Each day in the United States, more than 2,000 children are reported missing -- nearly 800,000 each year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
If Leanna was abducted by a stranger, she's one of about 57,000 such cases annually, Justice Department studies show. But, of those, only a tiny fraction -- 115 annually -- are the stereotypical, long-term kidnapping by a stranger -- the kind of high-profile crimes most often reported in the media.
Of those 115, about 60 percent are recovered alive. Nearly half are sexually assaulted, and nearly all are taken 50 or more miles from their homes.
Stranger abduction "is the smallest percentage of missing children. But when it does happen, there's still good hope that they may come home," Wetterling said, noting recent cases in California and Minnesota where missing children were recovered safe after being abducted.
The majority of missing children nationally -- 45 percent -- are ages 15-17. About 30 percent are 12-14, 14 percent are 6-11 and 12 percent are 5 or younger.
Other links:
http://www.4momsathome.com/articles/vanished.html Dealing with abduction fears:
Program teaches children ways to prevent, survive the unthinkable
By Judi Brinegar
Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune
http://www.courier-tribune.com/nws/escape1030.html
Thanks. Sucks that we have to think about the unthinkable — but preventing the unthinkable is eminently thinkable!
Dan