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.)
I've tried to prod them into it, even mentioned to a couple of them that their parents had called me when they were here before.
But they're 17 year old boys, for the most part. I'm a "nagging mom" in their eyes.
We have a rule with our kid...he has a cell phone and if he leaves one place and goes to another, i.e. leaves church to go out to eat, or leaves his intended destination to go somewhere else, he has to call in.
He takes classes at the local college, and one night after a class he went to Starbucks without checking in. I had figured that was where he was since he had stopped in there on occasion to hang out with some friends. But he is supposed to let us know if he's going to stop off there.
So my husband called the Starbucks and had them ask if there was a "name" there...told the Starbucks guy to announce this from the counter and also say, "You need to check in with your parents, now." Guess what, he hasn't pulled that one again. A little embarrassment goes a long way.
Prayer bump.
I pray for your daughter's safe return. And that the most likely scenario -- she had a little too much and is sleeping it off -- is the result.
But in the meantime we will pray that no matter what she is protected and safe.
Sending prayers from New York. Hoping as I type this that your daughter is safely home with you.
I live in the Columbus area, too. Could you tell me your daughter's name and what HS she goes to? I have children that go to DeSales, but they have friends at MANY public schools. We could spread out a network locally to help track her down.
marking my place, hoping for a teenage hangover.
More prayers going up.
Odds are good that it's more "senioritis." I recognize the dreadful malady. I had it bad. So bad, that if I'd had a son like me I'd have shot him. Best of luck with your daughter and hopes for her safe return.
Try to remain calm, but do not delay. The first three hours are the most critical in recovering a child safely.
Check with your child’s friends, school, neighbors, relatives, or anyone else who may have clues about your child’s whereabouts. Ask them to notify you if they hear from your child. Do not overlook past boyfriends or girlfriends or friends who live out of town.
Have an officer come to your home to take a report. Write down the officer’s name, badge number, phone number, and the report number.
If your child has computer access, check email. It may shed light on a planned meeting between your child and someone he or she “met” online.
Keep a notebook and record all the people you've called about your child and what they've told you.
Law-enforcement agencies across the country have access to National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computers, so make sure your law-enforcement agency enters your child’s information. The NCIC is for missing children under the age of 18.
If your police department has a waiting period, you can circumvent that and report your child missing directly to the FBI and have them enter the child's information directly into the NCIC computer.
Provide law enforcement with a recent photograph of your child. Make fingerprints, DNA sample and dental records available to law enforcement. Make a chart that contains a photo as well as pertinent information : height, weight, hair color, eye color, age, physical characteristics (glasses, braces, pierced ears, scars, marks).
Call or visit local spots that your child may frequent (e.g., work, church, social groups, friends' homes).
Have posters or fliers made, and place them in store windows, truck stops, youth hangouts, hospitals, etc.
Do not disturb or remove any of your child's items before police arrive. Doing so could destroy key clues.
(After the police have come) search for clues in your child's room or locker, looking for a journal, notes, letters, email, computer files, telephone records, bank records, credit card bills.
If your child has your car, consider reporting your car as stolen.
Call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). There you can see if a runaway has left a message or leave a message in case your runaway checks in.
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There are also some cool ideas about making a "just in case" kit that contains the child's personal information, a picture and physical description that is updated every six months, dentist and doctor names and numbers (so medical/dental records can be retrieved quickly), DNA in the form of an air-dried used toothbrush that is sealed in an envelope which your child has licked, even a makeshift dental record made by having your child bite into a thin piece of styrofoam (updated for dental changes, like losing teeth). You can also have a fingerprint card of your child made for free at the local police station. (We did this with our Cub Scouts a few years ago, and they thought it was great.)
I think you have a great idea here, in putting together a comprehensive plan of action that will give panicking parents some direction on what they can do to help, especially if the police don't seem terribly helpful or efficient in the case.
I hope she's there and I pray that she's all right.
Please, if she is, tell her of the party MY 17 year old was invited to where one of the girls got drunk and was passed out in a bedroom where 2 boys had sex on her unconscious body.
My daughter was grounded and didn't attend, we are both still thankful.
Prayers being sent up now
Checking in and sending more prayers
placeholder for Good news I pray
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I'm still praying Sunshine! Let us know when you hear something!
Your eyes see everything takes place and you know exactly where Sunshine's daughter is. We ask You, Father, out of Your loving kindness and tender mercies to protect this girl until she is able to make a phone call to her mother. Father, if she is in harm's way, hold her close to You and protect her, and if she is not, please speak to her heart to call home. Give Sunshine Your strength and full confidence in You while she waits. Father, we place all this in Your hands, knowing that You care for Your children. Make haste to help her, O Lord. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Be well and God Bless you. I went through the same thing with my daughter, and we survived.
My thoughts are with you and your family during this troubled time. I am sorry to hear of this situation. Gain some confort from the reality that many people here are troubled by this, and are pulling for you. Your family is with you. We are with you in spirit. God is with you. You are not alone.
Take care of yourself.
prayer bump
5? My toddler son used to get out of the locked house, locked yard and take walks. He would find a trail, and be gone. Thankfully, we had a german shepherd that took his guard duties very seriously and never let anyone come near the child while he was wandering around.
couple of more for you:
-search recently deleted emails, search internet histories. If possible, set computer back a day or so and search again.
-even if the cell phone service has been disconnected for abuse, make them carry it for 911 calls.
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