Saturday, January 31, 2009

Trevor Morse, Monday4 the Missing


Las Vegas, land of glitter, glitz, gambling and gluttony! The excitement runs 24 hours a day, and on the Strip you never know what time it is with lights blaring brightly and the sound of slot machines giving a big payoff. That is what most of us picture when we hear "Las Vegas"! Not all of Las Vegas is littered with gamblers and it has become a wonderful, suburban, affluent place for families to raise their children in one of the largest and best school systems in the nation.

2006 was the year that Trevor Morse moved to Las Vegas from his home town of El Paso, Texas to work for a major contractor as an electrician during a year where housing and building was a booming business across the country, especially in Las Vegas. It's reported that Trevor did well for himself there and lived in an upscale area of west Las Vegas. He was not unhappy, depressed or suicidal.

What happened to Trevor Morse on May 5, 2007 after he called a taxi, leaving his car, keys, wallet, cash and credit cards in his home?

Trevor's family has outlined Trevor's daily life in the months before his disappearance and it shows that he purchased furniture, registered for classes, bought books, even bought pet turtles and a new car. It shows the day before Trevor vanished he did laundry and paid his bills. This doesn't sound like someone planning to walk away from a life he seemed happy with, nor someone planning a suicide.

Trevor's family made the long trip from El Paso to join searches, expecting to find at least a corpse, and warned to expect the worst. Video of Trevor exiting the taxi was made available, showing him walking away, looking back once more and continuing along his way, the opposite of what the family was told by detectives. According to them, Trevor was shown on video wandering aimlessly around the desert. Just one of many inconsistancies the family would hear from authorities.

Unfortunately the family was unable to forge a working relationship with detectives assigned to the case and have not been kept informed of new developments. As often happens with missing adults, the cases are given a very low priority and tend to sit idle while families are daily sitting on the edge waiting for a clue.

Trevor's father, Rick Morse states:
Since our return to El Paso any communication with defective Marin LVMPD has been spotty at best with him rarely returning our calls (nearly weekly) and not returning any e-mail. I was informed by defective Marin of a RUMOR that started three months after Trevor went missing that he was in a rehab in California. After the defective imparted this there has been no further contact with him, even though I’ve tried to contact him several times a week!
The strength of family will get them through, but there will remain a gaping void in their lives until there is news of what has happened to Trevor Morse.

Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance


  • Missing Since: May 5, 2007 from Las Vegas, Nevada


  • Classification: Missing


  • Date Of Birth: October 20, 1976


  • Age: 30


  • Height: 5'8"-5'10"


  • Weight: 165 lbs.


  • Hair Color: Brown


  • Eye Color: Blue


  • Race: White


  • Gender: Male


  • Distinguishing Characteristics: Small crescent scar
    on chin from childhood. Recently underwent Lasik corrective,
    eye surgery. Light complexion.


  • Clothing: Usually wears muscle T-shirts, blue jeans,
    orange and black baseball cap with "Ford Mustang" on it.


  • Case Number: 070508-2842


  • NCIC Number: M-236504733


  • Dentals: Not available



  • Investigating Agency
    If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
    Las Vega Metro Police Department
    Detective Marin
    (707) 828-5678

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    Saturday, January 24, 2009

    Bradley Olsen, Monday4 the Missing


    What were you doing when you were 26? Some readers may be in that age bracket, but I've been living twice that long, yet I can remember the days of being 26, drinking with my friends and closing the bar. What if it was January 19, cold and frigid, 8 degrees, your friends left earlier, and you were pretty well intoxicated? Wouldn't you call your friends, ask them to come for you, maybe call a cab? They say the first thing to go when you're drinking is your judgement, and being numb to the cold, maybe you would catch a ride with a stranger.

    All speculating aside, this is precisely what happened on a cold January 19 night in DeKalb, Illinois. Bradley Olsen vanished into the night, intoxicated, last seen in the parking lot looking for a ride home. No one knows if he got that ride or where he ended up that night. It's safe to say he didn't walk away from his family, his daughter, and his life.

    According to reports, Brad's family was on vacation, returned home on January 24, and when they had no contact with him, filed a missing persons report and started searches of the area around Bar One, the last place Brad was seen. The family had never been out of touch with Brad for more than a couple days, so it was totally out of character, and they feel he has been harmed.

    Something has definitely happened to him because he lived here with us,” his mother, Sue Olsen said. “There was never a 48-hour period where we didn't know where Brad was. Even whenever we would go out of town, he'd always call.”
    Sue Olsen, Brad's mother, describes him as always smiling, living life to the fullest. Brad's little girl sees his billboard and waves, telling her daddy "hi".

    Over the last two years, extensive searches have been made, over land, under water, air searches and scent dogs. Nothing has turned up as a clue to what happened to Brad. Hope is very powerful, but when it fades, families seek closure, they need to come out of limbo.
    "I would have never thought that when this all started we would be talking about a two-year anniversary," Maple Park resident Sue Olsen said Tuesday, her voice quivering.
    They will never give up the search for Brad, never stop looking for the answers to pass along to his daughter, never will they give up hope that he is found. There is a close knit family that is waiting, 2 years and 6 days as of this writing, and they need to know that Brad Olsen is resting in peace.

    The man with the infectious smile, the love of life, his family, and his daughter is out there somewhere. If you hold the key to finding him, please come forward and give this family the answers they need.









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    Tuesday, January 13, 2009

    Mary Badaracco, Monday4 the Missing





    written by Mary Badaracco's daughter, Beth Profeta

    My life was shattered 24 years ago. My mom,Mary Badaracco, vanished from her home. Yes I did say 24 YEARS! The last person that saw my mom alive, her husband of 14 years, STILL HAS NO COMMENT! This man, our ex stepfather, TOLD US TO "TELL NO-ONE and DO NOT GO TO THE COPS". He told us his lawyer would handle it, however...the only thing his lawyer did was slither into court and enter a motion for divorce on the grounds of desertion, only 9 days after mom supposedly disappeared, without reporting her missing. Meanwhile, he already had his mistress moved into my mom's house.

    About 10 days had already passed by the time I was finally told that my mom had supposedly "taken off" on August 20, 1984. I knew right away something was terribly wrong, I knew our mom would have never "taken off", not after all we'd been through together! I was also told her car remained at her home, a smashed windshield was evident, I suppose only to me, that foul play should be suspected as it was in the driveway, damaged.

    So I, (as usual) defied his orders and convinced my sister, who was still in a state of shock from being told the previous week by this ex family that our mom was missing, my only sister,who was told to especially not tell me that our mom was gone. Why would she comply? I feel she was scared to death that our worst nightmare
    had come true! The day had come that they went too far and really hurt our mom! Once I knew I told my sister that we must run, not walk, to the police!

    Throughout our moms 14year marriage to this man, she also raised all 4 of his kids. We were subjected to much domestic abuse from these sickos. By the time mom realized this, she didn't have a clue how to get away from him! Several times after he'd beat our mom severely we'd flee the home and stay with friends only for him to eventually find us and bring us back to that house, usually by threats and force, or as in one instance, having our Grandma by knife point, while my sis and I could only run and hide under the bed and cry.

    Back in the 60's and 70's she never reported this to police. Why would she? He is friends with the cops, he still is friends with people in high places, that's why this case is not solved!

    One crucial error the state police made is regarding our moms damaged car. The CSP investigator 1st on scene was "D B's" buddy. They believed him when he told them "the bitch took off and stole my money, too". He told one cop that mom broke the windshield of her car that was left at her house, but he was overheard telling another trooper that he did it! Although I kept asking about the car for over 20 years, I was like a frikken broken record. I insisted the police find this car, I knew it was a key piece of evidence! The police told me to find the VIN number and they would run a search, even though I later found out they, of course, had mom's license plate number the entire time. " D B" got rid of her car and was never even questioned about the whereabouts of this car!

    We have had our 1st arrest in all these years. A new state trooper has uncovered much information that has been concealed from us. (a relative of "D B" ) It's only a misdemeanor charge. I thought it was a start. This man is accused of interfering with a homicide investigation.

    We believe he buried moms car according to what police learned while interviewing this suspect. A huge excavation took place, 3 cars were recovered, unearthed from this mans backyard, but mom's car was not found. The suspect was scheduled to be in court Dec 5th to possibly accept a guilty plea and a $250 fine and
    wow- that's it! Why are we sending the message that it's ok to lie to state police investigators, you will basically just walk away!

    As mom's belongings were completely removed, not even a link ball remained of her. In her house, the day she "WENT MISSING" in1984, her belongings, as well as her remains, could be in that car! A few weeks back when the prosecutor told me they were just going to plea him out with that fine, I let him know how unhappy I was. I told him "D B" carries that in his left pocket daily, who is that going to hurt?

    I then decided I'd go to the court to see this for myself. However, his lawyer felt the need to pull something shady. On the morning of court last month, supposedly the day of this final continuance, after I drove almost an hour, his lawyer called in (after 9:30 am) and said they needed a new date as she has another murder case somewhere else and can not be there to represent him. I was so furious because this attorney had almost 2 months to get her calendar straight! I immediately asked to speak with the judge and my wish was granted, in her open court with the accused to my right!

    I suppose I watch too much TV because I thought my request would be a discussion, privately, in chambers! This was one of the hardest things I'd ever done, trying to be mom's voice in a court of law for the very first time in 24 years, I pleaded with the court to impose the maximum sentence!

    I keep hoping and praying that one day, someone with ovaries/testicles will truly hear my story, realizing something must be done, stand up beside me and help me fight this evil.

    Believe me, if I had ANY money, I would certainly have been paying for justice for my mom. I can only use every fiber of my being to right this wrong. I've tried to make this broken justice system work for my mother, my family! Something is seriously wrong when killers are allowed to get away with murder.

    In my case, not only do we know in our hearts who killed our mom, but they hid our moms remains somewhere. What kind of a monster does that! He also made my mother quit claim her home to him for $1 about 6 weeks prior to her disappearance, and he still resides in mom's house with his mistress, now wife. He took the home out of OUR moms name and gave it to his 3rd wife.

    I only want this case solved! The tragedy that happened to my family so long ago threw my sister and I into a state of shock we still feel to this day!

    We have been left shattered, still trying to put the pieces of ourselves back together. We thought this was supposed to be moms time for working so hard raising 6 kids and putting up with all the abuse all those years! 6 kids were grown and out of the house, this was supposed to be her time to enjoy life! But mom found out about the affair, and we believe she finally wanted out,like this was the last straw.

    This family took everything from us, our childhoods, our mother and even now he takes from my life!

    He (and those that keep his secret) also killed a part of me that day too. I have never been the same since my world was shattered in August 1984! My mother was the most beautiful spirit, she was always there helping anyone that needed anything! To further my pain and suffering,authorities made so many mistakes. I've pushed and screamed to be my mothers voice all these 24 years and now I'm being told that even this old state police trooper buddy has lawyered up!

    We know that there are people within the community, as well as several persons of interest that do have the missing puzzle piece that we need to solve this case.

    I struggle every day to get out of bed to fight for what's right ! Until I know exactly what happened to my mom and I know we've done everything possible to locate her remains, I will be tortured by this ongoing tragic event that occurred in 1984. I can only best describe this daymare as...my mom cries out to my spirit for help!

    I have been a wife and mom of 4 for 27 years. I am busy, but the disappearance and
    unsolved homicide of my mother, well, it is just there with me every single day, I feel the loss of her beautiful presence.

    I ask why have I been tortured by this for so long? Because my state has allowed this crime to go unsolved all these years. I continue to fight for my mom and those that I didn't even know, others that are missing. On behalf of my children, my goal is to show my kids, my nephew and my family that justice really does exist,decent people really do care!

    Please join me in a prayer that all of our missing loved ones will be returned to us. Pray that our lawmakers will assist us in making tougher laws. If society no longer knows the difference between right and wrong, then it is our obligation to remind them with a few more laws !

    Thank you Peace4 the Missing....4 being here 4 us!

    Please feel free to visit this daughter's promise to her mother...to NOT let people forget! www.marybadaracco.com

    Angel Hugz and Blessings!
    Beth

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    Thursday, January 8, 2009

    William (Billy) Smolinski, Monday4 the Missing

    In two days, January 14, William "Billy" Smolinski will be 36 years old.

    On August 24, 2004 Billy vanished.

    The most comprehensive series of articles about the disappearance of Billy Smolinski is written by Holliston of ZeroGossipand I urge everyone to read all of the entries to get the details of the story from the beginning to the present.

    This is a missing person's case that has been convoluted from the very beginning when Waterbury, CT police made the family wait three days before they would take a missing persons report. That was only the start of an uncooperative relationship ultimately leading to the arrest of Billy's mother, Jan, lost DNA samples, and Jan's relentless pursuit of the States Attorney and Governor of CT and contacting the FBI herself to get action.
    I just want to let you know if you ask anyone who knew me my life prior to Billy's disappearance, I was quiet, minded my own business and would not challenge. I was forced to either sink or swim and of course I chose the latter.
    Had Jan Smolinski not been the consummate mother, never, ever giving it a second thought to do everything in her power to search for her son, this case may have never even been opened. She has tirelessly, day after day, worked this case with tenacity in an effort to get answers about her son. Media outlets, bloggers, and writers have tried to get this story told, but officials and Waterbury in general, for some reason, don't want that.
    The media, with the exception of Billy's hometown newspaper, The Waterbury-Republican, has been excellent, Jan said. "I don't know why, but they (the newspaper) washed their hands of Billy. We went to see the state's attorney in Waterbury and asked him for help and his answer to us was 'you care about your son, but no one else does.' I never thought people in authority would ignore situations like this."
    Not only has Jan worked daily for Billy, but has given so much of herself to helping others in the same situation with nowhere to get answers. She has not only been instrumental in setting up vigils, making contact with organizations, making a quilt for the missing and speaking engagements, but she has reached out to our congressional leaders to change legislation nationally to benefit how missing persons cases are handled in the future.

    This entry has not turned into a spotlight for Billy Smolinski's mother, Jan, but a spotlight on what a family of a missing person often endures.We all want to change that.

    Every family of a missing son or daughter, mother or father, sister or brother wants to know that the tragedy they are experiencing is not in vain.

    Billy Smolinski will be 36 years old, he is a much loved son, brother and friend. The day he is found and brought home to his family will be the day they will rest their hearts, rest their minds and soothe their souls.

    Jan ends all of her correspondence, "Always Hope".

    We will always keep the hope alive, and the candle burning .

    From Jan Smolinski:
    On January 14 Billy would have been celebrating another birthday. This is the fifth birthday that has gone by without him. A senseless act of violence has taken him away. $60,000 is a BIG NUMBER put some dollars in your pocket by coming forward IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT HIS DISAPPEARANCE, it is all yours for the RECOVERY OR RETURN of our son. Happy Birthday Billy we love and miss you. Giving up is NEVER an option no matter how long it takes. 2009 is the year for answers. With God ALL things are possible. EVIL FLOURISHES WHEN GOOD MEN DO NOTHING

    William "Billy" Smolinski
    Missing: August 24, 2004
    Missing Age: 31 Years Old
    Sex: Male
    Race: White
    Hair: Light Brown
    Eyes: Blue
    Height: 6’0”
    Weight: 200 lbs.
    DOB: 01/14/73
    Missing From: Waterbury, CT USA
    TATTOO’S: A tattoo of a blue cross with the name Pruitt in the cross on left forearm, a tattoo of a blue cross with an orange outline on right shoulder. His left ear is pierced with a small diamond.
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    Monday, January 5, 2009

    Roxanne Paltauf, Monday4 the Missing

    An 18 year old, Roxanne was staying at a Budget motel with her boyfriend on July 7, 2006, they had an argument, she walked out and has never been seen again. According to Louis Walls, who was 30 at the time, he went back to the motel room to cool off, and later went out to look for her to no avail. The motel was in a rather run down area of Austin, Texas frequented by prostitutes and drug dealers, not an area for a young lady to feel safe. Roxanne is said to have left that motel room with nothing, no cell phone, no purse, no money, only in a pair of shorts, tank top and flip flops.

    The area is one where protests were held to take back the neighborhood and make it safe. At the rally was Roxanne's mother, Liz Harris, doing everything to get her daughter's information out to the people in the area. A billboard company donated their services so that Roxanne's picture is out in the public at all times in hopes of someone coming forward with information.

    What the public doesn't realize is the lengths a family has to go to gain exposure for a missing loved one. At 18, Roxanne is an adult and there is no law against just walking away from your family, but many times that's not the case and authorities don't always listen to the pleas of the family who know differently. The area from where she disappeard was searched extensively a few days after she was reported missing, but no evidence of Roxanne was found.

    Roxanne has three sisters and a brother who she was close to and they miss her greatly. It's highly unusual that she would be gone for so long without contact with her family. The family has so many questions that have gone unanswered since July 7, 2006 and pray that someone will come forward with information.

    January 3 was Roxanne's birthday. The family will celebrate yet another birthday without the guest of honor present. But Roxanne is always present in the hopes and dreams of her family until the day she returns to them.

    Happy Birthday, Roxanne.


    Name: Roxanne Elizabeth Paultauf
    AKA: Roxanne Paltauf
    Case Number: M0607006
    Case Type: Endangered
    Last Seen in: Austin (Travis County)
    Last Seen on: 7/8/2006
    Height: 5' 4 "
    Weight: 115 lbs.
    Age Missing: 18
    Eye Color: Green
    Hair Color: Blonde
    Date of Birth: 1/3/1988
    Race: White
    Sex: Female
    State Missing From: Texas
    Country Missing From: USA
    Circumstances: Ms. Paultauf was last seen wearing a pink tank top , light blue short and sandals.


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    Saturday, December 27, 2008

    Mystic Dawn Salazar, Monday4 the Missing

    This week's Monday4 the Missing features our Peace4 Loved One, Mystic...
    Mystic Dawn Salazar, written by Holliston of Zero Gossip

    Take a look at Mystic (pronounced Mystique) Dawn Salazar. She may very well be in your neighborhood but all is not well with this poor little girl. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children list her as missing by way of "family abduction." Her biological father, Enrique Arreolo-Lopez and his wife Melissa snatched her from a stable family environment to a life on the run. It all went down in Mesa County, Colorado on August 17. That's the last day Jennifer Davis, the woman Mystic knows as "mom" saw the 6-year-old. Complicated and convoluted doesn't begin to explain the young girl's life. She was born May 23, 2002. Her mother Twalla is the ex-wife of Jennifer's husband Amie. According to Jennifer, Twalla made an arrangement with Enrique after getting out of prison to get pregnant with the hopes of getting Amie back into her life--a "no strings attached" bio dad. Twalla did get pregnant but her attempt at getting Amie back didn't work. At the same time, Jennifer was also pregnant. She arranged her pre-natal visits around Twalla's so she could drive her to and from the doctors. When Mystic was born, Twalla brought her directly to Jennifer. While Twalla didn't give up custody, she would frequently bring the baby over to be cared for by Jennifer and Amie, who assumed the dad role in her life. Two years later, Twalla's parole ended and, according to Jennifer, started to disappear for stretches of time. "She'd drop her off in the morning and say she'd be back after work to pick Mystic up and then we wouldn't see her for days or weeks. In April 2007, I got a call from Twalla saying she had been arrested and was in jail. Mystic had been living with us full time the past 4 months." At the time, Mystic was 4 and Twalla had already signed over power of attorney's to us giving us guardianship for 6 month periods of time. And then she'd disappear. But we never thought twice because to us, Mystic is family, she's our daughter." Twalla remained in jail for 6 months. "When she was released, we filed a petition for custody with the courts. Twalla had been arrested for aggrevated assault and we couldn't have Mystic living in that environment. At that point, we didn't know the bio dad's name. We knew nothing about him. Twalla said that her arrangement with him was to get her pregnant and that he'd never be a part of Mystic's life. She also said he had been deported to Mexico. When we filed the petition, we found out he hadn't been deported and was still working at the restaurant where he met Twalla. This man, of course, is Enrique Arreolo-Lopez and he was married and had a son. In fact, Twalla filed a child support petition against him and was collecting thousands while Mystic was in the care of Jennifer and Amie. Eventhough he was paying, Enrique never tried to see Mystic." In February 2008, Jennifer and Amie went before a judge for the first time to get custody. "The judge granted Twalla visitation which included 2 hours for lunch and 2 hours for dinner 'at her discretion'. Enrique was to have no contact with Mystic until he had parenting introduction therapy. After that, if he chose to see Mystic, it had to be during a supervised therapeutic session. A legal representative was appointed to the child by the judge." In April, Mystic met Enrique for the first time--an hour and a half session with a therapist. "For some reason, the therapist found it necessary to include Twalla in the session, but I was not allowed to be in the building," Jennifer said. There were three other sessions and then the counselor agreed to allow unsupervised visits. "On the very first unsupervised visit with Enrique, they brought Mystic home wrapped in a fleece coat wearing a t-shirt and nothing else. They said she peed her pants during the visit. As they (Enrique and his wife, Melissa) were taking her out of the car in front of our house, with neighbors standing around, Melissa yelled, 'Maybe next time we can have a change of clean clothes in case she pees herself again.' Mystic looked mortified." Enrique would take Mystic for about 9 hours on Sundays. "When she'd come home, she'd be withdrawn and would get aggressive with the other kids," Jennifer said. All 5 Salazar children last Christmas (Mystic is girl on the right)

    In all likelihood, Mystic Salazar is relatively safe. This is not a high profile missing children's case like Caylee Anthony in Florida. But relatively safe and safe are two different things. Mystic was abducted by her biological father--a man who had nothing to do with her for most of her life. And Jennifer Davis, the woman Mystic knows as mom is trying desperately to find her. While a judge says Mystic should be with Jennifer and her husband Amie in Mesa County, Colorado, law enforcement disagrees. Why? Because the bio dad, Enrique Arreolo-Lopez fled before he was served with the legal papers. And no one knows where he is. The courts did grant Enrique and his wife Melissa visitation rights and those visits affected 6-year-old Mystic. "She would have nightmares after visits," Jennifer said. "She'd come into our room and crawl into bed with us. And that was not typical of Mystic. Sometimes she'd come home after a visit and was starving." At just 3'3 and 35 pounds, Jennifer said Mystic typically "eats like a bird." "On two different occasions, she came back from 9 hour visits saying she didn't eat at all. She said it was because her other daddy said there wasn't enough money for food today." Following those visits, Mystic would come home and eat as much as she usually ate in a day in one sitting. She was that hungry. "We would tell the counselor this and telling him something wasn't right. Instead the counselor pushed for more visits. Another counselor pushed for Mystic to spend Labor Day Weekend with Enrique. Enrique had been providing the counselor with pictures of a smiling Mystic. We saw the pictures and pointed out they were from Chucky Cheese. What child isn't going to have a good time there? Another picture was at her birthday party where she was given a lot of gifts. We pointed out to the counselor that they were the Disneyland parents. They get to come in and do all the fun stuff for one day. But they don't deal with the day to day life." It would get worse. "Shortly before they took her, she came home from a visit with a red mark across her throat. This was during a visit they weren't supposed to have. They showed up unannounced at Mystic's baseball game and freaked her out. She started screaming and crying. She told Amie she didn't want to go, holding onto him. Enrique and Melissa were trying to force her to go. So we compromised. We asked Mystic if it would be ok if they all had lunch together. After lunch I walked Mystic over to Enrique's car and told her it would be ok and to go have fun with daddy. Later that afternoon, when they returned her to us, she had what looked like a ligature mark across her throat. I asked her what happened and she said, 'mommy, I don't know.' She said she forgot. You could tell she was real shy about it. I called Enrique when Mystic was out of earshot and Melissa answered the phone. She wouldn't let me talk to him. I asked her what happened and she said Mystic didn't have that mark when she was dropped off. We took pictures and gave them to the counselor and the attorneys involved with her case. Nothing happened." In early August, the attorney assigned to Mystic came to Jennifer and Amie's for a home visit. While he was there, Twalla showed up to pick up Mystic for lunch. The attorney told her that she could only take Mystic for lunch but not dinner because it was too much for her. "When Twalla brought Mystic back after lunch she said she would be back for dinner," Jennifer said. "When I reminded her what the attorney said, she cussed me out and said I screwed up and would never see Mystic again. The next day, Enrique had his visit with Mystic. Things were kind of weird because they showed up in a new vehicle--a minivan. When they dropped her off at our meeting place near a grocery store, they pulled around to a gas station and left their van near the pumps where we couldn't see it. They walked Mystic across the parking lot to me. The very next weekend, August 17, Mystic freaked out while I tried to get her ready to go for her weekly visit. She was screaming and crying and refused to get into the shower. She cried the whole way from our house to the store where we were meeting Enrique. The visit was supposed to be from 9:30 to 5:30. I showed up at 9:20 and we sat there waiting. I sat in the back of our van with Mystic holding her because she was crying. I was trying to reassure her that she would go and have fun. At 9:45, I decided to pull away figuring Enrique wasn't going to show. Then I had second thoughts because I thought that if I prevented the visit, we'd lose Mystic. So I stopped and waited for about another 10-15 minutes. Then Enrique came walking up with his son Manuel. There was no vehicle in sight. He said Melissa was at the counselor's signing papers. I had to literally pry Mystic's arms off of me because she was screaming that she didn't want to go. Enrique walked away with her and Mystic turned back to me a yelled, 'mommy, I love you can I have a hug?' Enrique let her give me a hug and I told her I loved her and that when she came home, we'd get ready for her first day of school the next day. They walked away and that was the last time I've seen her." That night, Jennifer returned to the meeting place to pick up Mystic. She waited from 5:25 until 7:55. "I waited. I didn't leave that spot. I called Enrique's phone and it went straight to voicemail. I called the attorney and the counselor emergency number. I finally got a call back from the counselor's business partner and she said the counselor had been out of town for the past couple of days. What we found out later was that Melissa had dropped off her two children with their dad because he had custody. He said when she dropped them off, the van they were driving was loaded down with their stuff. They told him they were moving to Texas and they'd be back every 6 weeks to see the kids. She said she was going to nursing school. We also found out that although she had been telling people she was a nurse and worked in a doctors' office, she was, in fact, a receptionist, not a nurse. We also found out she had been arrested 10 years ago for shoplifting and using her children to do it which is why she lost custody." The Mesa County Sheriff's Office doesn't think a crime was committed. "They said, because Enrique is her biological father, he has every right to have her. When we showed them the minute orders from court, the deputy asked me 'how do I know you didn't type that up on your own computer?' I couldn't believe it. There was a possible sighting of Mystic in town back in September. When I called the sheriff's office, they said there was no crime and they couldn't do anything. Mystic's court appointed attorney won't return our calls." Two days after Enrique vanished with Mystic, the court issued an order that authorizes law enforcement to turn Mystic over to Jennifer and Amie if she's found and granting legal custody to them. "Law enforcement here in town say it's not valid," Jennifer said. "Because Enrique hasn't been served with it." Enrique, as you recall, fled town and no one knows where he is. So, a technicality, and lack of common sense is keeping Mystic on the run. Jennifer, Amie and her family aren't sitting back. They are doing all they can trying to overcome the law enforcement obstacles and trying to find their little girl. Without the help of police makes it that much more difficult. You can help if you spot her. Call any of these numbers immediately and help get Mystic home where she belongs. L.E.A. - Mesa County Sheriff Dept. Telephone Number - (970) 244-3500

    ID Info - Mystic is a bi-racial, white/Hispanic female, 3' 3" tall, weighs 35 pounds, has straight light brown hair and green eyes. She has a silver bottom tooth, and her ears are pierced.

    Circumstances - Mystic may be in the company of her non-custodial father, an adult female, and a male child. They may be traveling in a gold 2000 Chrysler Voyager with Colorado license plates 355SGZ.

    If you see this missing child or know where he or she is located, please contact the Child Protection Education of America, Inc. at (866)USA-CHILD or the law enforcement agency above.
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    Saturday, December 20, 2008

    Jesse Warren Ross "Opie"



    Jesse Ross looks like the "All American" college kid, a good kid, who with red hair, freckles and an infectious smile earned him the nickname, "Opie". He excelled in his classes at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and was attending a mock United Nations conference in Chicago with 13 of his fellow students. A sponsor had just promised them a trip to Costa Rica, an exciting adventure for Jesse and his friends. Jesse Ross has a promising future ahead of him and proud parents and a family who shared so much.

    On November 20, 2006, Jesse phone his mother to let her know the conference was going well and he was enjoying himself. He was the type of son that always kept in contact with his family, especially confiding in his mother, Donna.

    The students were staying at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel in the downtown are of Chicago close to the river. There was a dance and parties before a mock emergency meeting scheduled at 2am.

    Sources say that around 2:30am Jesse got up to take a 30 minute break, walked out of a side door to a well lit walkway. Surveillance cameras recorded him leaving out that doorway. 12 hours later his roommate realized that Jesse had not returned to their room at the Four Points Sheraton but figured he must have been in someone else's room for the night,so he packed up Jesse's belongings for him thinking that the gesture would be appreciated.

    Jesse was not in the hotel, Jesse was gone.

    Don and Donna Ross and their son Andy are left with so many unanswered questions. Chicago police provided extensive searches of the area surrounding the hotel with no results. How can a young man simply vanish in the middle of a busy city?

    Faith is the glue that holds this family together today. Hope and faith that one day Jesse will just walk in the front door.

    "We pray for a sign, anything," Donna said. "We pray, 'If he is in heaven with you, that's not my first choice, but God, please give us a sign. Send me an e-mail, a phone call, something. We have to know that he's OK and with you.'

    "When you lose someone you love when they pass on, you grieve and then you move on with your life," Donna said. "We are nowhere. We are still stuck in that revolving door. We know nothing more than we knew that first day."

    So the search continues, hope continues, life is moving forward, but for the Ross family there is something huge missing, their son Jesse "Opie" Ross. They miss his presence, his humor, his love and life will never be the same for them until they know where Jesse might be.

    The family is asking for your help. November 21st was the date of the Opiefest3 and the date that a petition and post cards were sent to the Mayor of Chicago pleading for help in Jesse's case. Please take a minute, write to the Mayor at:

    Chicago Mayor's office
    121 N LaSalle St. #507
    Chicag, IL 60602


    If you don't have the time or a stamp to mail a letter you can email your response to Jesse's family and they will make sure to send them on.


    doktordsbc@aol.com



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