dna
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Over 100 persons missing since Jan 26 tractor rally: Farmers'
Posted: 31 JAN 2021 8:00 AM
Delhi: The Sanyukt Kisan Morcha on Sunday claimed that more than 100 persons have been reported missing since the tractor rally taken out in Delhi on Republic Day.
'A committee has been constituted which includes Prem Singh Bhangu, Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala, Avtar Singh, Kiranjit Singh Sekhon and Baljit Singh,' the leaders of the conglomeration of more than 40 farmers' unions said at a press conference at Singhu on the Delhi-Haryana border.
'We are now trying to compile information about these missing persons, after which the issue will be taken with authorities,' the farmers' body said while expressing deep concern over the issue.
The Morcha has also issued a number to gather information on the whereabouts of the missing persons, on which the caller can register the full name, address, phone number and any other contact number and since when the person is missing.
[SNIP]
https://english.madhyamam.com/india/farmers-body-100-persons-missing-tractor-rally-758470
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
A woman who survived a horrific kidnap ordeal as a child is using TikTok to help families to search for missing relatives
Sophia Ankel
A woman who was groomed and kidnapped as a child by an online sex predator is now using TikTok to help find other missing people and raise awareness about internet safety.
Alicia Kozak from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was 13 years old when an online predator kidnapped her in 2002. Her captor repeatedly raped, beat, and tortured her with electric shocks in a basement for four days until she was rescued by authorities after a tip-off.
Kozak's story was one of the first-ever high-profile cases of internet grooming.
Only several months after her rescue, she started making internet safety her life's work. She toured around the country to share her story with school children, promoted her advocacy group, The Alicia Project.
[SNIP]
https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/world/a-woman-who-survived-a-horrific-kidnap-ordeal-as-a-child-is-using-tiktok-to-help-families-to-search-for-missing-relatives/ar-BB1dejKX?ICID=ref_fark++
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Mexicans take to the streets on Mother's Day to protest 40,000 missing persons
Saturday, May 11th 2019 - 08:45 UTC
There are more than 40,000 missing persons in Mexico, which has been hit by a wave of violent crime in recent years linked to powerful drug cartels
Mexicans with missing children led marches on Friday - when Mother's Day is celebrated the country- to protest the government's failure to find their sons and daughters or bring their cases to justice.
There are more than 40,000 missing persons in Mexico, which has been hit by a wave of violent crime in recent years linked to powerful drug cartels.
Protesters marched in 16 cities - including around 2,000 people in the capital - to voice their outrage and anguish over the thousands of clandestine graves that have been discovered in the country, and the tens of thousands of other missing persons who have never been found.
“I've been crying for the past eight years. I just want to know what happened to him,” said Maria Guadalupe Aguilar, 64, a demonstrator at the Mexico City march whose eldest son, Jose Luis, disappeared in 2011 on his way to a business meeting in the city of Guadalajara.
[SNIP]
https://en.mercopress.com/2019/05/11/mexicans-take-to-the-streets-on-mother-s-day-to-protest-40.000-missing-persons
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Police, taxi drivers join forces to find missing people
By Kan Hyeong-woo - Published : Jan 15, 2021 - 15:16
Updated : Jan 15, 2021 - 15:16
230,000 Kakao T taxi drivers across the country to receive information of missing people from police
South Korea’s taxi drivers and the police are joining forces to find missing people, the National Police Agency said Thursday.
In the event of a missing persons report, depending on the details and circumstances of the case, the police will first determine whether to dispatch a message to KaKao Mobility, the operator of Korea’s biggest taxi-hailing app Kakao T.
Once the police decide to do so, they will set the scope of the targeted search area and send a description of the missing persons to Kakao Mobility.
The app’s operator, upon receiving the message from the police, will then distribute the information to taxi drivers in the targeted region.
[SNIP]
http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20210115000704
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
50 Strange and Unexplained Disappearances | Unsolved Missing Persons Cases
Feb 11, 2020
Missing Persons Mysteries
Join us as we discuss 50 unsolved national park disappearances. In this compilation, we will discuss a variety of different disappearances ranging from, missing hikers, missing hunters, missing campers, and missing children. These are strange stories, and some of these disappearances may line up with the Missing 411 Phenomena that David Paulides writes about in his books Missing 411. We also discuss other cases that are just outside our national parks, as they also deserve attention.
If you have any information regarding any of these cases please call:
Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-TIPS.
NPS Investigative Service Branch 1-888-653-0009
Missing 411 Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBX35PgIa2RA4ZAbMgrspN58ejrtdSlE5
Here are the previous 7 episodes from the 10 Unsolved National Park Disappearances Series:
Episode 1:
Episode 2:
Episode 3:
Episode 4:
Episode 5:
Episode 6:
Episode 7:
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Killers’ silence over Margaret Fleming body ‘last act of control’
By Stuart MacDonald - Monday, 1st February 2021, 7:00 am
The couple who killed teenager Margaret Fleming are using their "last act of control" by not revealing where her body is, criminologists have said.
Experts who studied Edward Cairney and Avril Jones for a TV documentary to be shown tonight insisted their refusal to disclose Ms Fleming’s whereabouts was their way of taunting the police and their victim's loved ones.
Ms Fleming was 19 when she was last seen in December 1999, but police did not start a missing person investigation until October 2016 that a missing person investigation was launched.
Cairney, 79, and Avril Jones, 60, of Inverkip, Renfrewshire, were arrested in 2017 and convicted of her murder in July 2019.
Jones was also found guilty of fraudulently claiming £182,000 in benefits by pretending Ms Fleming was alive. Dr Mohammed Rahman, a criminologist at Birmingham City University, said: "When killers don't confess to the crimes they have committed, or tell the authorities where their victim's body is located, this for many is their last form of control.
[SNIP]
https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk-news/killers-silence-over-margaret-fleming-body-last-act-control-3119042
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Letter: Grateful for police finding daughter
On my birthday, Dec. 15, 2020, I posted a missing person poster on my Facebook page to ask the public for help to locate my daughter, Naiyah. It had been over three months since I last heard from her. She had been unlawfully taken by her mother, and I had no idea whether I would ever see her again, or if she was even alive.
To my post I attached a note which said “Today is my birthday and it is almost Christmas. The only gift I really want this year is to find my little girl, Naiyah.”
On Jan. 9, Officer Jeff Gooss of the Beulah Police Department notified me that my daughter was found and was safe. I immediately drove from Oregon to North Dakota to pick her up. I was delighted to meet Officer Gooss in Beulah. He said “I know we didn’t get your daughter back before Christmas, but it was pretty close. Merry Christmas.”
I am so grateful to all the law enforcement officers who helped make my wish come true; it was the best present ever.
https://bismarcktribune.com/opinion/letters/letter-grateful-for-police-finding-daughter/article_ce19efaa-9bb6-5f28-9125-fd9e06ac0946.html
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Finding a Dead Body on Google Maps
Jan 13, 2021
Jerry Nyman works for the School District of Palm Beach County and his job regularly involves using Google Maps to check bus routes. Whilst undertaking a routine search in 2019, Jerry thought he could see a car in one of the man made lakes within a residential community in Florida.
Alongside his ex-girlfriend Erika, Jerry began investigating, and within two days the car was removed from the lake. Jerry was able to help solve a missing persons case that had been active for over 20 years.
We spoke to Jerry and Erika, as they recounted their story.
In Super Users, we go down an internet rabbit hole to hear from people whose lives have become defined by their online presence.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Todd Matthews - Solving a 30-Year-Old Murder Mystery Using the Internet
Todd Matthews was in charge of the group that I worked with at Doe Network, connecting the unidentified with the missing.
When Todd Matthews first tried to work out the identity of ‘Tent Girl’, an unknown woman who’d been found dead wrapped in a canvas sheet, it seemed impossible. Then the internet came along.
Tent Girl had been missing since the 1960s, but it wasn’t until Matthews took his search online, creating the website tentgirl.com in 1997, that officials were finally able to identify her. Long before the days of Netflix’s Don’t F**k With Cats, he became the world’s first cyber sleuth.
His work inspired thousands of amateur internet detectives investigating missing persons cases and unsolved crimes all over the world. We met him to find out how the internet shifted the way investigations are shaped and the legacy he created by identifying Tent Girl.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Missing cat search exposes possible animal cruelty case
May 30, 2019
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Alex’s rescue from carnival of cruelty
Jul 19, 2018
The Humane Society of the United States assisted the Jones County Sheriff’s Department in removing 55 dogs and 34 cats from a large-scale alleged cruelty situation in Jones County, Mississippi. Alex is one of the cats that lived on the carnival-esque property. See how he's doing at a temporary shelter the day after being rescued!
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
Disclaimer: I'm not an expert on cellphones or smartphones, but I'm sure many of them do this, and I'm also sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but please, read the whole post first.
When you send a text, and your phone can't find a tower, it will keep it on file UNTIL it finds one, and then it will send it. This is known as a store and forward service.
The interesting thing about signals from cell towers is that sometimes (with the right atmospheric conditions) they'll go further than they normally would, and will sometimes even bend around corners.
What that means is if you get lost in an area where there's no service, and you decide to keep moving, your phone will send the text as soon as it finds one of those rouge signals. Telephone engineers can then look at the data and tell which tower the signal originated from, and from that, they can narrow down the search area.
Of course, most survivalist will tell you that the best thing to do if you get lost is stay in one place, but sometimes that's not possible, and that's when this trick is most effective.
As a matter of fact, this is exactly what happened when James Kim and his family got lost. He didn't make it, but his family did:
FROM: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Kim
Although the Kims had a cellular phone with them, their remote location in the mountains was out of range of the cellular network, rendering the phone unusable for voice calls. Despite being unusable for voice calls, their cell phone would play a key role in their rescue. Cell phone text messages may go through even when there appears to be no signal, in part because text messaging is a store-and-forward service. Two Edge Wireless engineers, Eric Fuqua and Noah Pugsley, contacted search and rescue authorities offering their help in the search. On Saturday, December 2, they began searching through the data logs of cell sites, trying to find records of repeaters to which the Kims' cellphone may have connected. They discovered that on November 26, 2006 at around 1:30 a.m., the Kims' cellphone made a brief automatic connection to a cell site near Glendale, Oregon, and retrieved two text messages. Temporary atmospheric conditions, such as tropospheric ducting, can briefly allow radio communications over larger distances than normal. Through the data logs, the engineers determined that the cell phone was in a specific area west of the cellular tower. They then used a computer program to determine which areas in the mountains were within a line-of-sight to the cellular tower. This narrowed the search area tremendously, and finally focused rescue efforts on Bear Camp Road.
On the afternoon of December 4, John Rachor, a local helicopter pilot unaffiliated with any formal search effort, spotted Mrs. Kim and her two daughters walking on a remote road. After he radioed the family's position to authorities, the three were airlifted out of the area and transferred to a nearby hospital.
Law enforcement officials said that the discovery of the cellphone connection, and the subsequent analysis of the log data, was the critical breakthrough that ultimately resulted in the rescue of Kim's wife and daughters by helicopter.
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AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)Last edited Wed Feb 3, 2021, 01:10 PM - Edit history (1)
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(2) How Unsolved Missing Person Cases Are Solved (Pt. 2)
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016286404
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