Today is the last full day on the tour and even though we have 3 stops scheduled they aren't far apart and we are hoping for a non stressful day that may actually include meals and a laundry run. When we first started out it seemed like we were going to be on the road for such a long time. Half way through it started picking up momentum and by the end you don't understand how it went so quickly.
Missing Clartha Epps McLeod's family is hosting this stop (10/11/13 10:30am) at the Cypress Forks Church in Manning SC. 6 family members and a close friend dressed in their matriatch's missing shirts with Still Missing But Not Forgotten! written on them greeted us with smile and hugs. There was also an impressive law enforcement presence. Along with photos, a banner, and I believe a license plate, there were key chains with a poem on the flip side "A broken heart is what I feel It leads to flowing tears My happiness has gone Knowing you are all alone It fells like only yesterday That I just saw your smiling face I truly hope there comes a day when our love will reunite I can wash away the tears And sleep throughout the night".
If you have not seen Clartha's missing person photo I ask that you look at it now. She's not smiling in it and her eyes are large and staring. Janeane had mentioned how it's like you can see her soul. I mentioned this to her family and they said it was taken only a few days before she went missing in 2009, I find that so interesting because normally you wouldn't use that photo and I did see many smiling photos of her on display today.
2 years ago their rally was held at the police department and I still remember how many of her family showed. I remember that she was dropped off at church and then vanished. I remember that there have been many extensive searches conducted, both when she originally went missing and in subsequent years. I remember that at 75 years of age she had been recently diagnosed as in the early stages of Alzheimer's but that her missing poster states that she was "vibrantly healthy". I remember wondering if she could have attempted to walk home and gotten confused. But then why are we unable to find her?
Thinking I know this case fully I glance down at her poster and pick up on something I hadn't noticed before. Clartha was allegedly dropped off at the Hickory Grove Church in Turbeville by a family acquaintance at 11:30PM. That just can't be right. Why would she be going to church that late at night? I talk to the family and yes the poster is correct and yes they agree it's not normal. Then they tell me the man who drove her was not even family or someone that was close to the family. I realize this is not new information to the family, law enforcement, CUE or the searchers. I just made an assumption that she was dropped off at 11:30am 2 years ago and never really looked at the information again even though I look at her picture fairly often. It's a reminder that things are not always as you may think the first time you look at something and that you need to take the time when you are looking at something you've seen before.
Elisa
A national awareness campaign seeking resolution for Missing Persons, Unsolved Homicide and those who remain Unidentified.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Jacksonville Florida
Our last Florida rally stop is being held for our Tour Honoree Missing Michael Austin Davis. Florida State Outreach Coordinator and Austin's mom, Christy Davis, is our host at Memorial Park on the St John's River (10/10/13 2:30pm) in Jacksonville.
The tables are set up with photos, poster boards, missing person information, and the normally seen missing flyers, but at this stop there's more. Approximately 15 huge photos of some of Jacksonville's missing. Blown up pictures of big, bright and smiling faces, a powerful reminder of happy ordinary people who have simply vanished.
Austin's sister, Anita Sullivan, begins the program by explaining how you become part of a new family when you have someone missing, something she initially found surprising. She's standing up there for her new family, even those whose nuclear families could not be present. She names them all, slowly reciting 20 names of those missing from Jacksonville.
Missing Mark Degner's grandmother tells us the story of how Mark went missing at the age of 12 in 2005 along with Missing Bryan Hayes (age 13), neither of them to ever be seen again. It's been 8 years and 8 months since the day that 2 students left middle school together in broad daylight. Where could they have gone? What could possibly have happened to them? I look over at their age progressed photos showing what they could possibly look like now.
Missing Rosemary Day's parents are next. Rosemary's mother standing stoically beside her husband as he speaks about their missing daughter. I remember the raw emotions they exhibited at the 2011 vigil when Rosemary had been missing just a few months, back when it was still considered a fresh case. 2 years later they appear just as heartbroken. In fact, we are told how they did not want to come today. How hard it is for them to show their vulnerability, to open up their pain which is clearly visible to everyone present.
Missing John Rowan's mom, Peg, speaks of living in limbo since her son went missing at the age of 34 in 2001. The son, husband and father of 2 simply left for work one day, (12 years and 1 month ago), never to return home again. 10 months before he vanished the beneficiaries of his 3 million dollar life insurance policy changed from his family to his 2 former business partners. A handwriting expert hired by law enforcement believes his signature was forged. To date no charges have been filed. Peg laments about her frustration with the lack of evidence in his case. She tells of living for media coverage, and how this Jacksonville group of families of the missing never seek publicly individually, always including one another whenever they can.
Christy explains how having Austin featured on the tour has renewed her hope in receiving information that could help locate him. Austin has been missing since 2007, when the then 26 year old bought a shotgun, put it into a duffle bag and ventured off on foot never to be seen or heard from again. How does someone simply walk off and vanish? Reading Christy's letter in the press package gave me a true sense of Austin, so much more than just the facts of his disappearance. She also wrote "My heart is broken that my son is out there somewhere, and that we've not been able to bring him home...My hope is always that we find Austin". She continued "One person can make the difference...Between never knowing what happened, and being able to bring a missing loved one home".
Austin's father, Jim, told us how days after Austin's disappearance he was printing flyers when someone told him about a Reader's Digest article featuring Monica, thus bringing CUE in at the initial stages of their search. He also spoke about the tour restoring his hope for resolution.
Monica once again explained how having a missing loved one is the one event in life that has no resolution. If there's an accident or someone dies there is resolution, but when someone disappears their family lingers in an unknown state of what ifs.
Anita announces that the program will close with a flower toss into the river. I can feel my apprehension grow. As I try to get my emotions under control she explains the symbolism of tossing flowers into the water. To paraphrase, the flowers will continue to exist long after being tossed, even after they disappear out of view. This is also true of our loved ones. With that one explanation I was soothed .
Elisa
The tables are set up with photos, poster boards, missing person information, and the normally seen missing flyers, but at this stop there's more. Approximately 15 huge photos of some of Jacksonville's missing. Blown up pictures of big, bright and smiling faces, a powerful reminder of happy ordinary people who have simply vanished.
Austin's sister, Anita Sullivan, begins the program by explaining how you become part of a new family when you have someone missing, something she initially found surprising. She's standing up there for her new family, even those whose nuclear families could not be present. She names them all, slowly reciting 20 names of those missing from Jacksonville.
Missing Mark Degner's grandmother tells us the story of how Mark went missing at the age of 12 in 2005 along with Missing Bryan Hayes (age 13), neither of them to ever be seen again. It's been 8 years and 8 months since the day that 2 students left middle school together in broad daylight. Where could they have gone? What could possibly have happened to them? I look over at their age progressed photos showing what they could possibly look like now.
Missing Rosemary Day's parents are next. Rosemary's mother standing stoically beside her husband as he speaks about their missing daughter. I remember the raw emotions they exhibited at the 2011 vigil when Rosemary had been missing just a few months, back when it was still considered a fresh case. 2 years later they appear just as heartbroken. In fact, we are told how they did not want to come today. How hard it is for them to show their vulnerability, to open up their pain which is clearly visible to everyone present.
Missing John Rowan's mom, Peg, speaks of living in limbo since her son went missing at the age of 34 in 2001. The son, husband and father of 2 simply left for work one day, (12 years and 1 month ago), never to return home again. 10 months before he vanished the beneficiaries of his 3 million dollar life insurance policy changed from his family to his 2 former business partners. A handwriting expert hired by law enforcement believes his signature was forged. To date no charges have been filed. Peg laments about her frustration with the lack of evidence in his case. She tells of living for media coverage, and how this Jacksonville group of families of the missing never seek publicly individually, always including one another whenever they can.
Christy explains how having Austin featured on the tour has renewed her hope in receiving information that could help locate him. Austin has been missing since 2007, when the then 26 year old bought a shotgun, put it into a duffle bag and ventured off on foot never to be seen or heard from again. How does someone simply walk off and vanish? Reading Christy's letter in the press package gave me a true sense of Austin, so much more than just the facts of his disappearance. She also wrote "My heart is broken that my son is out there somewhere, and that we've not been able to bring him home...My hope is always that we find Austin". She continued "One person can make the difference...Between never knowing what happened, and being able to bring a missing loved one home".
Austin's father, Jim, told us how days after Austin's disappearance he was printing flyers when someone told him about a Reader's Digest article featuring Monica, thus bringing CUE in at the initial stages of their search. He also spoke about the tour restoring his hope for resolution.
Monica once again explained how having a missing loved one is the one event in life that has no resolution. If there's an accident or someone dies there is resolution, but when someone disappears their family lingers in an unknown state of what ifs.
Anita announces that the program will close with a flower toss into the river. I can feel my apprehension grow. As I try to get my emotions under control she explains the symbolism of tossing flowers into the water. To paraphrase, the flowers will continue to exist long after being tossed, even after they disappear out of view. This is also true of our loved ones. With that one explanation I was soothed .
Elisa
Friday, October 18, 2013
Port St Lucie, Florida
Running late (again), for our last stop of the day (10/9/13 7pm) but I'm not stressed about it because I know the event being held at Duffy's Super Play is from 5-10pm and so it's OK if we're not exactly on time. Teresa Halliday is hosting this stop for Missing Dori Myers.
Dori's sister, Donajean was at the Lake City vigil the night before (could that really have only been yesterday?) but Dori went missing from around here. I did get to meet some of Donajean's friends who came out to support Dori for her.
Teresa did an amazing job. She got Duffy's to donate 10% of proceeds from patrons who turned in her flyer and she had her daughter's Girl Scout troop stationed at the front door making sure every and any one who entered had the flyer. They were also selling 50/50 tickets. She had a slew of missing persons posters plastered on poles and hanging by clothespins. It was disheartening to me to recognize so many of the faces of the local missing.
I met Teresa at the 2011 rally stop that she hosted in Fort Pierce (even if she doesn't remember meeting me). At that stop she had the families of Missing Richard Borrack, Missing Dori Ann Myers, and Missing Patrick DiFrancisco, and she had read a letter from the family of Missing Emillie Hoyt. All 4 are still missing. Teresa has told me what an emotional day that was for her, but I remember her strength, resolve and determination. The way she embraced and bolstered those families. She has only grown more so with the passing years. I've watched as she has both supported and encouraged Donajean, and I've watched her dedicate so much to CUE and all missing persons.
Teresa's husband, Nicholas Halliday Jr, went missing in 2010. He was missing for two months before his remains were found in a canal, his death the result of hypothermia. Nick was not a registered CUE case, Teresa came upon CUE afterwards. She strongly believes in media attention which is why she jumped at the chance to host us both back in 2011 and this year. Having a missing person changes you forever no matter if they have been recovered or how long they were missing.
It turned out to be a relaxing, low key evening, which I really needed. Monica had family and friends attend as did I. We got to sit and tell stories, even if Monica couldn't find anything to eat and the waiter totally forgot about Harlan's food. I didn't eat either, but it was more because Janeane and I took turns jumping up to man the CUE table, and pictures needed to be taken. I guess you can't really expect to eat during an event, at Hurricane's we wolfed down the food before the rally started. Otherwise, we usually have dinner after the 7:00 vigils.
Another reason we were relaxed was that Teresa had gotten us rooms right next door, so there was no rushing to drive late into the night and we were able to get a good nights sleep before leaving in the morning for our last Florida stop.
Elisa
Dori's sister, Donajean was at the Lake City vigil the night before (could that really have only been yesterday?) but Dori went missing from around here. I did get to meet some of Donajean's friends who came out to support Dori for her.
Teresa did an amazing job. She got Duffy's to donate 10% of proceeds from patrons who turned in her flyer and she had her daughter's Girl Scout troop stationed at the front door making sure every and any one who entered had the flyer. They were also selling 50/50 tickets. She had a slew of missing persons posters plastered on poles and hanging by clothespins. It was disheartening to me to recognize so many of the faces of the local missing.
I met Teresa at the 2011 rally stop that she hosted in Fort Pierce (even if she doesn't remember meeting me). At that stop she had the families of Missing Richard Borrack, Missing Dori Ann Myers, and Missing Patrick DiFrancisco, and she had read a letter from the family of Missing Emillie Hoyt. All 4 are still missing. Teresa has told me what an emotional day that was for her, but I remember her strength, resolve and determination. The way she embraced and bolstered those families. She has only grown more so with the passing years. I've watched as she has both supported and encouraged Donajean, and I've watched her dedicate so much to CUE and all missing persons.
Teresa's husband, Nicholas Halliday Jr, went missing in 2010. He was missing for two months before his remains were found in a canal, his death the result of hypothermia. Nick was not a registered CUE case, Teresa came upon CUE afterwards. She strongly believes in media attention which is why she jumped at the chance to host us both back in 2011 and this year. Having a missing person changes you forever no matter if they have been recovered or how long they were missing.
It turned out to be a relaxing, low key evening, which I really needed. Monica had family and friends attend as did I. We got to sit and tell stories, even if Monica couldn't find anything to eat and the waiter totally forgot about Harlan's food. I didn't eat either, but it was more because Janeane and I took turns jumping up to man the CUE table, and pictures needed to be taken. I guess you can't really expect to eat during an event, at Hurricane's we wolfed down the food before the rally started. Otherwise, we usually have dinner after the 7:00 vigils.
Another reason we were relaxed was that Teresa had gotten us rooms right next door, so there was no rushing to drive late into the night and we were able to get a good nights sleep before leaving in the morning for our last Florida stop.
Elisa
Naples Florida
Marcia Williams, mother of Missing Terrence Williams hosted the stop (10/9/13 2:30pm) on the corner of 111th and Vanderbilt in Naples, Fl. in honor of Terrance, Missing Felipe Santos and Unsolved Homicide Victim Francisco Cuevas. The location was chosen because it is the place that Terrance was last seen. We spread out onto the four corners of the street with banners, signs, and posters. We also handed out flyers to passing motorists.
Terrance went missing in 2004 at the age of 27. He may have had car trouble, or he was just stopped by Collier County Sherriff's Deputy Corporal Steven Henry Calkins. Terrance could have been cited by Calkins for up to 6 moving violations, from not having a license to an expired registration, yet he received none. Calkins claims he dropped Terrance off at a nearby Circle K store, but there is no evidence to support his claim, and Terrance has not been seen since. Calkins returned to Terrance's vehicle and called it in to ask for a tow in a recorded conversation rife with racist dialect.
Felipe Santos was a 24 year old illegal immigrant when he disappeared in 2003. He was involved in a minor traffic accident when Collier County Sheriff's Deputy Corporal Steven Henry Calkins arrived at the scene, cited Felipe, put him in the back of his patrol car and drove off. When Felipe's boss attempted to bail him out of jail that same day, there was no record of Felipe having being booked. Calkins claims to have changed his mind about the arrest and now says he dropped Felipe at a nearby Circle K. Felipe has not been seen since.
Francisco Cuevas was last seen alive at his business in Pompano Beach, Florida in 2007. He was 47 years old. 5 months later a metal box with partial remains inside was found in Palm Beach Gardens, near where "Franky" had job sites. It took another 2 months before the remains were identified as Franky's. His vehicle was located 5 miles from another job site, with neighbors saying it had been parked there the entire 9 months. Recently, Franky's business partner was arrested and charged with first degree murder and armed kidnapping. Gustavo Enamorado-Dubon is currently being held pending trial. Francisco's family remains committed to locating ALL of his remains.
I had planned on holding a rally stop for Mathew in 2006. When his remains were found, I decided to attend the rally stop in Naples. And that is when I first met Marcia. We bonded pretty quickly. We met again at the 2007 CUE National Conference. Marcia was giving a speech at victim's hour, and Mathew was being honored at the candlelight vigil (meaning I had to give a speech also). Marcia fretted all weekend about her speech, I ignored the fact that I had to give one. We supported one another and both survived. I've watched Marcia as she fights for her son. I know too well that if you do not fight for your child no one will. She has also "adopted" Felipe's family, making sure to include them in everything she does. She has found her voice and uses it well. In fact, last year when I traveled to Naples for a large press conference about Tyler Perry posting a reward she sat poised on the podium and spoke very well (although I know she's still just as nervous).
Margarita Goedeke, Franky's mother is another fighter. We've met before at conferences and I will be attending the vigil she is hosting next month. She will continue until she gets total resolution and justice for her child. Her large family traveled to Naples for the rally and they also have a website Justiceforfranky.com.
Most of Felipe's family is in Mexico, including his wife and daughter. His brother remains here seeking resolution and justice. He filed a complaint against Calkins after Felipe's disappearance but at that time Calkins was quickly cleared of any wrongdoing. He's been to every event I've attended honoring both Terrance and Felipe.
It's taken years and a lot of pressure but Calkins has finally (at least) been fired by the Sherriff's office. He maintains his innocence, once calling his involvement in the 2 cases "coincidence extreme". He has not been charged in either case.
Elisa
Terrance went missing in 2004 at the age of 27. He may have had car trouble, or he was just stopped by Collier County Sherriff's Deputy Corporal Steven Henry Calkins. Terrance could have been cited by Calkins for up to 6 moving violations, from not having a license to an expired registration, yet he received none. Calkins claims he dropped Terrance off at a nearby Circle K store, but there is no evidence to support his claim, and Terrance has not been seen since. Calkins returned to Terrance's vehicle and called it in to ask for a tow in a recorded conversation rife with racist dialect.
Felipe Santos was a 24 year old illegal immigrant when he disappeared in 2003. He was involved in a minor traffic accident when Collier County Sheriff's Deputy Corporal Steven Henry Calkins arrived at the scene, cited Felipe, put him in the back of his patrol car and drove off. When Felipe's boss attempted to bail him out of jail that same day, there was no record of Felipe having being booked. Calkins claims to have changed his mind about the arrest and now says he dropped Felipe at a nearby Circle K. Felipe has not been seen since.
Francisco Cuevas was last seen alive at his business in Pompano Beach, Florida in 2007. He was 47 years old. 5 months later a metal box with partial remains inside was found in Palm Beach Gardens, near where "Franky" had job sites. It took another 2 months before the remains were identified as Franky's. His vehicle was located 5 miles from another job site, with neighbors saying it had been parked there the entire 9 months. Recently, Franky's business partner was arrested and charged with first degree murder and armed kidnapping. Gustavo Enamorado-Dubon is currently being held pending trial. Francisco's family remains committed to locating ALL of his remains.
I had planned on holding a rally stop for Mathew in 2006. When his remains were found, I decided to attend the rally stop in Naples. And that is when I first met Marcia. We bonded pretty quickly. We met again at the 2007 CUE National Conference. Marcia was giving a speech at victim's hour, and Mathew was being honored at the candlelight vigil (meaning I had to give a speech also). Marcia fretted all weekend about her speech, I ignored the fact that I had to give one. We supported one another and both survived. I've watched Marcia as she fights for her son. I know too well that if you do not fight for your child no one will. She has also "adopted" Felipe's family, making sure to include them in everything she does. She has found her voice and uses it well. In fact, last year when I traveled to Naples for a large press conference about Tyler Perry posting a reward she sat poised on the podium and spoke very well (although I know she's still just as nervous).
Margarita Goedeke, Franky's mother is another fighter. We've met before at conferences and I will be attending the vigil she is hosting next month. She will continue until she gets total resolution and justice for her child. Her large family traveled to Naples for the rally and they also have a website Justiceforfranky.com.
Most of Felipe's family is in Mexico, including his wife and daughter. His brother remains here seeking resolution and justice. He filed a complaint against Calkins after Felipe's disappearance but at that time Calkins was quickly cleared of any wrongdoing. He's been to every event I've attended honoring both Terrance and Felipe.
It's taken years and a lot of pressure but Calkins has finally (at least) been fired by the Sherriff's office. He maintains his innocence, once calling his involvement in the 2 cases "coincidence extreme". He has not been charged in either case.
Elisa
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Tarpon Springs Florida
Last night, after starting the day in Alabama and doing 3 stops,we drove from Lake City to Tarpon Springs, arriving at close to 2am this morning. To say we are tired today is an understatement. Today's 3 stops in Florida are all families I know well though, and I am excited for the day to begin.
Donna Scharrett, CUE volunteer and best friend of Missing Kelly Rothwell is hosting the rally stop (10/9/13 10am) at Anderson Park. We arrive at a serene waterfront park. As we enter the area there are colorful balloons spaced apart and floating, each one tied to a missing person poster held down by a CUE tote bag with a sprinkling of flower petals. Kelly's banner is hanging, her poster board is on display, photo albums are out and flowers are arranged on a green tarp with votive candles. I'm finding this stop to be very calming and peaceful. I know just about everyone here, it starts out as a small intimate group but grows as people continue to arrive. Joe Cannon, Louisiana State CUE Coordinator, and his wife have been trailing the tour for a number of stops now. Joe got to see first hand how different the stops are and I know he has learned a lot. Florida State Outreach Coordinator Kelly Osborn is also here along with Christi Henthorn, sister of CUE Volunteer Stephanie White (and winner of the laptop at the Grand Finale).
Originally there wasn't any press present, but after some last minute phone calls, we were asked to wait. This put us way behind in our schedule but it's the most important aspect of the tour so wait we did.
Kelly Rothwell was 35 and a police cadet days away from becoming an officer when she went missing from Clearwater in 2011. She was in the midst of leaving her boyfriend, David Perry, a retired corrections officer. Donna and Kelly had lunch that day and then Kelly left for the condo she shared with David in order to end their relationship. She didn't show for a planned get together that evening and has not been seen or heard from since. Donna reported her missing the following morning and Kelly's car was found later that day two miles from her home. Detectives later discovered that David had left and driven to NY. He has refused to be interviewed and has since been named a suspect in Kelly's disappearance. David Perry has also recently been convicted in NY on charges of Grand Larceny and Insurance Fraud, stemming from faking an injury and defrauding the NY retirement disability system of more than $100,000. As of today he is incarcerated in NY.
I first heard of Kelly's case at the 2011 National Conference that was held just a few weeks after she had gone missing. I then met Donna on the 2011 RTRT. Her rally stop that year in Tampa was my first butterfly release and flower toss. I remember it was a fresh case back then, and I had hoped Kelly would be found sooner rather than later, so Donna wouldn't have to adjust to this life so many of us lead. The last time I was here was on a search for Kelly held over New Years weekend 2012. Monica asked me to be Donna's victim advocate and we spent a lot of time together. I can honestly say that she helped me as much or more than I hope I helped her.
That weekend Ellen Friel came out with some of her friends and family to help search. Ellen did not know Kelly or Donna, she told me that she had read about the case and tried to make it to an event in December. When that didn't happen, she friended Donna on Facebook and vowed to be at the next event. She ended up searching, getting food donated for lunch and becoming a volunteer. Since that time I've watched Ellen and Donna's relationship grow. It seems to me that Ellen has helped fill the void in Donna's life left by Kelly's absence, and I am thankful to her for that.
Looking at the sea of balloons I ask Donna about them. She tells me that there is one balloon for every CUE registered case in Florida. There are 48 balloons. Monica asks everyone to stand by a balloon and we get some truly moving pictures. Then we gather up the flowers and walk to the water. I'm busy taking pictures as the group tosses them in. I start to tear up as memories of Matt come flooding into my brain. I often toss flowers into the canal where Mathew lost his life and am reminded of that. I think I've pulled myself together as I go to give Donna a hug. I was wrong and I burst into tears as Donna comforts me. I'm thinking this is not how it should be, I'm supposed to be comforting her, but somehow it all seems right. As we are leaving I speak with Monica about what happened and it all made perfect sense the way she explained that to me. I had relaxed and let my guard down in this peaceful place among friends and that allowed my emotions surface.
Elisa
Donna Scharrett, CUE volunteer and best friend of Missing Kelly Rothwell is hosting the rally stop (10/9/13 10am) at Anderson Park. We arrive at a serene waterfront park. As we enter the area there are colorful balloons spaced apart and floating, each one tied to a missing person poster held down by a CUE tote bag with a sprinkling of flower petals. Kelly's banner is hanging, her poster board is on display, photo albums are out and flowers are arranged on a green tarp with votive candles. I'm finding this stop to be very calming and peaceful. I know just about everyone here, it starts out as a small intimate group but grows as people continue to arrive. Joe Cannon, Louisiana State CUE Coordinator, and his wife have been trailing the tour for a number of stops now. Joe got to see first hand how different the stops are and I know he has learned a lot. Florida State Outreach Coordinator Kelly Osborn is also here along with Christi Henthorn, sister of CUE Volunteer Stephanie White (and winner of the laptop at the Grand Finale).
Originally there wasn't any press present, but after some last minute phone calls, we were asked to wait. This put us way behind in our schedule but it's the most important aspect of the tour so wait we did.
Kelly Rothwell was 35 and a police cadet days away from becoming an officer when she went missing from Clearwater in 2011. She was in the midst of leaving her boyfriend, David Perry, a retired corrections officer. Donna and Kelly had lunch that day and then Kelly left for the condo she shared with David in order to end their relationship. She didn't show for a planned get together that evening and has not been seen or heard from since. Donna reported her missing the following morning and Kelly's car was found later that day two miles from her home. Detectives later discovered that David had left and driven to NY. He has refused to be interviewed and has since been named a suspect in Kelly's disappearance. David Perry has also recently been convicted in NY on charges of Grand Larceny and Insurance Fraud, stemming from faking an injury and defrauding the NY retirement disability system of more than $100,000. As of today he is incarcerated in NY.
I first heard of Kelly's case at the 2011 National Conference that was held just a few weeks after she had gone missing. I then met Donna on the 2011 RTRT. Her rally stop that year in Tampa was my first butterfly release and flower toss. I remember it was a fresh case back then, and I had hoped Kelly would be found sooner rather than later, so Donna wouldn't have to adjust to this life so many of us lead. The last time I was here was on a search for Kelly held over New Years weekend 2012. Monica asked me to be Donna's victim advocate and we spent a lot of time together. I can honestly say that she helped me as much or more than I hope I helped her.
That weekend Ellen Friel came out with some of her friends and family to help search. Ellen did not know Kelly or Donna, she told me that she had read about the case and tried to make it to an event in December. When that didn't happen, she friended Donna on Facebook and vowed to be at the next event. She ended up searching, getting food donated for lunch and becoming a volunteer. Since that time I've watched Ellen and Donna's relationship grow. It seems to me that Ellen has helped fill the void in Donna's life left by Kelly's absence, and I am thankful to her for that.
Looking at the sea of balloons I ask Donna about them. She tells me that there is one balloon for every CUE registered case in Florida. There are 48 balloons. Monica asks everyone to stand by a balloon and we get some truly moving pictures. Then we gather up the flowers and walk to the water. I'm busy taking pictures as the group tosses them in. I start to tear up as memories of Matt come flooding into my brain. I often toss flowers into the canal where Mathew lost his life and am reminded of that. I think I've pulled myself together as I go to give Donna a hug. I was wrong and I burst into tears as Donna comforts me. I'm thinking this is not how it should be, I'm supposed to be comforting her, but somehow it all seems right. As we are leaving I speak with Monica about what happened and it all made perfect sense the way she explained that to me. I had relaxed and let my guard down in this peaceful place among friends and that allowed my emotions surface.
Elisa
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Lake City Fl
The third stop of this really long day brought us to a Home Depot parking lot (10/8/13 7pm), where we could see a semi truck with two rows of missing persons flyers hanging from a clothesline, with an open space in the middle left for our RTRT banner. We saw tents set up to shield us all from the hot sun and a table already set out for our use. Our official host is Stefani Mitchell, mother of Missing Kamrie Mitchell, and unofficially co-hosted (or helped) by Donajean Kapp, sister of Missing Dori Ann Myers.
Kamrie Mitchell was a 24 year old mother of a little girl when she was last seen at her father's home on August 25, 2012. Earlier that same day a police report had been generated by victims in the house, who told deputies that Andrelo Witcher had entered with a firearm and made verbal threats towards them. No one saw Kamrie leave the home that night or had any idea where she might be going. She has not been seen or heard from since. Her car was found a few days later submerged in floodwaters with both her purse and her cellphone inside. Witcher was booked a few weeks later on charges of burglary while armed and possession of a weapon by a felon, as well as failing to comply with his sex offender registration. He is currently serving a 5 year sentence for the burglary. Witcher is also connected to another missing woman's case, Heather MacCrossen, a former girlfriend of his who was last heard from in 2007. She also remains missing and investigators consider Witcher a possible suspect in both Heather and Kamrie's cases.
Dori Ann Myers disappeared in 2006 at the age of 43 from Ft Pierce, Florida. She was last seen in the company of 2 unidentified men whom she believed to be Marines wounded in Iraq. Neighbors report hearing loud voices coming from her home after which it was intentionally set on fire killing both her dog and her cat. Her car was seen leaving her home and was later found 80 miles away. It had also been burned. Dori has not been seen or heard from since and her bank account and credit cards remained untouched until her family had her declared legally dead to benefit her only living child. Investigators have concluded that she was abducted by the 2 men who were with her that night and they remain prime suspects in her case.
Kamrie's family seemed to all be at the stop. There were so many little ones including her daughter. I watched a video of her and perused through family photo albums. I spoke with many of her family including her sister Kershta. Stefani was able to hold it together while speaking to the crowd, her granddaughter clinging to her side. She had hundreds of balloons and sky lanterns that she wanted to release. The number concerned me but she explained that she had one for every day that her daughter had been missing. We convinced her that setting off that many sky lanterns was not a good idea since we had run into trouble on last year's tour in a Walmart field. Even though we knew there were too many balloons, every one present wrote notes on them and then we released them all.
Dori's sister Donajean is a CUE volunteer and a close personal friend of mine who has helped me through many an anniversary or just a bad day. Dori went missing around the same time as Mathew and from my neck of the woods making her special to me. Donajean does a lot of the graphics for both the road tour and the conference. Little by little I've watched as she progresses. It's a long road and so difficult when there's no resolution. She does better out of the limelight but is working on finding her voice. I read a poem she wrote to Dori titled For My Lil Sis. "You were my Lil-Tag-A-Long but I didn't mind There was a big world out there we had to find.. Our lives were hard but we played the hands we were dealt wondering if anyone knew just how we felt Years of sacrifice Just trying to belong.. then before I knew it, you were gone. No more the responsibility of watching over you.. The real world has come into view. How I yearn for your sometimes annoying ways and to bring back our happiest days.. You looked up to me I never understood why Your faith in me makes me cry.. My heart is breaking always aching, for my lil tag-a-long Your disappearance is just so wrong.. I wait impatiently for news of your whereabouts, always nervous and full of doubts.. I Pray, I Cry, I Scream!! I wish this was all a dream I'm so full of anger and rage, my feelings are hard to gage. Please come home Lil Sis so many things we have yet to see Please come Tag-A-Long with me.."
I wish they could both come home. Most of all I wish for the answers these families so desperately need.
Elisa
Kamrie Mitchell was a 24 year old mother of a little girl when she was last seen at her father's home on August 25, 2012. Earlier that same day a police report had been generated by victims in the house, who told deputies that Andrelo Witcher had entered with a firearm and made verbal threats towards them. No one saw Kamrie leave the home that night or had any idea where she might be going. She has not been seen or heard from since. Her car was found a few days later submerged in floodwaters with both her purse and her cellphone inside. Witcher was booked a few weeks later on charges of burglary while armed and possession of a weapon by a felon, as well as failing to comply with his sex offender registration. He is currently serving a 5 year sentence for the burglary. Witcher is also connected to another missing woman's case, Heather MacCrossen, a former girlfriend of his who was last heard from in 2007. She also remains missing and investigators consider Witcher a possible suspect in both Heather and Kamrie's cases.
Dori Ann Myers disappeared in 2006 at the age of 43 from Ft Pierce, Florida. She was last seen in the company of 2 unidentified men whom she believed to be Marines wounded in Iraq. Neighbors report hearing loud voices coming from her home after which it was intentionally set on fire killing both her dog and her cat. Her car was seen leaving her home and was later found 80 miles away. It had also been burned. Dori has not been seen or heard from since and her bank account and credit cards remained untouched until her family had her declared legally dead to benefit her only living child. Investigators have concluded that she was abducted by the 2 men who were with her that night and they remain prime suspects in her case.
Kamrie's family seemed to all be at the stop. There were so many little ones including her daughter. I watched a video of her and perused through family photo albums. I spoke with many of her family including her sister Kershta. Stefani was able to hold it together while speaking to the crowd, her granddaughter clinging to her side. She had hundreds of balloons and sky lanterns that she wanted to release. The number concerned me but she explained that she had one for every day that her daughter had been missing. We convinced her that setting off that many sky lanterns was not a good idea since we had run into trouble on last year's tour in a Walmart field. Even though we knew there were too many balloons, every one present wrote notes on them and then we released them all.
Dori's sister Donajean is a CUE volunteer and a close personal friend of mine who has helped me through many an anniversary or just a bad day. Dori went missing around the same time as Mathew and from my neck of the woods making her special to me. Donajean does a lot of the graphics for both the road tour and the conference. Little by little I've watched as she progresses. It's a long road and so difficult when there's no resolution. She does better out of the limelight but is working on finding her voice. I read a poem she wrote to Dori titled For My Lil Sis. "You were my Lil-Tag-A-Long but I didn't mind There was a big world out there we had to find.. Our lives were hard but we played the hands we were dealt wondering if anyone knew just how we felt Years of sacrifice Just trying to belong.. then before I knew it, you were gone. No more the responsibility of watching over you.. The real world has come into view. How I yearn for your sometimes annoying ways and to bring back our happiest days.. You looked up to me I never understood why Your faith in me makes me cry.. My heart is breaking always aching, for my lil tag-a-long Your disappearance is just so wrong.. I wait impatiently for news of your whereabouts, always nervous and full of doubts.. I Pray, I Cry, I Scream!! I wish this was all a dream I'm so full of anger and rage, my feelings are hard to gage. Please come home Lil Sis so many things we have yet to see Please come Tag-A-Long with me.."
I wish they could both come home. Most of all I wish for the answers these families so desperately need.
Elisa
Tallahassee Fl
We survived another time change and even though this one worked against us and was a bit nerve racking, we still managed to arrived early. We have reached Florida! The next two days are going to be a whirlwind as we crisscross the state with 3 stops a day.
CUE volunteer Stephanie White was our host at Hurricane Grill and Wings in Tallahassee (10/8/13 3pm) in honor of Missing Jerry Michael Williams and Missing Pamela Biggers. Stephanie outdid herself with her attention to all the details. She had sponsors, a program, items to raffle off, and also served food at the stop.
The program began with Stephanie introducing CUE Florida State Outreach Coordinator Kelly Walker. Kelly told us about Pam Biggers, who was 52 years old when she went missing from Panama City Beach in 2008. She was there traveling on business from Alabama, and was last seen entering her motel room for the night at 7pm. Her car was found in the parking lot, and her cell phone and purse were found in her room. It is possible that she became disoriented and wandered away. Although she has no prior history of either memory loss or of going missing, she was acting strangely on the day of her disappearance. Her son was about to be deployed to Afghanistan, causing her to be stressed and she may have gone off to try to find him. Foul play is not suspected but due to her mental condition there is grave concern for her safety. I can't help but think she COULD be alive, she could be homeless and unaware that she is a missing person!
Next up was Cheryl Williams, "Mike's" mom. Mike went missing in 2000 at the age of 31. He was last seen leaving his home in Tallahassee to go duck hunting at Lake Seminole, which was not something he normally did alone. His vehicle was discovered, (not parked at his usual location), and his boat was found in the lake running (though it should have been out of gas by then). Mike has not been seen or heard from since. His mom lamented how it took her three and a half years to get a criminal investigation started and by then the potential crime scene had been contaminated with evidence being both lost and destroyed. You see, law enforcement initially believed that he had accidentally drowned, even though searches never located him and 6 months after the alleged drowning (and days before his wife had him legally declared dead and collected 1.5 million in life insurance) some of his personal effects were found in areas previously searched. Law enforcement believes these items were planted after the searches had been conducted. Police NOW believe Mike is missing under suspicious circumstances and possibly met with foul play. I will never understand why Law Enforcement refuses to take the opinions of family more seriously. We are the ones who know what is normal for our loved ones, we are the ones who feel it in our hearts, and in our guts. Even if we have no "proof", we still have information that would benefit the police if they would JUST listen to us.
The rally ended with a family friend of the Williams reciting this; "A butterfly lights besides us like a sunbeam, and for a brief moment, it's glory and beauty belong to our world. But, then it flies on again, and although we wish it could have stayed, we feel blessed to have seen it". We then released butterflies and watched as they became aware of their surroundings and flew up and away. It turned out beautifully.
Elisa
CUE volunteer Stephanie White was our host at Hurricane Grill and Wings in Tallahassee (10/8/13 3pm) in honor of Missing Jerry Michael Williams and Missing Pamela Biggers. Stephanie outdid herself with her attention to all the details. She had sponsors, a program, items to raffle off, and also served food at the stop.
The program began with Stephanie introducing CUE Florida State Outreach Coordinator Kelly Walker. Kelly told us about Pam Biggers, who was 52 years old when she went missing from Panama City Beach in 2008. She was there traveling on business from Alabama, and was last seen entering her motel room for the night at 7pm. Her car was found in the parking lot, and her cell phone and purse were found in her room. It is possible that she became disoriented and wandered away. Although she has no prior history of either memory loss or of going missing, she was acting strangely on the day of her disappearance. Her son was about to be deployed to Afghanistan, causing her to be stressed and she may have gone off to try to find him. Foul play is not suspected but due to her mental condition there is grave concern for her safety. I can't help but think she COULD be alive, she could be homeless and unaware that she is a missing person!
Next up was Cheryl Williams, "Mike's" mom. Mike went missing in 2000 at the age of 31. He was last seen leaving his home in Tallahassee to go duck hunting at Lake Seminole, which was not something he normally did alone. His vehicle was discovered, (not parked at his usual location), and his boat was found in the lake running (though it should have been out of gas by then). Mike has not been seen or heard from since. His mom lamented how it took her three and a half years to get a criminal investigation started and by then the potential crime scene had been contaminated with evidence being both lost and destroyed. You see, law enforcement initially believed that he had accidentally drowned, even though searches never located him and 6 months after the alleged drowning (and days before his wife had him legally declared dead and collected 1.5 million in life insurance) some of his personal effects were found in areas previously searched. Law enforcement believes these items were planted after the searches had been conducted. Police NOW believe Mike is missing under suspicious circumstances and possibly met with foul play. I will never understand why Law Enforcement refuses to take the opinions of family more seriously. We are the ones who know what is normal for our loved ones, we are the ones who feel it in our hearts, and in our guts. Even if we have no "proof", we still have information that would benefit the police if they would JUST listen to us.
The rally ended with a family friend of the Williams reciting this; "A butterfly lights besides us like a sunbeam, and for a brief moment, it's glory and beauty belong to our world. But, then it flies on again, and although we wish it could have stayed, we feel blessed to have seen it". We then released butterflies and watched as they became aware of their surroundings and flew up and away. It turned out beautifully.
Elisa
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)