Hot Topic: Amber Alerts

[pridecity]

I'm watching Prime News right now. There was a long segment about two missing girls, one 11 and one 20. I didn't hear how long the 11 year old was missing, but she was last seen sitting in front of her computer and there were no signs of struggle. The 20 year old, Holly Bobo, has been missing for three months.

I hate to be crude about it, but she was pretty and probably was killed within the first week. Sad, but true. The 11 year old seems to be either a runaway, or possibly went to visit an internet friend and never came back.

This did get me to thinking. I went to the Amber Alert website and looked at their 2010 statistics. The basic jist of it states that from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2010, there were 173 Amber Alerts issued for 211 children. 150 cases are listed as "recovered" which means that they are considered closed. Of the 173 cases, 11 were found to be hoaxes (falsely reported) and 10 were unfounded (where the child was thought to be missing but wasn't).

This leaves 152. Two Alerts carried over into 2011 and the rest are resolved in one way or another. Here are the stats for the 150 cases: 28 recovered as a direct result of Amber Alerts, 9 recovered deceased. This leaves us with 113 cases where children were not found. One can assume that they won't be, sadly.

Now, I'm terrible with percents, but isn't that about 26% success rate? I know this is a touchy subject, but it astounds me that, while there is an okay success rate, it's not great. I don't want this to become a hot enough topic to have the thread closed, but I'm wondering what each of you come up with that could realistically improve the success rate to 50% or more.

You know fresh ideas are always needed in certain subjects.

 

[starsevol]

I don't know if there is anything that can be done to make the statistics better. I also am not sure how to say what I think about this without sounding like a complete creep, but here goes.
While I think that any crime against children is a horrible thing, BEYOND horrible...spending millions of dollars and giving the new program a cute name doesn't mean that more children will be saved from various crimes.
In fact, I think the success rate can go even lower, but that won't change anything. As long as the media and "those in charge" can sway public opinion and not provide hard facts, they will do anything to throw money at "feel good solutions" that really don't do any good. And once money is spent, revenues each year must always go UP, no matter what.

 

[Nanci]

In Florida, they post amber alerts on those digital road signs on major highways / the turnpike. You can also sign up for text messages.

 

[Shiari]

They do the amber alerts on the digital roadsigns here in california too.

While far from perfect, if it helps find even *one* child, I consider it a successful program.

 

[starsevol]

Nothing like that is done here....we are quite backwards here.
I wonder what the statistics of findling lost children were before this was implemented? I also think that a single child saved is a success, but what if the numbers saved now are no more than before?

 

[Tara80]

While I think that any crime against children is a horrible thing, BEYOND horrible...spending millions of dollars and giving the new program a cute name doesn't mean that more children will be saved from various crimes.

I totally agree with this statement. While, we as parents cannot keep our eyes on our kids for 100% of the time - we can try, as much as possible. I feel that a lot of kidnappings are preventable as a parent.
These rash of creeps out there, and our judicial system (which allows them to be out there) has given me a bit of sorrow that I live with every day. I dislike reading the news many days, because there always seems to be a new kidnapping, child rape and/or murder case.
My son, being 9 years old, has been informed very clearly of the existence of 'bad people' and how he should react in a situation and why. I even watch him when he walks 4 houses down to his best friend's house and I make SURE that if he's going anywhere, he's got either a buddy or me and/or his dad watching him.
That being said, I'm very very lucky because he does completely understand and has an unusual awareness at his age, and appreciates me watching out for me. (just waiting for those teenage years where he's going to want me to leave him alone, lol).
But I do think and feel, that us parents should be less concerned with our daily lives (work, getting the milk, dinner, freaking Farmville) and make sure that our kids are safe, looked after, informed and have a system of support.

 

[Tavia]

The last Amber Alert we had in this area, the sheriffs department called and left messages on our phone, but that was because the girl had last been seen 3 blocks from where we live. I imagine they called for several blocks all around.

I do agree though, that at the stores, etc. I see a lot of majorly inattentive parents that in some cases seem practically like an invitation to a kidnapping. Can't watch them all the time and in some cases, I think you can get too paranoid but an awareness of where your children are is something that parents need to think about.

As a Crossing Guard for the School District, I record licsense plates of cars that sit near the pick up areas that stay a long time and never pick up a child, that's only happened about 4 times in the 4 years I've worked there. Make, model and plates of any vehicle that picks up a child that they never have before, or that I know that child doesn't belong to, also gets recorded in my little book. But this is something I do on my own, mostly as a memory aid during a rather boring job and not something I've ever been asked to do. However I live in a little town of 4,000, where almost no one locks their doors and half the population leaves the keys in the ignition of their cars.

 

[pridecity]

Here's a part of the Stats report for 2010. Would this be considered an improvement?

I edited it for easier reading:

Three children whose cases were determined to be hoaxes were recovered deceased. All 3 children were reported missing by parents who later confessed to killing the children.

Does it help if we know that out of 152 "solved" alerts, these three were considered hoaxes?

I think Amber Alert does have some use. In the Stats report it also states how far from home those children who were recovered were. I suppose this is good because it reminds us that it is possible for a missing child to leave the state, and probably pretty quickly. Even a runaway could travel out of state within hours if smart enough.

When an AMBER Alert is issued an abductor may take the child outside the jurisdiction of the issuing law‐enforcement authority. In some cases the AMBER Alert Coordinator in the state/territory where the AMBER Alert originated may request an AMBER Alert be extended into another state/territory. In 2010, 14 AMBER Alerts were extended beyond the limits of the state where the AMBER Alert first originated.

In 3 cases the child was recovered in the state/territory where the Alert originated, in 5 cases the child was recovered in the extending state, and in 6 cases the child was recovered neither in the originating state/territory nor the extending state/territory.

 

[desertanimal]

While I think that any crime against children is a horrible thing, BEYOND horrible...spending millions of dollars and giving the new program a cute name doesn't mean that more children will be saved from various crimes.
In fact, I think the success rate can go even lower, but that won't change anything. As long as the media and "those in charge" can sway public opinion and not provide hard facts, they will do anything to throw money at "feel good solutions" that really don't do any good. And once money is spent, revenues each year must always go UP, no matter what.

Does the Amber alert system cost millions of dollars? All I know of it is that every once in a while I see one on the signs that already warn of traffic problems and hear one on the radio that's already broadcasting anyway. And when I see or hear about it, I do keep an eye out for the described vehicle. It can't possibly hurt to have lots of people looking out. Wasn't the Elizabeth Smart case closed as a result of someone calling in and reporting? Not due to the Amber alert system exactly, but same idea.

Does the media or "those in charge" work to sway public opinion on the importance of the Amber alert system? I'm quite sure I've never heard it discussed.

 

[dionythicus]

My supposition is that there needs to be more evidence and help from the public to increase positive outcomes. I agree that if even one child is saved then its worth its weight in gold.

Three years ago there was a 12 yr old abducted blocks from the hospital where I work. It was July 4th and she was grabbed right in the alley a few houses from her own. Her father saw the kidnapping and reported it. Needless to say, the Amber Alert put everyone in Tacoma on guard and on the look out. Due to public attention, the man was caught a few days later and confessed to killing her. Her body was recovered. It was a tragedy that rocked the city. The Amber Alert helped catch the killer and gave the family closure, rather than never knowing what happened to her. There is now a park and playground a few blocks from her house named after her. I don't know that her abduction and murder would have been solved without the Amber Alert and people turning the man in.

 

[pridecity]

I do feel terrible for the Bobo family, as with any family (especially those who are still looking after a month). It sounds really crappy, but we all know that Holly Bobo probably died within the first week because she was really pretty, "Hot" even. After three days, the chances of finding her alive are slim, let alone three months.

It is hard to think about being in the position of knowing what probably happened and not being able to stop searching.

 

[jessicalb]

Mostly off topic, but I have never read anything that says that stranger abductors are morel likely to kill pretty people. Stranger abductors almost always kill the people they take, from what I have read.

 

[dionythicus]

It has nothing to do with the victim's appearance, pretty or ugly. It is entirely in the mind of the abductor/killer if they see something about that person that gets their attention. Sometimes its a power thing, maybe its about feeling possessive and wanting that particular victim, sometimes its just an urge. Gary Ridgeway killed women and girls of all ages and races. Ted Bundy had a particular look that he was after. Its not the victim's fault for being pretty.

 

[pridecity]

My reasoning is that someone as pretty as Holly Bobo would be noticed. If she was a runaway for example. It's like me. I'm not the best looking woman in the world. I'm no Megan Fox. I get noticed more often for my large bra size and my even larger mouth. I could disappear into a crowd a lot easier than Ms. Bobo because she probably turned heads everywhere she went.

Though you guys are right, looks don't have much to do with how soon a kidnapper/murderer will kill their victim, I just don't see her being alive.

 

[dionythicus]

I don't think she's alive, either. Most victims are killed within a few hours of being taken.

 

[Tara80]

I don't think she's alive, either. Most victims are killed within a few hours of being taken.

Exactly, statistically within the first hour.

 

[pridecity]

On CodeAmber.org, they haven't updated since March of 2008, however they do have some really old alerts:

Bryan Dossantos Gomes
December 1, 2006: The Fort Myers Police Department and the FDLE issued the Amber Alert after the child was abducted at knifepoint on December 1, 2006. As of December 12 the child is still missing. The Code Amber ticker has been deactivated per our policy.

Edwin Sanchez Gonzales, The state of North Carolina and the Chatham County's Sheriff's Office has issued an Amber Alert on October 1, 2006 after the child was taken during a home invasion robbery. As of October 9, 2006 the father and child are still missing. Four other suspects have been arrested in the case. The Code Amber ticker has been deactivated per our policy.

Joliet Cedano The CHP and the Palmdale Police Department issued the Amber Alert after the child was abducted on September 11, 2006. The whereabouts of the child and the suspect are unknown at this time. The Code Amber Ticker has been deactivated per our policy.

Danielle Jimenez The Texas DPS canceled the Amber Alert on Thursday afternoon, August 3, 2006 although the child remains missing. The whereabouts of the child and the suspect are unknown at this time. The Code Amber Ticker has been deactivated per our policy.

Reachelle Smith The girl remains missing and the suspect was found dead from an apparent suicide on May 24. The suspect vehicle was also recovered at that time. Authorities continue to search for the child. The Code Amber Ticker has been deactivated, per our policy, as of May 28, 2006.

Jesus Martinez Alvarado The boy remains missing and a warrant for the arrest of the suspect in the murder of the boy's mother has been issued. The Code Amber Ticker has been deactivated, per our policy, as of October 26 2004.

Laura and Jonathan Arciniega Although the Alert remains active, LAPD believes the suspects have left the country as of September 17, 2003.

And MissingKids.com only leaves alerts on their page for ten days before moving them to their missing kids page. Even these groups basically give up hope after 10 days. In my opinion, they don't just delete the info because it's really rude and there is still a really slim chance of finding them.

It does bring to mind that young woman who was kidnapped and kept in this man's backyard for over 10 years. I can't remember her name, but she had several of his children and was finally found. I want to say she's about my age. It is possible to find these kids, but if not found in the first few days the possibility drops. I'm talking both dead and alive.

 

[Dreamsnake]

One of my childhood friends vanished one day. Her parents were going through a messy divorce and she lived with her grandmother. It was believed that one of her parents took her. Some years later I saw her picture in Soul Asylum's Runaway Train video. Her name was Bonny. She had curly dark brown hair and bright blue eyes. I hope she's somewhere safe.

I watch my kids like a hawk.