Saturday, February 28, 2009

Missing: Amber DuBois



The family of a missing 14-year old California girl launched an all-out search Sunday morning that extended into the local mountains.

Hundreds of volunteers combed through rugged terrain in search for Amber LeeAnne DuBois, television news station San Diego 6 reported. DuBois was reportedly last seen shortly after 7 a.m. on Feb. 13 while walking to her high school in Escondido, Calif.

The FBI is “providing investigative assistance” to Escondido police, an agency spokesman told the San Diego Union Tribune on Saturday.

Investigators said Amber — who was last seen wearing black clothing and a backpack — talked to a friend on her cell phone as she walked to class that morning. She has not been seen or heard from since, police said.

The teen's father, Maurice DuBois, said reports of a possible sighting of his daughter Saturday were considered unreliable. He said Amber is very structured, and not the type of girl to run away.

The family is hoping that the Tour of California bicycle race — which is expected to draw thousands of spectators to Escondido on Sunday — will heighten public awareness and help in finding Amber.

Local media outlets reported Friday that there may have been an attempted abduction in the same area where Amber was last seen.

The family's private investigator Bill Garcia told San Diego 6 that a woman was almost abducted by a man driving a white utility vehicle in Escondido two weeks before Amber was reported missing — though police have not yet determined a credible link between that case and Amber's disappearance.

Meanwhile, family members have set up a Web site with pictures and contact information for the missing girl, and are pushing for the search to go nationwide.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Missing Florida Girl: Haleigh Cummings


With the media circus surrounding this Florida case of missing 5-year old Haleigh Cummings there are a few facts that remain steady and true.

*She is only 5-years-old.
*She's just a tiny little girl.
*She was taken from her bed while she was sleeping.
*She hasn't been seen since February 9th.
*Her parent's are very young and not media savvy, they are doing what they know to do to plead for their daughter's return.
*And the big one HALEIGH IS MISSING.

Please look at her image. There have been lead from Florida to Tennessee. This little girl needs to come home.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Surviving Parent...


As you know I spent last week on Capitol Hill or "on the Hill," lobbying for funding for the Adam Walsh Bill. This bill was signed into federal law two years ago, a nice pretty photo op was given and then boom...no funding was ever given and the bill has pretty much sat there with no teeth to change a thing for America's children. So, our group The Surviving Parent's Coalition spent last week lobbying to Congress to change this and get the ball moving. Abductions are on the rise and Internet crimes against children are atrocious.

Last year I took some time off of my child advocacy work to regroup my focus and spend some time with my family. Now because our law makers are simply dragging their feet on something that is so extremely important to the children of this country it is time to get back out there and fight for what is right...and that is keeping these kids safe.

The past ten years of living without my daughter Andi have been difficult. Seeing her friends now off to college and getting married is another aspect of the unfairness of violent crime. I will never see her go to college or hold my grandchildren...but I can make sure someone else gets too.

Please email your Congressman and urge him to support the Adam Walsh Bill and allocate the funding that rightfully belongs to it.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Work, Work, Work

I have spent the week with the most amazing people on the planet, parent's of children who have been abducted, sexually abused, and or murdered. Our group, the Surviving Parent's Coalition has some VERY, VERY, VERY heavy hitters on board with us and although I cannot tell you the details right now we are honestly becoming a 900 pound gorilla. It amazes me how strong our voices are even as young as the organization is. We have been here in FLorida for the past few days doing some work and are heading up to DC in the morning to do some important lobbying. If I didn't have to get up at 4 AM to make my plane I would put some pictures on my blog...but give me a few days and I will.

Until then...good night from Boca Raton...