Posted on 02/20/2005 12:25:37 AM PST by Sunshine55
Please pray for my 17 year old daughter's safety, that the Lord is watching over her and protecting her from harm. I just filed a missing persons report with the Columbus Police Department about an hour ago, when it became apparent that I was not going to get the usual call from her letting me know where she was.
I left for work at 10:45 am and the last thing she said was that she was going to get her hair cut. No e-mail, no phone calls to me throughout the course of the day, which struck me as odd, because we hadn't had any harsh words and life seemed to be great. I got off work at 9 pm and she wasn't home, which isn't unusual because she spends alot of time with Young Life. Hours passed, no phone call. By 2 I was nearly hysterical with worry. I have left messages on her friends' cell phones hoping for a call back. I am sorry to say that I was not able to give the officer a description of what she was wearing, only a picture.
This is SO out of character for this young lady. She's always been the responsible one, even though she has been suffering from Senior-itis this year and has tested the boundaries to the limit. I am so frightened thinking of the possibilities here that I don't know where to turn, and I would appreciate your prayers tonight. I am hoping that perhaps she told me she'd be sleeping over tonight at a friend's house, but I have racked my brain, and frankly, I just don't remember any conversation like that taking place. (I haven't had a day off in 3 weeks.)
Your prayers are my favorites to read. ;)
I hope you find her there and please let us know what is going on.
- call friends
- call non-friends/other classmates. If there is a party, whether they go or not, everyone usually hears about where they will be.
- boyfriend's house
- friends of boyfriend (they might know where the boyfriend is to rule him out)
- call too, and speak to the parents
- if no one picks up, call again after blocking your phone number from a caller id
- access email accounts. Check new mail, sent and old mail.
- locate diaries
- go through backpacks. Thumb through folders and school books for notes tucked away
- is a purse at home to search
- a personal phonebook
- if it's a child/teenager, email school teachers/call them. The more people looking, the better
- place of employment
- call the supervisor or coworkers at home if after hours. Try information, the phonebook, and online databases.
- do they have a credit card
- Write down vehicle information, description. Include photo if possible. Same with missing person. Place information on one side of a sheet of paper using computer or Scotch tape. Make 40 initial copies on computer or nearest copy machine. Bring in to police department. While not "official" most on duty will see the flier.
BTTT!!!!!!!
tick - tick - tick - tick - tick
Sunshine left an hour and a half ago....
tick - tick - tick - tick - tick....
Our house is the local teenager hangout for my son's friends.
His friends are all kids from church. Nice kids, but when they show up here, I always ask them if their parents know where they are.
They usually say "yes", but inevitably, I'll get a call from one of the parents asking if they know where their kid is.
+ To God be the Glory, Xenalyte ... thank you for your kind words.
Holding my breath for good news and a change for light-hearted comments... Prayers up that you have found her there!
"I need you gals badly tonight :("
Us guys will send up a prayer or two as well, if it's okay, Sunshine. Prayers already sent for your daughter's safe return, waiting for permission is a waste of time.
Prayer BUMP
the best part of this list isn't for the cops ... it's for the teenager! Imagine if all teens' parents posted this in a conspicuous spot .. and let the teen know that if they are late for curfew, that is what will happen ... bet more parents would get more calls!
I really think we should start something like this and each of us provide the information to our local police so they can provide to parents reporting a missing teen. The cops' cavalier attitude can be annoying, but oftentimes they have far bigger fish to fry than tracking down an irresponsible teenager. Also, most school principals/ PTA's/youth groups, etc. should get the information.
It's just hell on earth to go for hours without knowing where your kid is. Sunshine can handle this with her daughter as she sees fit, but I think her daughter's greatest punishment will be to see the pain in her mother's face.
probably a good idea to just have as standard operating procedrue to have the kid(s) call the parents when they get to your house, in front of you.
BUMP!
"change" = chance
I hear you.
I keep praying one of her friends close by will offer to be with Sunshine and stick with her like glue through this. She has got to be running on reserves.
Myself, I always called. My best friend always did, too. We were horrible, though, and my own stories of what we were doing those 4 years are enough to scare me now about the teen years to come.
How do teens today get away with not calling when so many are so electronically equipped and capable?
I just can't wait any longer, I should have left a half hour ago. I will not have access to a computer till tomorrow A.M.
Would you be kind enough to ping me when Sunshine gets back? I think all will be well, but I need to know.
I think you are right in all the above. :)
I think their cell phones "go on the fritz", or they are in a "dead cell area"..., just think of the excuses we would have.
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