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Thanksgiving: A Time for Family, A Time for HOPE

For families of missing children, the prospect of gathering around their Thanksgiving table can be heartbreaking and overwhelming. Many of these families, have had years of searching and hoping that one day they will be reunited with their child and the empty chair at their table will once again be filled. The holidays can be painful, but it can also inspire families to continue the search to bring their missing children home safely. NCMEC encourages families to never lose sight of HOPE. As we approach this holiday season, there are many ways that you can help these families and others:

Sharing posters of missing children in your area through social media

Making a donation to support NCMEC’s mission of child safety

Taking time over the holidays to teach the children in your life how that can stay safer.

Here are just a few of the missing children NCMEC is searching for this holiday season and all year long;

9-year-old Stephanie Crane was last seen on Oct. 11, 1993 around 6:00 p.m. According to witnesses, Stephanie was seen walking towards the Challis High School. At the time of her disappearance, Stephanie was described as 4 feet 2 inches tall and weighing approximately 85 pounds. She has blue eyes and brown hair with a distinctive cowlick on the right side of her hairline. She was last seen wearing maroon sweatpants and a maroon/white striped hooded shirt with the word “GIMME” on the front. The image above on the right shows what Stephanie may look like at the age of 31-years-old. If you have any information about Stephanie, please call 1-800-THE-LOST or the Custer County Sheriff’s Office at 1-208-879-2232. Poster

6-year-old Jesus De Le Cruz was last seen on Sept. 28, 1996 in Lynn, MA. He is believed to have been walking down Park Street around the time he disappeared. He has not been seen or heard from since. Around the time of his disappearance, Jesus was described as 4 feet 6 inches tall and weighing approximately 60 pounds. He has brown eyes and brown hair. Jesus has a scar above his left eye, a birthmark on his left calf and a birthmark on the left side of his forehead. He also has his left ear pierced. The image above on the right shows what Jesus may look like at the age of 19-years-old. If you have any information about Jesus, please call 1-800-THE-LOST, the Lynn Police Department at 781-595-2000 or your local FBI. Poster

3-year-old Reuben Bennett Blackwell II was last seen on May 6, 1996 in Clinton, MD. Reuben was allegedly abducted by his father, Reuben Blackwell, pictured above on the far right. According to law enforcement, Reuben’s father made threats to harm Reuben and himself. A federal warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was issued for his father on Sept. 22, 2000; however; Reuben, who may go by the first name “Bennett”, has still not been located. During the time of his disappearance, Reuben was 3 feet tall and weighed approximately 36 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. The image above in the center shows what Reuben may look like at the age of 22-years-old. If you have any information about Reuben, please call 1-800-THE-LOST, the Prince George’s County Police Department at 301-868-8773 or your local FBI. Poster

6-year-old Kaylah Hunter (above on the left) and her 6-month-old brother, Kristian Justice (above on the right) went missing from their home in Detroit, MI on May 24, 2014. The children were last seen in the company of their mother; however, their mother has since been found deceased. Kaylah and Kristian may be traveling in a 2004 burgundy 4-door Chevrolet Impala with Michigan plates CCR1286, similar to the vehicle pictured above in the center. During the time of their disappearance, Kaylah was described as 4 feet 5 inches and weighing approximately 65 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Kristian was described as 2 feet tall and approximately 17 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Kaylah would now be 10-years-old and Kristian would now be 4-years-old. If you have any information about Kaylah and Kristian, please call 1-800-THE-LOST, the Detroit Police Department at 313-596-5600 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAKUP (800-773-2587). Poster

To learn about other children listed as missing with NCMEC, please visit our website.  

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Mark-up of Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act

On behalf of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, we commend the Commerce Committee, especially Chairman John Thune and Ranking Member Bill Nelson, for approving the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA), and we congratulate Senator Rob Portman, Senator Richard Blumenthal, and all sponsors of the legislation for a successful mark-up.  

NCMEC is encouraged that bipartisan support for SESTA continues to grow and the Internet Association has worked closely with the bill’s sponsors and has now endorsed SESTA.

SESTA (S.1693) ensures justice for child victims of online sex trafficking and clarifies that there is no legal protection for those who participate in the trafficking of children for sex online.  Consistent with NCMEC’s mission, this legislation provides a powerful tool to further the rights of child victims, while protecting the work of those who share our mission to reduce child sexual exploitation and prevent child victimization.  

Over the past five years, 81% of NCMEC’s child sex trafficking reports have related to the trafficking of a child on the Internet.  Strong relationships between Congress, the technology industry, law enforcement, and non-profit groups like NCMEC are essential to ensuring a comprehensive response to the horrific crime of online child sex trafficking.

We look forward to continuing to work with Members of Congress to bring SESTA to a vote on the Senate floor and through the House of Representatives so this legislation can get to the President’s desk.

John F. Clark President and Chief Executive Officer National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

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HALLOWEEN MYSTERIES: THE UNIDENTIFIED IN TEXAS

Halloween season means pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating and skeleton decorations. Many indulge in telling ghost stories or watching Hollywood murder mysteries. But during the Halloween season in the late 70s and early 80s, for three Texas law enforcement agencies, murder mysteries left the big screen and became a gruesome reality.

On Halloween in 1979, investigators with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office were notified of a body that could be seen lying in a drainage culvert near Interstate 35 in Georgetown, Texas. Upon their arrival, law enforcement discovered the body of a white female. The unidentified female, who is often referred to as Jane Georgetown Doe1979 or Orange Socks, was found almost completely nude, except for a pair of orange socks. She was also found wearing a rectangular silver and abalone shell ring on her middle finger. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the young female died of asphyxia due to manual strangulation approximately 1-2 days prior to the discovery of her body.

After examining the body, it is believed that the unidentified female was between the age of 15 and 20 years old. She was about 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighed approximately 158 pounds, had long brown hair with a reddish tint and hazel colored eyes. She had noticeably thick eye brows, pierced ears and appeared unkempt. Her nails were painted red and were noticeably long and dirty. There were numerous scars on her lower legs and ankles, possibly bug bites in various stages of healing.

There are so many questions that remain…who is she and how did she end up deceased in rural Williamson County?

“I believe she was picked up in another town,” says Sergeant Jereme Brinkmann with the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office. “It is possible that she was picked up while hitchhiking, murdered for an unknown reason and dumped in this culvert, which at the time was in rural Williamson County.”

The Williamson County Sheriff's Office has 14 active cold cases and three of those cases, including Jane Georgetown Doe 1979, involve unidentified bodies.

“Due to this case and the other 13, Sheriff Chody formed a ‘Cold Case Unit’ which consists of myself, two full-time paid detectives and 18 reserve detectives many of who are retired police officers,” explains Sergeant Brinkmann. “This group of law enforcement individuals offers a vast range of knowledge and experience.”

Forensic artists at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children created a reconstruction to show what the deceased may have looked like in life. To date, the deceased remains unidentified.

Jane Georgetown Doe1979 or “Orange Socks”

http://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMU/1213120/1/screen If you have information about Jane Georgetown Doe 1979 please email the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office at coldcasetips@wilco.org or call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST.

A little over a year later, another gruesome discovery was made by a truck driver during the early morning hours of Nov. 1, 1980 in Huntsville, Texas. The truck driver found the body of an unidentified female along the northbound lanes of Interstate 45 and immediately contacted the Walker County Sheriff’s Office. The unidentified female was found nude except for a necklace and pantyhose, both around her neck. The necklace was gold in color with a rectangular pendant containing a smoky glass stone. Police also discovered leather strapped shoes that appear to have been thrown near the body.

Further investigation revealed that the cause of death was asphyxia due to strangulation and it is believed that the female was deceased for less than a day prior to discovery. The body was also found with a bite mark on the mid back area as well as severe injuries to the face.

Investigators determined that the young white female was between the ages of 15 and 20 years old. She was approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing about 108 pounds. The female had hazel colored eyes, brown hair that had a natural curl at the bottom and her toenails were painted pink. Additionally, she had a small scar at the right end of her right eyebrow. The female was described as overall well-nourished and showed evidence of good dental hygiene.

After the discovery of the body, several individuals came forward claiming to have seen a girl who fit the deceased’s description. Two of the individuals who came forward told investigators that the girl asked them for directions to the Ellis Prison Unit in Huntsville, Texas.

According to Detective Tom Bean with the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, detectives went out to the prison, but they were never able to confirm that the girl ever arrived there. 

“As of now, the belief is that this young girl possibly got picked up by someone while in route to the prison or to another location up north,” explains Det. Bean. “Whoever she was with, assaulted and murdered her and left her body on the side of the road.”

Given the fact that so much time has passed since the discovery of her body, the best chance of identifying her is through maternal DNA.

“About 3-4 years ago, I contacted the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Texas and they were able to extract DNA from the body and upload that into the CODIS System,” explains Det. Bean. “So in the event someone comes forward who believes they are related to the deceased, we can compare the maternal DNA.”

Forensic artists at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children created a reconstruction of the female to show what she may have looked like.

Jane Huntsville Doe1980

http://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMU/1104365/1/screen If you have any information about Jane Huntsville Doe1980, please contact the Walker County Sheriff’s Office at 1-936-435-2400 (reference case number 80-11-476) or NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST.

On October 29, 1981, almost a year after the discovery in Huntsville, Texas, two highway department employees were working on Farm Market Road (FM 244) in Grimes County, Texas when they came across a plastic bag along the side of the road. Upon further investigation of the contents, the two employees discovered skeletal remains and notified the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office.

In addition to the skeletal remains, the plastic bag contained a pair of pink panties, a white towel or mechanics drop cloth and a gold ring with a replica of a 1904 coin on the face. Investigators determined that based on the condition of the remains, Jane Grimes Doe1981, as she is referred, had been deceased for about 5-6 years prior to discovery. The cause of death was determined to likely have been caused by severe trauma to the head and face.

After examining the body, it is believed that the deceased was between 16 and 19 years old, between 5 feet 1 inch and 5 feet 5 inches tall with straight or wavy brown-reddish colored hair. The body showed signs of extensive fractures on the ribs that may have fractured several years before her death.  Further examination revealed that the remains likely decomposed in another location before being moved.

Investigators with the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office are hoping that some new initiatives will help them further their investigation into the case.

“We are still attempting to identify this young girl,” explains Investigator Jimmy Armatys with the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office. “We are hopeful that some further forensic analysis can provide us with some much-needed answers.”

A sketch artist with the Texas Department of Public Safety created this sketch to show what the female may have looked like. The second image is of the ring found in the plastic bag along with the victim’s remains. 

Jane Grimes Doe1981

(Credit: Texas Department of Public Safety) https://www.dps.texas.gov/mpch/Unidentified/unDetails/U9105002 If you have any information about Jane Grimes Doe1981 please contact the Grimes County Sheriff’s Office at 1-936-873-2151 or NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST.

It has been several decades with very few answers, but the individuals at NCMEC and the respective law enforcement agencies remain hopeful that one day, all three of these females will be given their names back.

“As far as law enforcement and NCMEC are aware, there is no indication that the cases are related,” explains Ashley Rodriguez, Forensic Case Manager at NCMEC.  “We are hoping that with help from the public, we will be able to identify these young females.”

If you have any information about these three cases, please contact the respective law enforcement agencies or 1-800-THE-LOST.  

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Partners in Safety – Old Navy and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

Old Navy has partnered with NCMEC for nearly a decade and every year, Old Navy stores across the country shine the spotlight on child safety. Employees in their more than 1,000 locations put on a fun, interactive kids’ safety event to help NCMEC share potentially life-saving safety tips with families nationwide. We asked Old Navy to tell us what inspired them to join NCMEC’s mission. Meet Old Navy’s own Chris Nelson and Jacob Myers:

When did you first get involved with NCMEC and what made you personally want to get involved?

Chris: Several years back, we at Old Navy were looking for a partner in our Kids Safety event.  As we got to know the Center and particularly its team- we quickly realized that they were the perfect partner and represented tremendous competence, compassion, and a caring spirit for parents in their most desperate moments.  Knowing that our partnership helped kids in need, and their parents, is one of the absolute highlights of my career.

Jacob: My personal involvement started as early as learning about the Adam Walsh incident. As a father of three, I often reflect on how John and the Walsh family remain bonded in their mission to keep kids safer. To challenge status quo and fight for the needs of our children has always been an inspiration to me. At Old Navy, we work every day towards keeping our stores safer to work and shop. So, it just made sense to bring two amazing organizations together to keep kids safer. 7 years later – we stand together!  

How did you hear about NCMEC?

Chris: I was aware of them due to my time in Military Law Enforcement. As our dialog started, and I saw not only the investigative side, but the prevention and outreach side- I was hooked!

Jacob: From a cold call to NCMEC, to a lightning fast call back from Marita Rodriguez. Within hours, we established the framework of how we wanted to march onward together. 

Why should someone support NCMEC’s mission?

Chris: I often tell my business partners that, “nothing is more important to our customer than the safety and well-being of her children.”  I know this because I am a parent.  NCMEC provides the single most effective, comprehensive, and hopeful organization to parents and kids in dire need.

Jacob: In today’s environment, it’s quite difficult to pick just one cause to support. How can you? However, what I often tell my colleagues, friends and family, is that our children are the future and we have to do all we can to keep them safe. What I’ve learned throughout the many years we have been focused here, is that not everyone knows how or what to teach as it relates to child safety. It’s not that easy and it’s ever evolving. When something bad happens, you want an expert. NCMEC is just that! 

How is NCMEC making a difference for children?

Chris: They are there when no one else is, they are there when no one else can be, they are there forever when no one else can be. They are there.

Jacob: I often refer to NCMEC as the people you never want to call, but if you had to, they’re the only ones you would want to call. Without those at NCMEC, and all that support what they stand for, our children are at risk. They keep kids safer!

What has your involvement with and support of NCMEC meant to you?

Chris: It is an overwhelming source of pride for me, my team, and or entire business. Our Founder, Don Fisher, taught us to “Do more than sell clothes.” This exemplifies the power of our organization to do just that. That is one of the main reasons I will be here as long as GAP Inc. will allow!

Jacob: To come to work and know you make a difference inside and outside of the company is what it’s all about. The NCMEC partnership is one that drives me to be a better leader. There is always room to be better. Helping the center achieve their mission, is a personal & professional goal. 

How do employees feel about playing such a big part?

Chris: Pride comes to mind. Helping those around us in need is part of our DNA and that is heightened when we talk about children. We are a business that serves families and this effort fits us to a tee!

Jacob: Our annual partnership is something our employees, external partners and customers look forward to every year. This event is a TEAM SPORT. Not only does it help NCMEC achieve their goals but it allows families to be safer. Add Old Navy’s fun and competitive nature to be better each year, it’s a perfect mix to achieve something very special.

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New Tips for a Safe and Spooky Halloween!

It’s that time of year again! While your kids are busy picking out the ULTIMATE costume to wear on Halloween, it’s the perfect opportunity to talk to your kids about safety.

Today, NCMEC and Honeywell are releasing new tips for trick-or-treating safely on Halloween.

Start early! Plan your route ahead of time and stick with areas you’re familiar with and streets that are well-lit. Reflective tape is a great solution to increase visibility on your kids’ costumes and candy bags!

Everything is more fun in a group! If you have older kids, going out with a bunch of friends is a smart idea. For your little ones, be sure to walk them up to every door. Groups are better for everyone, including parents. Ask your friends to join you and help supervise.

And most importantly, teach your children that they have the power to say “NO” if anyone tries to separate them from the group or makes them feel uncomfortable in any way.

Ongoing conversations about safety are important not only on Halloween, but throughout the year. For more tips and conversations starters, check out the full KidSmartz program at KidSmartz.org. From all of us at NCMEC, we hope you and you kids have a safe, fun and spooky Halloween!

Download the full tip sheet here.

The KidSmartz® program, which was developed in partnership with Honeywell Hometown Solutions, empowers kids in grades K-5 to practice safer behaviors in ways that are fun and easy-to-understand.

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Child Dignity in the Digital World

In 2016 alone, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline received approximately 8.2 million reports and a staggering number of those reports were related to the growing issue of online child victimization.  As NCMEC continues to work to combat this issue, we are certainly not alone in this fight to protect children from the dangers lurking within the Internet.

These past three days, representatives from NCMEC were given the opportunity to attend the “Child Dignity in the Digital World” conference hosted by the Centre for Child Protection at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. Many leaders from all relevant areas on the issue gathered in Rome to answer a desperate call to help further protect our children from becoming victims of sextortion, sexting, cyberbullying and harassment.

Michelle DeLaune, NCMEC’s Chief Operating Officer attended the conference. “This has been a remarkable experience I will never forget,” says DeLaune. “We know that this is a global issue and bringing these leaders together shows our joint commitment to global child protection.”

NCMEC was honored to be given the opportunity to stand side by side with some of our partners, including representatives from Facebook, Microsoft, Thorn and the Internet Watch Foundation as well as other key stakeholders and international leaders. Allowing experts on the issue a chance to collaborate with one another opens the door to create more public awareness and the opportunity to act on the issue on a larger scale.

As the conference came to a close, Pope Francis addressed those in attendance and recognized their efforts. “As representatives of various scientific disciplines and the fields of digital communications, law and political life, you have come together precisely because you realize the gravity of these challenges linked to scientific and technical progress,” he said. “With great foresight, you have concentrated on with is probably the most crucial challenge for the future of the human family: the protection of young people’s dignity, their healthy development, their joy and their hope.”

NCMEC, along with our partners and world leaders, will continue to work together to combat this issue because protecting the dignity and innocence of children is our number one priority.  

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NCMEC Honors Heroes at Annual Awards Show

On Oct. 3, 2017, NCMEC held its annual “Heroes’ Awards” ceremony at Sidney Harman Hall in Washington, D.C.

The night recognized law enforcement who went above and beyond working the case of a missing or sexually exploited child.

“At NCMEC, we’re reminded daily of the tremendous responsibility we bear to protect our nation’s children,” said NCMEC President and CEO John Clark. “Every day, our employees work hand-in-hand with law enforcement to ensure our mission is accomplished – no matter how long it takes.”

NCMEC President and CEO, John Clark.

The night was emceed by the co-host of A&E’s top rated show, “Live P.D.,” Tom Morris, Jr.

As he kicked off the evening, he reminded the audience, “Tonight is about all of you. Whether you’re getting up on this stage to accept an award or not, if you put on the badge, you are our hero.”

The first Heroes’ Award was presented to Officer Aaron Bulmer from the Topeka, Kansas Police Department for rescuing a child with autism from drowning.

Officer Aaron Bulmer (center) with NCMEC co-founder, John Walsh (left), and NCMEC VP Robert Lowery (right).

Up next was a group of honorees from San Salvador who received the award for solving a complex child sexual exploitation case and paving the way for future prosecutions in El Salvador.

Honorees from San Salvador accepting their awards – From left: HSI Special Agent Brandon Fisher, Investigators Cecilia Alfaro and Norman Jacobo González with the National Police of El Salvador and Carmen Elena Hernández with the Prosecutor’s Office for the Republic of El Salvador.

A team of 11 honorees from Bemidji, Minnesota took home the final Heroes’ Award of the night. This group worked together seamlessly to rescue a missing 5-year-old girl.

Honorees from the Bemidji Police Department, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Minnesota State Fire Marshal’s Office pose with NCMEC President and CEO, John Clark, NCMEC co-founder, John Walsh, and the evening’s emcee, Tom Morris, Jr.

NCMEC gave a “Special Recognition Award” to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Peter Newsham for their work in implementing new initiatives to meet the needs of the district’s missing children.

NCMEC President and CEO, John Clark, presents the “Special Recognition Award” to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metropolitan Police Chief Peter Newsham.

And finally, NCMEC presented the “Courage Award” to an 11-year-old boy from Mineral City, Ohio who bravely survived an abduction and assault and helped put his abductor behind bars.

It was a night celebrating outstanding dedication to the safety of children everywhere.

For more photos of the evening, check out NCMEC’s Flickr page.

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Wherever you are Anna…

It has been almost 45 years of chasing down leads and looking for clues that have yet to be found.

“If you Google her name, you will see there have been extensive searches done on her case, but still no clues,” said Michaele Benedict, the mother of Anna Waters, who disappeared in 1973. “We have also investigated many unidentified children, but still nothing.”

For Michaele, her daughter Anna remains in her mind as an effervescent, friendly and intelligent 5-year-old little girl who loved animals and drawing. Michaele recalls how generous Anna was, even at such a young age.

“The Halloween before Anna went missing, she came home after trick or treating and stood outside of the house handing out her own candy to the other children,” recalls Michaele. “Then at Christmas time, she decided to give away all of her presents.”

It was shortly after that Christmas that Michaele’s life changed forever.

It was a rainy mid-January day in Half Moon Bay, California where Anna lived with her family. Michaele and Anna’s stepfather were talking with some neighbors in their living room when the kindergartener was dropped off at home by the school bus. Michaele remembers Anna coming into the house to change her clothes and then heading out to the backyard to play. Michaele could hear Anna outside talking, presumably to her cat. Another 15 minutes went by and Michaele remembers it being almost too quiet. Michaele walked out back to the fenced-in yard and called for Anna, but she didn’t answer.

Michaele, Anna’s stepfather and the visiting neighbors walked around the property searching for Anna, but after a few minutes went by with no luck, they contacted the police.

Although in 1973 only about 25 families lived in the rural, sleepy town of Half Moon Bay, there was an extensive search effort by both law enforcement and the community. The Times (San Mateo, California) reported on Jan. 17, 1973 that “an estimated 100 persons” were involved in combing the area looking for little Anna. Before darkness fell on that rainy day, law enforcement searched the nearby creek and surrounding houses, but they could not locate Anna.

Fast forward over four decades and Michaele’s little girl who disappeared at age five would be gearing up to celebrate her 50th birthday on Sept. 25. Although Michaele has not been able to get to know Anna as the woman she would be today, she will always keep with her, not only hope of finding Anna, but the precious memories of her little blonde-haired girl who had a desire for independence and a strong bond with her family.

“We had an old school bus on our property that we converted into a camper. One of my favorite memories of Anna is the time she decided that she wanted to sleep in there. I think she was looking for a little independence,” Michaele says fondly. “I went out to cover her up with a blanket and as I walked toward the bus, I could see her sitting at a window, just keeping an eye on her family.”

Michaele has shared with us a short note that she wrote as Anna’s 50th birthday approaches.

“The five years we had with Anna was a great blessing. As her 50th birthday approaches, I want to thank the hundreds of people who helped in our long search, and especially the NCMEC, which has supported and heartened us ever since it was founded. Though we have never found a clue to Anna’s disappearance, we could rule out many, many scenarios and help to reunite dozens of other children with their families. Wherever you are, Anna, the family sends so much love for your birthday.”

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Come Join the Fun! Old Navy’s Super Safety Event!

Looking for a great way to support your favorite nonprofit? Come on out to your local Old Navy store between Sept. 28 – Oct. 9, and with any donation to NCMEC at the register, you’ll receive a discount on a future purchase. It’s a win-win! Did you know that NCMEC has partnered with Old Navy for more than a decade to help raise awareness about missing and exploited children?

Every year, Old Navy stores across the country shine the spotlight on child safety. Employees in their more than 1,000 locations put on a fun, interactive kids’ safety fair to help NCMEC spread potentially life-saving safety tips. This year, you can bring your kids to any Old Navy location on Saturday, Sept. 30 to meet local heroes and participate in fun safety activities!

Old Navy and NCMEC employees pose with Clicky, the internet safety robot, during a safety fair last September.

“Our partnership with Old Navy is vital to our critical work,” said John F. Clark, president and CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. “Not only have they contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to NCMEC over the past decade to help protect children, but by inviting NCMEC into their stores each year, they are helping us reach communities across the nation in a way we would never be able to do alone.”

Activities at each location will be different, but you might get to make a child ID kit or meet local police and firefighters. NCMEC staff located across the country will be out as well to talk to parents and kids about real-world and online safety.

NCMEC volunteers creating free child ID kits for kids at an Old Navy in Virginia.

Volunteering at Old Navy’s safety fair is something NCMEC staff look forward to every year. Sam, who came to work at NCMEC in 2015, volunteered to entertain kids as Clicky, our internet safety robot.

“Last year was my first time volunteering for the safety fair, and I’ll definitely be doing it again this year,” he said. “The Old Navy employees are so dedicated to this event…working alongside them felt like we’d been working together forever trying to spread awareness to keep kids safe.”

Clicky, answering questions about internet safety, alongside an officer from Fairfax Police Dept.

The back-to school season is a perfect time to do a little shopping at your favorite Old Navy store and it’s also the perfect time talk to kids about safety. This event makes it easy to have those discussions with your kids in an entertaining and non-threatening way. NCMEC has age-appropriate resources for kids, tweens and teens.

“What’s so great about this event is it feels like we’re bringing the community together,” said Sam. “There are customers who came out because they know about NCMEC and want to talk about safety, but there are also customers who don’t know about us, and walk away having learned something.”

So come on out to your local Old Navy store during the Super Safety Event, support NCMEC and get a great coupon for your next purchase. And we especially recommend you come out for the safety fair on Sept. 30 and have fun alongside Old Navy employees and NCMEC staff. Can’t wait to see you there!

Visit oldnavy.missingkids.org for details and to find an Old Navy store near you.

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Vanished in Cape Cod

It has been 40 years since Simone Ridinger disappeared without a trace. But a second look at an old lead could provide investigators with some much-needed information.

As the summer of 1977 drew to a close, 17-year-old Simone made plans to celebrate Labor Day weekend with her family at their vacation home in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. At the time, Simone was working as a waitress at the Rainbow Restaurant in downtown Natick, Massachusetts. According to law enforcement, Simone left work around 3 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, 1977 and intended to hitchhike to Cape Cod, but she never arrived.

According to police records, a man came into the Sherborn Police station in 1986 claiming to have information regarding the disappearance of Simone Ridinger. A local newspaper had recently run an article about Simone and the man told police that he recognized her photo. The man claimed that during the early morning hours of Saturday, Sept. 3, 1977 he was pulled over by police on Route 128, south of Boston. The man told the officer that he was on his way to Osterville, Massachusetts to collect some clock parts. In his recollection to police, the man said he noticed a young female sitting in the officer’s vehicle. He says the officer asked him if he would give the young female a ride to Cape Cod, since it was in the same direction he was traveling, and he agreed. The man claims that he dropped the young female off at the airport rotary in Hyannis, Massachusetts. The physical description of the young female that the man provided to law enforcement at the time fit with the physical description of Simone. Additionally, the man stated that the young girl was wearing a blue blouse, blue jeans, white sneakers and was carrying a gray-ish colored duffle bag. But law enforcement was not able to corroborate any of this information.

Fast forward to 2014. Detectives with the Sherborn Police Department decided to re-examine Simone’s case. In addition to reviewing some old leads, the detectives also conducted interviews with people who knew Simone during the time she disappeared.

Detectives sat down with two of Simone’s former coworkers from the Rainbow Restaurant. These two individuals were able to provide detectives with a description of what Simone was wearing the day she left work to head to Cape Cod. According to their statement, Simone was wearing a blue vest-like blouse, blue jeans, white sneakers and carrying a gray duffle bag. Sound familiar? This description matched the description given by the man in 1986 who claimed to have given Simone a ride.

With this new information, detectives are now looking into the idea that Simone may have in fact made the 80-mile journey from Natick, Massachusetts to the Cape Cod area before disappearing. Officials with the Sherborn Police Department are seeking information from anyone who may have been in the Cape Cod area during Labor Day weekend 1977 and recall seeing a young female matching Simone’s description.

Simone was a 17-year-old white female with brown hair and brown eyes. She was five feet six inches tall and weighed approximately 130 pounds. She was last seen wearing a blue vest-like blouse, blue jeans, white sneakers and carrying a gray duffle bag. The blouse may have been consistent with the waitress uniform worn at the Rainbow Restaurant in 1977.

If you have any information, please contact the Sherborn Police Department at 508-653-2424 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.

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A Father Waits

(Augusto clings to memories of life with his children in his Baltimore rowhome.)

By Sarah Baker Photos by Sarah Baker

On Aug. 25, 2010, J.  Augusto Frisancho sat in Meadowood Regional Park in Baltimore, Maryland waiting for his recently-separated wife to drop off their kids, 11-year-old Ork’o, 7-year-old Amaru and 5-year-old Raymi, for their weekly visit. She was late. Slowly the minutes turned into hours. The sun set as Augusto waited and the children never arrived. Worried, he frantically called his wife. Getting no answer, he dialed every number that he had, and no one knew where the children were. He then switched to email, and still no one had any answers.  After a frightening night of not knowing he finally learned by email that his children were taken to Slovakia by his wife and her family. He was confused and panicked, learning that they had left the country.

(Augusto and his sons, one of his most cherished photos.)

The following day Augusto finally reached his sons. “Daddy,” he heard on the other end, repeated by each child’s voice as they crowded around the phone.  He felt relief to talk to them and believed they would be back in his arms soon. His oldest child, Ork'o, said, “School is starting in a few days, and I very much want to go there on time, I don’t want to miss it.” Hearing their cries, he stayed strong, trying to comfort them.  Augusto then contacted the US State Department the day after he learned they were taken.

(Curtains highlighting the world in the children’s room now have different meaning for Augusto.)

As time passed from days to weeks, the telephone conversations got shorter and less frequent. “I was worried that I would lose the right to talk to my children,” he said. “I kept it light and made sure to keep everything positive in our short conversations.” 

(At the table where he used to enjoy family dinners, Augusto sits alone, surrounded by piles of court documents.)

He knew he couldn’t sit and do nothing. After several attempts to resolve things amicably with his wife, Augusto filed an application for return of the children under an international treaty, the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. Augusto’s wife was called upon by the Central Authority for the Hague Convention in Bratislava, Slovakia to discuss the peaceful return home of the children. When no agreement could be reached, a slew of legal proceedings began that continue to this day. 

(Augusto finds solace in his children’s room.)

Dec. 31, 2010 was the last time Augusto talked to his children in Slovakia. He wished Ork’o a “happy new year,” then the phone went silent. The phone numbers were changed after that night.

(Stickers that helped guide the children’s little fingers to learn their notes, remain on the family piano.)

2011 was the start of the hardest year of Augusto’s life. Everything in his daily life was a reminder of the absence of his children; the empty Baltimore rowhome, the park and the children’s school. Unable to talk about what happened, he bottled up this tragedy and kept it inside, trying just to get through the day to day, slowly changing his routine. Becoming what he called a “zombie,” Augusto worked, ate and slept in an endless repetition, with no way of knowing how his children were doing.  Understanding he had to stay healthy and strong for his sons, Augusto eventually picked himself up. “It’s easy to isolate oneself, but I knew I had to turn this nightmare around,” he said.  Slowly he began to visit his sons’ favorite places. “I would close my eyes and say, ‘God! You can do it, please tell them their daddy loves them’.” His relationship with God has been his strength throughout this horrible ordeal.

(Augusto says his relationship with God has given him strength through this horrible ordeal.)

Feeling alone in this nightmare, he didn’t tell people in his community that his children had been taken.  But when Augusto joined the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s “Team HOPE,” a peer support group of families with missing, recovered and exploited children, he gradually began to open up and speak about his nightmare. “Parents like Augusto struggle with the emotional trauma and loneliness of having a missing or exploited child”, says, Abby Potash, program director, Team HOPE.  Helping others and sharing his story became healing to Augusto.

(Augusto holds onto the memories of his children by doing things they loved, such as visits to the National Aquarium.)

In 2011 it seemed that his children might finally come home when the Slovakian courts ruled in his favor. But it just set off a host of additional hearings that would be drawn out to present day. Long plane rides were filled with a desperate studying of Slovakian law. The trips were filled with excitement and anxiety as he prayed the children would be in court. In 2013 Ork’o and Amaru were present in court. Augusto was flooded with emotion as he caught a glimpse of their faces for a brief moment, though unable to speak to them. After that, he hoped to see them at another court appearance, but they never returned.

Today, Ork’o is 18 years old, Amaru is 14 and Raymi is 12.

Aug. 25 marks seven years since they were taken. Augusto will never stop searching and fighting for their return.

(Augusto attending a congressional hearing in July 2016, supporting other families victimized by international family abductions.)

(A handmade creation by Ork'o remains a treasured keepsake.)

(Augusto gets encouragement from Abby Potash, program director of Team HOPE, a peer support group for families of missing, recovered and exploited children.)

(Augusto pictured with Team HOPE volunteer, Ahmad Rivazfar, the father of two kidnapped children, one who survived.)

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KidSmartz Now Available in Spanish!

With kids headed back to school, it’s the perfect time to talk about safety. Today, NCMEC and Honeywell announced that KidSmartz, an abduction prevention program, is now available in both English and Spanish.

“We want these tools and resources to reach as many kids and families as possible,” said Eliza Harrell, director of education at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

The KidSmartz Program, developed in partnership with Honeywell Hometown Solutions, teaches kids in grades K-5 four basic safety rules:

Check First Take a Friend Tell People “NO” Tell a Trusted Adult

NCMEC analyzed a decade’s worth of attempted abductions and related incidents and found that the largest percentage occur when kids are going to or from school or after-school activities. It’s also a time when they’re less likely to be supervised.

“That makes this time of the year an especially critical time to talk to your kids about safety,” said Harrell. “We need to empower our children with the tools they need to stay safer, so they can recognize and know how to respond to a potentially dangerous situation before it happens.”

All of the KidSmartz materials, in both English and Spanish, are available for free at KidSmartz.org.

Click here to read the full press release.

¡KidSmartz ahora disponible en español!

Con los niños de regreso a la escuela, hoy es el momento perfecto para hablar de seguridad. NCMEC y Honeywell anunciaron hoy que KidSmartz, el programa para la prevención de secuestros, está disponible en inglés y en español.

“Queremos que estas herramientas y recursos lleguen a lo más niños y familias que sea posible ", dijo Eliza Harrell, directora de educación del Centro Nacional de Niños Desaparecidos y Explotados.

El programa KidSmartz, desarrollado por NCMEC en alianza con Honeywell Hometown Solutions, les enseña a los niños en los grados K-5 las cuatro reglas básicas de seguridad:

Consultar primero Llevar a un amigo Decirle “NO” a la gente Decirle a un adulto de confianza

Un análisis realizado por NCMEC, que tuvo duración de diez años, sobre los intentos de secuestro e incidentes relacionados encontró que la mayoría se produjeron cuando los niños estaban yendo o regresando de la escuela. Es también cuando tienen menos probabilidades de ser supervisados.

“Eso hace que esta época del año sea un momento especialmente crítico para hablar con sus hijos sobre la seguridad,” dijo Harrell. “Necesitamos capacitar a nuestros niños con las herramientas que necesitan para mantenerse más seguros, para que puedan reconocer y saber cómo responder ante una situación potencialmente peligrosa antes de que suceda.”

Todos los materiales de KidSmartz, tanto en inglés como en español, están disponibles gratuitamente en KidSmartz.org.

Haga clic aquí para leer el comunicado de prensa completo.

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Searching for Quinn

Quinn Woodfolk was a typical 11-year-old boy. He was very active in sports, especially basketball and soccer, and he liked pulling pranks.

His aunt, April Brown, has never stopped looking for him. She remembers when she was 16 years old she bought some new shoes to wear to school. But during a visit, Quinn put them on his feet and wore them home. April laughs as she remembers jumping in the car and going over to Quinn’s house who still had the shoes on his feet as he played outside.

When April thinks of her nephew, she remembers a quiet boy who loved his friends and family dearly. Quinn spent a good portion of his childhood running around the countryside where his grandmother lived. It was routine for Quinn to spend a few days with his grandmother, who would then drop him back off at his home in Charlottesville, VA.

On July 4, 1998, just a few days shy of his 12th birthday, Quinn Woodfolk vanished from his Charlottesville home and has not been seen or heard from since.

Quinn was home alone that day. When his father returned home from work, Quinn was gone. It did not appear as though Quinn took any belongings with him, nor did he leave a note behind.

What happened on that day, 19 years ago, remains a mystery. A few leads came in shortly after Quinn disappeared, one indicating that Quinn may be in New York. Since then, new leads and information have been sparse.

“There has not been a credible lead since the early 2000s,” explains Sgt. Newberry with the Charlottesville Police Department. “The case has been revisited several times over the years, but it remains a cold case at this time.” Quinn’s case was featured on America’s Most Wanted and has been the subject of a few news articles, but still the search continues.

April and her family will never stop searching for Quinn. And if Quinn is reading this story she wants him to know this: “We love you. We miss you. Please reach out to us. We want you home.”

Quinn Woodfolk is African-American with black hair and brown eyes. When he was last seen, he was four feet 11 inches tall and weighed approximately 90 pounds. He has scars near his left eye and a birthmark on the top of his head. Quinn may go by the nickname Lil Quinn.

Quinn would now be 31-years-old. Forensic artists at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children created the above age-progressed image to show what Quinn may look like today.

If you have any information about Quinn Woodfolk please call us at 1-800-THE-LOST or the Charlottesville Police Department at 434-970-3280. http://www.missingkids.com/poster/NCMC/919295/1

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Twins Missing:  Jeannette and Dannette Millbrooks

Dwelling in the private world known only to twins, Jeannette and Dannette Millbrooks spent much of their free time relaxing on their front porch in Augusta, Georgia, talking to one another and watching the world pass by. If anyone spoke to them, they would just smile.

“They didn’t come off the porch,” said their cousin, Yolanda Curry. “I can see their smiles with my eyes closed.”

Then one day – March 18, 1990 to be exact – the fraternal twins left the safety of their beloved porch – and vanished.

What happened to Jeannette and Dannette is a mystery, but their family has never given up hope of finding them. If by any chance the girls, who are 43, are reading this story, Curry wants them to know this: “I love them and I will never stop looking for them until the day I die.”

Just days before their 16th birthday, the twins headed out to visit a family friend. Their 12-year-old sister, Shanta (shawn-TAY’) Sturgis, begged to go with them, but the teenagers didn’t want their baby sister tagging along. Jeannette and Dannette made it to their friend’s house at about 4 p.m., then walked on to what was then a Pump-N-Shop gas station and convenience store near the intersection of 12th Street and MLK Boulevard. They went inside and bought chips and drinks. The store clerk later told their sister that the twins seemed fine. It was about 4:30 p.m. when the clerk, busy at a cash register, saw the twins leave the store. She caught a vague glimpse of a vehicle outside, but didn’t see enough to give sheriff’s deputies a detailed description, or to say whether the twins got in or what direction they might’ve gone.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s Robert Lowery says it’s “extremely rare” for two siblings to be abducted together by a non-family member. It does happen, however. In 1975, sisters Katherine and Sheila Lyon, aged 10 and 12, went missing in Wheaton, Maryland and have never been found. In 1997, sisters Kati and Kristin Lisk, ages 12 and 15, were murdered after being abducted outside their home in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. In 2014, Amish sisters Delila and Fannie Miller, 7 and 12, were abducted in upstate New York. They were released within 24 hours following an AMBER Alert, but not before they were sexually abused. Their kidnappers told police they used a dog to lure the girls to their car, and that they had intended to keep the girls as slaves.

Lowery, vice president of NCMEC’s Missing Children Division, says while it’s important not to raise false hopes, “It’s important that we not give up hope, because a number of these long-term missing kids have been found and reunited with their families. Some amazing things have happened.”

The twins sister, Shantay and mother Mary Sturgis

For example, Jaycee Dugard was found alive after 18 years in captivity in California. Three girls who were abducted and held – much of the time in chains – in a Cleveland house for a decade are free today because one of them escaped and called law enforcement. And when she was 23, Carlina White of New York discovered she had been abducted as an infant, contacted NCMEC, and was reunited with her biological family.

Law enforcement is appealing to the public for any information that might help them find the Millbrooks twins, any observations or memories that would help shed light on the case would be greatly appreciated.

Jeannette and Dannette Millbrooks are African-American. When they went missing, their black hair was styled in soft, shiny loose curls known as Jheri curls. Both have brown eyes, pierced ears and scars on their navels from operations shortly after birth. Dannette was 5 feet 6 inches tall, 130 pounds and bowlegged. She was last seen wearing a white top with Mickey Mouse on it (both girls loved watching cartoons), white jeans and black shoes. Jeannette was 5 feet 4 inches, 125 pounds. She was last seen wearing a blue pullover shift, a white turtleneck, a beige skirt, white stockings and white sneakers. The twins were in the ninth grade at Lucy Laney High School.

The photo on the left shows Dannette as a teenager. She was 15 when she went missing. The image on the right is an age progression showing what Dannette may have looked like at age 39.

The photo on the left shows Jeannette as a teenager. She was 15 when she went missing. The image on the right is an age progression showing what Jeannette may have looked like at age 39.

View their poster: http://www.missingkids.com/poster/NCMC/736454/1#poster If you have any information, please call NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office in Augusta, Georgia (706) 821-1080.

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It’s the middle of July and let’s be honest, it’s HOT outside.

The unrelenting heat may be pushing your kids to stay indoors, spending more and more time in front of their electronic devices.

What better time for a quick refresher on online privacy and internet safety? Identity theft, cyber security…these are big terms that we don’t necessarily associate with kids. But in an ever-more connected world, the internet – and its potential risks – are a reality for all of us.

Our kids are faced with a world that encourages the sharing of information, photos and locations. It’s how we express ourselves, keep in touch with friends and brush up on current events.

But with that comes a responsibility to know what you’re sharing and if you’re sharing too much. Never share passwords, addresses or identifying personal information. Encourage your kids to adjust their privacy settings on apps so only people they know can see what they post.

Many game consoles also offer an opportunity for players to interact with each other over the internet. The same rules apply. Never give out identifying personal information to anyone you don’t know and trust.

Controlling what your kids willingly disclose is only half of the battle. The FBI released a public service announcement this week warning of the dangers of internet-connected toys, or “smart” toys, and how the large amount of personal data they hold can potentially put children at risk. According to the FBI, the collection of a child’s personal information, combined with its ability to connect to the internet, could lead to identity theft or other risks.

The agency suggests researching any reported security issues with these toys, only connecting to the internet in locations with secured Wi-Fi access and making sure you’re always running the latest version of the toy’s software. You can read the full list of recommendations here.

At the end of the day, you’re never going to be able to keep up with all the new devices, apps and programs kids use to connect with each other online. They constantly change. The best thing you can do is talk regularly to your kids about basic safety rules, always encouraging them to come to you or another trusted adult if anything online appears suspicious or makes them feel uncomfortable.

To check out more online safety tips and conversation starters, visit NetSmartz.org.

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Sexting, or the sending and receiving of sexually explicit messages and images, is not a phenomenon unique to teens, but it poses a more serious risk to teens than it does to adults. Many teens who engage in sexting see it as a harmless way of expressing and exploring their sexuality.

What they may not realize is the increasing trend of teen sexting has also given rise to a blackmail technique known as “sextortion.” Here at NCMEC, our CyberTipline has received a marked uptick in reports of self-produced images (sexts) being used to extort underage victims.

Between 2014 and 2015, there was a 90% increase in the total number of reports; a pattern that has continued, with sextortion reports up 150% within the first several months of 2016 compared to the number of reports in that same time-frame in 2014.

So who is doing the blackmailing? Some blackmailers are known to the victim, while others are people the sender has never met in real life, often someone he or she has befriended on a social network, gaming platform or other online space.

Blackmailers may threaten to make the images public, send them to friends and family, hurt the sender or the sender’s family or otherwise embarrass the sender if they do not comply with his or her demands.  An analysis done by NCMEC researchers shows that there are three main motives for sextortion:

To acquire increasingly more explicit sexual content (photos of videos) from the child.

To obtain money or other goods from the child.

To meet to have sex with the child.

Last year, NCMEC and the Department of Justice released the following PSA to warn children of the dangers of sharing sexually explicit images online.

Luckily most teens who send sexts will not be a victim of sextortion. If your teen does send a sext, there are steps you can take to take control of the situation. To learn more, check out NCMEC’s tip sheet:

Regardless of whether or not you think your teen would ever send a sext, it’s important that you talk about basic social media and messaging safety regularly.

Try these questions to get the conversation started:

Has anyone ever sent you a sext?

Has anyone ever asked or pressured you to sext?

Do you think it’s OK to forward “sexy” images? Why?

What could happen to you if you send or forward a naked picture?

What are some ways a private photo sent to one person could be seen by others?

Can you show me which sites and apps you’re using?

Would you feel comfortable if I checked your accounts?

What kinds of things do you post?

How do you decide who to add as a friend?

How much personal information do you share online?

Check out www.NetSmartz.org for more information on keeping your children and teens safe online. Wondering where to start? Try one of our tip sheets! Tips to Prevent Sexting for Teens Talking to Teens About Sexting Protecting Your Kids on Social Media