Project Jason-Voice for the Missing

Home for the Holidays: Randa Jawhari 1/10/2010

2010-01-10T16:38:00.003-06:00

Randa Jawhari, missing from Fenton, MI since 2/10/2009

I come from a large family. There are 8 kids in our family, 7 girls and 1 brother. Randa is 3^rd from the youngest born, and has a fraternal twin sister. This has been a very difficult year, since Randa has been MISSING since February 11^th, 2009. It’s been almost 9 months now, without any clues left behind of her whereabouts.

I’m finding it very hard to celebrate any occasion; I have not celebrated any birthdays, holidays or special days since Randa’s disappearance. Since Randa’s disappearance the days that seem to bring joy to so many people, are the days that bring grief for my family and I.

When Mother’s Day came around, I was weakened by the day. I just couldn’t face my mother or Randa’s daughter. How do you comfort someone, when you need comforting yourself? I called my mother and apologized, but I was grateful to know my mother’s sister’s came from Ohio to spend the day with my mother. My mother still cries every time I see her. I can only imagine what my mother is going through.

Randa’s daughter Mattilyn, turned 7 in April, which is the same month as my birthday. Although my mother did have a birthday gathering with Matty’s friends, I went there to help my mother. It was a very sad day for my mother and me, because we tried hard all day to put our best face on for Matty. Matty’s birthday was considered a huge holiday for Randa. I think Randa thought it should have been declared a national holiday. Randa would immediately start thinking of Matty’s next birthday celebration after Matty’s birthday.

It was difficult on my birthday as well. My family and I agreed not to buy birthday gifts for each other, since our family was increasing. We decided we would only buy gifts for the children in the family, but not the adults. Randa didn’t agree to it, because every time our birthdays came around, Randa would still buy gifts, even though she lived on a minimal income. Randa’s heart was a giving one; that is my sister; that is my friend; that is the person I want to scream to the people that don’t know her.

Easter came around as well. Randa had so much faith. I believe she had more faith than my whole family did. She was a prayer warrior. I have not been back to Church since her disappearance. It’s not that I don’t believe anymore, but I had prayed for Randa the morning of her disappearance, before I had known she had disappeared. I just believe no matter how much you pray for someone, God is still going to allow things to happen anyway. I do know I still love Him, and I don’t want to live without faith, but I can’t understand this. I hear it all the time that everything happens for a reason, and it is always for the best, it is for something we need to learn, but you have to believe. I don’t know what I need to learn, but I do know whatever it is I need to learn, it is not worth the pain, it’s not worth losing my beautiful sister.

We celebrated Randa’s and Ghada’s birthday in June, by having a prayer vigil for Randa. That day just didn’t seem right, a day always meant to be celebrated, and was celebrated by a vigil. It was a good reason, to have the news media come, just to get my sister back in the news. Now we look for reason to get Randa back in the news. We have one billboard in Fenton, on the expressway, and hopefully we’ll have another one up on another expressway. It is the billboard that is still keeping the public aware my sister is still missing. As many times as we have posted and reposted flyers, people still bring them down. The billboard and flyers are difficult for my family and me to see. It feels like a stab in the heart every time we pass them, but it is something necessary when you have a missing loved one disappear.

Holidays are difficult. When someone you’ve loved your whole life is missing. My family and I have not celebrated anything. I don’t want to celebrate anything. I don’t ever want to take another family picture again, I just can’t do it. The prayer vigil for Randa was the first and last time my family has been together in one place. That was appropriate, I could handle that, but I can’t handle a family gathering right now with Randa still missing.

My favorite holiday memory that I have of Randa, is New Years Eve. We had a family member that had been struggling with drug addiction who was in rehab at the time. Randa and I dedicate that night to her, and said we would not drink any alcohol all evening. While everyone in club was drinking and acting stupid, Randa and I stuck to our plan, and had more fun than everyone else in the club. I think we were the only two straight people there. I miss her!!! Randa loved the holidays because she always looked forward for any reason our family would get together. She just loved hanging out with the family.

My favorite present that I had given Randa, and my favorite present Randa has given me, is the love that we had for each other. I love her so much. Randa is a beautiful jewel in the midst of our family. I have had a history of painful events within my lifetime, but if I added all my painful events that have happened in my lifetime, it would not equal to the pain of not knowing where Randa is, or what happened to my sister. This is different than anything I have ever experienced. I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy. Life still continues to go on. Sometimes I wish the world would just stop to catch my breath. I am still working; I just started to go back to school, which I was in the process of doing before Randa’s disappearance. I had to put it on the back burner for a while. I am trying to keep myself as busy as possible, I think being busy is good for me, but no matter how busy I may be, my sister is always on my mind and in everything I do. Sometimes I can do nothing but feel the pain of Randa missing. This is pain that is indescribable, I can’t explain it, I can only feel it.

I know tragedy happens where people don’t always have an opportunity to say good-bye, with sudden deaths, but they have closure in knowing what happened to their loved ones. I consider people to be blessed in having an opportunity to say good-bye to their loved ones. I have a need within me to let Randa how I feel. I have regrets in wanting Randa to know how sorry I am. I miss her voice. I miss her face. I miss hugging her, I miss our talks, and I miss her phone calls, which I received almost every day from her. I miss everything about her, I feel as though there is a void within me that Randa can only fill. I feel as though I’ve contracted an incurable disease, and Randa is the only cure to save me.

Where I find strength to continue to search for Randa is the fact that we haven’t discovered the worst case scenario. She is still missing and anything is possible. I find strength in every time I am doing something in her search. Whether posting a poster, calling on the media, writing this letter, or anything else I can do in helping in the search for my beautiful sister. I don’t feel good in doing nothing. I have to answer to myself, to Matty, my mother, my family and to Randa, to say one day that I have done everything in my power in trying to find Randa. I will never give up, no matter where I go; I’m always looking for my sister.

Yes, the holidays are among us. What do I say about that? I have nothing to say to that, my sister is missing.

To all those that have missing loved ones, I feel your pain. May we all find the answer to the question of what happened to those we’ve loved our whole life. May God give us the strength in knowing the truth!!!

Sincerely,

Naheda Jawhari

Learn more about Randa

Home for the Holidays: Pam Biggers 1/7/2010

2010-01-07T23:11:00.003-06:00

Pam Biggers, missing from 1/28/2008 from Panama City, FL

The holidays are upon us once again, and once again my sister, Pam, isn’t here to share in them. The lives of Pam’s family have a huge hole in them on a daily basis though the holidays are even more difficult.

Pam was always the one that took charge and planned for the family holiday dinners and events. This year would be especially full of treasured holiday moments for Pam and her husband, Don, if she were here.

This past year our family was blessed with two beautiful gifts. Their names are Braylen Cody Biggers, born to Zachary and Brittney Biggers on December 17^th, 2008 and Jesse Dylan Biggers, named after Pam’s dad, Jesse Pendley, who passed away 6 months after his daughter went missing. Jesse Dylan was born to United States Marine Cpl. Jacob Biggers and his wife, Brittany on October 6^th, 2009.

Each of Pam’s sons now have sons of their own. They are sunshine to our grieving hearts. They are a sweet relief from the nightmare that became a part of our life when Pam disappeared. I want so very much for them to know Pam and to know the love that she would have for them. There is nothing that would bring Pam more pleasure than to know that she is a grandmother.

I don’t want to give up the hope that Pam will be found and the hope that she could sweep those two baby boys into her arms and love them and know them and feel the joy that they bring. I desperately want that for them and I want it for Pam.

Pam is my big sister, two years older than me. I have shared holidays with her my whole life until last year. I miss her deeply. My mom, my brother, her husband, her children, her friends and family, we all miss her more than words can tell.

It is difficult to go on not knowing where Pam is or if she is safe and not knowing if Braylen and Jesse will ever know the sweet love that their Nana Pam would bring to their lives.

Written by Paula, Sister of Pam

Learn more about Pam

Home for the Holidays: Joshua Smith 1/5/2010

2010-01-05T00:43:00.005-06:00

Joshua Smith, missing from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL since 11/4/2000

Christmas and Joshua

Written by Vicki Smith, mother of Joshua

Out of all my children, the one who loved Christmas the deepest was Josh. He seemed to feel that true Christmas mystique and magic as a child…..the excitement often drove him to total distraction.. Each and every Christmas throughout his childhood, Joshua was the one who provided us with the glimpses into Christmas through dreams dancing with sugar plums. Oh only a few lucky ones of us have those kinds of dreams!

Once, on a Christmas Eve that seems so long ago now, Joshua came wandering down the stairs well after we knew him to be sound asleep. “What’s the matter, Josh?” his daddy asked. “I don’t know, Dad”, Josh said. “I just couldn’t sleep. Excited I guess.” Then he sat beside me.(happily Santa had not yet paid his visit) So, Josh sat there on the floor watching the fire and then he decided to sing a Christmas Carol. No lights were on....just the glow of our tree and the fire dying down in the fireplace. We all remember those little boy voices that sound so innocent and carry throughout the house like a beautiful little angel had swooped by to pay us all a visit, right? And then, one by one, the other two drifted into the room, pulled to us by that clear and sweet little voice softly singing, we think.

But who really knows what really woke all three of them on the Christmas Eve night? Joshua might have told you that one of Santa’s reindeer pawed too loudly on the roof..or shook it’s head and the sleigh bells were a little too loud that year. And again, one by one, each of them joined in and there we were having a moment that couldn’t have turned out more beautifully if we had planned it.

Josh led his “choir” the rest of the time choosing each song and coaching the little ones with the words....his excitement, as always, carrying us through that night! And finally, sleep seemed to creep in and each one fell into slumber once again. Their daddy carried the boys and I picked up the baby, my daughter, and up the stairs we went. And this is when we think the distraction part joined the Christmas party...Josh woke up just enough to walk into his room and - Gasp - shut the door, which had a broken latch on it and could not be opened from the inside!

When Christmas morning rolled around, and Josh tried to open his door to come and see the gifts....he was panic stricken!! He just knew that Christmas would pass him right on by and he’d miss it all, but good old dad eventually saved the day and took off the door knob so that Joshua could join his siblings for the great reveal!!

Later we commented on how he calmed down after his initial panic at being trapped, and he said: ”Yeah..I got to thinking about it and looked over at my manger scene I made a church and got to thinking about how Christmas really is suppose to be about Jesus being born, not about me getting stuff and I just stopped being afraid!”

So, that even today when I think of Joshua being gone from us for so long now, I remember his faith, his joy at that Christmas time, and I remember to express my own gratitude to God for not only His Son, but for mine as well. Merry Christmas Josh, where ever you are. We love you. Even though no celebration will ever be alright without you here, those special Christmas memories carry us along each year as we dream of your return to us: The greatest gift we ever could receive.

Learn more about Joshua

Home for the Holidays: Amber Dubois 1/1/2010

2010-01-01T14:14:00.004-06:00

Amber Dubois, missing from Escondido, CA since 2/13/2009

CHRISTMAS JOY

The celebration of Christ’s birth has always been a special time, but the blessings of Christmas filled me with renewed appreciation of life when my granddaughter, Amber Leeanne Dubois, was born 15 years ago. My own Mother had died just before Christmas the prior year, and Amber brought back Christmas Joy to our entire family.

It became a tradition that Amber spend the week before Christmas with me, and, by last year that included Amber’s little sister and her two cousins–4 lively granddaughters aged 14, 11,8 and 5. I live in a very small house and every square foot is decorated and filled with presents by the time they arrive for the holiday.

Usually, I take dozens of photos during this week, but the appearance of my camera on the first day resulted in a chorus of “no pictures”, with Amber leading the revolt by covering over her face with a pillow. I put away my camera, knowing that I was gifting Amber with a great camera and she would use it to the fullest once the gift was opened.

It rained that entire week. Torrents. The girls had planned to ride but the mud was too thick for the horses and could not be considered. The girls wanted to take the horses their Christmas carrots so we waded through to the nearby stable to give the treats to Rojo and Sally on December 23rd. Returning home, wet and muddy, required showers and robes and pj’s.

Amber’s favorite robe is an old one of mine. The royal blue color makes her lovely eyes shine even bluer. The robe has a jolly frog on the front and back. She loves to snuggle into it. All cleaned up, we all settled down to read, play with hand held electronic games, or,with Ariel, Amber’s Labrador who lived with me in her old age.

The younger girls rearranged the Christmas manger scene still another time. The statutes have been chipped by the hands of my three daughters and now by the grand children over these past 46 years, but, their little hands have always been gentle with baby Jesus and there is not a chip to be found on Him.

As I sat looking at these beloved children, my blessings seemed larger than I could express. I wanted so much to take photographs to keep these precious images forever fresh, but, I did promise to put my camera away. Being a teenager and extremely bright, Amber was quick to point out possible alternatives to situations. I decided to do the same having noticed my phone was on the table next to me. I set it for a photograph and quietly said “Amber.” She turned her head towards me and I took the photo as she exclaimed “Oh, Grandmom!” We had a good laugh after that but I had to promise no phone photos either, and I did so.

It never entered my mind that this might be the last time I would be able to take a picture of her? I hope and pray that it is not.

Amber’s Grandmom

Sheila Welch

Paramount, CA

Note: Amber has been missing since February 13, 2009, from Escondido, CA

www. HelpBringAmberHome and www. BringAmberHome

Home for the Holidays…

When I first received an e-mail which asked me to write a letter about our home during the holidays, I paused for a moment to think back on the last few holiday seasons. For about a minute or two I had a smile on my face which very quickly turned into about an hour or two of nonstop tears.

Since the morning of Friday, February 13^th, 2009 everything in our life got turned upside down. On that Friday morning, our daughter Amber, while walking on her way to school, went missing. Amber was last seen about 200 yards from the front gate of her school by two adults who know who she is. Unfortunately, she never made it that final 200 yards.

It has now been over eight months that our precious angel has been gone. There are no words that can describe the sadness and utter frustration that a family goes through when they don’t know where their loved one is. During the past eight months we went through Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, the entire summer, and we are now 2 days away from Amber’s 15^th Birthday. It feels like each of these difficult days is harder than the last. As we reach the final months of the year we are going to be dealing some of Amber’s favorite days of the year. Her birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and of course there is Christmas.

Over the last few years as the kids in the family all became teenagers, Christmas time has changed from being all about the presents to being about the enjoyment of having the family together. Our family enjoys the fun and laughter centered on the games we play every year and of course the great food we always have. One game we play every year that everyone loves is the 7/11 game. In this game you need a present which has been gift-wrapped about 7 or 8 times, 2 dice, and something like a shoebox to roll in. You pass the box and dice in a circle with each person rolling the dice when it’s their turn. When someone rolls a 7 or 11 they jump up and put on a scarf around their neck, a beanie on their head, and 2 large oven mittens on their hands and attempt to unwrap the present. As the dice continue to go around in a circle, whenever a 7 or 11 is rolled, that person jumps up and takes the props from the last person and takes over the un-wrapping of the present. Whoever finishes unwrapping the present gets to keep the present. Sounds simple, but it is not easy to open and everyone has a great time playing. We have several of these types of games that we play and it truly makes for a fun day.

I can’t even begin to imagine what this holiday season will be like if Amber is still missing and not home with her family. The neighbors all know when we are playing our games; they can hear the screams and laughter from the street. This year all that will be heard is an uncomfortable silence that will echo the sounds from the last couple of years and of the sound of a certain missing laugh from our precious Amber.

Written by Amber's parents, Maurice and Carrie

Learn more about Amber

Snohomish County Jane Doe 1/1/2010

2010-01-01T14:09:00.003-06:00

Posted at the request of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.

They state that DNA, dentals, and fingerprints are entered in the appropriate national databases.

Please visit our site at http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=7700.0
for more information.

Help give her a name.

Home for the Holidays: Randy Spring 12/29/09

2009-12-29T22:27:00.005-06:00

BRING THEM HOME FOR THE HOLIDAY

Randy Spring, missing from Whitewater, CA since 10/10/1988

BRING THEM HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

I am the mother of Randy Spring who disappeared on Oct 10,1988. Randy spent six years in the U.S. Army serving in South Korea, Colorado Springs and Hawaii. He was discharged March 1988 and we were all happy that he would be home this year for the holidays, however, things changed and Randy decided he would like to go camping and hiking in the San Jacinto Mountains, near Whitewater, CA. I took him to the place where he wanted to be dropped off and only expected him to be gone for a few days, after 10 days and no word from Randy the Sheriff Office was notified. They did a search but with no results. Randy had shown me maps where he was going but after all these years I feel he never went hiking at all. Did he meet someone or did something happen-only God knows.

I kept thinking he would come home anytime especially for Christmas as Randy always sent cards and presents for the family while he was serving in the military. The first Christmas after his disappearance I got him a new radio (boom box) and had it all set up in his room and many presents under the tree, but many Christmas have passed with no word. Randy always loved to decorate and I remember him showing us pictures of his bunk and how he decorated it for Christmas.

I have made an album of Randy, baby pictures, school pictures and military pictures. There are pictures of his first haircut, riding the merry-go-round and sitting in his rocking chair. One Christmas when he got his first bike with training wheels, getting his hot wheels and Randy and his brother, Rick playing on the floor with them, visiting Santa Claus. Have many Christmas cards Randy made in school “Merry Christmas Mom from Randy”; one reads “Merry Christmas Mother” From Randy to Mom. He made a Valentine that reads “Be My Valentine I love you.” You know it.

I will never give up hope that one day Randy will be home and our family will be complete again. Our family will never stop searching for him and I know God knows where he is and I pray that his whereabouts will be revealed soon. There are members of our family that Randy has never seen and one of his niece’s has a son named after Randy.

I only cope with Randy missing with the help of God’s love and the peace he gives me and I must go on for the rest of the family, which consists of my daughter and two other sons. We all love and miss Randy very much, we miss his laughter and his willingness to always help someone, and he was always there for his family and especially for his mother.

Arlene Spring, Mother of Randy

Learn more about Randy

Home for the Holidays: Beverly Meadows 12/27/09

2009-12-27T14:27:00.010-06:00

Beverly Meadows, missing from Marshall, TX since 12/26/2008

A Christmas and Birthday Message for Beverly

"We love you and we miss you so very much each and every day."

"Christmas will not be the same without you. Also, we hope and pray that we will be able to give you a hug and tell you Happy Birthday this year - December 31, 2009."

My daughter, Beverly Meadows, has been missing since December 26, 2008. She was a resident at the Community Care Nursing Home in Marshall, Texas, and it is believed that she walked out of the Nursing Home that evening. We have not had one clue as to her disappearance. No one has seen or heard from her since that date. The last time I saw Beverly was on Christmas Day and the last time I talked to her on the telephone was the day she disappeared. I told her I would see her before her Birthday which was December 31. Beverly and I talked on the phone almost every day of the week. The only place that I believe Beverly would have wanted to go would be to her home which is about twenty miles from the Nursing Home. She didn't make it to her home and we have looked constantly with no leads as to where she could be.

Christmas has always been a very special time for our family. Beverly has one brother and one sister and several nieces and nephews. She has always shown her love to each and every one of them. We would always gather as a family and spend the day together, eating Christmas dinner with special treats (not worrying about the calories - we would count those on another day) and opening gifts from each other. This year we will still get together as a family but there will be a great big hole in our hearts and a silence that Beverly always seemed to fill with her laughter and joy of the simple things of life that lots of people seem to take for granted.

One thing we could always count on was that Beverly would want to go out and look at all the Christmas lights. She loved just going out and driving through the streets and seeing all the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations. We would drive for hours just looking and enjoying them. Now I have already begun to see the Christmas decorations and I have to stop and get control of my feelings before I can continue down the street because I look over at the empty seat in the car and know how much my heart hurts because she is not there. I always tell her right then and there that I love her and miss her.

Beverly still has her home on a rural street in Texas and her brother and his family lives on that same street. When Beverly and I would drive down that street going to her home all of the little animals would actually follow our vehicle and wait for her to get out of the car so she could pet them. They knew the vehicle and who might be in it. Picture this - dogs, cats, and little ducks in a row just following along behind the vehicle just waiting for Beverly to hug them and give them a little special treat that she always had ready and waiting for them. The little horses and goats would be waiting by the neighbor's fence to see Beverly. She always filled the bird feeders as soon as she got home and we would sit on her front porch and watch all the beautiful birds come and get their bird seeds. To this date, the little animals still follow my vehicle down her street but as soon as I open the door they know she is not there. How very sad to know that they miss her, too. It was not unusual for Beverly to receive a bag of bird seed as a Christmas gift or a bag of cat or dog food because she would definitely make sure that all the little animals were fed. Beverly has had many pets during her lifetime, always treating each one so special and giving each one their own special name and in return she received unconditional love from all of them. Now, all of her pets have passed on to Pet Heaven through the years. She only had one sheep left to care for when she went missing so because we couldn't give him the care he needed we gave him to a nice family who promised to care for him.

Beverly always went shopping for Christmas cards early and sent them out early. The first Christmas card to be received in the mail box would be from Beverly and you would know it was meant especially for you and you could open it up and it would be playing Christmas music. Now even to this date, Beverly is still getting cards in her mailboxfor all occasions from friends who do not want to believe that she is really gone. They say when she gets back home she will open them so I put them in a box and save them for her and hope some day she will be able to read them. Even though Beverly was not seeing these friends because she was embarrassed to be in a Nursing Home and she had gained a little weight but they were still sending her cards in the mail and she always looked forward to opening her mail box and finding them. They knew she was a beautiful, kind-hearted, caring person - both inside and out. I always think of Beverly as a good example of how the people in the world should treat each other and it would be a much better place to live.

We have found in our daily search for Beverly that most people want to surround themselves by people who make them feel good so they turn their heads and look the other way. Or, they ask how old she is and as soon as they know she is not a child they lose interest. I always have to say that a daughter is still your child or a son is still your child and the more years you have with them - the more memories that you have to remember. I am sorry but right now I can't pretend to be happy just to make others feel good. Also, I have found that most people do not know what to say when I tell them that my daughter is missing. I understand this because I have thought back to the time before Beverly was missing and tried to think of what I might have said to someone and it is very hard. But the one thing I would have asked if there is any way I can help in your search. I would have followed through by doing something that was helpful. It really hurts when people say they will help and never show up to offer a helping hand.

One thing I do is look at each and every face of the people I meet today. Not only looking for Beverly but for other people who are missing. I saw a girl in a store that looked so much like my daughter, I turned around and talked to her and told her that my daughter is missing and she ended up giving me a hug - which meant a lot to me. One thing that is extremely hard to do is go to Walmarts because that is where Beverly and I would go shopping almost every week for necessities for her and treats for the little animals. It is very difficult to walk down the aisles in the store now without thinking of her and wiping away the tears. I always take a handful of tissues and I usually make my trips to the store short.

My husband and I rented a vehicle for several days and drove over six hundred miles searching for Beverly and handing out posters. Our vehicle is getting a little old and we use it now for shorter trips each week. We went to some major hospitals and we drove to a lot of little towns and told people about Beverly. On a road in Texas, I saw a girl standing outside starting to get in a big truck with a guy and she looked so much like my daughter, same hair, same face, same clothes - just so much resemblance. I drove down the road a short distance and looked at my husband and said, "I have to go back and talk to that girl and see if she is Beverly." After turning around and going back and talking to the girl standing by the truck I knew she wasn't my daughter. She understood and I told her to please tell her family the things she needs to tell them today because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Thank goodness, my husband - Beverly's stepfather - always goes with me no matter where I go and is always there for me. Well, actually, he doesn't go through all the wooded areas I search because he is afraid of snakes. Oh, by the way, I am also afraid of snakes but I have only come face to face with a couple of snakes and they were just as afraid of me as I was of them. I have also spoken to many homeless people living in the edge of the woods in the most unexpected places. I always talk to them and ask their name and where they are from and if they are missing and if there is anyone I can contact for them or is there anything I can do to help them.

This Christmas is going to be the toughest Christmas I have ever lived through but I have to maintain my sanity and realize that I have other family members who need me. We are going to celebrate Christmas at their homes and my husband and I will be there to let them know that we are here for them, also. Beverly's biological Dad passed away on February 19, 2005, and he will be remembered by all the family. It was so extremely hard for Beverly to lose her Dad because she loved him unconditionally and talked about him all the time and missed him so very much.

I can look in every room in my home and see things that Beverly has bought me for past Christmas - especially beautiful pictures and little statues of angels. Beverly always bought Christmas gifts for lots of people but the one special gift that she bought for me was for Mother's Day. It is a balloon that has these words printed on it - Mom, admit it! I am your favorite, aren't I? Signed by Beverly Theresa, Happy Mothers Day - 1987. This balloon is twenty-two years old and still has not lost its shape. I also have a picture of Beverly that was taken on that same Mother's Day in 1987.

This is the first Christmas that Beverly has been missing but it seems like it has been two because she was missing the day after Christmas last year. The shock and trauma that we suffered that day when we found out Beverly was missing has erased the memory of that Christmas. My heart goes out to all of the people who have lived through years and years without their loved ones. Unless you have lived through the agony of not knowing where your loved one is there is no possible way you could understand how heart-wrenching it really is. I can definitely say that time passing does not make it any easier.

The first few months Beverly was missing I couldn't eat because I thought she may be hungry, when I was cold - I wondered if she was out there in the cold. My mind is constantly thinking of where she could be - is she hungry - is someone helping her -is she being held against her will - is she out there taking care of someone else -or is she already in Pet Heaven - taking care of all the little pets that she loved so very much. Yes, when my mind has to go there, I can picture her holding and caring for the little pets.

This Christmas we are planning to release twelve red heart balloons (one for each month that Beverly has been missing) and we will write on each one to express how much we love and miss her. We released balloons at the Cue Center National Road Tour stop in Bossier City, Louisiana, on August 20, 2009, and it was such a lasting memory. It was an amazing feeling just watching them climb higher and higher into the sky. At that time I knew that if Beverly was still missing on Christmas Day, we would be releasing balloons for the one year mark.

I agree, it has been extremely hard writing this because I have to actually put the words on paper of the thoughts that wonder through my mind each and every day. Sometimes I wonder if I were terminally ill if I could actually lay down and die not knowing where my daughter is and if she is ok. As long as I am alive I will be searching for her. For each day that Beverly is missing, I put another penny in a jar. Beverly loved dropping pennies in my path so each time I find one I know she has placed it there. When all is said and done, "Little things really do mean a lot!"

Thank you so very much to Project Jason for giving me the opportunity to put some of my thoughts into writing so that others can have a glimpse into Beverly's life and my life since she has been missing.

Liz Lingenfelter
Beverly Meadows' Mother

Learn more about Beverly

Home for the Holidays: Bobbi Ann Campbell 12/24/09

2009-12-24T22:43:00.005-06:00

Bobbi Ann Campbell, missing from Salt Lake City, UT since 1/7/1995

My mom, Bobbi Ann Campbell, went missing on December 27, 1994. We were living with my great grandparents at the time. My mom and I went to her friend’s house to give her a Christmas present. My mom asked her friend to baby sit me while she went to go pick up her paycheck and then go to the bank and cash the check. I fell asleep waiting for my mom to come get me. When I woke up my mom still wasn’t there. I called my great grandparents and they came and got me. My grandpa went to report her missing after a couple of days. They said to wait because she is an adult. My grandpa drove around aimlessly looking for my mom’s car. He went to her place of employment to find my mom had never made it to pick up her paycheck. My grandpa kept going back to the police station until they filed a missing persons report.

I was only with my mom for a few short years, but I can still remember the holidays I spent with her. She used to make some of our Christmas ornaments by hand. My mom was a very creative woman. I have home a home video of our last Christmas together that help keep the memories with me. She was so happy to watch everyone open their presents. She was filming me, my great grandma, and my great grandpa while we opened ours and she waited until we were done to open hers. That Christmas, I remember waking everyone up at about 3 or 4 A.M. The last present I opened that Christmas was from my “Santa”. It was a Super Nintendo. I was so excited to play it. I remember playing it that day with my mom.

This Christmas is not only my 15^th Christmas without my mom, it’s also the 15^th anniversary of when I last saw her. When I was little every Christmas I would leave a note for Santa next to his cookies and milk.

“Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas this year is my mom to come home. I miss her a lot. I don’t care about the presents. Just her. It would make my family happy too. Thank you.

Love,

Stephanie Farrell”

Every year I would come out hoping my mom would be there waiting for me next to the Christmas tree.

Every Thanksgiving dinner we have as a family, my great grandparents talk about how much my mom loved the canned cranberries. I’m pretty sure that’s the only reason they still put them out.

During the holidays I still find myself wondering what she would want for Christmas if she were here. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about her. During the holidays my mom is all I can think about.

My mom cared so much about making every one else happy. I miss her laugh.

I still write her notes all the time. For her birthday, Mothers Day, Christmas, Etc. I attach them to a helium balloon and send them off, wishing they would fly to my mom.

I’m sure I’m not alone here. Almost every Christmas song makes me cry. For example: “I’ll Be Home For Christmas”, “Blue Christmas”, and “All I Want For Christmas Is You” just to name a couple.

I miss my mom so much. I wish she could be here for the holidays. Hopefully someday I will have some answers. Hopefully the answers will help me get through them a little easier.

-Stephanie Amandia Cook

Learn more about Bobbi Ann

Home for the Holidays: Anthony Holland 12/21/09

2009-12-20T23:55:00.005-06:00

Anthony Holland, missing from Cordell, OK since 6/21/2009

The last time any family members heard from Anthony Holland was on Fathers Day this year. He was last seen at 5:30 p.m., Sunday, June 21, 2009 at his home in Cordell, Oklahoma. About one hour earlier, he had returned home from a gun show held at Elk City, Oklahoma. He visited with his wife, stated he had errands to run, and he has not been seen since. On the following day, his abandoned farm truck was found and later his cell phone was found approximately 8 miles from his home on farm land he owns. All his personal items, such as wallet, check book, driver’s license, large amount of cash, and pocket knife were discovered at his home. Numerous air and ground searches with tracking dogs, cadaver dogs, spelunkers, divers, horseback riders and hikers have been conducted but no evidence has been found.

Anthony had made Cordell, Oklahoma his home. He has lived there for over 30 years. His wife and he were blessed with two sons. Anthony owned a Snap-On franchise and several farms and other ventures. His pastimes included hunting, fishing, reading western novels and just talking to family and friends.

Traditional family Christmases for our family always starts the Saturday after Thanksgiving in western Oklahoma, near Anthony’s home. Approximately 30 loved ones consisting of aunts, uncles, niece, nephews, and cousins gather for a late lunch and a hilarious, gift grabbing, finger pointing Santa gift exchange game. Then the Christmas holiday is spent in Tulsa, Oklahoma at the home of his parents. All the family is there which includes sister, brothers, in-laws, nieces, nephews, and any and all extras that need or want to share in eating his mom’s homemade dinner rolls.

In the Holland’s home you will find children gathering in the game room, with girls playing dress up with frilly dresses and make-up, boys on electronic games, accumulating points and points and more points, all just to see who will be the virtual winner. Adults are spread out through the living areas and kitchen, talking, sharing, rejoicing, cooking, cleaning, loving, and laughing. Throughout the evening the Holland clan is entertained with fashion shows, show and tell, and gradually become referees for the youngsters, all the while immensely enjoying the love and companionship shared by the family.

Anthony has always been a very giving person. He truly enjoys finding the perfect gift for family members and for friends. He frequently surprised numerous of us with a gift when it was not Christmas, birthday or any special occasion. He always made notes of what people liked and then would find that item and truly enjoyed giving them that gift. One Christmas, his sister fondly remembers that when he found out she was taking a trip to New York City, he quickly supplemented her gift with several hundred dollars to make her trip more enjoyable. She is a single mom so this helped her a lot. All of us remember how excited Anthony was to help with any difficult tape that was on the presents. He always carried his pocket knife and would jump up to dash across the room to help the children, grandparents, parents or his siblings open a present by cutting through the tape. So you can imagine how much Anthony liked Christmas. It was a holiday made for him. It was always fun to see what Anthony had in store for everyone.

This will be our first Christmas since Anthony disappeared. It will be very hard as it is also the month of his birth and the half year anniversary of his disappearance. His mom and sister are planning to put together a memory board of photos of Anthony and other memorabilia. In this way we hope to feel his closeness and remember him for the awesome individual he is. Another reminder will be the many Snap-On Christmas collectibles that Anthony has given us over the years. As we decorate our homes this year these collectibles will be so special to all of us.

Each day that goes by is another day without Anthony. We hope and pray that he is safe. We also pray that we will learn of his whereabouts soon. The days have already turned into weeks and now they are becoming months. We all have faith that we will find Anthony one day and this faith keeps us all going. We are also fortunate to have such a close and loving family. We give each other strength, courage and a shoulder to cry on as needed. We all love Anthony and hope to be blessed with his presence for future holidays.

Written by: Teresa Goughan with much help from Anthony’s sister, Candice and his mom, Rena

Learn more about Anthony

Home for the Holidays: Jesse Ross 12/19/09

2009-12-19T14:00:00.007-06:00

Jesse Ross, missing from Chicago, IL since 11/21/2006

Christmas Memories

ne of my fondest Christmas memories as a boy was going to the Orpheum theatre in Wichita with my dad to see Santa. We also saw Tex Ritter (the late father of the late John Ritter of Three’s a Company fame). Tex was one of the early singing cowboys, like Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. We received Christmas stockings and the flavor of peppermint candy cane and cream filled chocolate has stayed with me to this very day.

With my own family I remember it was Jesse’s job early on to move the little mouse from pocket to pocket on our Christmas calendar, a job he took very seriously. He and Andy would pass out gifts Christmas morn. Jesse would leave Santa cookies and milk, but He would also leave gifts for Santa, a toy truck or car, or a stuffed animal. He would have been hurt if Santa hadn’t taken these things, so Santa did. I imagine he recycled them to some needy child somewhere.

Andy in bright pj’s and curly blonde hair, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, was the Christmas poster boy. In contrast to Jesse’s burning energy, Andy quietly took in the experience. Andy got his first bicycle for Christmas and it was huge (by little boy standards). Being practical parents we felt he would grow into it and it would last him a long time (parents beware practicality). He accepted it with quiet grace, but I think he would have been justified in saying “Are you nuts? How am I supposed to get on this thing, it’s a tank!”

Donna made sure we got to church; she made sure everyone ate a good breakfast. And that every Christmas was a time of love. She also made sure we went to the tree lot and cut down a fresh tree each year. For me this was a love hate relationship. Hauling that tree around in the cold was a pain, but the experience with Donna and the boys was wonderful. We bought hot chocolate for a quarter while they prepared the tree. Andy and Jesse were in charge of the two wheeled cart for transporting the tree through the lot. I remember one Christmas Andy was sitting on the long handles sticking out the front of the cart and Jesse was sitting on the back of the cart. I had cut the tree and said “bring the cart”. Andy jumped up and the handles on the cart flew skyward. The back of the cart thudded into the ground and Jesse did a back flip out of the cart. I think he landed on his head, which might explain some things about his behavior in later years.

Andy, Jesse, and I had the job of putting sprinkles on the Christmas cookies Donna would bake. We also had to sample them on a regular basis for quality. Christmas cookies had a short lifespan at our house.

On Nov 21^st 2006 Jesse disappeared in Chicago during a Model UN convention. Now Christmas is spent with family and friends and we hold dear those who are here and hold out hope that Jesse will be with us again.

Written with love by Don Ross, father of Jesse Ross

Learn more about Jesse

Home for the Holidays: Monica Carrasco 12/13/09

2009-12-13T13:36:00.006-06:00

Monica Carrasco, missing from Balmorhea, TX since 10/1/2003

Written by Kathy Carrasco, mother of Monica

On Oct. 2 2003, between 1:30am and 6:00 am, my daughter, Monica Carrasco disappeared from her aunt and uncle's home in Balmorhea,Texas. She was 16 yrs old at the time and will turn 23 yrs old this December 13th. All her belongings were left behind: her clothes, shoes, purse, and suitcase. The only thing that seemed to be missing was her bible, which I just bought her a few weeks before she disappeared.

The holidays are the most difficult to deal with. It's our faith in God and constant prayer that keeps us going. I'm so blessed to have my son John, my daughter- in- law Silvia, grand-daughter Cassandra, (3 yrs) grandson Santiago, (18months) my daughter Rachel, and my parents. For all those who give me encouragement and hope, I am truly grateful.

One of my fondest Christmas memories of my daughter, Monica, I wish to share is her wonderfully humorous giving and generous nature. Monica always tried to give everyone what they wished for. She knew all so well that her siblings and others would have the tendency to examine presents under the tree and try to figure out what the gifts were. So she devised a plan of putting gifts into larger boxes (adding a few heavy items such as rocks,etc) . On Christmas eve, it was hilarious to watch the family members opens Monica's specially wrapped gifts. When I say "big" boxes , that would be no exaggeration. Now visualize unwrapping a gift... opening a box... another box....another box...etc.

I started a "Hope"chest where I have been placing Monica's Christmas gifts. I hope and pray that she will come home soon. The Hope chest symbolizes that we never gave up hope and "believe she will come home.

I'd like to close by sharing a poem written by Monica:

My Winter Snowman

During

The winter

The weather is cold

And snowflakes drop

To the road so cold. The

Snowman that I build are

very unique, they look like cotton

and glow like stars. Winter to me

is very special, it is the best season of the

year because it is Christmas and your family

get together, open presents and there is the birth of

Jesus Christ

Our Lord

And Savior

By Monica Carrasco

12-09-98

Learn more about Monica

Home for the Holidays: Debora Gail DeLoach Moody 12/7/09

2009-12-06T22:37:00.004-06:00

Debora "Gail" DeLoach Moody, missing from Long County, GA since 12/4/2007

Written by Melanie Clark, Mother of Gail

It is hard to try and put into words how you feel about a missing daughter and will never see them again.

Debora Gail DeLoach Moody went missing on Dec 4, 2007, at about 5:30 that evening. I had spoken to Gail on Dec 4, 2007 and she was supposed to call me back that night. I never heard from her again.

It is very hard to carrying on without her. The times we really miss her is at her birthday April 22, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. We always went to a camp-all with relatives and had a big feast, played games, and just sat around a fire and talked about old times.Great grandparents, grandparents, and cousins we'd not seen in a long time were there.

We would sit a around the big fire and listen and talk about old stories from our grandparents and listen to our family history. We had a great time. Sometimes we just had Thanksgiving at home with all the trimmings. There is an empty seat now and our table is not the same with a missing child, and gone before us parents and grandparents.

Christian ( Gail's son) has a real hard time at his birthday on Nov 3th. Gail surprised him for his birthday in 2007 and came to visit Christian us in Fl. It is really hard for him this year because she is gone.

Christmas is very hard for us not being able to be with family and friends. Our family has taken different views on Gail's disappearance. Every year we had a special day with all the family together at Christmas. We would gather at some place that we had chosen for our get together.

We always had the Christmas play and the younger children would play different roles. We read the Christmas story from Luke chapter 2 out of the bible, sang songs, played games, and exchanged gifts, but this too has come to an end.

Christmas day is just another day for us to sit down and eat with Gail missing. So, we do not make a big deal about the holidays anymore.

If we only said good bye to our beautiful daughter , mother, and sister, but who knows when it it your time?

The last thing that I would like to remind everyone: Tell your children, husband, and every member of your family how much you love them. Tomorrow may be too late.

Melanie Clark

Mother of missing child, Debora Gail Deloach Moody

Learn more about Gail

Home for the Holidays: Jennifer Wilkerson 12/3/09

2009-12-03T22:32:00.005-06:00

Jennifer Wilkerson, Missing from Lubbock, TX since 7/13/2004

Written by Vikki Wilkerson, mother of Jennifer

On July 13, 2004, my middle daughter, Jennifer Lynn Wilkerson, went missing. She was last seen leaving her boyfriend’s house about 11:00 a.m. in Lubbock, Texas to go home and get ready to go to work at “Nothin’ but Smokes” around 2:00 p.m. When she did not show up for work and did not call saying she wouldn’t be in, her employer contacted Jen’s boyfriend to see if he knew what was going on. Thinking Jennifer may have fallen asleep, her boyfriend went to the trailer Jennifer lived in. When he arrived at the trailer, Jennifer’s car was parked out front but when he knocked on the door, no one answered. Bewildered but not worried, he contacted Jennifer’s roommate to see if she had heard from Jennifer. No one seemed to have heard from her since she left his house earlier in the day. When the roommate finally got to the trailer, the door was locked, both sets of Jennifer’s keys were hanging just inside the trailer door, but there were no signs of Jennifer. Her car parked out front was unlocked and her cell phone, checkbook, driver’s license, and a few personal belongings were in the front seat. Still no signs of Jennifer. Her roommate’s boyfriend called my husband on July 14, 2004 asking if we had heard from Jennifer. Everyone was already alarmed because Jen would always let someone know if she was going to do something out of the ordinary. The Lubbock Sheriff’s department was contacted, and on July 15, 2004, the media, with the direction of the sheriff’s department, was asking the public for help in locating our daughter. She was listed as being an “Endangered Missing Adult.” So began the heart-wrenching journey of searching for our missing daughter.

Now, still searching and praying and hoping that each day will be the day we receive answers, we have to come to the realization that we may never get to hold our daughter in our arms, or see that wonderful smile, or hear that silly giggle ever again in this world. Although it is all in the same, this story is written to talk about the holidays and how we cope. Memories can be bittersweet and yet they are all we have at this time to hold.

Christmas was always a time that, no matter where life took any of us, we somehow managed to spend together. For 26 sweet years, we would celebrate Christmas at our home here in Hobbs where the kids grew up. It was a joyous time. Singing, baking cookies and candy, wrapping presents, candlelight services, and when they were young, the big night that Santa would visit. I loved bringing Santa to life, filling the stockings, arranging the gifts under the tree to look magical, eating the cookies and drinking the milk that was left so lovingly for Santa. On Christmas Eve, it was usually close to midnight before we could get the girls settled in bed and supposedly sound asleep. That is when I would spin the magic. After everything was in place, Jack and I would crawl in bed for a very short winter’s nap. I would lie in bed and listen to the girls giggle and say shhh be quiet, Mom will say it is too early. They would lay there being silly and they’d try talking each other into peeking in the living room to see if Santa had come. Usually around 2 a.m., they would agree they would all go together. I would hear them whispering with excitement about what was under the tree, and after a short time they would come running in the bedroom yelling with glee, “Mom, Santa’s been here.” Everyone would see what was in the stockings and pass out the gifts to be opened. It sounds so calm to me now, putting it on paper, but believe me, it was nothing but calm and organized. Bows and wrapping paper would be flying, ohs and ahs, and Mom look, look what I got!!! After the last present was opened and everyone had a bit of time to enjoy his or her gifts, we all would be ready for bed. About the time most everyone else in town might be waking, the Wilkerson family was just going to bed.

We celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ, sang carols, pulled taffy, and on some Christmases we would put on little plays for the family. The kids were always the characters in the play. Growing up as a child, one of my favorite Christmas stories was in the Ideal Christmas magazine. It was a story of a beautiful, white winged horse that longed to be part of the story of Christmas. While flying far above a snow covered country town, huge bubbles floated to the sky where the winged horse would wonder at the marvelous reflections of children singing, bright lights on decorated trees, laughter and love. He wanted to be a part of the scene so bad that he flew down to the town, but once he was there all the celebration was in the homes. Sad, he rested in a small barn that belonged to the baker. The baker’s wife came in the stable and saw huge tears coming from his eyes. When the woman was told why he was so sad, she said, “I know what I can do! I will change you into a sugar cookie and hang you high on the Christmas tree!” The winged horse thought for a moment and said “But what if one of the children eats me?” The old women assured him that the children were not allowed to eat the sweets until after they had their dinner and she would get him before that happened. As she promised, she changed him into the most beautiful sugar cookie you could imagine and hung him just below the star on the Christmas tree. What a sight to behold, children laughing and singing, wonderful scents of cinnamon, pumpkin, and apples, and bright shining lights. Just before dinner, the family gathered around on the floor and all listened while the Grandmother read a story of the birth of Jesus Christ. Never had the winged horse felt so much love and happiness. One little girl had been eyeing him all evening and very slowly crept up to the tree. Just has she was about to put her warm little hands around the sugar cookie, her mother quietly grabbed her up in her arms and said, “No sweets until after you eat.” While the family was having their dinner, the old woman returned and placed the winged horse back in the barn, changing him back to his glorious self. The winged horse flew back up to sky with a very happy heart.

We did a play on this story that was just incredible. We made a little outfit and wings for the part of the winged horse. It was so very much fun. We laughed and cried at the same time! We even decorated winged horse sugar cookies for Santa.

Even after the girls were grown, we would celebrate much the same. My oldest daughter had children, so my girls got to help spin the magic of Santa. Wonderful, fun times, but things change, children and grandchildren grow up and begin their own traditions, as it should be. Life happens, deaths in the family, divorces, and of course Jennifer vanishing without a trace. The first few years she was missing, the holidays were so very painful. As bad as I tried to enjoy it with the rest of the family, I couldn’t. The lights weren’t as bright, no singing and dancing, no cookies being baked, I was just to tired and so consumed with grief and worry, all I could do was hope the season would soon be over. It was only a few seasons ago, that at my lowest, I realized the true meaning of Christmas again in my heart.

Thanksgiving and Christmas will never again be the same, but I can be thankful for the many blessings I do have in my life. Jack, my husband, is my rock and a very special blessing! Without him, I would be lost! We will love and remember when and hold tight to the hope that someday we will be able to celebrate this wonderful time of the year with our entire family.

To all of you, have a Merry Christmas and very happy New Year!

Learn more about Jennifer

Home for the Holidays: Benjamin Roseland 11/27/09

2009-11-27T23:18:00.005-06:00

Benjamin "Benny" Roseland, missing from Clinton, IA since 2/9/2008
Written by Audra Jean Roseland, Benny's sister

My brother, Ben Roseland, disappeared from Clinton, Iowa on the night of February 9^th, 2008. It was approximately ten o’clock p.m. when Ben left a friend’s apartment to go across the street to the local Hyvee Grocery Store for a snack. Ben left the apartment building and never made it to the store. Ben was nineteen at the time of his disappearance; he has brown hair and blue eyes, is 5’ 11” and weighs 175 pounds. He was last seen wearing camouflage overalls. We are praying for answers and to have Ben home someday soon.

Ben was always fun to be around on the holidays. He would always get presents that would surprise us and let us know that he was thinking about us without all the words. I remember the last Christmas I spent with Ben. He had been in a terrible car accident at the end of November, and we were just grateful to still have him in our lives. We were glad that he was alive and well, and wanted to cherish our Christmas and just celebrate with Ben. This was our milestone and we were growing closer as a family, and treasuring the things that really mattered in our lives, like each other.

It was our first Christmas with my daughter, Mara who is Ben's first and only niece. I remember right after he was released from the hospital, Ben wanted Mara to open the gifts he'd bought her. Ben wanted to show them to her, and was still a little wary around her (she was a very little 4 month old baby, and he wasn't used to it yet). He was very groggy from the medication that he was on, and he rolled off of the couch and went over where he had stacked his gifts (no tree had been put up). He grabbed her gifts off the top and told me, "Mara can open these." I told him, "No, that's okay Ben, you're confused. It's not Christmas yet." It took a while to convince me, but finally, I let them open the gifts, which were two really cute, collectible Boyd's bears. It was a nice gift and a wonderful beginning of a collection for her. Ben was so happy and so pleased with himself.

I also remember that it was very close to Christmas and my parents still had not put up a Christmas tree or anything, and my sister, Helen, had really been advocating for it to be put up. So, Ben and I trudged down to the basement and we drug up the first dusty box that we could find, and opened it once we got upstairs. It wasn't our normal green tree; it was this weird white tree that neither of us had ever seen. We did not care for the tree and felt that it took away from the festive Christmas feel. Later, my sister, Helen, came home and put the tree up.

On November 24, Ben’s birthday, we will sit down at my parent's kitchen table and eat Ben's birthday cake. Last year I bought a birthday cake for Ben, and we saved half of it in hope that we would be sharing it with Ben. We will be having this year without him. Then we will go outside and plug in Ben's "hope" tree. We’ll put clear lights on the pine tree Ben planted in the front yard as a child. Last year we put lights on it in hope of Ben's safe return to us.

On Christmas Eve, we will go through all of the motions together, but it won't be the same. We will all exchange gifts together, and put aside the gifts that we bought for Ben, in case he arrives. We won't say a word about Ben, but we will all be thinking about him. Mom and Dad probably won't feel like decorating this year...but since Ben’s disappearance, I have had another baby boy, Auron, so they might make the effort for my children. We will focus on making the holiday good for the kids, because they can always make us smile. We will share kisses and hugs, and go to sleep with tear filled eyes, not talking about how we really feel inside.

However, I am fortunate to have a shoulder to cry on...a third party to confide in. We all cope in our own ways. My mother stays up late at night and sleeps most of the day, trying to keep her mind off of it. My father surrounds himself with his friends and his hobbies. My sister concentrates on her own wants and needs while surrounding herself with her friends and hobbies. I have my own immediate family and my work. We will just continue this trend until some answer is provided.

I hope that Ben comes back to us in the future so that he can meet his nephew, and see how big his niece is, because even though they don't know or remember him, they still feel all the feelings that we feel...there just aren't memories attached to them; instead it's pictures and stories. I miss Ben, as he is my only brother. I miss his blatantly, often cynical, point of view of things. Ben loved things like finance, the government, and history, which are not my strongest subjects. I miss having him to go to when I have a question, or if I need a laugh. Even though he didn't mean to be, sometimes, Ben just had a way about him that was humorous. Ben was fun to be around most of the time, his presence made me feel better like somehow I wasn't alone.

Ben was my best friend and companion for so many years. Ben and I grew up together, we were all each other had, and we knew what one another was thinking and feeling, because for the most part we went through the same things.

My biggest hope for my family is that one way or another, we find Ben. For better, or worse, my family needs closure. The constant uncertainty has caused a rift between us. Some of us think the best, and others the worse. We don't want anyone impeding on our thoughts, and so we don't talk about it. The saying is, "Hope for the best, but expect the worse." --I have to say that this is not a good mindset to be in constantly, and closure will hopefully bring us some optimism.

One way or another, my family deserves closure, and sooner or later we will get it. My ultimate Christmas wish is to see Ben walk though that door on Christmas Eve, with arms wide open.

Learn more about Benjamin Roseland

Home for the Holidays: Michael Austin Davis 11/22/09

2009-11-23T00:22:00.005-06:00

Michael “Austin” Davis, missing from Jacksonville, FL since 06/26/2007

Austin was 26 years old at the time of his disappearance in June 2007 when he took a taxi ride that ended at Jax Jewelry and Pawn Shop at the intersection of 103rd Street and Blanding Blvd in Jacksonville, FL around 12:30pm. Police have confirmed that Austin bought a shotgun there, and according to the clerk, put the gun in a duffle bag and left the shop on foot. Austin had been battling depression, and we believe that is what led him to purchase the gun. Leads have been followed but none have panned out, and there has been no access of personal accounts or cell phone use since that day. We also later learned that he never cashed his last paycheck from work. Austin left all personal belongings behind including a laptop and backpack that he never left home without.

Austin was our second child, almost five years younger than his sister Anita. Growing up, Austin was a wonderfully social child, loved people and was never fearful of making new friends, or talking with adults. Teachers always said what a charming young man he was and that he’d do well. As he grew, he continued to make us proud of the man that he was becoming, making the mistakes that we all make, but finding himself and a direction for his life. Austin learned to cook as a young man and was good at it, working at a well known seafood restaurant chain as he studied to be a computer technician. He loved fixing us a favorite dish, or conferring on the best seasonings to use while grilling, or suggesting different ways to cook something, that part of him always surprised me a little, but in the best possible way. Austin’s quiet sweetness is something I miss more than I can ever express, especially the times he’d come to me and say Mom can we talk….and he’d share parts of himself with me.

As a child, Austin loved the holidays, with dreams of Santa, family gatherings, decorating, baking and more. One of our favorite Christmas traditions was joining family in West Virginia at a state park with several cabins filled with generations of family. The largest cabin would be the gathering place for family talent shows, gift wrapping contests, traditional Christmas readings and carols, and roaring fires. Outside, there was often snow falling and deer coming in close to feed. The kid’s first snowman there was so memorable; it was truly a wonderful time of family. There were also many years of Christmas in Florida, no snow, but lots of fun and tradition even without the winter wonderland. One of our favorite memories was when Santa brought a go-cart and we all laughed a lot as Austin plowed through the outdoor decorations hurting nothing other than the lights.

The older Austin got, the less excitement he showed at all the Christmas lights and decorations, but when his sister and I would look at lights he’d always go with us…sometimes with an occasional grumble, but we knew he enjoyed it. Though he didn’t get caught up in all the trappings that go along with the holiday season, he always was thoughtful and caring about the gifts he would choose. Many times as an adult, his sister or I would enlist his help in a gift, whether it was putting it together, setting up the programming of a new computer or just making the pickup from a store…he was always willing to help.

This Christmas will be our third since Austin has been gone and I yearn to reach out and touch him, relive some of my favorite memories that I can see so clearly before my eyes - the smiles, the warmth, the family gatherings, and the last weekend we spent together. I wish loved ones did not have to leave us too young. I wish that tragedy never haunted a single soul. But I know that sometimes life breaks your heart, as it has mine. This year, close to Christmas, Austin will have a brand new nephew (Ben) born, who will only know his Uncle Austin from the stories we share. I hope that as time passes and Christmases come, we’ll be able to share stories with him and laugh together over memories.

My hope is always that we find Austin. Whether we find him alive, or find his remains, I want to bring him home. I pray in the upcoming year that someone somewhere knows something that could lead us to him and is brave enough to come forward and say, I know where he is…or I saw him that day, and this is what happened.

One person can make the difference to our family, and can be the difference between never knowing what happened, and being able to bring a loved one home.

Our story submitted with loving memories, and hope.

Christy Davis
Austin’s Mom

Learn more about Michael "Austin" Davis

Home for the Holidays 2009 11/21/09

2009-11-22T23:08:00.004-06:00

It’s fast approaching the time of year that is often mixed with gratitude for what we have, and longing for what we don’t. For us, the families of the missing, the holidays mark the passage of time without our missing loved ones.

The holidays are a busy time, and often those whom we need to be our eyes and ears (You) may be otherwise occupied. We’d like to turn your attention back to our missing loved ones, even if just for a few minutes by sharing a piece of our lives that relate to the holiday season.

To that end, we’d like to introduce a series of stories for the holiday season entitled "Home for the Holidays.” Beginning on November 22 and ending on January 1st, we’ll feature a story about a Project Jason family and their missing loved one. The story will be written by the family of that missing person about this holiday, their missing loved one, traditions, and the place they should/could fill in their home.

We'll bring you inside our lives and demonstrate what it’s like to have someone we love disappear. We'll share the stories of anguish, but also those stories of hope.

Remember that the more often the faces of our missing loved ones are seen, the greater the odds of recovery, so please encourage others to share these stories.

Never forget what you have, and don't let an opportunity pass by to tell someone you love them.

This Christmas a family somewhere will get their miracle. Maybe it won't be me and maybe it won't be any of the participating families, but there is always hope.

7/9/08 Project Jason Presents "A Mother's Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years" Part V

2008-07-09T20:36:00.002-05:00

A Mother's Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years Part V (Conclusion)

Recently, Vicki was able to take time away from the reunification process with Mark to answer some additional questions we posed.

When you first laid eyes on Mark after all these years, what was your reaction/how did you feel? How about other involved family members?

When I first saw Mark, I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I was so happy; my wish had come true after all of those years of worry. I gave him a big hug, told him I loved him and then I noticed I couldn't stop staring at him. And Mark seemed happy to see me. He had his cat with him, he was about 20 - 25 lbs underweight, weatherworn, appeared older than his age, he was a little hunched over and it was obvious he needed good nutrition. Right-away my motherly instinct kicked in. I wanted to feed him and comfort
him.

His youngest brother was with me. He hadn't seen Mark since he was 6 years old. So, he didn't really know Mark. But Mark certainly remembered him and was amazed to see his little brother now grown.

About two weeks went by before Mark was ready to see other family members. His dad and Mark's brother (a year younger than Mark) came to the house to visit Mark. By then, Mark had gained several pounds. He had begun to have a softer appearance, he looked healthier and was no longer hunched over. His dad and brother thought he looked very good and they could hardly believe he was finally home as well.

His next visit will be to see his grandpa.

How is he doing? Does he say much about his experiences? Do you know how he
survived? What was day-to-day life for him like?

Mark is doing very well. Mark has only mentioned a few things regarding his
experiences. He mentioned sleeping near raccoons and alligators. I do believe he pan-handled some in order to survive. Overall, 2 families in Florida had taken him into their home. The first family took him in before a Missing Person Report had been filed, so I didn't find out about this family until later. I really believe both families saved him.

He was in very poor shape when they began to help him. According to the St.
Petersburg family, Mark had a routine. He had a favorite coffee shop he went to most days. He visited a store which had comics. He went to his P.O. Box each week during the past 2 years. As a homeless person, he slept in the woods and swamps.

Do you worry that he will leave again?

Everyday I worry I'll get up in the morning and he'll be gone. It's a terrible feeling, but I have to have faith it won't happen.

Tell us about his cat. What significance did the cat have in his journey and
as a companion?

The cat is a well-tempered, loving and beautiful black cat. The cat was Mark's companion for 10 - 11 years. There were times when Mark would keep the cat with him during the day on a leash. And the other times, the cat was kept in a comfortable-size cage. Mark speaks to the cat in a special voice and it's obvious they are very bonded to each other.

The cat had become sick and I believe this helped to encourage Mark to come home. I arranged for Mark to get the cat to a veterinarian and the cat was treated for a couple of problems. But, the cat has a tumor and the future is not very bright for her. Mark is in serious denial about this problem and I have been gently working with him to get him to understand the cat needs to go to the veterinarian again. I just don't know how Mark will handle any bad news. If anything happens to the cat, I'm concerned Mark may leave.

An additional note: Vicki told me today that the vet is certain the cat has an aggressive form of cancer. Test results are pending. This is a very serious concern, as it would be important to buy as much time as possible for Mark to gain trust with the family, and for Vicki to help get Mark prepared to lose his companion of so many years.

I understand that Mark is an artist. Is this one way for him to communicate
and express his feelings?

I do believe Mark expresses himself through art. He spends a lot of time drawing and writing. His art is unique and I am always amazed at his endless ability to create. And I am always amazed at what he creates.

Can you explain in layman’s terms what type of mental illness he has, how
that manifested itself in relationship to his disappearance? How is it being
treated now?

He was diagnosed with a mental illness just prior to his becoming a missing person. I had been trying to get him help, but he left in the middle of the night from the place that was trying to help him. One of the symptoms of his illness is paranoia, which creates a real problem. He doesn't want to take a pill of any kind, because he believes someone is trying to harm him. Another symptom he has causes him to want to keep on the move because he may believe something or someone is after him.

He's not receiving treatment yet. This is a very challenging area. First, he had to have time to trust our relationship. I am hopeful we will be able to move forward in this area soon.

What do you think prompted him to finally make that call and want to come
home? How did you feel when he told you?

Hopefully, I had planted a seed in his mind that he needed to come home. I sent a letter, with money for food, every week for 1 year and 11 months. I always said how much he was missed, and loved and asked him to consider coming home. I would tell him, all he had to do was simply call me and I would make the arrangements to get him and his cat home.

But it wasn't until his cat became ill - then I received the phone call saying he wanted to come home. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. It seemed too good to be true.

How did you cope during the years he was gone, especially in the timeframes
when you had no idea if he was dead or alive?

I coped in many different ways during Mark's disappearance. There were times I had to bury my feelings, otherwise, my feelings would be too painful. There were times when I went into denial. At times I thought he must be dead. Other times I would wonder if he was out there somewhere living a very normal life. And then for years, he would be the last thought I had for the night and the first thought I had when I awoke the next morning - worried if he had food to eat or a place to sleep. I never did find a perfect way to cope.

Was it amazing to you that a family would take in someone like Mark and then go
the extra mile to try to figure out his identity?

I am still amazed how a family would take a homeless man with a cat into their home and then treat him like a member of their family. And then to research and find out he was a missing person was the turning point.

How are things going with Mark today? I’m sure it’s quite an adjustment for
everyone. Talk about that.

Things are going okay with Mark today. We have some serious things coming up, such as getting Mark to agree to go to the doctor. Getting Mark's cat to a veterinarian will also be challenging. His youngest brother lives at home and it has taken a few weeks for him to adjust and really understand Mark's situation. Mark is physically healthier now and that is helpful because I believe he feels better. I believe we have all adjusted at this
point and I believe Mark is trusting his new environment.

We find that older cases were not handled as they are today. There were also
very few resources for help with a missing adult years back. When I first
met you, you had not spoken with anyone in 11 years who knew and understood
what you were going through, which I found amazing and sad at the same time.
Talk about this and changes you see in today’s resources.

For all of those years I felt very alone. I knew very little about the topic of missing persons or endangered (mentally ill) missing persons. And the fact I couldn't get a Missing Person Report filed only added anger to my sorrow. I had contacted various government agencies, only to end up going nowhere.

Finally, I decided to do another internet search late one night and Project Jason came up. I went to the web-site; sent an e-mail describing my situation and 30 minutes later I received a phone call from the Founder of Project Jason. That is when things began to change for the better for me and my son.

Today I believe there are some excellent resources available for those with a missing loved one. When my son became missing, there were no resources available to my knowledge. And thanks to organizations such as Project Jason, the public and law enforcement have become more educated on the seriousness of missing persons. Also, I think the media has improved somewhat. At least some cases of missing persons have appeared on national television.

What advise would you give to a family of a missing person, especially one
who has been waiting for the answers for a long time?

Today there is a channel of support available. It's there to be used. This will help the family to be proactive, organized and involved in the search of their missing loved one. Being proactive and involved will help with the feeling of hopefulness. But for me, the ultimate hope came from my faith in God.

Did you ever feel anger at Mark’s disappearance, or was it reasonable in
your mind because of the mental illness? What were the primary emotions you
dealt with, and how did you work that out?

I certainly felt anger about Mark's disappearance, but never angry at him. My anger was at law enforcement refusing to do their duty. I dealt with many emotions during Mark's disappearance; sadness, fear, denial, depression, and finally hope. Had I been able to get a Missing Person Report filed early on, and if I would have had access to valuable missing person resources, I would have been hopeful many years earlier.

What changes need to be made in our legal system which are reasonable
changes that would have possibly brought Mark home much sooner?

Improved outreach to homeless persons. An effort should be made to seek out mentally ill homeless persons, especially since they don't understand they are homeless and that they are a missing person. All missing persons cases are equally important and it should be mandated that all law enforcement nationwide file a Missing Person or Endangered Missing Person Report within 24 hours. Also, Law Enforcement should have a list of resources to give the person(s) who file the Missing Person Report.

If an Endangered Missing Person Report had been filed years earlier, my son may have come home in 2 years versus 14 years later.

Note: The giving of resources to families of missing person is mandated in the Campaign for the Missing proposed law. Law Enforcement must also take the case.

How can you explain your feelings now that he is back home in relationship
to the feelings when he was gone? Is the old pain something you can’t ever
forget? Is that overshadowed with joy or other positive feelings now?

My old feelings of anxiety, worry and fear have been replaced with anxiety, and worry mixed with hope that he will finally have a chance for an okay future. There are days I feel such a strong sense of relief he is home, I have to take some private time and just cry.

I won't ever be able to forget the old pain. My strong joyful feelings today aren't even able to erase the old pain. It's still very vivid and I do worry he could become a missing person again.

What comes next with your life now and Mark?

Getting help for Mark is a priority. Finding a way for him to utilize his artistic ability is something I hope will materialize for him.

No matter how long a person has been missing, there is always hope. Hope remains until the truth is revealed.

We at Project Jason are blessed and privileged to have been able to assist Vicki and play a part in her Mother’s Day Miracle.

We have high hopes for Mark’s recovery, and for miracles to take place for other families of the missing.

There is always hope.

Kelly Jolkowski, July 9, 2008

Acknowledgments:

Project Jason would like to thank Vicki for sharing her story with all of us. We’d also like to thank Robert Lowery, now mayor of Florissant, MO, and Libba Phillips of Outpost for Hope. Each played a very important part in our Mother’s Day Miracle. They are true examples of heroes who exemplify Project Jason’s philosophy:

“All missing persons are loved by someone, and their families deserve to find the answers they seek in regards to the disappearance.”

We also cannot forget to thank the two families in FL who took Mark in, especially the family who cared so much that they didn’t give up on finding Mark’s true identity, and thus his home. I feel fairly certain that there are few who would do the same.

Even though it was a long time coming, “earth angels” were there to help guide a son back into his mother’s arms.

7/8/08 Project Jason Presents "A Mother's Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years" Part IV

2008-07-08T21:11:00.004-05:00

A Mother's Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years Part IV

5/11/08:

Finally, after 14 years, Vicki had the miracle she longed for, and with perfect timing, too.

She wrote:

On a Monday morning, February 20, 2006, I received a very special phone call. As soon as I saw the area code on the caller ID and heard the voice, I knew I was about to get some very important news. I listened intently, hopeful of good news, but fearful of bad news. My missing son, Mark Hamilton, had been found by a family in St. Petersburg, Florida. He had been missing for 12 long years.

This exceptional family took Mark into their home, thinking they were helping a homeless person. After doing a search on the Internet, they discovered Mark was an Endangered Missing Person. They found this information at Project Jason and promptly sent an e-mail to Project Jason. The Founder of Project Jason made sure I was contacted as quickly as possible.

Due to Mark’s mental illness, he couldn’t fully understand he had a mother waiting for his return home. He stayed with the Florida family for several months, but then chose to leave. The family tried to convince him to stay, but Mark was too resistant. He became a homeless person once again.

The family continued to work with me in order to help Mark. A P.O. Box had been set up which then became the important link between my son and me.

Every week I sent Mark essentials plus a letter which always said he was missed and loved. The first letter was sent on August 9, 2006, and I continued to send letters each week for almost 2 years, until May 6, 2008. Occasionally I would send him a phone card. So, every 4 months or so, Mark would call to say “hello”.

By April 2008, I was becoming discouraged since Mark had not called in quite a few months. But finally on Tuesday, May 6, 2008, Mark called. Mark said he wanted to come home. I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Again, he said he wanted to come home. Something had to be handled first; the cat he had kept with him for 10 years had become ill and needed medical attention. Plans were quickly made to get the cat to a Veterinarian.

I then made travel arrangements for Mark and his cat. And with the help of the Florida family, Mark and his cat got on a plane headed for St. Louis.

After waiting 14 long years, on Sunday, May 11, 2008, I was able to once again, hug my sweet son, Mark - and on Mother’s Day!

Miracles Do Happen.
Prayers Do Get Answered.
And Thank You, Project Jason.

Vicki Hamilton
Mother of Found Son, Mark Hamilton
June 3, 2008

Through tears I read Vicki’s letter, and having finished it, sat back and thought of Jason, my own son, missing for 7 years. When we founded Project Jason, we said that even if we only helped one family, it would be worth everything we had gone through, and it would be what Jason would want. To have played a part in such a miracle was a blessing indeed.

Vicki and Mark’s story is a testament to a mother’s love, a love that would not be conquered by obstacles that seemed insurmountable. It was a love that was patient, knowing that her time would come, and that all things are possible with the gift of hope.

For those of us who still wait, we are encouraged to rekindle that fire of hope in our hearts.

Our conclusion, Part V, is an exclusive interview with Vicki that took place after Mark had been home for awhile. It gives insight to Mark and Vicki’s new journey together and Mark’s odyssey. We’ll also share a photo of Mark taken after his recovery.

Please check back tomorrow for the conclusion of “A Mother's Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years”.

Click here for the conclusion of our story

7/7/08 Project Jason Presents "A Mother's Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years" Part III

2008-07-07T22:17:00.003-05:00

A Mother's Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years Part III

More than five months after the incident in CO, a breathtaking miracle occurs with the arrival of a simple email message.

2/20/06:

Project Jason receives an email from a family in FL who believes missing Mark Hamilton is living with them. Their calls to local law enforcement about Mark had not been returned. They feel Mark’s mental state requires intervention. They found Mark’s information on our website and contacted us.

Project Jason enlists the aid of Libba Phillips from Outpost for Hope, an expert on missing mentally ill, who requests assistance from mental health crisis professionals in the area.

To our great joy, it was confirmed that the person staying with this family was indeed Mark Hamilton!

Vicki writes:

Hi -
It's amazing that another Good Samaritan took my son into their home. Here is where things are at so far: He has been with them for 2 months. He broke his ankle yesterday & when I called her, she was on her way to take Mark to the emergency room. So I am thinking this may slow Mark down, which is good.

She was getting concerned that it might not be safe to have Mark in their home any longer, so, hopefully, I have relieved her anxiety a bit by explaining his behavior.

The way I understand it, she did a Google search and got to your organization’s website. (Proof that your hard work does have rewards!)

I am waiting on a return call from an agency in St. Petersburg, FL and so is Libba. So, I probably won't have a plan in place until tomorrow.

Miracles and amazing things do happen.
Vicki

Even though Mark was located, that in itself would not culminate in a fairy tale ending for Vicki. She continues to chase the shadows.

2/23/06:

Hi –
Here is an update on Mark. My dad and I have discussed what to do and we both decided that it would be best if the family that has Mark would gradually introduce the idea of my visiting him. (And I have decided it is not realistic to think he will come back with me voluntarily and forcing him to go on a long trip is a rough idea.)

So I spoke with Tony, the director of the main mental health hospital in St. Louis. Mark has been there before. He completely agreed that this was the best approach. Tony was the person who explained to me that one of Mark’s mental illness symptoms causes him to be on the run. And then you add Mark’s paranoia, which makes it very risky to get him back home in a forced manner.

I will be talking to a psychologist tonight who should be able to give me suggestions for the family on how to put this approach into action. Basically, they are to work with Mark gradually toward him accepting a visit from me and his grandpa. We will work with Mark to gain some trust, and maybe by a second visit, he will be willing to come back with us. No guarantees, but I think we have a better chance at success this way.

Also, I told Tony about the work that you and Libba do and he was very interested and impressed. He took your web-site info and will be giving it to the social workers in the hospital. They do get “John and Jane Doe’s who admit themselves into the hospital and he hasn’t really had enough resources to check and see if they are missing people.

I hope we are on to something.

One day, the roller coaster ride takes a vicious and fast drop to the bottom, and the shadows move out of reach.

3/19/06:

Hi –
I’ve had some disturbing news. Mark left the home of the FL family yesterday.

He was at their house alone and called them on their cell phone & said he was moving out at that moment & moving to a hotel. The daughter stated she urged & urged him to wait before moving out & at least wait until they got home. But when they got there, he was gone.

He did tell them where he would be staying. But when they checked it out, he was not in the registry. He told them he got a P O Box and plans to be at work on Monday. He even left CD’s and his favorite movies behind.

I’m really distraught by this even though I knew this could happen. They will be looking for him. There just doesn’t seem to be any great solution for getting him home and getting him help.

Vicki

One month later, there is good news of hope for Vicki, and for the first time in 12 years, a mother hears her son’s voice.

4/20/06:

Hi –
I have big news about Mark and couldn’t wait to tell you and Libba.

Rich and Richard with Operation PAR in St. Petersburg, FL, have found Mark. They had been speaking with him for about 30 minutes & convinced Mark he should talk to me. So, Richard called me and put Mark on the phone. He sounded so sweet, but I could tell he wasn’t connecting the dots to everything.

I asked him to come home (had to give it a shot), but he said he can’t because he has a cat. He is living in an empty building on the property of a Catholic Church. They have given him permission to live there by himself with the cat. He does have running water.

Richard stated they will keep meeting with him & hopefully will be successful in getting him into their facility for help.

I am speechless, my head is spinning, & it is still sinking in.
I am amazed once again.

Vicki

Later that day:

Rich and Richard who work for Operation PAR went out looking for Mark. The family in FL had given me a list of the places Mark would typically go to within that area and I passed this info onto Richard. Mark actually bumped into them and then they realized it was the Mark they were looking for.

Mark even let them go to where he is staying!

When Richard called me, right away he asked if I wanted to talk to Mark. I thought he was joking and then he puts Mark on the phone. It was very surreal. I still can hardly believe it. It did sound exactly like him & he sounds exactly like my 19 yrs old on the phone. He sounded happy, but “child-like”.

Hopefully, Rich and Richard will eventually have luck in getting Mark medical help. This story just keeps on going and I have to be careful with getting overly hopeful.

6/18/06:

I check in with Richard of Operation PAR weekly. He has not been successful in seeing Mark again, unfortunately. I have sent Mark gift certificates for food and don’t know if he is even remembering to go get them. I also sent Mark a phone card, along with my phone #, hoping he might call; but no call. It is really starting to bother me. I am praying he is still in the area.

I had an interesting day. On my way to church, I pulled over to talk to a young man who had a sign “Homeless, will work for food”. I wanted to know if he was missing person, but he wasn’t. He had just become homeless due to losing his job, so I gave him some money. He is living out of his car & he told me his plan for getting back on his feet. I was encouraged for him, but went back later to give him more help; he wasn’t there. I’ll go back again a few more times.

When I did go back, there was another man in the area with a sign that said, “disabled vet, need help”. Again, I pulled over, verified that he was not a missing person. Gave him some money & he explained he does have a place to live, gets a disability check, but expenses have gone up so much, he has to ask for help every so often.

There are so many people who need help and this should not be happening in this country.

Months later, a mother still has hope.

8/8/06:

I have an update on Mark. The daughter of the family who found Mark ran into him. He right-away hugged her and said he had been to visit me. She offered him money, but he refused to take it. She then said she would send him a gift card for food to his P O Box & he said okay. She stated she will be getting more involved & thinks she can be more instrumental in helping Mark toward going home. I don’t know anything for certain, but I believe it is possible.

11/22/06:

Here is an update on Mark: I hadn’t heard from him for a month or so, but then I receive a letter from him. It was very basic & he said he had been very busy. (I suppose in his mind he is very busy.) But then he finally called once again, last week. The building he was staying in is no longer available, so he is out there again.

But, at least, I am able to get money to him for food.

There was one thing different about this last phone call, which has caused me to be somewhat encouraged. When I told him it was time to come home, he stated he had been thinking about it. (Normally, he says he will take it into serious consideration, and he has been saying it with an odd tone.) So, I am hoping that the idea of coming home is
sinking in.

2/27/07:

I received a call from the daughter of the family that found Mark. She said that Mark had really been on her mind, and she still believes they can do more to help. After she hung up, she and her mother went to the woods where Mark had been staying before they took him in, and guess what – they found him that very day. He seemed very happy and hugged them both. He said he was fine and was thinking about going home (again, seems like a standard line he uses now).

So, the daughter called back gave me the update and they said they would go to where he is staying more often and try to talk to him.

Mark sent me a Valentine’s Card, which really surprised me. He told me his cat said hello and the other notes in the card were about the cat.
I keep praying for help on answers to this dilemma. At least for now, the P.O. Box is my lifeline to Mark – he is now able to eat every day.

It is very hard to not go see him. And I’m really thinking on this one. He’s not been calling as frequently. The last time he called was about 2 months ago.

Unfortunately, the Church must have sold the building Mark was staying in. So now he has been living in the woods again; it’s been for about 3 months now. I’m not sure what would happen if I were to see him; I’m still concerned about that one. But I’m studying it.

3/31/07:

Thanks for asking about Mark. I haven’t heard from him via phone. The last contact was the Valentine’s Day card he sent. Since he is living in the woods again, I am wondering if the location makes it harder for him to get to a phone. (Just guessing). This is a tough one. Everyday I think about how fortunate he is and I am that things have come this far. I still do get stumped on where to go next. I am going to call the family who found him and see if they have seen him lately.

4/3/07:

Vicki testifies for the MO version of Project Jason’s Campaign for the Missing, which was named after Summer Shipp, mother of Brandy Shipp. Unfortunately, the bill did not pass. Volunteers are still working on it in MO. We believe that family members who become active and work toward positive changes in our cause do much better in terms of coping. Being active alleviates feelings of helplessness, which left unchecked may result in a loss of hope.

Hi –
It was a fantastic experience today.

We were the last Bill to be heard, but that was okay. It was interesting to hear about the other Bills and other witnesses. I believe there were 5 of us as witnesses. Each witness provided something a little different. And your suggestions to me were perfect. I thought I might be nervous, but it turned out to be fine.

My State Rep printed out a copy of the Bill for me, so I was able to read it as soon as I got there. And after meeting the Sponsor of the Bill, Rep Bryan Pratt, I’ll have to say I was impressed with him.

I talked to a few of the witnesses, including Brandy’s dad, and it was sad, but interesting to hear their unique stories.

I am very happy you encouraged me to do this. It was the right thing to do.
Vicki

10/30/07:

“I just received a Halloween card from Mark. The key to the situation continues to be the dependence he has on that P.O. Box. He can now eat regularly, and that makes me happy. I’m also able to send him things like socks, shirts, & other little things that will fit into the P.O. Box.

I have been thinking that perhaps the right thing to do is to tell the story of Mark being found on your website. I really think you should take some well-deserved credit for your organization. Plus, it is an amazing true story. I believe things will stay stable with Mark as long as he is dependent on me and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”

Well over a year had passed since Mark had been located in Florida, and still, he remained out of reach, passing in and out of the shadows. Although there were certainly ups and downs, as is normal in these cases, Vicki remained hopeful.

Click here for Part IV

7/6/08 Project Jason Presents "A Mother's Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years" Part II

2008-07-06T11:27:00.004-05:00

A Mother's Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years Part II

I sent the letter, and within days, Major Lowery had the case re-opened and Mark's information was added into the NCIC. Now Vicki could receive assistance from the various agencies that help with missing adult’s cases. There was great joy in St. Louis and in Omaha that day.

When I shared this story with the Project Jason Board of Directors, I admit to choking up. It was another moment when the bittersweet pain of my own missing son surfaced. The tears were of joy for Vicki and Mark, and the bittersweet was that these things had all taken place because of our own situation. We have the privilege and blessing of being to affect the lives of others in Jason’s name.

Vicki had one battle behind her, but now others would begin. Her battles would include educating anyone who would be in the position of locating Mark, so that they understood enough about his situation and mental illness so there would not have a replay of January, 2005. The other battles would be the ongoing work to get any media attention at all, and yet another would be to find a way, should Mark be located, to be able to get him into a treatment situation.

Vicki was now keenly aware of the situation in regards to the homeless. She wondered if Mark had food to eat and shelter everyday. The homeless may be an ignored segment of society, but not in Vicki’s eyes. She knew that her son just might be one of those people.

She wished “I would like to see each family adopt a homeless person and help them. They may simply be lost and need someone to help them get to their loved ones. They may not even understand that they are missing.”

Vicki and I exchanged thoughts about the lack of media coverage in these types of missing person’s cases. What she had to say was simple but true: “The media needs to be educated before it is able to educate the viewers.”

I asked Vicki to write a letter about Mark when I introduced his case online.

She wrote:

“Mark Hamilton is my son. He is 35 years old and has been missing for 11 years. He originally disappeared from St. Louis, MO. He has a mental health condition and this prevents him from understanding that he has a family and a home waiting for him. I had previously experienced resistance in getting a Missing Person Report filed. Because of the efforts of Project Jason, I now have an Endangered Missing Report filed, and I can now seek your help.

Every day I think about how Mark has missed most of the best years of his young adulthood. I think about him every time I eat, wondering if he was able to eat that day. I think about him when it rains and wonder if he is able to protect himself from the rain and storms. I think about him each night when I go to bed and imagine how horrible it must be to sleep in the woods, swamps or on the side of a building.

Mark was a very kind, sensitive boy growing up. He was an incredible artist, musician and was very athletic. I believed he would have a bright future. But then in his late teens to early twenties, he became mentally ill. I desperately tried to get him help, but while he was in a special program 11 years ago, he left in the middle of the night and has been wandering and homeless ever since.

A few sightings of him have been reported in the last couple of years throughout Florida; but by the time I received the information, he was long gone. At least I know that he was alive as of January 2005. He was, at that time, thought to have lived in the woods and swampy areas by himself, and was seen with a cat on a leash. His mental illness makes him paranoid of people.

I pray for his return and for the many other missing loved ones out there. I am still hopeful that I will be able to hug Mark and tell him how much he is loved once again.

Thank you in advance for any prayers for my son and/or action you might take to aid in his location.

Vicki”

1st part of timeline of events after police accept Mark’s case and Project Jason publicizes it:

6/27/05:

Information and photos of Mark have been received and posted. Project Jason sends out a notice to other agencies and interested persons about Mark’s case.

8/15/05:

Project Jason places Mark on their Come Home program and notifies numerous homeless shelters about his case.

9/8/05:

Weeks after Mark was placed on our Come Home program, a person associated with a homeless shelter in CO claimed to have seen Mark.

I wrote a story about this incident:

Mark was placed on our Come Home program just weeks ago. Come Home is the 1st ever national missing person's locator program which seeks the missing among the homeless. As it was a near certainty that Mark was living a homeless lifestyle due to his illness, we placed him on the program. On August 16th, our Come Home participants, which consist of homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and related entities, were given notification of Mark's campaign, and asked to print and display his poster.

Last Friday, September 2nd, a homeless preacher named Bubba picked up another homeless man and gave him a ride to a town in Colorado named Pagosa Springs. Bubba owns a jeep, but little more. He goes to the soup kitchen in a nearby community on a daily basis to help with the meals. This particular soup kitchen is one of our Come Home participants.

The next time Bubba went to the soup kitchen, he spoke with a worker there, a woman named Kim. In their conversation, Bubba mentioned that he had given a ride to a homeless man. Kim interrupted Bubba, and went to get the Come Home poster she had posted. She showed it to Bubba, and asked if the man he spoke of was the same man as shown on the poster, Mark Hamilton. Bubba said a very astonished "yes".

The two of them were amazed. Kim called the law enforcement contact listed on the poster and let them know what had happened. The detective was also shocked at this odd and coincidental chain of events. He called Vicki, who was speechless. Could this be her Mark?

If you have been reading our stories, you have probably noticed that frequently, the families of missing loved ones describe the emotional ups and downs as like being on a roller coaster ride. Just the day to day emotions of this type of loss can be like a harrowing ride. When something like today's events occur, the ride intensifies dramatically.

Vicki knows that she needs to try to be "neutral" about this sighting. If you get your hopes up too high, and then you find out it is not your missing loved one, then you fall much harder. It is difficult to pick yourself back up and go on once again.

On Friday, Kim will have Bubba contact Vicki so that she can try to ascertain if it was indeed Mark, and if he gave any clues to where he might be headed. The unfortunate thing, as Vicki is well aware, is that it was a week ago when these events transpired. Mark might still be in the area, or he could be several states away. Even so, Vicki will not give up hope that she can and will find Mark.

Because of his illness, he may not truly understand what it means to be homeless and that his family is looking for him. He may feel compelled to keep moving. Mark has been reported to ride on freight trains and to hitch rides. He likes to be near the ocean and does not like cold weather. There have been reports of him being in NY, VI, FL, and CA. Vicki's gut instinct told her that Mark was going to CA, L.A. specifically, but she has nothing to substantiate this, other then those first thoughts and the reports from the past.

We hope that Bubba will come to the soup kitchen and call Vicki. She is very anxious to speak to him to get as much information as possible. Any tips or clues she gets from speaking to him will be shared with us and with law enforcement. Project Jason is not an investigative agency, but based upon the details, we can give suggestions and resources as needed.

We ask that you, our readers, our angels, and our seeking eyes, to help in any way that you can. We need to get Mark's poster out there, and ensure that as many law enforcement agencies, shelters, and soup kitchens in this area and in a path to L.A. see his information. Authorities need to understand that he is a mentally ill person, and even if he seems fine, effort should be made to see if he will go with them long enough for them to contact the detective in St Louis (the phone number is on the poster) and for him to agree to go in for an evaluation.

We hope that Bubba will be able to tell Vicki something definitive about Mark's future travels. It may be possible that he is not headed west. As we receive additional information, we will post it here.

It just seems as if there are too many "coincidences" in this story for something good NOT to occur. Vicki agrees.

So, please God, can you make this miracle happen for Vicki? It's been a very long time for her to be without Mark, and to go to bed each night hoping and wondering.

Unfortunately, “Bubba” was never located to question him.

Jump to Part II

7/5/08 Project Jason Presents "A Mother's Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years"

2008-07-05T19:04:00.006-05:00

Project Jason is pleased to present an exclusive story of hope, "A Mother's Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years". Each day, for 5 days, a new part will be posted here.

A Mother’s Day Miracle, Missing for 14 Years
Written by Kelly Jolkowski with Vicki Hamilton Loux

For 14 long years, Vicki Hamilton Loux had not seen the face of her beloved son, Mark Hamilton. Mark became mentally ill as a young man, and had fled the care center where he was staying.

For 11 of those 14 years, Vicki had never once spoken to someone who knew personally what it is like to have a missing loved one. Family members had a difficult time in dealing with Mark’s disappearance, even to the point of denial. Vicki was alone in her grief and nearly alone in her search. For her, the search was like grasping at a shadow, the shadow of her missing son. Each time she felt close, the shadows of what could be eluded her. His face remained as dark as the shadows, although her hope was a light that never faded.

In January of 2005, Vicki was given a glimmer of hope when authorities in Florida spoke to Mark. Sadly, they did not comprehend the seriousness of his need for help, and they let him go. Vicki was not even informed of this for three days…three days too late to be able to find him again.

Authorities in Missouri, where Mark disappeared from all those years ago, closed Mark's missing person case. Neither they, nor the Florida police, would reopen the case despite Vicki's efforts. They considered Mark “found”. His mental illness had no bearing whatsoever.

In mid-June 2005, Vicki did find someone, although it was not Mark. Vicki found Project Jason on the Internet, and sent me a brief email about her situation.

I remember that night well. I was sitting at the PC, catching up with emails and various tasks. The time stamp on the email was 12:21am. I read it minutes after it came in.

6/16/05, 12:21am:

Hello -

I have a mentally ill missing adult son. He has been missing for 11 years. The police in my area wouldn't even file a missing person report until last year & this was after I threatened to go to the media. He was found in another state, far from me, in 01/2005. They asked him a couple of questions, let him go & now he is missing again. They immediately took him out of the missing person police databank. And now no one will file a missing person report again. I need help. Will you please contact me?

Vicki

This woman was still up. She pleaded for help in her email. I picked up the phone and called her right then and there. After 11 long years, Vicki finally had someone to talk to who truly understood what it is like to live with a missing son. There was relief in her voice, even with a major hurdle in front of us.

We did not have a reported missing person’s case.

Due to privacy issues regarding adults, agencies like ours must be able to verify that there exists an open missing person’s case with a law enforcement agency, otherwise we face possible legal issues with that missing adult. Our hands are tied without it.

As we were talking, Vicki explained the St. Louis connection to Mark’s disappearance. It is their hometown. Bells went off in my head. I knew an officer from St. Louis, Major Robert Lowery. (now retired)

I met him while at the National Conference: Identifying the Missing, held in Philadelphia earlier that same year. He struck me as being genuinely concerned about the missing. As we have another family we assist in St. Louis, I had made it a point to approach him about their case. He told me to contact him at any time if I needed assistance. I was now going to take him up on his offer. I told Vicki that I made no guarantees about what he could or would do for her, but that I would try.

6/17/05: Letter to Major Lowery from me:

Dear Major Lowery,

I met you in Philadelphia and asked you for your help with a family that my organization is assisting in East St Louis.

I am writing to you today to ask you to intervene on behalf of a missing mentally ill man, Mark Hamilton. His information is below, and photos attached. I understand that he was reported missing from St Louis at one point, but that authorities found him in FL, and let him go. Police then closed the case. Despite the mother's efforts and her pleas to both FL and St Louis PD, no one will open the case because of what appears to be prejudice in regards to an adult case. It doesn't sound as if anyone truly understands the part that Mark's mental illness plays in this. He is, and should be, considered endangered.

He has been missing for a total of 11 years, with the exception of the incident in FL, in which the police "found" him, but then let him go. His mother has exhausted every avenue to locate her son. Since the police will not file a report, she cannot get help from agencies such as ours. If only they would just take the report, and then add him in the NCIC. At that point, other agencies can step in and help the mother find her son so that she can help him to become functional again.

I am a realist. I can understand police not taking a report of a missing adult when they have left a goodbye note and it is clear they wish to be left alone, but this is an entirely different matter. I do not understand why he cannot be classified as missing when his illness clearly mandates proper treatment and care. Does this not make him endangered? All we want is to get him on the books and in the NCIC.

Another consideration is that if entered in the NCIC, that could help find him if he were to be deceased. We both know from our discussions at the conference that we need to take the necessary steps to "find" the Unidentified as well.

I want to help this mother, but my hands are tied unless the police will take a report. Can you help her with that, please?

Thank you.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,Project Jason
www.projectjason.org

Now would we wait and see if I was right about Major Lowery’s compassion toward missing person cases.

Jump to Part II

6/13/08 Project Jason/Jolkowski Family Announcement

2008-06-13T00:31:00.003-05:00

June 13, 2008 marks seven years since the mysterious and tragic disappearance of Jason Jolkowski, the namesake of our organization. His 27th birthday is June 24th. In honor of Jason, his birthday and his generous spirit, we are launching a fundraising campaign. The birthday present image at the bottom of our main site at http://www.projectjason.org/ will be used to show our progress towards the goal of raising $2,700 by October 6th, the 5th anniversary of Project Jason.

You will find a quick reference to Project Jason’s accomplishments and information about how we utilize donations by continuing to scroll down in this thread.

Please feel free to forward this information.

What follows is a letter written by Jason's mother, Kelly, to mark this sad occasion:

Dear Jason,

We love you and miss you. It’s been seven years since we last saw your face and heard your gentle laugh. Wherever you are, you’re now a grown man. You were just a young adult when you were last with us, working to find your place in this life.

The month of June is such a trying time of year. You disappeared without a trace on June 13th, 2001. Sometimes it seems as if it was just yesterday. The great fear and pounding of our hearts when we discovered something was very wrong is a feeling we’ll never forget. We waited and hoped that you’d walk in the door a moment later and that the whole awful event would be over, but that didn’t happen.

Seven years later, it feels as if it never may end, and that we may have to wait for our life after this world to see you again. Even so, we will always have hope to find you sooner, and that you will be with us again. Love always hopes, and we have hearts full of both.

Father’s Day and my birthday were also events of that fateful month, and without you, those dates seemed meaningless.

June 24th is your 27th birthday. It would be so wonderful to be able to buy you a gift and sing Happy Birthday to you, even in our funny, off-key way. There is so much that we’ve all missed. If you are still with us, you could be married and have children. You may have graduated from college and be pursuing a career. So many life events which normally happen with someone of your age may have passed by. We hope and pray that you haven’t been cheated of the life you were meant to live.

We feel that somehow, you are aware of how life has changed for us in your absence. Your little brother has grown up now and works with your dad. He misses you so.

Because of you, we were called to reach out and help others who have fallen victim to this tragic circumstance. We passed a law in your name here in Nebraska, and then we created a nonprofit organization named after you, Project Jason. We’ve helped find other missing people, including a son who was missing for 14 years, and a sister missing for seven. We wish we could find you, but rest assured son, we won’t stop trying.

We were blessed to have you with us for nineteen years. You taught us so much, especially about generosity and kindness. You never told us these things, but we found out from those who knew you. You took it upon yourself to help a handicapped boy at school to get from class to class. You sang a rap in front of the whole school to help your friend get elected to the student council, even though you are shy and quiet. We saw for ourselves how you would literally run to open the door for elderly people, or help someone across the street. Because of these things and more, we know you would want us to do the work we do to help other families of missing persons.

In honor of your 27th birthday, and we know you would approve, we are asking for donations to your name sake organization. It’s been a struggle these past seven years without you, and also in founding the organization and accomplishing what we know we could. With the support of others who care, we will achieve more for these suffering families and help to reunite them with their missing loved ones.

We’re going to ask, dear Jason, that each person reading this consider donating $27 in your name to Project Jason. Realizing there are many who truly can’t afford to do this, perhaps some who can, will donate an additional $27. We have a goal to reach $2,700 by October 6th, which will be the 5th anniversary of the founding of Project Jason.

For those who wish to help, they can mail their donation to Project Jason, PO Box 3035, Omaha, NE 68103, OR go to our website, www.projectjason.org, and click on the PayPal button at the bottom of the page. We’ll also show the progress towards the October goal on the “birthday present” image shown on the bottom of the main page of our website.

It will be wonderful to be able to affect even more families in your name, Jason. The greatest gift of all would be to have you back in our lives, but if that is not to be, we will continue on with our work with the help and support of the kind people of the world, people just like you.

Love Always,

Mom, Dad, and Michael

Kelly and Jason, all those years ago

5/3/08 Campaign for the Missing News: Florida Passes!

2008-05-03T15:59:00.002-05:00

Project Jason is pleased to announce the passage of the Jennifer Kesse and Tiffany Sessions Missing Persons Act in the state of Florida. It was passed yesterday, and now awaits the governor's signature. It is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2008.

Congratulations to Drew and Joyce Kesse, Jennifer's parents, and all who helped pass this bill, a part of Project Jason's Campaign for the Missing.

http://www.findjenniferkesse.com/

Other states passed by Campaign for the Missing volunteers include CT, IN, NJ, and OR.

Here are some highlights of the bill.

Basic Summary:

An act relating to missing persons; amending s. 937.021, F.S.; requiring law enforcement agencies to adopt written policies and procedures to be used when investigating missing person reports; requiring law enforcement agencies to submit information to specified databases; providing immunity from civil liability for certain persons involving such reports; requiring that a law enforcement agency obtain a DNA sample after a person has been missing more than 90 days; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to adopt rules; amending s. 937.022, F.S.;renaming the Missing Children Information Clearinghouse the "Missing Children and Persons Information Clearinghouse"; requiring the clearinghouse to collect and process information regarding missing children, missing persons younger than 26 years of age, and missing persons suspected by a law enforcement agency of being in danger or a victim of criminal activity; providing definitions; providing an effective date.

Highlights:

LE (Law Enforcement) must have written procedures regarding the proper investigation of cases, use of available resources, and monthy review of cases.

Missing persons must be entered into the NCIC and the FL CIC databases within 2 hours.

When a person has been missing for 90 days, DNA may be obtained from the person's belongings or the appropriate biological family members. LE can obtain DNA before the 90 days if need be.

The state clearinghouse shall now also include information about missing persons through age 25, and any missing person LE considered to be engandered or a victim of criminal activity. LE is required to report information about these cases to the state clearinghouse.

FL LE shall establish a means to communicate case information about the case types as noted above.

LE is encouraged to transmit information about the above missing person case types to media and other interested parties who may be on the same distribution list as those on the Amber Alert list. Any person on this list who complies with the request cannot be held liable for any damages in complying with the request to disseminate this information.

(The last point and second point above are the ones which seems to confuse some media into thinking the bill extends the age of Amber Alerts and/or causes an alert to be issued in all cases. As you can see, it does not.)

You can read the full text of the bill here: http://www.flsenate.gov/data/session/2008/Senate/bills/billtext/pdf/s0502.pdf

Thanks again to the families of the missing, such as Jennifer's family, who are willing to step outside of the circle of their own pain, and work to help increase the odds that even just one more family will be reunitied with their missing loved one.

There is always hope.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski

President and Founder,Project Jason

http://www.projectjason.org/

Help us for free when you shop online or do a websearch:

http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=857029

5/3/08 BBC World Radio Interview on Hope and Going On

2008-05-03T15:50:00.001-05:00

Dear Family Members and Friends,

You might be interested in listening to this "World, Have Your Say" interview with families of the missing from all over the world who talk about hope, and giving up or going on. The show's title is "When is it time to say goodbye?" and was broadcast live yesterday afternoon on BBC World Radio as well as the Sirius and XM satellite radio networks.

The show's host, Peter Dobbie, posed thought provoking questions on the one year anniversary of Madeline McCann's disappearance:

"But when does the time come to move on? Does there come a point when the family of someone who’s missing must accept what’s happened ? Can a family survive the kind of emotional stress that must be involved in losing someone, without saying goodbye. Do they have to assume that the person has died, to safeguard their own emotional wellbeing ? The McCanns have now attained a kind of celebrity, for them, and indeed for anyone else who’s lost a relative, is that celebrity worth it, if it keeps hope alive ? Or, at what time, does hope die, and become something else ? Once we accept that there is no hope, is that when we begin to find comfort ?"

Guests on the show included several family members of international missing person's cases, Project Jason's Kelly Jolkowski, and the President of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Ernie Allen.

You can read more about the show here: http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/2008/05/01/when-is-it-time-to-say-goodbye/#more-492

Listen to the show here: http://www.projectjason.org/downloads/whys_20080501-2000.mp3

With Hope, Always,

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org

4/1/08 Project Jason's Kelly Jolkowski on International Broadcast Radio Show

2008-04-01T02:08:00.004-05:00

A Project Jason News Brief

In her role as one of the nation's most outspoken advocates against the use of psychics in missing persons' cases, Kelly Jolkowski will be a guest on this Friday's Catholic Answers Live call-in radio program.

Kelly will share the hour with Angelo Stagnaro, a magician/mentalist who investigates and exposes fraudulent spiritualists and psychics. Kelly will cover the emotional angle and how psychics harm, and Angelo will demonstrate how psychics are able to fool so many. Both will emphasize the Church teachings in respect to this typically forgotten issue.

The first part of the show will feature interviews with Kelly and Angelo, and then listeners will be able to call in with their questions.

Angelo Stagnaro is the editor of Smoke & Mirrors, the Internet’s largest electronic magazine for professional stage card and coin magicians. He has also published three textbooks on stage magic, including Conspiracy, Something from Nothing and The Other Side.

Catholic Answers Live, one of the most popular Christian radio shows, is carried on hundreds of stations nationwide. It is also a part of EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network, can be heard on the Sirius Satellte Network, as well as numerous shortwave radio stations. The show airs at 4pm PST (6pm CST), and can be listened to online at http://www.kvss.com/ , http://www.ewtn.com/radio/index.asp , or http://www.catholic.com/radio/catholic_answers_live.ram .

Kelly Jolkowski, President and Founder, Project Jason a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization

Kelly's son, Jason Jolkowski, disappeared on June 13, 2001, at age 19, from the driveway of their home in Omaha, NE. Over 6 years later, the Jolkowski family lives with no leads or clues in Jason's disappearance. Since then Kelly has become an active advocate for families of the missing. She created several unique awareness programs for Project Jason to help locate the missing, including the 18 Wheel Angels, Adopt a Missing Person, and Come Home. Kelly is currently spearheading the Campaign for the Missing, a 50 state grassroots effort to pass the missing person legislation developed by the DOJ. Several states have now passed this legislation with her guidance, and several more are in progress. She also developed Healing Harbor, a free online counseling benefit for families of the missing, the only service of its kind in the U.S. She also speaks at conferences across the country about issues pertaining to missing persons, and has been a guest on several national radio shows, and FOX News.

Kelly, a lifelong Catholic, not only faced a life-changing tragedy with the mysterious disappearance of her son, but came face-to-face with persons claiming to have psychic abilities who victimized the family with horrid tales of Jason's death and suffering. Although surrounded by a society accepting of persons claiming pyschic abilities, Kelly came to publically embrace the Catholic position on psychics and truly place her faith in God and His Will for her family. Through her work with Project Jason, Kelly educates the families of the missing so they can feel at peace with the decision not to pursue use of pychics in their own missing loved one's case. Thousands worldwide have read her Psychics and Missing People blog series, located at http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2006/03/30606-pmp-introduction-to-psychics-and.html

Project Jason Policy Regarding Psychics

There is not one proven case in which a psychic, using special powers or abilities not given to the typical person, has located a missing person, whether dead or alive. It may be possible that some persons have an ability that defies science and logic, but there is no known scientific evidence of this. These persons re-victimize families by taking away hope where it should stand, and giving hope where there is none. No person has the right to do this to another.

Psychics and other users of purported paranormal phenomena, cause unnecessary and damaging pain and anguish to families of the missing. They can also add to financial stress if they charge fees. We're already on a roller coaster ride of events and emotions, and we should have no desire to add to it.

Understanding what goes on behind the scenes should decrease any guilt feelings for not accepting offers of "help" from these persons, whether it is fee-based or not. We want to lessen the pain already present in our every breath, and arm families with the information to defend themselves against these persons. The evidence that psychics are not helpful and in some cases even harmful, is overwhelming.

In our mission to provide support and assistance to the families of the missing, we stand firm that it is not in their best interest to pursue the use of psychics in their case. We won't ride the status quo train of popular belief that it's ok and is not harmful.

Project Jason stands firm in their policies that since psychics play no proven part in solving a missing person’s case, we will not refer them to family members, family members to them, nor “advertise” their claimed services.

Additional Information: http://projectjason.org/interviews.html#psychics

Archived Show/Listen Here:

Real Audio: http://www.catholic.com/audio/2008/Real/ca080404b.ram

MP3: http://www.catholic.com/audio/2008/MP3/ca080404b.mp3

3/31/08 Campaign for the Missing News

2008-03-31T20:22:00.002-05:00

From our friends at the Center for Human Identification: (DNA lab)

http://www.hsc.unt.edu/news/Connections/20080321Connect/Links/TopStory02.html

New Jersey signs law requiring use of Health Science Center DNA Lab services

A new law in the State of New Jersey aims to identify missing persons through a partnership between New Jersey law enforcement agencies and the UNT Center for Human Identification here on the UNTHSC campus. Patricia’s Law, which passed in January, requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to submit reference DNA samples from family members of people missing more than 30 days to the UNT Center for Human Identification’s DNA lab for analysis and uploading into CODIS. Patricia’s Law is the first of its kind in the country to offer a comprehensive plan for collecting DNA evidence.

The law was signed by New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine at a press conference on Wednesday.

Also in attendance were several New Jersey lawmakers, law enforcement representatives and the family of Patricia Viola, for whom the law is named.Viola was a 42-year-old New Jersey wife and mother who disappeared Feb. 13, 2001. She left her home between 1 and 2:30 pm without identification, keys, credit cards, or her medication. No one knows what happened to her, and she has not yet been found.

Patricia’s Law was born from model legislation designed in 2005 at the first National Strategy Meeting on Identifying the Missing, which brought together federal, state and local law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners, victim's advocates, forensic scientists, key policymakers, and families who have lived through this tragic experience.

ProjectJason. org, a not-for-profit missing persons organization, then called for volunteers in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia to retain a sponsor to support the model missing persons' legislation at the state level. Patricia’s husband, Jim, took on New Jersey, and State Sen. Loretta Weinberg immediately embraced the new proposed legislation, making New Jersey the first state to obtain sponsorship.

There is always hope..........................

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski

President and Founder,

Project Jason

http://www.projectjason.org/

Help us for free when you shop online or do a websearch:

http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=857029

All missing persons are loved by someone, and their families deserve to find the answers they seek in regards to the disappearance.

12/2/07 Letters to Parents: "Why, God?"

2007-12-02T19:31:00.000-06:00

Letters to Parents: Why, God?

Sections of this are from a letter I wrote to a mother whose young son is having a difficult time dealing with having a relative who was missing and then found deceased. The child decided that since his relative was killed, God no longer existed. As expected, his mother is having her own set of struggles.

In sharing this, my hopes are that it might help someone else who is facing a similar situation.

Dear X,

I suppose we feel as if we should go through life and not have difficulties. It's something that happens to the other guy, not us. When it does happen to us, our "safety net" is yanked away, and we, in our grief, tend to strike out and blame someone. God seems like a good candidate because we're not face to face with Him in the physical sense, and, like a good parent, we feel He should have protected us.

Maybe this is a good analogy in which your child can relate:

When we were kids, 99.9 % of us hurt ourselves at some point when we were outside playing. Our parents let us go outside and play because it was good for our bodies and spirits. We were certainly not held prisoner in our homes just because we might get hurt. So, when the inevitable happened and we did get hurt, did we blame our parents? No, of course not. (At least no kid I knew of ever did.) Did our parents cease to exist because we broke our arm or skinned our knee? No again. So why do we blame God and how does the bad things that happen make Him suddenly disappear?

As I mentioned, it's easier to blame God because He's not someone we can see and touch. We wouldn't have come home with the skinned knee, packed our bags and marched out, not saying a word because our parents had ceased to exist, but we can shake our fist in the air and blame God for our troubles and we can pretend in our minds that He no longer exists as a way to mask our pain.

It may be possible that anger and resentment are the core issues here, not faith. Your son is angry that his safe life has been altered and your attentions diverted. He loves you and hates that you have been hurt and violated. He's young too, so it is more difficult for him to approach a emotion-packed situation in the same way a mature adult would.

I believe that God does not neccesarily cause bad things to happen, but may on occasion allow them to happen. Since we're all gifted with free will, and some of us make wrong choices, for the most part, people are to blame. Because we are human, we may not always understand why these sorts of things happen.

Day after day, bad things happen everywhere. Someone dies in an automobile accident. Someone is murdered. The neighbor's house burned down. My friend lost her job. The list goes on and on.

Examine each bad thing, and you will likely see other causes. A drunk driver caused the accident. Did God make him drink? Did God pull the trigger on the gun that caused the death of the person? No. Did God make the candle tip over that caused the house fire? No, the little boy did. Did God get my friend fired? No. The company was having financial problems and she was let go.

And yes, there are some things that happen wherein you can't be certain why they happened.

In the end, we're still here and we can choose how we will deal with the fact that we ARE the "other guy". We can bury our hand in the sand and try to pretend the bad thing didn't happen. We can bury ourselves in our pain and selfishly shut out everyone else and we can turn to drugs or alcohol.

We can also live. I mean truly live.

That's what I choose despite the cloud that hangs over my head. That cloud represents the pain and loss surrounding the disappearance of my son. I like to say that there is a rain cloud over my head, but God gave me an umbrella, and I use it!

I know my son loves me, and for that reason, he would want me to truly live.

Since Jason disappeared close to 6 1/2 years ago, I have been privleged to meet some of the kindest people on the planet. We know that there are thousands upon thousands of people praying for us all over the world. Strangers have reached out to us and helped us in our time of need, not expecting anything in return. I find that there is truly more good than bad, and by far.

Despite all the bad news on TV, and despite all the situations we encounter with families in pain every single day, there is SO much good. We make the choice to see things in a certain way, so if we choose to view the glass as half full rather than half empty, we will be able to find joy and purpose in our lives again.

When you look outside and the skies are grey, what do you see? Look again, and see all the shades of grey, some with a touch of blue. See the trees with no leaves? Do they look ugly and stark? Look at them again. Without the leaves, you can see what you couldn't before You can see the well-crafted shape of the branches as they extend upward and outward. You can see birdnests you didn't know were there and you can see more sky peeking through the branches. Remember that the leaves fall to ensure the survival of the tree, and that the leaves aren't wasted, since they serve to enrich the earth. Nature, as God intended, is lovely, even when the lights are dimmed and colors altered at this time of year.

If you live in one of the colder regions of the country, go outside during a snowfall, close your eyes, and look up, letting the snow fall on your cheeks. Stick out your tongue and catch a few snowflakes. (I guarantee you will not die of "acid rain".) Catch some snowflakes in your hand and look quickly at their beautiful and unique shape before they melt. Fall back on the ground and make a snow angel. (Sit down first if you have a bad back.) Make a snowball and throw it at your kids or spouse. (not too hard) Who cares what the neighbors think!!

Doesn't that sound like fun?

You can find your joy again if you look for it. It may not be found outside in a pile of freshly fallen snow or near a sturdy tree trunk. You might find it in service to others or in the care of a small child. You might hear it in a beautiful symphony. I cannot tell you where to find it, only that you can find it. Finding it may be a key in your ability to adapt to this difficult situation.

I can also assure you that God is always there for you, even in what may seem like the darkest of hours. In the same way that we can find a new way to feel joy again, we may have to find a new way to listen to God and feel His presence.

With Hope, Always,

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder of Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org

11/3/07 22 Missing Persons Featured in Interstate Directory

2007-11-03T20:57:00.000-05:00

Good Day,

We are pleased to announce that in conjunction with our trucking industry partner, Target Media Partners, 22 missing persons have been featured in this year's annual Interstate Directory.

Target Media Partner's annual Interstate Directory features state maps detailing useful information for truckers and other travelers along the interstate system including contact numbers and websites for weather and road conditions, state trucking associations, motor carrier offices, speed limits, a listing of all truck stops, and much more. This full size color publication can be found at over 2,500 truck stops nationwide, is free , and has a circulation of 100,000.

Target Media Partners also works with Project Jason and our 18 Wheel Angel poster distribution program to help bring awareness for missing persons.

The 22 featured missing persons listings are in full color and is sized to fit on 1/3 of the 8.5x11 page. It includes 1-2 photos, the physical and other descriptive data, a link to our 18 Wheel Angels webpage to encourage poster placement, and of course , LE contact information. If we paid for this ad space on our own, it would have cost well over $1,000 for each individual ad. The total value of the space donated by Target Media Partners in this year's edition is more than $10,000!

If you would like to pick up copies of the Interstate Directory, check with your local truck stops and inquire if they carry it. The Interstate Directory is available at Flying J, Wilco, AmBest, Pilot Travel Centers, Travel Centers of America and other locations. Remember that this publication will not be found with the for-purchase magazines, but in a special display along with other trucking magazines. At some truck stops, these displays are right outide the main entrance in a protected unit.

This year's featured missing persons include: (the links go to their news and information thread on our new forum)

Sabrina Allen http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=445

Karissah Butler http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=295

Kelli Ann Cox ht tp://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=128

Jesse Florez: http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=570

Craig Frear http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=576

Ivory Green http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=800

Justin Harris http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=872

Jason Jolkowski http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=131

Jody Ledkins http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=681

Hope Meek http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=637

Maura Murray http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=568

Brianna Maitland http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=857

Clinton Nelson http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=702

Roxanne Paltauf http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=691

Branson Perry http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=15

LaQuanta Riley http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=450

Jesse Ross http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=729

Vinyette Teague http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=897

Leeanna Warner http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=680

Jennifer Wilkerson http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=333

Adrianna and Jennifer Wix http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=88

The Interstate Directory also included the story of the history of the 18 Wheel Angels program, which you will find below my signature line if you wish to read it.

We're pleased to have played a part in bringing awareness to these missing loved one's cases.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski

President and Founder,Project Jason

http://www.projectjason.org/

Help us for free each time you do a websearch:

http://www.goodsearch.c/om/?charityid=857029

History of the 18 Wheel Angels

On June 13, 2001, my son Jason disappeared from the driveway of our Omaha, NE home without a trace. At that time, my family and I became painfully aware that there are very few services for the families of missing people, and especially missing adults. We founded Project Jason, a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization, to create and increase public awareness of missing people through a variety of outreach and educational activities.

Almost immediately after Jason’s disappearance, I started to hear from kind people all over the country and despite not knowing us personally; they offered to help by putting up posters of our son. Many of those wonderful people were truck drivers and my husband and I were very moved by their generosity and compassion. Each time we were feeling low because of our circumstances, we would hear from one of these “angels” and it would lift our spirits and keep us going.

With a small organization like ours, we have little money to spend. Therefore, we must be innovative and find ways to make the most impact for the least amount of money. One night, I was driving down the road, trying to think of something we could do for a low cost that could be effective. I remembered the kindness of many truckers in offering to spread the word about missing people. As a result, the 18 Wheel Angels program sprang to life. It was natural that we would use the word “angels” in the name of the program as we considered the source of our blessings, the compassionate 18-Wheelers who came to our aid.

This program is not donation based but “people” based in the sense that we need drivers – the very people that are the “eyes and ears” of the United States – to help.

It is estimated that in the United States alone, an astounding 2,300 Americans are reported missing every day, including both adults and children. You have a unique opportunity as you distribute the campaign posters along your route to help thousands of people everyday as awareness is everything in a missing person’s case!

Every two weeks, the “18 Wheel Angels” program will feature a new missing person – and every two weeks, you have the opportunity to bring good news to families of missing people across the country.

Beginning in November, we’ll feature one new missing person each week, thanks to the generosity of Target Media Partners. Target Media Partners publishes photos and information about two different campaigns/missing persons each in their publications, Through the Gears and Independent Contractor.

For additional information about the program, go to our website at http://www.projectjason.org/ and click on the 18 Wheel Angels link. This webpage contains a FAQ to explain what we ask of participating drivers and also showcases the current campaigns and all of the past ones. If the person is still missing, their special campaign poster will still be available for you to download, print, and distribute.

Also, we may have the opportunity to speak with the local media in your area regarding the “18 Wheel Angels” program. If you are a participating driver and are willing to speak to the media about this program, please let us know. It only takes a few minutes and the media exposure for these families mean everything! As a parent of a missing person myself, I know just how important every possible bit of public exposure is for a case. Awareness of missing persons is a key to resolution. These families need your help. Please try to put yourself in their place for a moment and help us bring home our missing loved ones! Thank you.

Sincerely,
Kelly Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason

11/3/07 Jason on America's Most Wanted Website

2007-11-03T16:43:00.000-05:00

Our missing son, Jason is now on the America's Most Wanted website. (not to be confused with being on the show, unfortunately) A long time ago, he was listed, but when AMW redid their website, for some reason, they removed his case and did not restore it. We had our law enforcement submit his case twice, and now with a push from one of our volunteers, we finally have him back on there!

The link: http://www.amw.com/missing_persons/brief.cfm?id=49289

Jason Goes Missing

On June 13, 2001, Jason Jolkowski went missing from his home in Omaha, NE. Jason's boss called that morning to find out if he could come into work early. But according to his mother, Jason's car was in the shop so he arranged to meet a c-worker boss at Benson High School, only eight blocks away. Jason showered and changed and headed out the door. His little brother, Michael, recalls last seeing Jason around 10:15 a.m. taking garbage cans to the garage. But when Jason's employer called back to the house 30-45 minutes later because he had not shown up at the high school, the family knew something was wrong. Jason had simply vanished.

"Someone, somewhere, knows where our son is and could help us find him. Six years is too long to live without knowing."

Into Thin Air

Jason had a close relationship with his family, so no one believed he just made up his mind to disappear. Authorities monitored his bank account, cell phone and the body shop where Jason left his car. Nothing. The family estimates that Jason had no more than about $60 when he disappeared, and Jason never picked up his remaining checks from work. With no clues, police relied on information from neighbors that remember seeing Jason leaving his home near the Benson area in Omaha. But no one reported seeing anything suspicious. According to police, in addition to working and attending community college, Jason was a radio announcer, considered a trusting kid and naive when it came to the streets. Omaha authorities suspect foul play.

A "Shy Guy"

Jason was a shy young man who spent his time with family. He typically did not spend a lot of time socially interacting with friends. His family says he was not a drinker or drug user and that he spent most of his time either at home or at work. Before he disappeared, Jason was preparing to start a new job, about which the family says he was excited.

Jason was last seen wearing a blue Cubs hat and a white Cubs or "Sammy Sosa" t-shirt, black pants and black dress shoes.

Since Jason's disappearance, his family has become advocates on behalf of missing persons, founding a non-profit organization, Project Jason, and passing Jason's Law in Nebraska.

Click Here for Jason's Poster

If you have any information about Jason, please call the Omaha Police at 402-444-5818, or at 402-444-STOP if you wish to remain anonymous.

There is currently a $5,000 reward offered by the Carole Sund Foundation.

To help the organization founded in Jason's name, click here.

Thank you for caring,
The Family of Jason Jolkowski

11/3/07 Important Information for Families of the Missing

2007-11-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

Families of the Missing: Don't forget to take advantage of Project Jason's free Healing Harbor benefit! This is even more important now as we head into the holiday season, traditionally a difficult time of year emotionally for most families of the missing.

Healing Harbor is a free service provided to families of the missing by nonprofit organization Project Jason and Duane Bowers, LPC.

Families of the missing suffer a unique tragedy, one with which many professional counselors do not have the training or experience to be able to properly service their clients. In addition, many families do not have the financial means to seek professional counseling. Duane is one of the nation's most qualified counselors in regards to issues faced by these families, and we are honored to have him with us to answer your questions.

Healing Harbor can provide answers and assistance on a variety of emotional issues that effect family members of missing persons. This assistance may provide the boost needed for that family member to deal with and adapt to the situation without seeking counseling. (Please keep in mind that Healing Harbor should not be viewed as a substitute for individual, private counseling if needed.)

Families of the missing who elect to participate in Healing Harbor are invited to post their question to Duane in our private forum area. These questions may cover any topic of interest in respect to emotional issues that relate to having a missing person in their life.

Some recent topics covered include:

Helping a young child to deal with having a missing loved one

Understanding fear of change as it relates to having a missing person in your life

What it means to be "stuck on the day the person went missing"

Understanding feelings of guilt

If you are a family member of a missing person, and would like to take advantage of this service, please register at our forum, located at http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php

After registration, simply follow the instructions in the verification email you will receive, and then let us know that you have registered, so we can grant permissions for you to enter the special forum area. Email us with your username, the name of the missing loved one, and your relationship to them. After verification, we'll open up access to Healing Harbor to you. Once we set it up so that you have access to the Healing Harbor Forum, it will be displayed on the main forum page at http://projectjason.org/forums/index.php.

We hope that you will find healing in our safe harbor.

With Hope for all of our Missing Loved Ones,

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski

President and Founder,Project Jason

http://www.projectjason.org/

11/2/07 Shelva's Story

2007-11-02T21:03:00.000-05:00

Important Update:

Sightings of Missing Shelva Rafte: Please Help!

ATTENTION: Positive sightings of Shelva have occured in PA in truckstops off I-81. This was a result of Shelva's 18 Wheel Angels poster campaign. Several people concur with the initial sighting.

It is important to get the word out to persons in this area and to anyone who knows truck drivers who run this route. Ask them to take the posters with them and distribute.

Shelva Rafte is now on Project Jason's 18 Wheel Angel campaign. A special poster has been made for her and can be downloaded and printed for placement. More information about the program, and the link for the poster can be found here:
http://projectjason.org/18wheel.shtml

In addition to the campaign, Shelva is also featured in a national trucking publication, either Through the Gears or Independent Contractor. These free magazines are distributed in truck stops nationwide and have a circulation of about 150,000 each.

Through the Gears and Independent Contractor are two of Target Media Partner's many publications. In partnership with Project Jason, they feature two missing persons each per month. You can pick up your free copies at a local truck stop, but if it's far from you, you may want to call and ask if they carry that magazine. These are NOT with the regular for purchase magazines.

You can also see the current campaign information on this Target Media Partners site: http://www.thetrucker.com/Features/Missing_Week_1.aspx

We hope this helps in the search for Shelva. Please consider printing and placing a poster in businesses in your community.

Family Website: http://www.findshelva.com/

Updates on Shelva’s Case: http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=464.0

Direct link to Shelva's poster: http://projectjason.org/18wheel/18WheelAngel_ShelvaRafte.pdf

In addition to the 18 Wheel Angel poster campaign as noted above, Shelva's daughter shared the story about her mom's disappearance:

Shelva Rafte

By Janelle, Shelva’s Daughter

“That would never happen to us” is a common phrase when people see bad things happening to other people. You feel almost invisible from any harm until something does go wrong. Life was going on as normal for everyone in our family. We had all pulled together to plan a graduation party to remember for me. My mom was in charge of the meatballs and rolls and she was going to arrive early to finish the decorating. The day was perfect. It was Memorial Day weekend, 95 degrees and there was not a cloud in the sky. There were smiles on everyone who attended. Now that day seems to be such a nightmare.

I remember the phone call like it was yesterday. It was around 11:30 PM, May 29th. My aunts were calling me on a conference call to say that no one had been able to reach my mom all day and that they were concerned. It was normal to not reach my mom the second you called her, but for some reason I felt compelled to drive 45 minutes to Pittston. I called 911 on the PA turnpike and told them I needed an officer to meet me on Cleveland Street in Pittston, Pa “just in case”. I arrived just around 12:30 AM to see the cops sitting on the front porch. They had already looked through her apartment and there was no sign of her. Things were left as if she hadn’t been home all day. The only other place she could have possibly been was at her boyfriend’s home on Market Street in Pittston. He hadn’t seen her since 1:00 AM that morning after they had left my graduation party. The rest of the night was a crucial search alone until 4:00 AM. The search was on.

There wasn’t a wink of sleep that night or for many nights after that. We had foot searches, flyers, meetings with the CIU and the State Police and the FBI, dog searches, helicopters, ATV’s, and boats in the river. Nothing was found.

The facts and evidence were slim to none. All we knew was that my mother was last seen leaving my graduation party at around 10:30 PM on May 28th with her boyfriend and she has not been seen since.

The boyfriend states that they had a fight and she left his house to walk home at around 1:00 AM in the morning. The police do not have any evidence to the contrary. Her house was left with the TV on, the doors locked, and her car in the driveway, just as it was left when she came to my party.

It has been over a year since her disappearance and there is still nothing to go on. We have been on the news, put up flyers, increased the reward, and yet nothing has come through.
My mom was last seen wearing powder blue capris with rhinestones on the back and a powder blue t-shirt.

Everyday when I wake up I am thinking about her, and every night I dream of her. And I am not the only one. I have three brothers who are 20, 15, and 11. We need our mom. All we want is closure so we know if she is dead or alive. She is still out there and someone knows something. It’s now about reaching as many people as we can and doing it quickly.

My mother worked at Scott 60 Truck Stop for many years. Scott 60 is located on I-81 in Scott, Pa. She was a waitress there and got to know many of the truck drivers pretty well. In fact, many people have recognized her and have asked me if she used to work there. One strong theory that my family believes is that her disappearance may have occurred very close to the Pilot truck stop in Pittston, Pa. We believe that it is very possible that she may have had someone pick her up that could be driving out of state. I don’t think that this possibility is a long shot. I believe that someday, putting her posters in truck stops may actually lead to finding her.

My family actually owns a small business in delivering stone across the United States. We have already begin putting them up at truck stops with our own drivers, however, we would never be able to reach as many as we would if we had volunteers from the 18 Wheel Angels to help us get the word out. Any help we would receive would be greatly appreciated.

11/2/07 Candles of Hope for LaQuanta

2007-11-02T18:51:00.000-05:00

Candles of Hope for LaQuanta

December 7th, 2007 will mark 4 years since the family of then 19 year-old LaQuanta Riley saw or spoke to her.

LaQuanta disappeared from Montgomery, AL, and was last seen by relatives at approximately 11:30pm getting into a green car, either a Taurus or Caprice. She was wearing a yellow and green Ecko shirt, stone-washed blue jeans, and green and yellow Reebok tennis shoes. There are no leads in LaQuanta's case and the family clings to the hope that someday she will be found.

To honor and remember LaQuanta, her family will be hosting a vigil of hope for LaQuanta. The vigil will be held on 5:30pm on December 7th, 2007 at the Hayneville Road Community Center, 3315 Hayneville Road, Montgomery, AL 36108. The public is invited to attend.

At the vigil of hope, LaQuanta's family and friends will place candles, one per week since LaQuanta's disappearance, for a total of 208 candles. Her family is a simple one, and LaQuanta's case never generated much interest with the media or the public, so Project Jason is asking for your help.

To show this grieving, but yet hopeful family that we do care, we are asking for you to help the family reach their goal of acquiring 208 candles for use at the vigil, with at least one from each state in the US.

Would you consider purchasing a candle to send to the family? If everyone helps, it should be easy to reach our goal.

If you'd like to help, here's all you'd need to do:

Purchase a candle which is free-standing and will not allow wax to drip down the sides or out the bottom while lit. Attach a message of hope for LaQuanta's family and note your state on the card. Mail your candle, allowing enough shipping time to reach Montgomery AL by December 3rd, 2007. Indicate on the note if you prefer to remain anonymous.

If you'd like to purchase a themed candle, LaQuanta's favorite color is blue, she likes music, cooking, and has a great love of the Bible and God.

Mail your candle to:

Candles of Hope for LaQuanta
244 Cornell Rd.
Montgomery AL 36109

Updates on the candle campaign will be published here, along with any media stories about LaQuanta: http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php?topic=450

LaQuanta also has a website, which you can find at http://www.findlaquanta.com/ Please sign the guestbook as another way to show your support, and forward this message so that we can meet our Candles of Hope for LaQuanta campaign goal.

Thank you.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski

President and Founder,Project Jason

http://www.projectjason.org/

10/21/07 A No-Cost Way to Help Project Jason

2007-10-21T14:54:00.000-05:00

What if Project Jason earned a penny every time you searched the Internet or shopped online? Well, now we can!

GoodSearch.com is a new search engine that donates half its revenue, about a penny per search, to the charities its users designate. You use it just as you would any search engine, and it's powered by Yahoo!, so you get great results.

GoodShop.com is a new online shopping mall which donates a percentage of each purchase to your favorite cause. More than 100 great stores including The Gap, Best Buy and Barnes and Nobel have teamed up with GoodSearch and every time you place an order, you’ll be supporting your favorite cause. With the holiday shopping season coming up, don't forget to go through our GoodSearch link when shopping online.

Just go to http://www.goodsearch.com/default.aspx and be sure to enter Project Jason as the charity you want to support. And, be sure to spread the word!

Thank you,

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org/
Help us for free each time you do a websearch:
http://www.goodsearch.com/?charityid=857029

10/20/07 New Forum for the Missing

2007-10-20T15:19:00.000-05:00

Good Day,

Project Jason now has a new forum! The web address for our forum is http://www.projectjason.org/forums/index.php

The old forum had some technical issues with logging in associated with 3rd party software that could not be resolved, so we spent weeks testing a new one so that our guests and family members will have trouble-free browsing. It is of prime importance to us that our family members can access the private support areas of the forum without any problems. Now it's time to unveil the new forum, which has many new features including a calendar, and soon, a chat room.

The Project Jason Forum for the Missing is a great place to do case research for DOE researchers, family members, and law enforcement. There is one thread per listed missing person which includes all the news and information our volunteer researchers can find. Close to 1,000 missing persons cases are posted at this time.

In addition to the missing persons case sections, there are educational areas as well. Topics include the government's role in missing persons, Amber Alert news, safety and prevention, sexual predator control and management news, and much more. There is also a thread called "Good News--Missing Persons" which showcases stories in the news about missing persons who were found safe, some even after many years.

You can also find information about all of Project Jason's services and awareness programs, such as the 18 Wheel Angels. Introductions to the Campaign for the Missing and our Law Enforcement training are also included, as well as steps to take when a person is missing.

There are several private areas on the forum for family members of missing persons. In these areas, family members can meet and share tips and ideas for awareness. They can also support one another, forging new friendships with others who truly understand, all away from the eyes of the general public. There's also Healing Harbor, the only service of its kind in the US, which offers free online counseling for families of the missing.

Our forum is different than all other missing persons related forums you'll find. Our primary goal is to bring awareness for these missing persons, and secondarily, offer a safe harbor for the families. You won't find case discussion going on at the Project Jason Forum. What you'll find is a place full of information, lovingly built to help the families of the missing and support them.

Come and see who we are and, more importantly, look at the faces of our missing loved ones. They have no voice until found, so we, along with their families, will be the voice for the missing; speaking for those who are not among us but who are forever in our hearts.

With Hope, Always,

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski

President and Founder,

Project Jason

9/28/07 A Family's Joy

2007-09-29T10:14:00.000-05:00

My Note: This piece was written by Sandra Soske, grandmother of Megan Soske. If you aren't familiar with the original story she wrote, please read that first. This story is about a happy ending, which is not the same as a fairy tale ending. We'd like to think that when a missing person is found, everything goes back to "normal", but that is not the case. There exists a new set of emotions to deal with.

A Family’s Joy

by Sandra L Soske

Joy can be a two-edged sword. It’s sharp and most painful. It also gets the work done.

After more than thirty-one months of fear-defying concern, anger, alternating between acceptance that I may not see her again and anger that she may be deliberately staying away, my missing person has made contact.

I haven’t seen her yet. She’s not making those all important telephone calls regularly enough for me, but I guess knowing she’s alive and not in a pauper’s grave should have me jumping up and down for joy.

I am somewhere in between jumping up and down and quiet relief.

And I have to give credit where the credit is due. I didn’t find her, but the help I received from www.ProjectJason.org and founder, Kelly Jolkowski, and from Team Hope, a National Center for Missing & Exploited Children organization, did the deed for me. Those all important flyers should be out there for every missing person, child and adult, in our great land.

I have made so many contacts in the past two months. I’ve “talked” with three Kelly’s, swapped emails with many people, cried with family members and friends until they probably don’t want to answer the phone. I had to relive the terrible not knowing part of having a close missing person whom you love and miss desperately. I’ve had to talk to people and give them secrets that I’d rather have kept hidden. I gave a mouth swab for DNA, and dealt with various levels of assistance and frustration from Law Enforcement personnel.

But it did the job! Megan saw her poster at WalMart. And at just two weeks under twenty, she was pretty uptight when she saw it. She wasn’t a missing person, or so she says. But it made her realize there was family out there that believed she was.

And that might be the most important aspect of this. Megan understands (I hope she does) that she is loved, missed, that her family is there for her in good times and bad. I could write an entire essay on family, but the heart of it is understanding. I want that to be my mantra in this, and for all family members in our situation.

I called family and friends first. Then I emailed Kelly, Vicki, and Susan. And again, Project Jason’s Kelly Jolkowski is the best. She is never too busy, too impatient, too anything. She was and is the lifeboat on my stormy sea. Without her I wouldn’t know about NCMEC, and then wouldn’t have “met” Vicki and Susan, talked with Kelly Bennett of the National Center for Missing Adults. All of those women are stupendous!

And as for Megan…

Well, she says she wants to visit. She says she’s trying to grow up. I have to let her go. I have to let those negative feelings I have fly away across the stormy seas I’ve lived with for so very long. She is alive, safe, and maybe still my little girl in some small way. I can’t wait to see her.

Are you watching those Missing Persons boards at WalMart? I may not like shopping there, but I do bless them for those boards! Use the internet. My pastor suggested beginning a daily blog on MySpace (for example) that your loved one might see – and understand. Donate generously to the cause, for this is a cause. If we can donate millions to other worthy causes, let’s get Missing Persons on the news.

And now, my legacy. I don’t want any family anywhere to go through the uncertainty of not knowing where their loved one(s) may be. I hope I am up to the challenge. And Team Hope is answer for me. I will join other volunteers in October in New York to see if I have the right stuff. I want to bring back to my family, to Megan, the love and understanding those women have given me.

After all, that sullen-looking teenager or unkempt stranger next to you at the WalMart Board may be a missing person.

Post Note: Megan and Sandy have since been reunited. Their relationship is on the way to being mended.

We are glad to have been there for them and made a difference in their lives.

9/10/07 Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia: What You Should Know, Conclusion

2007-09-10T00:21:00.000-05:00

This concludes the series on
Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia: What You Should Know.

To return to the Introduction, click here.

For a PDF file of this entire report, please see http://www.projectjason.org/downloads/MissingElderly.pdf

Other Missing Persons

Clark, Richard

Classification: Endangered Missing Adult

Alias / Nickname: Papa

Date of Birth: 1937-11-30

Date Missing: 2005-10-16

From City/State: Pleasanton, KS

Age at Time of Disappearance: 67

Gender: Male

Race: White

Height: 70 inches

Weight: 130 pounds

Hair Color: White

Hair (Other): With graying.

Eye Color: Brown

Complexion: Light

Identifying Characteristics: Missing all teeth except for his front teeth.

Clothing: Black T-shirt, blue jeans, gray athletic shoes, leather belt.

Jewelry: Stainless steel windup watch.

Circumstances of Disappearance: Unknown. Richard was last seen at approximately 6:00pm at his residence in the vicinity of the 13000 block of Quinn Rd. in Pleasanton, KS. Richard may have accepted a ride with a truck driver as he is a retired trucker.

Investigative Agency: Linn County Sheriff's Department

Phone: (913) 795-2666

Investigative Case #: 05IC420

Case Updates:
http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?id=591

Cox, Mary Alice

Name: Mary Alice Cox

Maiden name: Troupe

Age: 56 (54 at time of disappearance)

Born: July 17, 1949

Date missing: March 21, 2004

From: Clarksville TN (USA)

Gender: Female

Race: White, but dark complexion

Height: 5' 5"

Weight: 115 lbs.

Hair: Brunette

Eyes: Hazel (Green/Brown)

Distinguishing features: Birthmark on her chin that is slightly darker than her skin, and she has no teeth, or dentures. Her fingers between her index and middle finger on her right hand are stained yellow from cigarettes. She is right handed.

Eyewear: Wears glasses, but they weren't with her.

Health: Poor. Has emphysema and a lot of trouble breathing. Was on oxygen. Also is Bipolar and Paranoid Schizophrenic.

Circumstances of Disappearance: Went for a walk to the store (unable to drive) nearby her home. She never came home. Her purse was found about 10 miles from her home at the edge of the river. Some have thought they had seen her in the New Providence area of Clarksville TN. Is believed to have entered a car with someone.

Investigative Agency: Clarksville Police Department

Detective Ronald Parrish (931)648--0656 ext. 1009

Case #: 04-005416

Case Updates:
http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?id=415

Grobe, Mary Lee

Classification: Endangered Missing Adult

Date of Birth: 1929-08-22

Date Missing: 2003-09-27

From City/State: Poplar Bluff, MO

Age at Time of Disappearance: 74

Gender: Female

Race: White

Height: 62 inches

Weight: 160 pounds

Hair Color: Gray

Eye Color: Blue

Complexion: Light

Clothing: Dark colored shirt, dark colored pants.

Jewelry: Medical alert necklace.

Circumstances of Disappearance: Unknown. Mary was last seen at approximately 2:00pm at her residence sitting on her porch swing in the vicinity of the 1500 block of Hwy B in Poplar Bluff, MO. Her black Labrador Retriever was also missing but returned to the residence alone a few days later. Her eyeglasses and medication were left behind. She has diabetes and needs insulin. Foul play is suspected.

Investigative Agency: Butler County Sheriff's

Department Phone: (573) 785-8444

Investigative Case #: 03-1834

Case Updates:
http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?id=134

Herd, Una Mae

Classification: Endangered Missing Adult

Alias / Nickname: Memi

Date of Birth: 0924-07-02

Date Missing: 2006-06-25

From City/State: Sherman, TX

Missing From (Country): USA

Age at Time of Disappearance: 81

Gender: Female

Race: White

Height: 60 inches

Weight: 140 pounds

Hair Color: Gray

Eye Color: Brown

Complexion: Light

Identifying Characteristics: Scars on both knees from double knee replacement, pierced ears.

Clothing: Possibly wearing a button-up shirt, knee-length shorts, ankle socks, and athletic shoes.

Circumstances of Disappearance: Unknown. Una was last known to be at her residence in the early morning hours of the 1200 block of N. Harrison (near Dorchester) in Sherman, TX. She failed to meet family members at a restaurant at 9:00am as scheduled. It is unknown if Una went for her usual walk earlier that morning or not. Una suffers from a medical condition and needs medication.

Investigative Agency: Sherman Police Department

Phone: (903) 892-7290

Investigative Case #: 060003980

Case Updates:
http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?id=235

Copyright 2007, Project Jason

9/9/07 Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia: What You Should Know, Part V

2007-09-09T16:30:00.000-05:00

Resources

Aging Population:

Alzheimer’s Association’s Safe Return Program http://www.alz.org/national/documents/SafeReturn_lawenforcement.pdf

Project Lifesaver International: http://www.projectlifesaver.org/

Alzheimer's Alliance of Northeast Texas: www.alzalliance.org

SAR:

DBS-SAR Productions
http://www.dbs-sar.com/SAR_Research/alzheimer_research.htm
(Research and training programs for search and rescue teams and law enforcement agencies.)

United Response Search and Rescue http://www.ursarteam.org/

KlaasKids Foundation: http://www.klaaskids.org/

NASAR, National Association for Search and Rescue: http://www.nasar.org/nasar/

Texas EquuSearch: http://www.texasequusearch.org/

Missing Persons:

Project Jason: http://www.projectjason.org/

Carole Sund Foundation: http://www.carolesundfoundation.com/

National Center for Missing Adults: http://www.nmco.org/

For additional assistance in missing persons, please see the list of other resources on our site at http://projectjason.org/resources.html

Thank you, Target Media Partners, publishers of Through the Gears magazine
(http://www.targetmediapartners.com/)

More Information about Bryon Freeman

Freeman, Bryon

Date Missing: June 24, 2006
Missing From: Elkhart, Texas
DOB: 12/14/1935
Hair Color: Grey
Height: 5’8
Weight: 145lbs
Eye Color: Brown
Sex: Male
Race: Black
Complexion: Medium

Byron Freeman, age 70, drove from Los Angeles, CA to Texas to attend a class reunion in Palestine. He left Elkhart, TX, following a friend to a community center in Palestine, TX, but took a wrong turn. His car was found on Highway 79 in Robertson County, TX along with his keys and cell phone. Byron is possibly disoriented and may believe he is in the Los Angeles, CA area. He has not been seen or heard from since Saturday, June 24, 2006.

Police/Sheriff: Anderson County Sheriff’s
Office Officer/Deputy Name: Sgt Whitmore
Officer’s Phone #: 903-729-6068 Officer’s
Case #: 0604859

Case Updates:
http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?id=116

More Information about Shirley Hunt

Hunt, Shirley

Date Missing: June 19, 2007
Missing From: Good Springs, Texas
DOB: 6/15/1935
Age: 72 yrs old
Hair Color: White
Height: 5’4
Weight: 120 lbs
Eye Color: Hazel
Sex: Female
Race: White
Complexion: Fair

Shirley was last seen wearing a long-sleeved blue shirt over a white shirt with black trim, light denim culottes, and brown loafer shoes. She was walking near her home in the Good Springs area of Rusk County TX, when she disappeared the afternoon of Tuesday June 19, 2007. Mrs. Hunt is an Alzheimer's patient.

Police/Sheriff: Rusk County Sheriff
Officer/Deputy Name: Glenn Deason
Officer’s Phone #: 903/657-3581

Case Updates:
http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/thread.php?id=1120

Go to the Conclusion

9/7/07 Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia: What You Should Know, Part IV

2007-09-07T00:15:00.000-05:00

Other Solutions

States can also adopt legislation to implement missing adult alerts in certain situations. Currently, CO, GA, IL, MI, NM, and UT have initiatives in place to alert all LE and the public about an endangered missing adult.

On September 1st, 2007, Texas implemented a law to begin missing elderly adult alerts, called a “Silver Alert”. SB1315 will use the Amber Alert infrastructure with the Texas Department of Public Safety (TDPS) determining the appropriate alerting avenues at state, regional or local levels. Texans over the age of 65 who have Alzheimer's, dementia, or who are mentally impaired in some way and reported missing, are eligible for the Silver Alert. Alerts for qualifying cases would then be sent to all levels of law enforcement agencies, TV, radio and newsprint media, and also show warnings on freeway message boards.

Project Jason recommends that every person in each family, regardless of age, have a completed Personal ID Kit ready in case someone you love were to become missing. It’s free to download on our website at http://projectjason.org/education.shtml#idkit It contains all of the physical description information and recent photos that will help LE in the search.

Taking Action

The National Alzheimer’s Association gives these tips for when an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient becomes missing:

“The Family:

Five Steps for a Safe Return (Family)

1. Search the Immediate Area- Most people who wander by foot are found within 1/2 mile from where they were last seen. If not found within 5 minutes go to step two.
2. Call 911 - file missing person report
3. Call Safe Return
4. Contact family or friends to stay with you, stay calm, follow directions from police and Safe Return
5. Stay where you are- Have others continue to search, keep phone lines open so Police, Safe Return or the missing person can contact you.

Law Enforcement:

1. Begin search immediately
2. Place the missing person’s name in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and list them as a person with disabilities.

(Project Jason emphasizes also adding immediate involvement of SAR and local media.)

The Alzheimer's Association offers free training for law enforcement that covers wandering and other safety issues, plus tactics to use when encountering someone with dementia. The class also covers how Safe Return can help law enforcement reduce investigation time when someone with Alzheimer's is reported missing in the community.”

What can the general public do to help?

1) Volunteer for ground searches for the missing
2) Place posters of them, such as the 18 Wheel Angels posters made for Byron and Shirley that you’ll find on the Project Jason website
3) Support your local or area SAR teams, Alzheimer’s chapters, and missing person’s assistance organizations

If a person encounters an elderly individual in public who appears to have dementia or Alzheimer's, and they are behaving erratically, the best course of action is to use a non-threatening tone of voice. Maintain a calm environment and speak slowly and maintain a low-pitched voice so you do not give a false perception of anger or threat. Use short and familiar words. Ask “yes” or “no” questions. Do not assume the individual is hearing impaired unless otherwise indicated. You should attempt to remove the individual from noisy or stressful situations as excess stimuli may trigger a negative reaction which is exhibited by increased symptoms of restlessness, pacing, agitation and anxiety. Above all, you should remain calm, assuring and maintain good eye contact.

Robert Vaughn, Shirley’s son-in-law suggests: “If you have a family member with Alzheimer's, try to learn all you can about the disease and how it affects those who have it. If a person is not confined to 24 hour care, the walkaways can be very hard to prevent. Alzheimer's patients seem to show an amazing ability to hide, walk away or disappear. Things that could help in the home would be -- locks that prevent the patient from easily getting outdoors, and/or alarms on the doors that notify caregivers the patient has gone outside. Also a fenced-in yard could provide a place to walk, while decreasing the patient's ability to get away quickly.

Finally, extra help from extended family members, church volunteers, sitters, etc. could provide relief from the weariness that inevitably comes to the caregiver(s).”

Project Jason offers additional support and resources for families of the missing, including our newest benefit: free online counseling for family members.

Byron’s nephew, Lauris, gives advice to other families: “I recommend that families utilize anyone and any organization that is willing to help distribute information about your missing loved one. The more people who you can share your story and the more places you can show your loved one’s face, the better your chances are at recovery.

Prepare yourself both mentally and emotionally for the long haul. If you’re fortunate your loved one will be found alive and well inside a period of hours, days, or possibly weeks. If not, I think it’s important to understand that in addition to all the emotions your family will experience in the days and possibly years to come, your lives must continue. A situation like this can destroy an entire family from the inside out but we must always remember that our loved ones, whether they are recovered or not, will always be with us, and most importantly, remember that life is for the living.”

We’d like to thank the families of Byron Freeman and Shirley Hunt for their participation. We know it was not an easy thing for them to talk about the situation. Our thanks also go to the national and regional organizations which provided information for this article, and to the publishers of Through the Gears magazine, Target Media Partners, for helping in our cause.

About Project Jason

Project Jason is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization, and was established on October 6, 2003. Named after the founders’ missing young adult son, Jason Jolkowski, this organization primarily focuses on case assessment, resources, and support for families of the missing. Kelly Jolkowski, Jason’s mother, handles interactions with family members, and has over 100 hours of professional training in various aspects of missing persons, including emotional support, DNA, support tools, databases and related matters, case management, media relations, and more. A complete listing of the services they offer can be found at www.projectjason.org

Contact Project Jason

information@projectjason.org
OR
402-932-0095

We are the Voice for the Missing; speaking for those who are not among us but who are forever in our hearts.

Go to Part V

9/5/07 Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia: What You Should Know, Part III

2007-09-05T00:56:00.000-05:00

Safe Return Program

For those who live in a community that does not yet have the Project Lifesaver program, the National Alzheimer’s Association has a less expensive alternative with their Safe Return program.

“Alzheimer's Association Safe Return® is a nationwide identification, support and enrollment program that provides assistance when a person with Alzheimer's or a related dementia wanders and becomes lost locally or far from home. Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If an enrollee is missing, one call immediately activates a community support network to help reunite the lost person with his or her caregiver. Safe Return faxes the enrolled person's information and photo (if provided) to local law enforcement.

When the person is found, a citizen or law official calls the 800-number on the identification products and Safe Return notifies listed contacts. The nearest Alzheimer's Association office provides information and support during the search and rescue efforts. The Safe Return program also provides assistance to those individuals who are missing and not enrolled in the program. .” said Kate Meyer, Manager, of Public Relations for the national Alzheimer's Association.

The Safe Return program averages 500 calls per month and 150 wandering incidents. Two-thirds of calls received are from law enforcement or a Good Samaritan calling to report a person FOUND and not from the caregiver calling to report the person MISSING. 99% of reported missing Safe Return enrollees are located within the first twenty-four hours and there is a 98% recover rate for those enrolled who have been reported missing.

National Association Benefits

The group offers this support for families and caregivers:

· The Alzheimer's Association toll-free, 24/7 Helpline provides reliable information, referrals and support in 140 languages. Call us anytime at 1.800.272.3900.

· From coast to coast, Alzheimer's Association local chapters are in your community, providing core services to families and professionals, including information and referral, support groups, care consultation, education and safety services.

· CareFinder™ is an online guide that can help you find the right care based on individual needs and preferences.

· The Alzheimer's Association online community connects people from all across the country who share their experiences and find support and friendship with others living with Alzheimer's.

· Alzheimer's Association advocates educate Congress on critical Alzheimer policy issues and work to increase federal funding for research and care programs.

A Local Chapter Assists

As Kate mentioned, local Alzheimer’s chapters get involved, too. Jamie Huff, Community Relations Coordinator for the Alzheimer's Alliance of Northeast Texas, is working to helping in these cases. “We take a proactive approach by helping the law enforcement entities in the counties we serve offer Project Lifesaver, a lifesaving tracking system. If family has a loved one missing that is not participating in that program we will help in any way we can.

We are trying to develop a statewide hospital notification plan in the case of missing persons unrelated to a major disaster. Having such a system in place would allow law enforcement a mass communication approach to check for unidentified patients in all Texas hospitals. That capability could help locate a missing person with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia who may have become disoriented and/or injured while lost. Currently there is no system in place for this purpose other than for major disasters and vast displacement of people, such as experienced during recent hurricanes.

We had also began talking with local Alzheimer’s Alliance volunteers in Rusk County, where Shirley Hunt from Henderson, Texas, disappeared in early June 2007, many months ago about establishing Project Lifesaver in their county. It is extremely unfortunate that the program wasn’t available to Mrs. Hunt when needed most. No one wants history to repeat itself. The City of Henderson and Rusk County are now partnering with the Alzheimer’s Alliance to raise funds and awareness of Project Lifesaver and other Alliance programs and services through our Alzheimer’s Walk in that community on October 4th, 2007. We have six additional Walks in Northeast Texas on the same date for support of the same programs. “

Tips for Caregivers

Jamie offer some very valuable tips for caregivers: “Since the rate of those with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias who wander is over 70%, it is imperative to take precautions at home. Do not leave a person with dementia unsupervised. Ensure the person is well-fed, well-hydrated and using the bathroom regularly. Some people wander in an effort to fill these needs. Set a daily routine. Reduce environmental stimuli like loud music or overcrowding that might spark wandering. Secure doors and gates in ways that make them difficult to open. Post a large sign that says “Stop” or “Do Not Enter” on exits.

Remember that at some point in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, driving performance errors or risk of wandering will present a safety risk to both the individual and the public. Driving privileges should be withheld completely when the individual poses a serious risk to self or others. To encourage acceptance, the individual should be reassured that alternate transportation will be provided as needed. When acceptance cannot be reached, it is appropriate for a clinician to order that driving be halted. It may even be necessary in some cases to disable vehicles."

Go to Part IV

9/4/07 Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia: What You Should Know, Part II

2007-09-04T00:01:00.000-05:00

Search and Rescue a Valuable Partner

Both families utilized area search and rescue teams. Dana Ames, co-founder of United Response Search and Rescue Team, a Texas-based organization, recommends use of a variety of search efforts, depending on the situation, including:

Foot Search Team
Air-scenting and trailing dogs
Man trackers
Emergency Medical Technicians
Technical rescue specialists
Swift Water Rescue Specialists
Certified Dive Team with side scan sonar
Mounted Horse Search Team
4-Wheelers/ATV’s Search Team
Air/Pilot Search Team
Ham Radio Communication Team

Dana says: “Our organization will provide these services so that no family will ever have to suffer alone while faced with such an unexpected tragic event. We will do this with compassion, dedication, professionalism, and expediency. Our primary objective will always be the safe return of a missing loved one to their family.”

Families of the missing and law enforcement (LE) need to know that search and rescue (SAR) teams do their work for free. Getting the proper assistance involved quickly can mean the difference between having a resolved case or a cold case. The first 24 hours is critical as 46% of missing elderly will be found deceased after this window due to their physical condition and/or the elements.

Brad Dennis, Director of Search Operations for the KlaasKids Foundation, outlines typical behaviors exhibited by a missing person with Alzheimer or dementia:

Usually (89%) found within one mile of the Point Last Seen (PLS), half found within 0.5 miles.

Subject usually found a short distance from road (50% within 33 yards)

Subject may attempt to travel to former residence or favorite place.

Subject will not leave many physical clues.

Will not cry-out for help (1%) or respond to shouts (only 1% response rate).

Succumbs to the environment (hypothermia, drowning, and dehydration).

“They go until they get stuck.”

Subject usually found in a creek, or drainage and/or caught in briars/bushes (63%)

Leaves own residence or nursing home, possibly with last sighting on a roadway. May cross or depart from roads (67%).

Coexisting medical problems that limit mobility are common.

Has previous history of wandering (72%)

They appear to lack the ability to turn around.

Brad suggests these search strategies for the SAR teams and LE:

Quickly establish the point the person was last seen at (called the PLS). Utilize specialists trained as man trackers and trailing dogs from the PLS.

Deploy specially trained air scenting dog teams in drainages and streams surrounding the PLS.

Set up containment based upon the time the subject disappeared and the approximate distance the subject may have traveled. Containment ensures your subject remains inside your search area.

Thoroughly search the residence/nursing home and surrounding grounds and buildings.

Search heavy briars and bushes and remind searchers frequently about this.

Dog teams and ground sweep teams will expand their search from the PLS.

Air scent dog teams and ground sweep teams should search at least 100 meters parallel to roadways.

Search nearby previous home sites, work sites and other pertinent areas historically significant to the lost subject.

Brad emphasizes the need for swift reaction in these cases: “Law Enforcement, caregivers and family members need to respond quickly by conducting search operations. There are search and rescue units, volunteer rescue squads and search and rescue K-9 teams available to assist in the search for wanderers. These units are typically volunteer, non-profit organizations that dedicate themselves to help search for and locate missing persons. Many different sources exist to help identify, notify and connect you with trained, qualified units in your area. The KlaasKIDS Foundation has its own search and rescue unit that can assist you or serve as a referral network to connect you with teams in your area. The National Association of Search and Rescue (NASAR) provides valuable training and a network of qualified teams.”

Just last week, a SAR team from the east coast found a missing elderly woman using dogs within 15 minutes of being dispatched by the local LE. Because of the fast action of all involved parties, the family, LE, and the SAR team, the woman was found safe.

One Solution

Organizations which were created specifically to support families with a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia also take steps to prevent and resolve the situation in which Byron and Shirley’s families have found themselves.

Bobby Hunt, Shirley’s husband, urges families caring for a loved one to get an ID bracelet such as the one developed by Project Lifesaver, which includes a tracking device.

Katherine Healey Flores, Director of Program Development for Project Lifesaver, explains how these devices work:

“People enrolled in the Project Lifesaver program wear a transmitter, approximately the size of a large watch that has a personalized radio frequency and cellular signal. When caregivers notify us, the local agency responds to the area last seen and begins searching for the individual. PLI has over 1550 searches- with safe returns -to their loved ones in 30 minutes or less. This has reduced search times from days to a matter of minutes by assigned public safety agencies.

PLI works with local law enforcement agencies in more than 575 communities in 41 states and Canada to protect some of society's most vulnerable citizens. Our goal is to be able to offer the program to every community in the United States.

Anyone interested is starting a local Project Lifesaver program in their area are asked to contact us at the PLI headquarters in Chesapeake, Virginia and we will be happy to provide them with all the information and support that they need. 757-546-5502.”

Project Lifesaver has been instrumental in numerous successful recoveries, including the recent case of a woman in Ohio who was found within 20 minutes because of the tracking device.

Go to Part III

9/3/07 Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia: What You Should Know, Part I

2007-09-03T13:02:00.000-05:00

Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Increase Missing Person Statistics (Part I)

By Kelly Jolkowski

Two Families in Limbo

The families of Byron Freeman and Shirley Hunt are just two of thousands who unfortunately, can now count their missing loved ones among the statistics.

Lauris Freeman, nephew of Byron, has acted as his family’s advocate and spokesperson since Byron’s mysterious disappearance on June 24th, 2006. “Ironically my first inclination was not to panic or fear the worst because you have no reason to believe that anything bad has happened, i.e., maybe he’s just lost, wandering around, confused, etc. But as more time passes you start running different scenarios through your head about all types of things from foul play to amnesia, abduction and basically everything else we see on television crime shows. Once you accept the fact that your loved one is missing I think the biggest fear is that they will never be found. Unfortunately for our family, that is currently the case.”

Lauris described what the family knows about Bryon’s disappearance: “Every summer Byron would drive from his home in California to attend a high school reunion held in Palestine, Texas. He had done this for a decade, and he usually stayed a week or two to visit family and friends before returning home. The day he went missing, he was to attend a picnic that was held about 5 miles from where he was staying with a friend. Driving alone, he followed another car (driven by a family friend) to the picnic site but apparently kept on driving past the exit. The rental car he was driving was found on the side of the highway some 100 miles away, out of gas, windows down, and keys in the ignition.

At about 11 PM, a Wal-Mart truck driver (the highway is a well-traveled truck route) reported seeing a man who fit my uncle’s description walking down the shoulder of the highway, telephoned the local Sheriff but did not pick the man up. A Sheriff’s deputy arrived to the rental car around 12 AM but at that time had no knowledge (since the car was found in a different county) of a missing person.

Subsequently, the two Sheriff’s agencies from both counties would connect the dots and after impounding and searching the rental car found no signs of struggle or foul play.

When we were informed by a friend of my uncle’s that he did not show up at the picnic our first step was to call local authorities who then issued an APB for him. For the first 48 hours or so we (calling from California) were on the phone regularly with the local Sheriff’s agencies as they tried to locate my uncle. As it was a weekend (the picnic was Saturday) we were hoping that something would turn up on Monday when townsfolk would be returning to work and increase the possibility of a sighting if my uncle was wandering the streets. “

Before Alzheimer’s changed her life, Shirley Hunt was known as a very active, enthusiastic woman who was very involved in her family, church, and community. She was always doing something for other people. Shirley also liked to take walks along the country roads near her Henderson, TX home. On June 19th, 2007, it would appear that Shirley decided to take one of her walks.

Within 15 minutes, her husband, Bobby, and daughter, Kim, who had stepped out into the back yard, realized she was gone. They searched in the usual places she walked without finding her, and then called the Sheriff's Department. A deputy was on the scene in about 5 or 10 minutes. The initial search was conducted by the Rusk County Sheriff's Office. The Henderson Rescue Unit took over on around the 4th day, and concluded on the 6th day. There were about 6 days of intense searching in the area where Shirley disappeared, including mounted searches and tracking dogs. Hundreds of volunteers turned out to help, but they still found no trace of Shirley. Bobby Hunt came home without his wife for the first time in 51 years.

Both families echo the need for resources being provided to them immediately. “I think a list of all agencies that will help find a loved one would be very helpful.” stated Bobby Hunt. “Just learning about the staggering number of unsolved missing person’s cases blew me away, in the hundred thousands if not more. That and the fact that at least in California there is virtually no formal support beyond law enforcement whose resources are very limited. It’s sort of a free-for-all for families. If it weren’t for organizations like Project Jason, The National Center for Missing Adults, Texas Equusearch, the Carole Sund-Carrington Foundation and a host of other extremely dedicated (and mostly) volunteer groups, most average income families would be left grasping at straws.” said Lauris.

They are right. It is rarely a part of procedure when taking a missing persons case that law enforcement gives resources to families. Project Jason is working on changing that by passing legislation in each state that would mandate this logical step. (Campaign for the Missing) http://www.projectjason.org/legislation.html

Go to Part II

9/2/07 Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia: What You Should Know, An Introduction

2007-09-02T22:42:00.000-05:00

Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia: What You Should Know, An Introduction

Article History and Related Information

When researching missing persons in the news on the internet on nearly a daily basis, I began to notice that out of a number of new stories, there would almost always be one or two that was about a missing elderly person, often one with some form of Alzheimer’s or dementia. Sometimes they would be found quickly and alive, and sometimes not. The resources used by the local authorities and the family, and the speed of the response typically made the difference between having a happy reunion, an unfortunate discovery, or a cold case with a family who waits, not knowing the fate of their missing loved one.

It was these stories, the effected families who sought Project Jason’s assistance, and our own family members who suffer from Alzheimer’s or dementia, who inspired this article, the purpose of which is to give some guidance to these families, and to those who serve them in their time of need. This includes law enforcement (LE) and other assistance organizations. If we can provide information that either prevents a tragic loss or brings about a quick and positive resolution to even one case, that is certainly worth the effect. Life is our most precious commodity, after all.

The information covered includes:

Alzheimer’s and dementia statistics
Preventative measures
Search and Rescue’s contribution
Solutions using technology
Response makes a difference
Assistance from national and local organizations
Legislation provides an answer
Case profiles

This article has been submitted to the trucking magazine Through the Gears to be published in their September 2007 issue. This is a free trucking magazine with a circulation of 150,000 that is distributed at approx. 2,500 locations nationwide, mostly truck stops. You can find it in the free trucker's publication area rather than with the paid magazines.

In the September issue, our featured missing persons, Shirley Hunt and Bryon Freeman's photos and profiles will also be featured as a part of Project Jason’s 18 Wheel Angel program.

We will also have the special 18 Wheel Angels posters uploaded on our site during the month and until Byron and Shirley are found. http://projectjason.org/18wheel.shtml

Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Increase Missing Person Statistics

By Kelly Jolkowski

Day in and day out, all across the country, headlines inform us that someone is missing. The occurrence of elderly missing appears to be on the increase as many of those headlines announce. As we know, our population is aging, and with that increase in number also comes an increase of persons suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia.

According to the National Alzheimer’s Association, in 2007, it is estimated that there are now more than 5 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. This includes 4.9 million people over the age of 65 and between 200,000 and 500,000 people under age 65 with early onset Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.

Six in 10 people with Alzheimer's disease will wander. Many people cannot even remember their name or address. They may become disoriented and lost, even in their own neighborhood. Wandering is among the biggest challenges caregivers face. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Crime Information Center (NCIC), there are 50,930 active missing adult cases in the United States as of January 31, 2007.

(The NCIC does not have statistics for the number of elderly missing nationwide)

Go to Part I

8/4/07 Project Jason Statement of Benefits and Services

2007-08-04T16:22:00.000-05:00

I have written an update of our benefits and services statement:

Project Jason Statement of Services and Benefits

Project Jason is a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization, and was established on October 6, 2003. Our organization primarily focuses on case assessment, resources, and support for families of the missing. We are not an investigative agency, nor do we perform searches. We offer services we are trained to provide. I handle all interactions with family members, and have over 100 hours of professional training in various aspects of missing persons, including emotional support, DNA, support tools, databases and related matters, case management, media interaction, and more.

All of our services are free. As a nonprofit organization, we depend on the generosity of the public to support us, so that we can continue this very important work. We ask that this support come from other members of the community, rather than the families of the missing.

Our services to families include:

Case Assessment:

We take a look at the case, what has been done, and is being done, and make suggestions to ensure that certain necessary steps that the family or Law Enforcement should take have not been missed. We may also then refer that family to other trustworthy organizations, based upon the results of the assessment.

Awareness Programs:

18 Wheel Angels: Bi-monthly poster dissemination campaigns aimed at truck drivers and business travelers. It includes a listing of the featured missing persons in a national trucking publication, Through the Gears.

Adopt a Missing Person: Personalized awareness campaign in which photo buttons of the missing person and a personal biography written by family members are used to create and increase awareness.

Come Home: Bi-monthly personalized poster dissemination campaigns targeting missing person cases wherein there is evidence that the person may be living a homeless lifestyle. Poster links are emailed to participating homeless shelters nationwide who then print and place the poster in their shelter.

Voices for the Missing: Audio interviews done with families of the missing wherein they tell their stories.

Voice for the Missing Blog: Stories about missing persons along with a variety of educational information are shared.

More Services for Families:

We will create and upload a poster for the missing person and can also help them with media contacts and press releases. We provide them with emotional support and help them become empowered to seek new avenues for awareness. We place the photo of the missing person on our main website and keep a ongoing thread for updates and information on our forum. With an average of 700 website hits per day and climbing, this is also a valuable tool for awareness.

Healing Harbor: Healing Harbor is the only free online counseling service for families of the missing. One of the nation's most respected and knowledgeable counselors in the area of the emotional needs of families of the missing, Duane Bowers, provides answers and assistance via our private forum.

Family Member Forums: These private family member-only forums, provide families of the missing a way to meet and network with other family members, sharing their stories and offering each other support and additional tools for dealing with having a missing person in their lives.

Other Services:

Campaign for the Missing: This is a grassroots effort to pass legislation in each and every state that can positively effect the outcome of missing persons cases. Project Jason serves as the facilitator for this campaign, and mentors each volunteer through the process in their state.

Law Enforcement Training: Free audio training on various topics designed to provide critical information to law enforcement, with the goal of dramatically improving the number of resolved cases. This information will also be helpful to coroners, medical examiners, and the families of the missing.

Personal ID Kit: A free downloadable Personal ID Kit is provided by Project Jason in both English and Spanish. The kit contains a list of the first steps to take in the event your loved one is missing, plus valuable information that law enforcement will need. We encourage every member of the family to have one completed. No one is immune from becoming a missing person, and when it happens, every minute counts.

Project Jason Forum: Our forum provides a wide variety of news and support information about missing persons and related issues. We also provide safety information for all ages.

Project Jason: http://www.projectjason.org/

Project Jason Forum: http://projectjason.org/dpforum/forum.php

Project Jason Voice for the Missing blog: http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

Contact us at:

information(at sign)projectjason.org

402-932-0095

We are the Voice for the Missing; speaking for those who are not among us but who are forever in our hearts.

Kelly Jolkowski,

Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski

President and Founder, Project Jason

7/29/07 A Boy and His Dog

2007-07-29T21:00:00.000-05:00

There isn't much that can separate a boy and his dog, especially when they literally grew up together.

Tommy Kelly and his dog Screwball were a pair like that.

On January 26, 1999, 17 year-old Tommy disappeared from his home in Oregon. His remains were found in a nearby orchard creek bed on June 12, 2000, almost 18 months later.

Screwball just turned 18 years old and was in very poor health. His vet recommended he be put to sleep. Tommy’s dog was an important connection for Vicki to her son Tommy. With mixed feelings, Vicki took Screwball for his last vet visit.

When someone you love is missing, or has passed away, in Tommy's case, possessions of theirs, especially something living, become ties to that person. Losing that possesion, opens wounds that may have partially healed, or at least that'd been set aside, as life goes on.

Vicki Kelly, Tommy's mother, shared the moving story about a very special dog with us:

"Tommy’s 18 yr old basset hound Screwball has traveled to "Rainbow Bridge", where I know Tommy is waiting for him. He was such a special and loyal dog. The day after Tommy went missing, we noticed that Screwball was no where to be found. Because we so hysterical trying to locate Tommy, we called the pound and hoped Screwball would return. The next day we saw a sign down the road from us saying “Found Basset Hound”. It was Screwball. He had walked 2 miles in freezing January weather.

We brought him home, but later that night when we let him out to do his “biz” again he disappeared and a few hours later the same people where he was found called again and said Screwball was back. We were forced to chain him, and didn’t understand why he kept taking off until 2 days later when the news did a story on Tommy’s disappearance. The house he kept going to turned out to be where Tommy was last seen alive.

Screwball became famous in the news here as the dog who searched for his boy. Screwball was at Tommy's funeral, wearing a bow tie collar, and he laid in front of the coffin during the whole service. It was like he knew, I know he knew.

As I said my goodbye, I told him it was time, he was finally going to find his boy, and to please give his boy licks of love from his Mom.
Goodbyes are so hard, but I know he and Tommy are again playing together.

It is amazing the connection and special bond we humans can have with a pet.

Until we meet again Leopold Napoleon Screwball”

As a result of their experience of having a missing child, the Kelly family formed the Tommy Foundation to help parents deal with the loss of a child, and to show them how to search, and to cope.

Vicki said, "When Tommy's remains were recovered, we made a vow to be a voice for missing children and child safety. We had the choice to either let it destroy us and become reactive, or become proactive." In May of 2001, on National Missing Children's Day, the Oregon legislature passed the Tommy Laws and they formed the Tommy Foundation. The Tommy Laws require police to be trained in how to search for missing children.

Vicki Kelly, along with Project Jason Campaign for the Missing volunteer Robert Bristow, helped pass the model legislation in Oregon earlier this year.

To learn more about the organization named after Tommy, please visit the Tommy Foundation.

7/26/07 A Family's Sorrow

2007-07-26T14:56:00.000-05:00

Great news! (9/6/07)

We are pleased to announce that Megan Soske was recovered due to the efforts of Project Jason and NCMEC. After you finish reading this story, please click here for the good news story.

There are thousands upon thousands of missing person stories out there. This is just one of them. We also ponder the same question as Sandra: "Why didn't I know this?" As noted in her story, we are doing everything possible to make sure they know.

No family should be in the position of waiting 30 months for assistance, let alone 30 minutes.

A Family's Sorrow

By Sandra Soske, grandmother of missing Megan Soske
(Project Jason received permission from Sandra to repost.)

It was just before midnight when she snuck out of the house. It was probably not her intention to disappear, but taking the keys and attempting to borrow the truck without permission must have spooked her. There were other, more pressing problems in her life that may have contributed to her flight but her family doesn't know them. Thirty months later, she is still missing.

For families from California to Georgia, from Maine to Washington, the scenario may be somewhat different but the dilemma is real. A loved one, a son or daughter, a mother, a brother or sister or father, have gone missing and haven't been heard from in days, months, years. There may be a brief blip on the evening news, an article in the local paper about them, but unless the situation seems unusual or threatening, they all but disappear from public view.

Someone out there knows where they may be.

All local law enforcement will take a missing person's report if it is a child. Many will eventually file a report on a person over seventeen. If, as in Megan's case, she has done this before, the person filing the missing person's report encounters aggravation and derision. She is seventeen. She has a history of problems. She'll be back.

What many families do not know is that there are many other resources out there. After thirty months of worry and desperation, I am just learning about them. And what I have learned should be shared with every family across our great nation.

I found http://www.projectjason.org/ by using my server's search engine. It was the best search I've ever done. I have finally reached someone who cares.

With just a few keystrokes, I have Megan registered with a national organization. The founder, Kelly Jolkowski, a mother of a missing nineteen year old (at the time he disappeared in 2001) has personally responded to my listing of Megan as a missing person. I never expected that. She has given me the many agencies I have listed below. She has given me hope that someone out there may have seen my little girl.

"Federal law mandates that all missing children, age 17 and under, are reported to their state's missing children clearinghouse," Kelly Jolkowski told me in an email recently. In Georgia, that would be the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. She also told me of Suzanne's Law, signed by President Bush in 2003, mandating that "anyone age 20 and under at the time of their disappearance is to be entered in the NCIC. Missing person's ages 18-20 can be added to NCMEC's case roster and receive benefits IF the LE agency makes the call to NCMEC."
Law enforcement may not be aware of or have the training to follow those mandates. Therefore, Georgia law enforcement (the state where I live) does not file a seventeen year old minor with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Here, she is considered an adult.

Although I believe they should register minors with the NCMEC as well as their state's missing person's clearinghouse, the Campaign for the Missing, a grassroots effort to pass legislation in each and every state that affects how missing persons cases are handled, and Project Jason, who wrote the amendment, want all law enforcement to "...upon acceptance of a missing persons report, shall inform the reporting citizen of one of two resources, based upon the age of the missing person. If the missing person is age 17 or under, contact information for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children shall be given. If the missing person is age 18 or older, contact information for the National Center for Missing Adults shall be given."

It only takes fifteen minutes and the call is free. 1-800-THE-LOST. Why didn't I learn about them until now?

Once a missing minor is filed with NCMEC, law enforcement are notified, she or he is on the internet and posters are distributed. Your loved one will not be forgotten.

Also, your missing person should be listed with NCIC, the National Crime Information Center, a FBI information database for law enforcement. As of December, 2006, NCIC had 110,484 active missing person records. 58,763 are juveniles under the age of eighteen. Records are retained indefinitely unless/until the missing person is located or canceled by the reporting agency.

Ask your law enforcement office if your loved one is being listed. Up to three million young people run away every year. The National Runaway Switchboard can help both at-risk youth and parents of runaway children. 3,324 crisis calls were made by Georgia teens and parents during the calendar year 2006. If your child is a runaway, or is thinking of running away, call 1-800-621-4000.

The National Center for Missing Adults is a clearinghouse of information accessible by the general public. NCMA works with government agencies, law enforcement, and most particularly, the families of missing adults. Their website, http://www.theyaremissed.org/, profiles missing adults. They also provide training to law enforcement. Call 1-800-690-FIND if your loved one has gone missing.

There are many agencies and organizations available to help you in your quest of locating a missing person. Go online, visit your local library, talk with law enforcement. Contact your local newspaper and TV news desk. Get the information out there. Get their picture out there.
Every available resource should be utilized by both law enforcement and the families of the missing. Law enforcement should be trained and willing to share information about the agencies and organizations dedicated to locating a missing loved one regardless of their perception of the case. Ask questions, demand answers. Do not give up.

And most importantly, be aware of those around you. One of them may be a missing person.

Have you seen Megan Montgomary Soske? She is now nineteen. She is 5'7" tall and weighs approximately 125 lbs. She has long brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen in Augusta, Georgia and may be in North or South Carolina.

Megan's case listed on our forum:
http://projectjason.powweb.com/dpforum/thread.php?id=1105

7/21/07 The Untold Story: Awaiting DNA, Part XIII

2007-07-21T00:02:00.000-05:00

Please see this post for an explanation and introduction before reading:
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2007/06/62107-untold-story-awaiting-dna.html

In the Aftermath

After we had a big push on our new ID kits, I received the letter you see below, which certainly illustrates the importance of the kits. Having the kit possibly saved this young woman’s life. The letter was written by her mother. All names and locations have been changed to protect this young woman's identity.

"My name is Melinda and I post on the Parent’s Forum as Melinda1976. I've followed your story, and have your family, and Jason, in my prayers every day. I appreciate that you've used your painful experience to alert others of the plight of the missing. We found out first hand last year, at this time, how quickly your life can change. Our intelligent, thoughtful, loving teenage daughter was naive enough to be drawn into an "internet relationship". We were careful about her time on the internet.....never thought that this would happen to her......but this 19 year old boy was a lot more cunning.

She sent him airfare and he came to town to "score". She was, supposedly, watching a movie in the family room (unbeknowst to me she left through the front door at this time), I was upstairs when the phone rang and she said that she wouldn't be home that night. I got her to tell me where she was before she hung up. ! ! How I managed to remember to immediately call 911 is beyond me....but I did. The police just missed her, and, again, she was gone. I called her friends right away, and one of them had the e-mail address for this creep.

The state police showed up for a picture of her, fingerprints (I had them) and told me that, hopefully, she'd make it home. The state trooper, bless his heart, made a phone call, then another and was able to track the guy from one hotel to another. Fortunately for us, someone at the hotel saw the shuttle that they took to a mall nearby. The state trooper called mall security, gave a description of our daughter, and asked them to please look for her. By the time we arrived at the mall she, and the companion, were in custody at the mall security office. (The guy had waited until she had turned 16, so we couldn't file any charges against him.) "He" was told to get back on a plane, and go home....now.

We took our only child back home....counting our blessings along the way. This whole story would have turned out differently, had it not been for Trooper Gonzalez and his persistence. We found out that our daughter was suffering from clinical depression, and with medication and therapy, she is, once again, an "A" student, has a happy outlook, and focuses on her real friends (no more internet unless I'm in the room).

I feel extremely fortunate that we found her so quickly that night. I thank God every day that she's with us, and pray for those that are missing to find their way home. And, finally, God bless you for all that you do in bringing information to others.

Because of your story, I had kept a recent photo of our daughter with her statistics, and fingerprints, in an envelope....never thinking that I'd have to use it. But when I needed it, it was there.......so, thank you Kelly."

Here's an update about this young woman:

"Our daughter, now 18, is doing great. She is a senior in High School, an honor student, is involved in speech and debate (and recently won a state competition for this and will be going on to Nationals) and, more important, is a happy, healthy young woman. She still sees a therapist every two months, is still on her medication but, most of all, realizes just how fortunate she was to be found. She has, only recently, begun to instant message her friends on the computer........and realizes how short her "friend list" should be when it comes to the internet. She has a lot of plans for her future......including a major in Psychology, so that she may help others, too.

Again, Kelly......God bless you for your work....you and your family are always in my thoughts and prayers."

Had this mother not had our Project Jason ID Kit filled out, things could have turned out much differently. Time is critical in these cases, and when you have all the vital data ready to go for Law Enforcement, it can make a difference.

You can download a Personal ID Kit free at our website at http://projectjason.org/education.shtml#idkit

Everyone needs one, whether they are 6, 16, or 66.

Don't say it can't happen to you or someone in your family.

That's what I thought, too.

To be continued.........................

7/20/07 Free Law Enforcement Training

2007-07-20T21:13:00.000-05:00

Dear Families, Supporters, and Friends of Project Jason,

We are pleased to announce that we have begun to provide law enforcement (LE) training by professional instructors, available in the form of audio files. These audio files can be accessed 24 hours a day on our website at http://www.projectjason.org/training.html There is no charge to utilize this training.

We began our ongoing series with a 4-part program about DNA and CODIS as it pertains to solving missing persons cases. As you know, it is critical that LE make use of the available technologies and systems in place. Obtaining DNA samples from the family members of missing persons (or DNA from the missing persons themselves) in an attempt to match them to DNA from unidentified remains is one method of finding the answers about our missing loves ones, resolving cold cases, and solving crimes.

Our presenters for the DNA training are Dr. Arthur Eisenberg and George Adams from the Center for Human Identification (CHI) at North Texas University. Dr. Eisenberg pioneered much of today's DNA testing protocol and is one of the world's leading DNA scientists. "First and foremost, there never should be a human remain, a skeletal remain of anyone's loved one that would be buried or cremated without the retention of a DNA sample for analysis. If those samples are in CODIS, there's always a chance." Dr. Eisenberg stated.

George Adams is the LE liaison for the CHI, has many years of law enforcement experience and regularly conducts training for the CHI. "Once you enter a sample into CODIS, you're not working within your jurisdiction, you're working within the jurisdictions of everyone entering samples into CODIS", said George Adams. "You are bringing in so much power into your investigation. It is explosive. If we can get everyone to do this, these samples will be matched, they will be made, and the sooner we match them the sooner the law enforcement can identify who the perpetrator is, and take him off the streets."

More detailed biographies along with the audio training files can be found on the Law Enforcement Training page at http://www.projectjason.org/training.html

Each audio segment is approximately 30 minutes long.

Topics covered in the DNA training modules:

History and types of DNA

Best practices for obtaining DNA samples

CODIS and State Databases

Importance of Chain of Custody

CHI Services

The nationwide crisis and the need for these processes to become standard procedure
While this information will be helpful for the families of the missing and organizations which serve them, the main goal is to disseminate this information to LE. You may feel free to forward this notice to all interested persons.

For families of the missing and organizations which serve them, all 4 parts will be of interest, but there are several messages of hope and encouragement in the last section. Working together, we can accomplish so much. There is always hope!

If you have a missing loved one, and do not have either their DNA in CODIS or yours, Part II discusses steps for you, and then your LE, to take.

Quick technical tips for playing audio files:

Double-clicking on the audio file on the site will download it to your PC. It may begin to play nearly immediatetely, or may take several minutes to download, depending upon which audio players you have on your PC and how you have them set up.

You can also download the files to a MP-3 player or an IPOD.

Note: Persons using dial-up internet may encounter difficulties in playing the files.

Direct links to the audio files:

Part I: http://www.projectjason.org/audio/DNATrainingbyCHIPart1.mp3
Part II: http://www.projectjason.org/audio/DNATrainingbyCHIPart2.mp3
Part III: http://www.projectjason.org/audio/DNATrainingbyCHIPart3.mp3
Part IV: http://www.projectjason.org/audio/DNATrainingbyCHIPart4.mp3

We will add more LE training on a regular basis covering a variety of topics.

Please forward this notice to interested persons, including law enforcement, medical examiners, coroners, and other families of missing persons.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder, Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Free Online Counseling for Families of the Missing http://www.projectjason.org/benefits.html#healingHarbor

7/17/07 The Untold Story: Awaiting DNA, Part XII

2007-07-17T21:43:00.001-05:00

Please see this post for an explanation and introduction before reading:
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2007/06/62107-untold-story-awaiting-dna.html

In the Aftermath

Some of the after story was that we no longer called our ID Kits “Child ID Kits”. These were now called Personal ID Kits and we campaigned to get adults as well as children to have one. We even gave one to the governor of Nebraska.

This is piece I wrote and made public after we had recovered from our ordeal:

Hello,

My letter today has two goals: To share some news of hope for my own family with you and to also share a difficult aspect of our story, one in which we hope will have an impact on how you view the topic of identification.

Some of you may have a missing loved one and some of you may not. Regardless, the same loving advice applies: Get yourself an ID kit, such as the one available for free download from our site, fill it out and keep it in a safe place in the event you (or any other family member) were to become missing. Make sure everyone in your family has one, whether they are 6 months old, 6 years old, or 60 years old, age matters not.

As a person in our situation would be, we are keenly aware of the need for ID kits, commonly thought of as child id kits. We never had one filled out for our own missing son, Jason, nor for ourselves as parents. We never knew to have fingerprints, dental records, or DNA samples for the event that he would be missing and we might need to use that information to identify him. We thought it would never happen to us, but it did.

Now a chain of events has transpired that makes us all the more fervent in our campaign to strongly encourage people of all ages to have id kits. There are no more excuses. There can be no more delays. Of course the odds of having two missing persons in one family are great, but no one person is immune. Couple this with the knowledge that a child disappears every 37 seconds in America, how can one ignore this? (Keep in mind that close to that many adults disappear, but stats are not always kept on adults, so no one knows for certain.)

In June of 2004, we went on a tour of Nebraska for Project Jason, handing out our child id kits and meeting the public. On the 6th day of the 7 day tour, June 18th, I received a call from our police detective asking if we had Jason’s dental records. This is the call that every family member of a missing loved one dreads. It can only mean one thing: A body has been found that the authorities think is Jason.

There have been many times that bodies were located in our area, but we never had a call like this. In answer to the dental records question, we had none, as Jason has strong teeth and I was remiss as a parent in getting him regular checkups. I could not recall where he went to the dentist as a child. We also had no fingerprints and no DNA. We never knew to get these things taken care of when he first disappeared. No one told us to save his comb or toothbrush. No one offered to capture fingerprints off his possessions. We had nothing other than the ability to give our own DNA samples to be matched against the DNA of the body in question.

There was a John Doe located in California who was found last Fall. An online researcher saw his sketch on a website and reported it to our police as a possible match for Jason. This young man was brutally murdered. You do not want to know those details. The coroner had been shown Jason’s photos, and we were told he thought it was him. Our police detective and the crime lab tech came to our home that very evening to get our DNA samples. They didn’t want to alarm us, but it seemed that they thought there was a good chance it was him, too, otherwise they would not have run the DNA, which was rather costly.

For the next two and one half weeks, we waited for these results, hoping and praying that this man was not Jason. If Jason was dead, we could do nothing to change that, but we did not want him to be the person who suffered this awful fate. I will not go into the details of the waiting, other than to share the great pain it caused. It was difficult to get through each day. We prayed for the strength to keep going, despite the horrifying thought that we might become the parents of a murdered child, rather than a missing child, and never have any answers to the mystery of our son’s disappearance.

The thought of Jason possibly having to go through a death like this nearly made us physically ill. We decided early on in the waiting that even though this was our private matter and our private suffering, that it would not be right to keep it to ourselves when we could use it to educate others. That person was not Jason. We are back to square one of this unique waiting that we must do. In the meantime, we do what we feel God desires of us in taking our experiences and using it to help others. Jason would want this, too.

We do not want anyone to feel sorry for us. What we want is for people to listen to us.

Again, regardless of your age, and the age of ALL family members, get yourself an id kit and fill it out. Most local Law Enforcement will add your fingerprints to the kit. Take strands of hair with the root attached and place it in an envelope and attach it to the kit. If you do not know where your dental records are, find out.

If we had only had fingerprints or dental records, we could have found out that same day that the John Doe was not Jason and been spared the agony of this wait. If you are a family member of a missing person, and it is not too late to do so, make sure you have fingerprints, dental records and something for a DNA sample.

We have revised our id kit to reflect the importance of all elements needed for identification, plus our challenge to get people of all ages to understand the need. You can download a kit here:
http://projectjason.org/education.shtml#idkit

Thank you for taking the time to listen to me today, and please take action immediately because as we never would have imagined ourselves to be in this position, we are, and in just a few more seconds, someone else will be, too.

To be continued..............

Go to Part XIII:

http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2007/07/72107-untold-story-awaiting-dna-part.html

7/16/07 Healing Harbor: A Free Counseling Service offered by Project Jason

2007-07-16T00:42:00.000-05:00

Project Jason is pleased to announce the opening of Healing Harbor.

Healing Harbor is a free service provided to families of the missing by nonprofit organization Project Jason and Duane Bowers, LPC.

Families of the missing suffer a unique tragedy, one with which many professional counselors do not have the training or experience to be able to properly service their clients. In addition, many families do not have the financial means to seek professional counseling. Duane is one of the nation’s most qualified counselors in regards to issues faced by these families, and we are honored to have him with us to answer your questions.

Healing Harbor can provide answers and assistance on a variety of emotional issues that effect family members of missing persons. This assistance may provide the boost needed for that family member to deal with and adapt to the situation without seeking counseling. (Please keep in mind that Healing Harbor should not be viewed as a substitute for individual, private counseling if needed.)

Families of the missing who elect to participate in Healing Harbor are invited to post their question to Duane in our private forum area. These questions may cover any topic of interest in respect to emotional issues that relate to having a missing person in their life.

If you are a family member of a missing person, and would like to take advantage of this service, please register at our forum, located at http://www.projectjason.org/dpforum/forum.php

After registration, simply follow the instructions in the verification email you will receive, and then let us know that you have registered, so we can grant permissions for you to enter the special forum area. Email us with your username, the name of the missing loved one, and your relationship to them. After verification, we’ll open up access to Healing Harbor to you.

The Healing Harbor forum is: http://projectjason.org/dpforum/forum_display.php?id=25
Posting Guidelines, FAQ's, and other pertinent information: http://projectjason.org/dpforum/forum_display.php?id=26
The Waiting List and Questions area:
http://projectjason.org/dpforum/forum_display.php?id=27

We hope that you will find healing in our safe harbor.

With Hope for all of our Missing Loved Ones,

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org/

7/14/07 The Untold Story: Awaiting DNA, Part XI

2007-07-14T00:12:00.000-05:00

Please see this post for an explanation and introduction before reading:
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2007/06/62107-untold-story-awaiting-dna.html

Part XI: (*Names and places have been changed)

Wednesday, July 6th:

Thanks to the “lift” I received, I was able to get through another day at work. At 4pm, my cell phone rang. It was Carl Roberts. He said he had the DNA test results. If he said he wanted to come over to the house, I would already know the answer. He did not and said the test was negative.

It is hard to pin down those feelings that washed over me at that point. I was so relieved. I wanted to jump out of my chair, but I knew I had to be low-key. We talked about what would happen if there was a next time in regards to the timeframe. He said they would always bring the Doe’s DNA sample here, and as ours is now done, it should be days for the results. I hope it never happens again, but it was good to know that we would never have to go through such a long wait in the dark again.

Two and a half weeks is not a very long time in the scheme of things, but when the wait is to uncover the identity of someone who may be your dead child, it was an eternity. I will not be able to forget John Doe. Who is he? Does his family miss him like we miss Jason? Is anyone looking for him? I hope that someday I would spot a missing person’s photo which matches his, and that his family would have him back, just so that they wouldn’t have the waiting. I could now very easily imagine their anguish upon hearing about his fate, and I still prayed that he did not suffer much.

After the call, I had to get up and walk away. All of the pain, fears, and anxieties of the past 2 ½ weeks welled up inside me and spilled over. This was now over, and I had to switch gears back to the same waiting we had been doing for three years. It took some time to sink in, however, and the pain was still under the surface, making it difficult to speak of with others. I think it’s going to take some time to be able to talk about it, but we will, because to keep this inside would not potentially benefit anyone, or stir them to take action when it comes to all ages having ID kits. I don’t know exactly how we are going to use this story, and I know that it will come to me. Others will help, too, as they will have the perspective of an “outsider”.

God has and will continue to show the way.

End of original diary

What's Next: The aftermath.

To be continued...............................

Go to Part XII:
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2007/07/71707-untold-story-awaiting-dna-part.html

7/12/07 The Untold Story: Awaiting DNA, Part X

2007-07-12T00:56:00.000-05:00

Please see this post for an explanation and introduction before reading:
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2007/06/62107-untold-story-awaiting-dna.html

Just as a reminder, a dramatized version of the diary was recorded using volunteer voice talents. If you’d like to listen to the diary only before reading the end of the series on the blog, here are the links to the audio files.

There are two parts:

http://www.projectjason.org/audio/AwaitingDNAPart1.mp3
http://www.projectjason.org/audio/AwaitingDNAPart2.mp3

Part X: (*Names and places have been changed)

Tuesday, July 5th:

I was having trouble at work with my emotions again. The waiting was really wearing on me and spilling over into the physical realm, which was certainly not surprising. I had told my boss and asked him to hold it in the strictest confidence, and only because I was afraid I might suddenly have to leave, either due to getting that results phone call, or because I had to have a good cry. One of my peers knew something was wrong, but I could not burden her because of her own problems, such as her mother’s terminal illness for one.

That afternoon, I became physically ill, and I thought I was going to vomit. The waiting was taking its toll. I was also having doubts again about my feelings in regards to John Doe’s identity. I was thinking about his death again.

That same day, Jim was asking his boss for the last two weeks of July off, as he truly thought we would be attending Jason’s funeral. He could not even finish asking his boss about the time off request. He could not talk about it. The pain was just too great.

I was very close to walking out that day, but waited it out, and ate some chicken noodle soup. (Ah, the old king of the comfort foods) I felt better and was able to get through the day.

Oddly enough, that evening, I suddenly felt “lifted”. That is the only way I can describe it. I felt very strong again, and that I would be able to make it through the next week or two, no matter how long it took. It came to me that the prayers for me had been answered in my renewed strength.

To be continued........................

Go to Part XI:
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2007/07/71407-untold-story-awaiting-dna-part-xi.html