Kids most at risk going, returning from school

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children found that children are most likely to be the victim of abduction when they are walking to and from school or school-related events.

Among the reported trends:
* 38 percent of attempted abductions occurred while a child was walking to or from school, riding a school bus or riding a bicycle.
* 37 percent occurred between 2 and 7 p.m. on a weekday.
* 43 percent involved children ages 10 through 14.
* 72 percent of attempted abduction victims were female.

NCM&EC President Ernie Allen said the findings are supported by a national incidence study conducted by the federal Justice Department several years ago that focused on successful abductions.


“As we tracked these and began to capture basic information about them, there were some clear patterns that were emerging,” he said. “And so frankly, we thought this was the kind of information that moms and dads needed to know about.”

More on this and one mothers story go here:
http://www.uticaod.com/latestnews/x1616323059/Child-abduction-Kids-most-at-risk-going-returning-from-school

Manhunt For Balboa Park Child Molester

San Diego Police Child Abuse detectives are investigating the molestation of a four-year-old girl that occurred in Balboa Park on Sunday, January 25, 2009.

At about 3:00 p.m., the victim became separated from her parents and older brother while playing hide-and-seek. The victim's parents and friend started searching for the girl and contacted San Diego Fire Department personnel who were at the park. Numerous police officers and Park Rangers began searching for the missing girl.

The girl stated the suspect walked up to her near the Natural History Museum and said he would take the victim to the victim's mother. The suspect, who is described as a White male, 55, 5 foot 10 inches tall, 180 pounds, white hair, was wearing eyeglasses, a green windbreaker, tan pants, and hat, instead walked the victim to his vehicle. The molestation took place inside the suspect's vehicle. The vehicle was parked in a lot adjacent to either the Natural History Museum or Spanish Village. At this time detectives do not have a description of the suspect's vehicle.

The female victim was then released by the suspect and was not injured. The victim was located about forty-five minutes after she was initially reported missing near the Spanish Village area. A short time later, the victim disclosed she was molested.

Child Prostitution Sting Rescues 47 Children

Authorities Say They Nabbed More Than 500 Suspects as Part of the 3-Day Raids

Children across the country are being forced into prostitution in alarming numbers, according to federal and local authorities who recently completed a series of raids.

In the last three days, the FBI and police from 29 cities rescued 47 children from 73 alleged pimps and more than 500 others who authorities say sought to exploit them. Among those children saved: a 12-year-old from Texas; a 13-year-old from Ohio; and a 14-year-old from Michigan.

"This is organized crime, these people are moving kids from city to city," said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. "They are involved in 21st century slavery. ? This is a problem that is happening on Main Street USA."

http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=6121646

Have you seen Andy?

Terrifying film on abducted kids is a must-see

The most terrifying part of "Have You Seen Andy?" the Emmy-winning documentary by Boston's Melanie Perkins, happens midway through the film. A home movie discovered by police in the van of child molester Wayne Chapman begins to play, and though the images are out of focus and the children's faces intentionally blurred, Chapman's words are chillingly clear. They are pure evil - fantasies of what he would like to do to the boys he is stalking, 8-year-olds getting off a school bus.

The feature-length documentary tells the story of Andy Puglisi, just 10 years old when he vanished from a public swimming pool in Lawrence, 32 summers ago. Melanie Perkins was 9 then, and she and Andy were best buddies. Both were from the Stadium Housing Project, where there were hundreds of children, but that summer they had a special bond. When Andy didn't return from the pool the night of Aug. 21, 1976, authorities searched for him for six days.

He was never found.

Five known child molesters were at Higgins Memorial Pool the day Andy vanished. The man who worked at the store where they bought candy had been arrested on child pornography charges. And 20 miles away in Revere, there was a child porn ring exposed a few months later.

The kids knew none of this.

"Have You Seen Andy?" will be out on DVD on Oct. 14. It is a film all parents must see.

Death for child rape & murder

The Supreme Court has confirmed the death penalty for the rapist of a five-year-old who killed her by inserting a stick into her vagina to cover up his crime.
He allegedly lured the girl away on the night of October 4, 2003, from a prayer meeting at a neighbour’s house in Agra’s Basai Khurd village with the promise of a balloon.

When she didn’t come back after a long time, her family started a search. Naresh Kumar, who was a complainant along with his brother Vishal, and another witness had seen Bantu take away the child.

Some people looking for her caught Bantu, completely naked, thrusting the stick into the girl’s lifeless bleeding body. She was declared dead at the hospital. The accused initially admitted to having raped her and murdered her.

NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN’S DAY IS MAY 25

What Parents Can Do to Keep Children Safe

ALEXANDRIA, VA - May 19, 2008. Every year in America an estimated 800,000 children are reported missing, more than 2,000 children each day. Of that number, 200,000 are abducted by family members, and 58,000 are abducted by non-family members. The primary motive for non-family abductions is sexual. Each year 115 children are the victims of the most serious abductions, taken by non-family members and either murdered, held for ransom, or taken with the intent to keep.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) wants to remind the public that National Missing Children’s Day is May 25, which coincides with the three-day Memorial Day holiday weekend this year. The organization wants parents to know there are things they can do to keep their children safe and it urges parents to take 25 minutes and review the attached safety tips which are a part of NCMEC’s Take 25 national child safety campaign.

“We know teaching children about safety works,” said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC. “It is important that parents take the time to talk to their children about safety.”

An analysis of attempted abduction cases by NCMEC found that in 88% of the cases, the child escaped would-be abductors through their own actions, by yelling, kicking, pulling away, running away or attracting attention.

May 25th is the anniversary of the day in 1979 when 6-year-old Etan Patz disappeared from a New York street corner on his way to school and has been observed as National Missing Children’s Day since 1983 when it was first proclaimed by President Ronald Reagan. Etan’s story captivated the nation. His photo, taken by his father, a professional photographer was circulated nationwide and appeared in media across the country and around the world. The powerful image of Etan has come to symbolize the anguish and trauma of thousands of searching families. The search for Etan continues. He is still missing.

Next year will be the 25th anniversary of the creation of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. It is the leading nonprofit organization dealing with the issues of missing and exploited children. Since the organization was created, the recovery rate of missing children has increased from 62% in 1990 to 96% today. In 2007, NCMEC assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more missing children than in any other year in the organization’s 24 year history.

About the National Center for Missing & Exploited ChildrenThe National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since it was established by Congress in 1984, the organization has operated the toll-free 24-hour national missing children’s hotline which has handled more than 2.2 million calls. It has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 126,000 children. The organization’s CyberTipline has handled more than 588,000 reports of child sexual exploitation and its Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed and analyzed more than 13,902,500 child pornography images and videos. The organization works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice’s office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

To learn more about NCMEC, call its toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit its web site at www.missingkids.com

Man Arrested For Attempted Abduction, Sexual Imposition

A man was arrested Friday morning after police said he attempted to abduct a high school student.
Police said Timothy Wright approached the Lancaster High School student as she was waiting to go to school, 10TV News reported.
Wright, 30, was accused of grabbing the girl's arm and fondling her, 10TV News reported.
Police were able to arrest Wright after the victim and witnesses gave a detailed description of him.
Wright was charged with sexual imposition and attempted abduction