Utah Girl Kidnapped From Room At Gunpoint

sandiego.com ^ | June 5, 2002 | ap

[SpookBrat]

Of course this story doesn't sound "normal". Kidnapping, abducting and raping little children IS NOT NORMAL. We can't put ourselves in their shoes, because the thought of something like this is unthinkable. It is always shocking and unbelievable when a child is stolen from their parents.

A few posters here are being awfully hard on a traumatized 9 year old girl. I'm sure she is confused, in shock, and traumatized. I remember my night terrors very well at that age and the temporary paralysis I had. I wanted to call out, but my mouth wouldn’t open. If this girl’s sister is dead, how can this poor child ever learn to live with herself, knowing if she had spoken a little sooner, her sister might still be alive. What a terrible burden for a young girl. Paralysis during shock or trauma is a a common response.

Frankly, I don't care what the circumstances are. GET HER BACK HOME to her family, then later we can figure out if someone is lying. I don't think a sweet, harp playing, studious, smart Mormon girl in a loving home would run away with her boyfriend in the middle of the night in her red pajamas. But that's just me.

Where is the freaking outrage on these threads? Has the stealing and raping of our children become so common that no one cares any more? I see more outrage over the “possible” lie of a 9 year old and the “possible” running away of a 14 year old, than I see for the “possible” evil monster who stole this baby from her parents. He probably raped her again and again in every way imaginable, then he strangled her or stabbed her. She's dead in a field or ditch right now with ants crawling all over her. There are some heartless people here some times. I don’t get it.

[Carry_Okie]

Polly Klaas.

[let freedom sing]

Stories like this make excellent cases for German Shepherds, Rottweilers, boxers, chow chows, etc. (Chihuahuas need not apply).

I love dogs-- and I know the pain of dog-bite.

[Woodstock]

I will pray for this family tonight.

[M Kehoe]

FYI

5.56mm

[baseballfanjm]

Actually, the sister's story makes sense to me. Kids that age, and I'm not standing up for "youths" because I am one, will get traumatized by that kind of incident. Put yourself in the alleged situation. You're nine. You're sister has just been kidnapped at gunpoint. The kidnapper tells you that if you say anything, he'll kill your sister. Many kids would go into a state of panic and not use reason. I think she honestly thought that if she told her parents, it would get back to the kidnapper somehow. I'm not saying that that is the direct case, but you can't say that just because the sister didn't tell that it's a conspiracy.

I hate to drag on, but I want to give an example of what panic can do to a kid. When I was in fourth grade, I was at a public school at the time (I'm homeschooled now), my dad was late picking me up. I panicked and thought I had been forgotten. Reason had passed me by so much that when I saw his car and it was empty (he was looking for me), rather than stay and wait as I should have, I left and started to look for him. Luckily he was returning to the car at that time and all was well.

Anyway, that bit of history was hardly a traumatic situation, but because I panicked I simply couldn't reason. That's what happens with kids that age. This isn't a jab at adults or anything, but I think that adults forget how kids think and reason, or, in some cases, don't.

[JustPiper]

I've had these thoughts today and hope its true, for then she will be alive.Prayers for her and her family.

[FormerLurker]

This is why people with children should if at all possible keep a dog in the house, preferably a Rottweiller. Tends to foil the plans of those who wish to do this sort of thing...

I pray that this little girl is ok and is able to escape or call for help.

[Utah Girl]

The nine year old's story rings true to me about the kidnapper telling her to keep quiet. A few weeks ago, a store was robbed at gunpoint in SLC, and the robber told the two teenaged clerks to lie down on the floor for 90 minutes, and to not move a muscle, or he would kill them. One of the boy's fathers wondered why his son wasn't home, and hadn't called them to say he would be late, so the father called the police, then went to the store. The boys were still terrified, and wouldn't get up off the floor until the police told them it was OK, and that the robber was long gone. They stayed on the floor for at least an hour...

[Nitro]

9 years old in Utah is like 4 years old in NYC...

while you may be right, you can't discount the hide-under-the-bed terror factor!!

[FormerLurker]

That's what happens with kids that age. This isn't a jab at adults or anything, but I think that adults forget how kids think and reason, or, in some cases, don't.

Well said, and quite true.

[Nitro]

Not a bad idea... but...

it definitely comes under the "locking the barn door after the horse is gone" umbrella!!

[Diddle E. Squat]

with another high profile kidnapping attempt 10 years ago at the house right across the street from the Smart home

That would be an amazing coincidence. But then, coincidences do happen. From the few pictures I've seen, it appears the house is at the end of a cul-de-sac. Seems that would make it highly unlikely that this was totally random. Might be more likely a worker on an adjacent house, or friend/guest of a neighbor. Strange that investigators think they left on foot rather than getting into a car out front, perhaps he parked on the street behind? My guess is that she was targeted.

Not trying to be a pollyanna, but I don't think we can yet rule out that she left willingly. Perhaps she arranged a staged act with a new boyfriend and didn't let her sister in on it. Teens can be ruthless and creative. Was she angry at her parents?

But still a stalker(either cyber or someone who took notice of her) seems the most likely theory. The only way I could picture it being random would be if someone saw her, say at the mall, followed her home, parked and observed movements, then came back later on a nearby street(assuming there was no backyard fence), and broke into the house.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Yeah, but you have to make sure the dog can bark.

Except perhaps for swingers with something to hide.

[FormerLurker]

Yeah, but you have to make sure the dog can bark.

Believe me, Rotweillers bark, and can definetly change someone's mind quickly if they were thinking of breaking into a house.

I know, I have one.. :)

[GovernmentShrinker]

Don't knock Chihuahuas -- they can make a colossal amount of noise and are very easily set off. Cheaper than those upscale alarms systems which work in much the same manner (make lots of noise, even when you don't want them too, and are useless when it comes to attacking the perp).

[glock rocks]

the only sound more authoritative than a rottie in the dark is the racking of an 870.

[Nitro]

May be a minor point, but if he 'let' or 'made' her take shoes...

it might be that he is planning on walking her away from a parking area through some in-hospitable ground!!

[GovernmentShrinker]

Yes, and it really makes me hope she's not telling the whole truth. If she is, she's going to be a psychological wreck for the rest of her life, unless her sister is found unharmed, which isn't looking too likely at this point.