In Honor of Stacy Peterson

Today marks the one year anniversary that a young mother from Bolingbrook, Illinois vanished. It has been a year of turmoil for everyone surrounding this case, but what will we remember about the year that has passed? It is a day of reflection and also another day marked by the hope that she will return.

What makes Stacy Peterson so special that she has garnered the attention most missing person's families could only hope to get. Could it be the fact that so many women can identify with her circumstances? We live in a world filled with flaws and yet we only seek the love and security that Stacy once had.

There are thousands that have been drawn to this case for a variety of reasons, and some have drawn on their passions and life experiences to try to solve the puzzle of why Stacy would walk away from her children, her nice home, and the lifestyle that she enjoyed. This is what her husband would like us all to believe, and yet, as women, we know better.

Maybe Stacy has inspired something in the women involved in her case every day online. Some are inspired to carry on in her name, continue to search for her, and have an honest concern for her children. Other women, and men, have decided to unearth anything that shows the ugly side of human nature connected to her disappearance.

Whatever the reasons for the fascination behind the Stacy Peterson case, she is first and foremost a missing mother with children who need to know the truth. They need, and will continue needing, to know that she did not abandon them.

Everything happens for a reason, but too often, we want the reasons revealed before the "happenings" happen. So many unanswered questions swirl around this case, but in perfect order, and in perfect timing, they will be answered and truth will be uncovered.

May we remember Stacy today with dignity and find a way to honor her and bring comfort to her family that misses her so much.

Monday4 the Missing, Missing Child From Baltimore, "Lil' Guy"

Thanks to Mammabear from ~Lost Faces of the Missing~


LOOK at the picture...He is such a beautiful little boy! He don't deserve to be shuffled through the system like

a package of unclaimed freight!!!

PLEASE, if you recognize the boy in this picture, Step forward and speak up for Lil' Guy!

Yeah! There are already too many John Does in this world...so I kinda chose Lil' Guy for him.

If you don't like the nickname I picked out, and you know his TRUE IDENTITY, then PLEASE speak up!

Ask yourself these questions:

What happens to this young boy, if nobody comes forward? Without a parent to sign papers, can he EVER be adopted? OR Will Lil' Guy be shuffled around from family to family, in the foster care system?

Case Type: Unknown
DOB: Sex: Male
Missing Date: Apr 9, 2008

Race: Black
Age Now: 3 years old

Hair Color: Black (Braided)

Eye Color: Black

Height: 2'6"

Weight: 25 lbs (11kg)
Missing City: UNKNOWN

Missing State : MD
Missing Country: United States
Case Number: USMDDoeJohn040908

Circumstances:

Lil' Guy was wandering the streets in the 3000 block of Ruckert Ave, Baltimore, near the Baltimore City Police Department.

Anyone with information that may lead to the identity of Lil'Guy, should contact Baltimore City Department of Social Services.

ANYONE HAVING INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT

Maryland Center for Missing Children1-800-637-5437

(1-800-MDS-KIDS)
Baltimore City Department of Social Services

410-361-2235

Poster and Description: NCMEC



How on earth can someone NOT be looking for this darling child?  We are trying to get updates about this child from the authorities in Maryland to see if he has at least been given a name and a family.  If anyone knows a way to expedite this process, please step up.  I will try to post any updates that we hear about him.

Tekenya Has Been Found, Now What?

Little 12 year old Tekenya Wooten was found in Durham, NC yesterday after being listed as a "runaway" from a group home. While I am relieved that she is alive, I question whether she is safe. In fact there are now more questions to be answered than yesterday when all we wanted to know was "where is she?" While making my way across the internet from blog to blog to gather information about Tekenya, I noticed so much concern for her well being, not only from missing persons sites, but from sites on a variety of subjects, and I learned a lot along the way. Thank you to all of the bloggers who banded together, black and white, to put pressure on the authorities to find her quickly, not that I am being critical of the authorities, but would they have reacted as strongly if we hadn't made the effort? Would the outcome for Tekenya have been the same?

I learned from Renee about the inequality that still runs rampant in our country and that poor little black girls are often victimized and somehow it is justified in the minds of the abusers. It is a known fact, not often discussed in the mainstream, that the

re is a definite racial divide when it comes to reporting and searching for minorities who are missing.

"This is not reason to let down our guard as the issue still remains how something like this could have happened and been completely ignored by the mainstream press. Black children are worth something and their disappearances need to get more coverage"

I learned from Gina how one woman became actively aware of the situation with Tekenya, spent her day making calls, gathering information and disseminating it on her blog for all of us to take from there and report back to our own readers. Gina taught us all how to not take no for an answer and to persevere until you reach the person who has the answers. I also learned that it's not ok to read these stories of horror and not do something about the situation. Sometimes it only takes one move in the right direction to make a difference.

I learned from Peas in Their Pods about the "Rilya Alert", which is based on the Amber Alert, but bridges the gap for black children who may not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert. Her site is proactive in helping all women and men realize the value of their children and stepping in for them when no one else will do it.

I learned from Deidra, who has tirelessly blogged about missing blacks for quite some time. If it weren't for her efforts so many of these people would become forgotten faces on a missing person's flyer. Her site is a wealth of information to all involved in bringing awareness to the missing.

I learned from Villager and the "Lakeesha Alert" system of the disparity of coverage of missing black children.

"Upon being pushed your Lakeesha Alert button will send
hyper-sonic signals to urban radio stations, online communities, urban newspapers, bloggers, street gang members ... and on the outside chance that they’re not too busy and might display a casual interest ... the police and mainstream media.

I learned from my own members at Peace4 the Missing that when the call goes out, we all come together for the cause. We are known throughout as being the group that "gits it done"! When a family member comes to us for help, we respond. When someone brings us a new case, we respond. We may not have all the answers but we do have resources and people to turn to for help. People like Susan Murphy Milano and the Justice Interrrupted Team. Groups like Project Jason and Porchlight International. Sites like Help Find the Missing and Websleuths.

There are many, many people that tried to find and disperse the information about Tekenya the last few days, and I'm sure I don't know who all of them are. I would like to personally thank you all.

But now, for the burning question of the day....."Now What"? What is going to become of the little 12 year old pregnant Tekenya Wooten? I have read, and felt myself, that there must be something we can do for this child. There must be something we can do to let her know that there are so many who truly care for her, for her well being and the well being of her unborn child. Where does she go from here? Where will she live and how on earth will she take care of that child?

If you have any suggestions, please let them be known. I read around, as you all know, and I will help gather the information needed and do my best to somehow let Tekenya know we all care.

Tekenya Wooten, 12 Year Old Mother-to-Be, Missing

Rightly so, the internet is all abuzz over the fact that this young girl is missing and not enough exposure is being given to her case. She does not meet the "criteria" for an Amber Alert because she is apparently a habitual run away and was living in a group home at the time she went missing. As of this morning we don't know why she was put into a group home, who and where her family are, and who is the father of her unborn child.

Whatever your feelings about how she got into this situation in the first place, the fact remains she is still a missing child who is about to give birth. That is TWO missing children. The case deserves all of the exposure it can get so that Tekenya Wooten can give birth safely. I just hope that she is indeed "just a runaway teen" and that she is hiding safely with someone who cares about what happens to her.

The following is a list of agencies and elected officials that have been contacted about Tekenya. Please help by calling or emailing to voice your concerns:

The News & Observer
215 South McDowell Street
P.O. Box 191
Raleigh, NC 27602
Main: (919) 829-4500
Customer Service: (800) 522-4205

WRAL:

Newsroom: (919) 821-8600 or (800) 245-WRAL
Newsroom Fax: (919) 821-8541
News Tips: (919) 821-8590 or use our online form


Durham PD -Cheif Jose Lopez, Sr. of the Durham Police Department 919- 560-4322 jose.lopez@durhamnc.gov

Durham City Manager- Thomas Bonfield (919)560-4222 tom.bonfield@durhamnc.gov

Mayor of Durham (919) 560-4333 ext. 269 Bill.Bell@durhamnc.gov

Durham Child Protective Services (919) 560-8424 ( This is run by Durham COUNTY)

Here is a template letter found on another site if you choose to email and don't know what to say:

“I’m concerned that the Durham Police Department has classified Tekenya Wooten as a “run a way” versus “high risk” as a result of this classification, no media outlet will cover her story. This reduces the chances that this young woman will be recovered. The fact that she is 12 years old and the birth of her child is imminent means that not only is this young girl in danger, but so is the life of her child. I am equally disturbed that the police department has done nothing further than take its cue from a group home that has an incentive to classify this child as a “run a way” for administrative purposes. A 100 pound 12-year-old can’t RUN anywhere. Has she been classified in this way because she is poor? Has she been classified this way because she is Black? Has she been classified this way because she is pregnant? Has she been classified this way because she lived in a group home? Why doesn’t the City of Durham think that a 12 year old pregnant child who is missing is not high risk? “

For more up to date information about Tekenya Wooten, please check the following links:

What About Our Daughters

Peace4 the Missing

Lost Faces of the Missing

Murphy-Milano Journal

Black and Missing But Not Forgotten

DreaminDemon
Womanist Musings
Electronic Village


UPDATE:
TEKENYA HAS BEEN FOUND ALIVE

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/crime_safety/story/1267228.html

From Staff Reports Comment on this story DURHAM - A pregnant 12-year-old girl who had been missing since Saturday was found this morning in Durham, police said.

Durham police officers found Tekenya Wooten on Gordon Street at about 11:45 a.m. today, according to a news release. She appeared to be unharmed, according to the release.

Wooten was living in a Durham group home that operates as a residential and maternity child care facility. Investigators were treating her disappearance as a runaway case and did not trigger the state's Amber Alert program in this week's search.

Chicagoland Missing Mothers

There is more than one missing mother in the Chicagoland area and probably more than the ones pictured here. We will not forget them and will continue to carry their messages until they are found. Someone is getting away with murder in Chicago!

Almost a year has passed since Stacy Cales Peterson whispered to her sister Cassandra Cales that if she disappeared it was not an accident that "He killed her", almost a year since she went missing without a trace leaving behind her babies, her home, her family, her friends, and almost a year since the body of Kathleen Savio was exhumed and her once called accidental death declared a homicide. These women, one now a victim of homicide who left behind a haunting plea for help to the state begging for help before he killed her, and one who begged her sister to find her if she disappeared because she feared for her life, as different as their cases are today -do have common ground. Both women were married to Drew Peterson, both women feared for their lives, both women tried to get help and get away, and both women were too late.

We, who gathered together to remember these women, who heard their voices only after they were gone, have vowed to make sure they are never forgotten, and that their names and stories live on. We are determined to see justice served.

Both of these mothers cried for help to a combination of their communities; family, friends, clergy, the police, the state, complete strangers, and in the end there was no one who could, or would protect tthem. The only voice they have been given is the media who has made them headline news. And so they have become the faces and the stories of thousands of women the media has passed over, a reminder that this can happen to any of us, or someone we know.


Domestic violence is unacceptable in our society, a plague which haunts behind closed doors, sunglasses and long sleeve shirts, often a well known dirty secret that no one talks about. We are determined to let victims know that there are options, there are ways to get out safely, there is help. But we have to reach them before it is too late.

Had someone helped Kathleen Savio or Stacy Peterson, had they heard their cries for help instead of turning their heads and pretending not to see- had someone listened and believed- taken the time to find out what could be done, or to change what could be done- we might not ever have known their names. They would be here today and four beautiful children would still have their moms.

These children deserve the truth, they deserve justice and the knowledge and comfort of knowing their mothers loved them very much and would be here with them if they could be. These children deserve to hear their mother's voice. They deserve the truth. They deserve our help. They deserve your help.

Speak out for those who can no longer speak for themselves!

Please take the time to become involved in your community. Contact your elected officials, make your voice heard, make your vote count on election day. Find out what you can do to help these women and others like them. Find out what you can do to prevent these crimes. Find out what you can do to demand justice. Take action.

But most importantly find out what your politicians and officials are doing to protect you and your loved ones, and to seek justice for these women. Make sure your voice is one they cannot ignore, it could happen to you or someone you love.

There will be a search for Stacy Peterson this Saturday, October 25.

BRING STACY HOME!
Searchers needed Sat October 25, 2008 Stacy Peterson Hello again all! We are currently in need of volunteers to aid us in a search on Oct 25, 2008. We will once again be search for Stacy Peterson, it is not too late and it is not time to give up. We must push forward and bring this beautiful young woman home.If you are available please email me here or at fuzzbuttmom@comcast.net. We will be meeting at 9am, meeting location to be announced. Please feel free to repost this as often as you would like. Thanks again to all who have been helping in the searches and for any further help you may be able to provide.

Stacy Peterson
Lisa Stebic
Jeri Lynn Duvall
Peggy Dianovsky

Justice Interrupted Crime Radio Network: With Peace4Missing's Own Maggie's Rose : October 21, 2008

On the show tonight from Richmond, Virginia, Polly Franks has testified before Congress and lobbied on Capital Hill for tougher sex offender laws. She has been featured on 20/2o, Nancy Grace, good morning America, she has been written about in national women’s magazines and newspapers and she is the founder of
the Franks Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting kids from sexual predators.

From Illinois Daily Herald Reporter Joseph Hosey. AUTHOR OF THE NEW BOOK: Fatal Vows”The Tragic Wives of Drew Peterson his book is available in bookstores and on Amazon. Hosey is the only reporter allowed access during the exhumation of Drew Peterson's third Wife, Kathleen Savio. And he has been following this case since day one.

From Nebraska -Patty Beeken Co – founder of 4TheKids Missing Kid Service since 1999 after Patty’s daughter, Jessica, ran away from home and was missing for several months in 1998. offers free services to families with missing children. Their wish is that no parent ever feels alone in the quest to return his or her child home safely.


And from Peace4TheMissing Co-Founder "Maggie's Rose" will weigh in on the cold case of Carol Marie Batten Dowless from Whiteville,N.C.

Time: 8 PM PST/ 10 PM CEN/ 11PM EST


CALL IN: 914: 338-0663
To listen live go to: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/justiceinterrupted and click on the "Click To Listen" icon.


You might want to refresh your page because the icon will not show until the show starts.
Call in live at: 914-338-0663 to participate in the show!

http://www.justiceinterrupted.blogspot.com
http://www.justiceinterrupted.com


Please join us at Peace4 the Missing
Missing Persons Awareness and Support Network
http://peace4missing.ning.com

Donnna Jou, Monday4 the Missing

We live our lives everyday without worries or cares of the danger that lurks behind those dark corners that we know are there but choose to ignore. Thinking "that will never happen to me". But the reality of that is we are wrong.

Our lives can change just like that! In a blink of an eye. Without notice. Everyday living, normal events and routine should be anything but dangerous you would think. But it is not. Who would have thought that going to a party would change the lives of so many innocent people? And It did for Donna Jou and her family.

Donna Jou was a young lady with dreams, goals, expectations and her whole life ahead of her until she met with a man named John Steven Burgess on a website called craigslist..She was offering her services as a math tutor and John Burgess was listing rooms for rent at his home in Los Angeles. Donna did not know this man was a sex offender, he failed to register himself.

Donna being the trusting person that she is, not aware of the evil that lurks in the shadows. Met up with this man John Steven Burgess and jumped on his motorcycle to attend a party at his house for the evening on June 23 2007. She said bye to her mother without thinking twice and took off down the road.

Donna Jou has not been seen since. On June 24th the next day Nili Jou receives a text message from her daughters cell phone saying "batteries dying. In San Diego. Be home soon. I love you mommy" Was that text from Donna Jou? Her mom does not seem to think so because of the format in which the text was wrote..That very same day Donna's family report her missing to Orange county sheriffs office after she does not show up for work or school.

John Burgess roommate tell police that Donna was at the party and on July 5th Burgess was seen packing cardboard boxes in his truck and that's the last time he has seen him.

A few days later a man finds a box stuffed under some vines a mile and a half away from Burgess home, with a vanity license plate "SINJIN1" from Burgess truck, a black motorcycle helmet, rubber dish washing gloves, rope and a scrub brush. Why was John Burgess hiding these items? One can only speculate because he gives no answers to what he did to Donna or where she is..

Burgess who is now serving a three year sentence in prison on charges of failure to register as a sex offender continues to taunt the family of Donna Jou. He is the only one who knows exactly what happened to Donna and where she is but he says nothing..And why..To try to save himself? ...He keeps this all to himself because he can. Because he is selfish, uncaring, heartless, sick, disgrace to human kind, and evil. I mean for Pete's sakes he likes to touch himself in front of children and touch them..He should have been locked up and the key be thrown away from the start..Why would anyone let this sick twisted man walk the streets with our children anyway!! Or another person for that matter.

A search was conducted December 29-30 through out the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu..And yet the question still remains...Where is Donna Jou and what happened to her?

How does one continue to draw strength to go on searching and looking for answers that never seem to be in reach..Determination, love, hope and peace. Something I myself have learned from my own experience with my missing mother.

To Nila and Reza Jou, your family and Donna are thought of greatly..Your pain, and sorrow is heard and felt by all. Even by people who have not walked in your shoes. Your Donna is touching so many lives and hearts. YOU are touching so many lives and hearts...Especially mine.

written by Angie Gilchrist, Daughters That Are Missing


*If you would like to feature this Monday4 the Missing entry on your blog and become part of the Monday4 the Missing Blogroll, please just copy and paste to your own blog,or write an entry from your own perspective, email monday4themissing@gmail.com and you will be included in the effort to get these individual cases exposed each Monday. We need as many bloggers as possible!

Melinda Harder, Found After 28 Years

This week remains were positively identified which were found in 1989, nine years after Melinda Harder went missing in 1980. This is a landmark case on so many levels. It holds out hope to those who are still searching for their missing mothers, some also for almost 30 years, that they NEVER give up. Talking to several children of missing mothers has taught me that it is a mission, a life's work, a "calling" that reaches into their core.

"28 years ago, three children who were 3, 4, and 5 did not know what happened to their mother," said Brenda Stevenson, a civilian investigator for the St. Petersburg Police Department

For the children of Melinda Harder, and family friend Monica Caison it is an inspiration to continue to help, to continue to search and to continue to bring answers to families who so desperately need them.

For years, Caison wondered what happened to Harder, who she remembered from her childhood as friendly and happy, sometimes pulling three young children in a red wagon.

Caison said the mystery became an inspiration for her life’s work – searching for the missing.

This case also shows the importance of DNA and the need for samples of all recovered remains to be listed in the FBI database, as well as DNA from families of missing persons to also be collected and entered. All organizations for missing persons, along with family members should be lobbying for this to be standard procedure and enforced. It could hold the key in so many unsolved and cold cases throughout the country.

If it had not been for a persistant cold case investigator, Brenda Stevenson, a friend who carried the torch for missing persons, and children who knew in their hearts that they were not abandoned, Melinda Harder's case may have remained a mystery.

May Melinda now rest in the peace she has not known for 28 years, and may her family and friends begin the healing process and continue to travel the paths they have chosen with a renewed spirit to find their answers.

You Are Missed

A simple photo tribute to some Missing Mothers...........You are Missed.

I understand the family leaving it in the hands of God.
If He calls the stars by name, I know He knows
every name of every missing person ! And, will one day call their names.  ~Seeker~
... See my Tabblo>

Blog Action Day to Fight Poverty

Poverty is the root of so much that is wrong with our world.  Its roots reach far and wide and grab at so many in every community.  The effects are devastating, not only to the community, but to families.  So many times a family is in need of just the basics to survive, and crime sneaks in and takes over the thought processes of people who normally would never think to do the things they do.  Drug dealing, prostitution, robbery, domestic violence and child abuse are only a few things that rear their ugly heads from the underbelly of poverty.

What can one person do to end this cycle?  Many things!  I have listed only a few of the worthy sites I have found.  Please, choose one thing to do today and unite with us to put an end to poverty.

What Do YOU Want to Change?

http://www.change.org/

A place to explore issues while helping while helping you connect with a community of people wanting to make a difference

http://causecast.org/

Shop while fighting to end poverty!

http://www.agoodcause.com/index.php

Donate to the Global Fund

http://www.change.org/blogactionday

Kiva Lending Teams

http://kiva.org/

Buttons of Hope


http://www.buttonsofhope.com/createbutton/gallery_details.aspx?teamid=16


There are tons of things on the web today that all of us can do as individuals or as groups.

Choose one and participate!

Viridiana Maldonado, Passage of Time

UPDATE 2009
Another year went by and still I can find no new word about Viridiana’s vanishing.  No news articles, no TV coverage, only the reports from last year around this same time.
This beautiful woman is the mother of two small children growing up without her, pawns used in an international custody battle, and missing her, I’m sure.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE 2008

It has been one year since the disappearance of Viridiana Maldonado from North Charleston, SC. She left her home to go out with friends and never returned, leaving behind two young children. Her family has not been able to find a trace of her anywhere.

Her case spreads from South Carolina to Tacoma, Washington, and there are no indications where she could be from the east coast to the west coast, therefore, no evidence present to search for her in a particular place.

I don't know whether her family had any formal gathering to honor her on this date, but can only surmise the pain of remembering a one year anniversary of a young missing mother with a whole life ahead of her.

Her mother and sister care for her 7-year-old-son, Alex —her spitting image, they say— who continually asks about his mother, "Viri." Meanwhile, they're fighting Viridiana's estranged husband in court for custody of her 3-year-old son, now living with his father in another country.

Sources close to the case indicate suspicious activity on the part of her husband, Jorge Maldanado, and that he and Viridiana's youngest child may have left the country. Her family must also be saddened by this news.

North Charleston, SC - North Charleston Police are still searching for a missing mother a year after she disappeared. Investigators now suspect foul play in the disappearance of Viridiana Maldonado, and have identified her husband as a suspect. Maldonado has been missing since last October after she went out one night and never returned. She left behind two young children and the youngest is living with her estranged husband. If you have any information on this case, please call Crime Stoppers at 554-1111.

May Viridiana and her family find the answers that they are so desparately searching for and may her children not be caught in the middle, but find some peace knowing how much she loved them.

Brenda Lambert and Mark Cook

written by: Seeker

Law Enforcement nor anyone else in West Virginia will never do

anything to find our precious sister, so we are leaving this to God"

This is a quote from a site loved ones of BRENDA LAMBERT have
posted.

When I read this, my heart literally skipped a beat.
It is so typical
of how the missing are viewed by LE (everywhere)
and those who foolishly think,

"that will never happen to me,
Those things only happen to other people."

From what I have read, BRENDA did not leave willingly,
especially on her son's first birthday. Who would miss that
milestone? Not to mention, no personal items were missing.

Along with Ms. Lambert, MARK ANTHONY COOK is
missing from that same area. Surely, someone somewhere
knows just the right piece of information that could possibly
bring not one, but two families closure.

After a loved one goes missing there are no more ordinary
days.

From that day forward perspectives and personalities change.

I hope BRENDA's children were told the good about her and
not just the bad. I hope all children of the missing know
they were not abandoned and given the choice their mom
(mommy, momma, ma, mum, mother,...) would be home
with their children.

I understand the family leaving it in the hands of God.
If He calls the stars by name, I know He knows
every name of
every missing person ! And, will

one

day

call their names.

Until then, we will all Seek together,

Lambert family, you are in my
prayers.

Keep the faith!

Phil. 4:8
Jer 33:3

Bring Brenda Home

Charley Project

The Doe Network

Michelle McMullen

There are so many questions and accusations surrounding the disappearance of Michelle McMullen, the young mother of a 6 year old, Jayden. Michelle was reported to be taking classes online and had transferred to a college in Louisiana to complete her on campus studies. Apparently she decided to bring her son back to Harrisburg, PA to stay with her parents while she finished her schooling. On the night of September 28, it is reported that Michelle dropped Jayden off at a friend's home in Harrisburg, who, by the way, was not expecting her nor had made prior arrangements to keep Jayden, turned around and headed back to Louisiana, a 17 hour drive.

The "what ifs" swirling around this case are like smoke around a campfire. Her family reported her missing after they had not heard from her within a reasonable amount of time, and her car was found abandoned in Hagerstown, MD only a little over an hour's drive from where she dropped of her son.

According to reports, Michelle was being investigated for theft from a church at which she had worked. This leaves authorities wondering if Michelle planned to drop out of sight to avoid prosecution of these charges.

Her case was entered into NCIC as a missing person and now has been changed to "wanted". Police told the family that this action could finalize the case quicker because missing persons cases are a lower priority.

"[Police] told me that a missing person case isn't a priority but a person with a warrant out for their arrest is," Michael McMullen said. "The facts of the [theft] case doesn't fit. They're trying to add mystery to it because the [Harrisburg] police dropped the ball" on the missing person investigation.

The Mc Mullen family was forced to wait an "obligatory" 72 hours before they could file a missing persons report and then had to wait until the following Saturday before police took an interest in the case because a detective was on vacation. According to police, her abandoned car turned up no evidence of foul play, but her wallet and cell phone were found inside, an indication of the possibility of abduction.

Just to add a few more questions to a case already rife with them, could someone have been with Michelle and Jayden on their trip? I haven't read anything about another person anywhere, just speculating. To me it seems strange that a woman and her 6 year old would drive 17 hours, drop off her son unexpected at a friend's, and turn around and start driving another 17 hours with no rest. It also seems strange that she did not contact her parents while there, with whom she had arrangements made to keep her son. To walk away from her son and her life over theft charges is also something her father feels could not have happened. According to him, Michelle always faced things in her life head on and he feels she would have faced these charges also.

"The people here, her hometown … they know one thing is for certain, she would have not walked away from her son," he said.

All Jayden knows is that his mother isn't talking to him.

"And he's very upset," Michael McMullen said. "He wants to know why."

A little 6 year old boy is without his mother, he doesn't know why, he has the same questions that the rest of Michelle Mc Mullen's family has and that is where is she? Is she safe? Is she hiding? What has happened to her?

Black and Missing But Not Forgotten

ABC News

Scared Monkeys

WHPTV

Penn Live

Margaret Haddican-McEnroe

Authorities seem to have a mixed bag of clues in the vanishing of Margaret Haddican-McEnroe. On the one hand it is very possible that she left the responsibilities of caring for 3 children and a husband and simply took $11,000 in cash and walked away. On the other hand, there was a report of domestic violence just the day before, but it was resolved by Margaret leaving the home and cooling off at her parent's home. She returned home, talked to friends on the phone that day, and then disappeared.

Her husband, Timothy McEnroe did not report her missing for 2 days in the hopes that she would come back like she had in the past when they quarreled, but she did not return. Her vehicle and a broken cell phone were left behind, along with three daughters, who family members swear she would never leave.

It has also been reported that Margaret had a fiery temper that often showed itself during arguments with her husband and that there had been problems in the marriage. She was a physically strong woman, an army veteran and a firefighter who earned a Valor Award for her efforts saving lives. Margaret was also a loving mother of a then 9 year old daughter from a previous relationship, and two young daughters under 2.

There is no other choice but to handle this case by going in two different directions in the investigation. Searches in the area have not turned up any substantial clues to Margaret's whereabouts, her bank account and cell phone have not had any activity since the day she went missing, and no one has used her credit cards.
Margaret was adopted into the Haddican family and it was reported that she had found her birth mother and they had forged a good, friendly relationship.

Many mysterious circumstances and many questions are still needing answers. Could Margaret still be alive after two years, living in hiding away from her children and family? Did her husband, Timothy, have anything to do with her disappearance? All aspects of these questions are being thoroughly investigated, although they say there is "no evidence" of whether Margaret is alive, committed suicide or if foul play is indeed involved. Law enforcement is forced to take a strong look at the domestic relationship between Margaret and Timothy, by all accounts a stormy one.

In the meantime, 3 little girls have that void in their lives, the torment of not knowing where their mother might be and why did she leave them.

She would have turned 31 in August. Her three daughters miss her, particularly oldest daughter Sarah. The child is now 10, and "not knowing where her mommy is and whether she is even alive is painful for her," Patrick Haddican said.

Charley Project
CNN
AMW
Peace4 the Missing
Someone is Missing

Tom Starkel, Monday4 the Missing

by Mammabear

Tom Starkel was a very special young man in my life who disppeared off the face of the earth back in Dec. 1979, Its been a very long time but I've never given up hope of finding him justice!!! someone out there knows what happen that night..

I found the above message posted on
Missing Pieces Official Message Board
That's almost 30 years Missing! A lot can happen in a 30 year span. People wed, and/or have children. Some make their fortune, while others loose everything. Time just moves on along, as usual. At least time moves forward for some people.
For others, time is nothing more than a standstill limbo. Sure, they go through the motions of being here, 'in the now.' Yet in reality, they are faced with that one haunting question... and in Hollyjean's case, her question for almost 30 years has been "What Happened to Tom Starkel?"

Vital Statistics
Date Of Birth: July 15, 1960
Age at Time of Disappearance: 19 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'6"; 150 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: White male. Blond hair; green eyes.
Clothing: Tan sweater and brown corduroy pants.

If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department 323-526-5541
Agency Case Number: 079124061
NCIC Number:M-648165993
The Doe Network

Details of Disappearance
Starkel was last seen leaving his girlfriend's home in Palmdale, California on December 5, 1979. Authorities believe he did arrive at his own apartment afterwards, but he has never been heard from again. Starkel was driving a dark green Pontiac Firebird with Nevada license plates at the time of his disappearance. His vehicle was recovered two weeks later, when it was pulled over driving into California from Nevada. Another individual was driving the vehicle and there was no sign of Starkey. The person was arrested and held for about two weeks, but eventually released for lack of evidence connecting him to Starkey's disappearance. Starkey's case remains unsolved.
The Charley Project

I've been sifting through google, looking for whatever information I can find about Tom. One thing that has me a bit puzzled is the fact that Tom disappeared without a trace, and someone else was found driving his vehicle. (arrested then later released due to lack of evidence) YET when I view .state.ca.us/ Tom is listed as a Voluntary Missing Adult?
Missing Person

Other than a few sites, such as The Charley Project and The Doe Network, there really isn't much information out there about Tom. He's not on
North American Missing Persons, a sister site of The Doe Network, or the National Center for Missing Adults.

What I see is one dedicated Hollyjean, posting on every missing person's forum she can find...in hopes of having that one question answered...What happened to Tom Starkel?

October - Domestic Violence Month

In the short time I have been exposing the stories of Missing Mothers, one thread that seems to weave its way through most of them is Domestic Violence. I have no official statistics for how many missing women are victims of domestic violence, but in almost all of the cases I have read about or researched, the women were victims before they went missing, or leaving a bad relationship or marriage. I truly believe that if we could minimize the incidences of domestic violence, the numbers of missing women would also decrease.

This tale should end and these women should be found, but the system that is in place in most jurisdictions in our country will put these women right back in the home with the abuser with little or no recourse or protection. At the outside, especially when children are involved, they are mandated to stay where they are so that a father can have visitation with his children. In most cases, fathers definitely should have a relationship with their children, they should not be alienated from them, but neither party should use them as pawns or as a means to continue to abuse mothers as happens many times.

Today is the start of Domestic Violence Month. It is my wish that if you need to get out of a bad relationship, do it carefully and seek help to make this transition. There are organizations that can help you do this safely in your community or online.

Another wish is for everyone to become aware of this epidemic in our country. Take a stand to become actively aware of these situations. Do your part, whether it is in a big way or something small, just do something to make it a priority in your hometown. There is a woman who may be your mother, your sister, your daughter, or your friend. Reach out to them and help.

Make a pledge to yourself or to an organization to be involved in the quest to make it stop. It could start with you!

Provided by the Allstate Foundation http://www.econempowerment.org/res_main.htm

Resources

State Coalitions & Organizations

Each U.S. state & territory has a domestic violence state coalition
(this document in .pdf format Adobe PDF ) that connects survivors and interested members of the public to resources in their local community. State Coalitions support local hotline/shelter programs through training, policy development, outreach to diverse communities, and public education.

National Domestic Abuse Organizations

Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence

National Latino Alliance for the Elimination of Domestic Violence

Sacred Circle

National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

Battered Women’s Justice Project

Health Resource Center on Domestic Violence

The Corporate Alliance to End Partner Violence

Resource Center on Domestic Violence – Child Protection & Custody

Family Violence Prevention Fund

National Center on Domestic and Sexual Violence

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

VAWnet: The National Electronic Network on Violence Against Women

Violence Against Women Online Resources

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

Stalking Resource Center