Patty Brightwell Vaughan

Patty Brightwell Vaughan vanished without a trace on Christmas 1996. It is coming up on 10 years now since she disappeared and her family still needs answers and justice for those that they believe are responsible. A few weeks ago we were contacted to do a website for Patty, because I understand that the website you all see floating around online is NOT approved by the family of Patty.

If you can, please take a look at Patty's site, sign the guestbook and if you have a website, please post this link if possible. It's very important for us to keep Patty's information out there. The cold cases are just as important as the new ones.

Thanks to all who read this message

Patty's Website
www.FindPattyVaughan.Com

Important

As the mother of a missing adult for 3 years whose remains were found,
this matter is really important to me.. please follow the link below....
the
letter will be automatically sent to the elected official in your state...
God bless
Linda Rice


Hello,

The National Center for Missing Adults needs your help to stay open -
and all it takes is a few moments of your time.

Please take a moment to sign our online letter/petition to let
congress know that missing adults do matter!

Just go to:
http://www.theyaremissed.org/letter

I encourage you to pass this on to your family and friends. The more
people who sign up, the stronger our voice will be.

To learn about other ways you can help - visit
http://www.theyaremissed.org/

Thank you for your support!

Eric Paschal
(602) 749-3032

They Are Missed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kym Pasqualini (602) 749-2000 #102 or 602-399-0630
4641 N. 12th Street, Suite 100 Phoenix, AZ 85014 www.missingadults.org
NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING ADULTS RELOCATES IN PHOENIX
October 26, 2006 (Phoenix) – A local Phoenix business man has provided the Phoenix-based National Center for Missing Adults (NCMA) with new office space at a time when the agency was financially forced to vacate and close the doors of the facility they had operated from for nearly ten years. “This act of kindness will enable the agency to continue providing services,” says Kym Pasqualini, the agency’s founder.
“However, the agency still faces a funding crisis that affects the number of those we can assist and the quality of those services,” adds Pasqualini. “We continue to plead with the public and national business community to help with contributions in order for this nationally-respected agency to continue providing the same level of service to law enforcement and families of missing adults throughout the country.”
Kristen’s Law, signed by President Clinton, established the national clearinghouse for missing adults in 2002 with an appropriation of $1 million per year. In recent years federal budget cuts have severely depleted the resources to NCMA receiving only $148,000 of federal funding for 2006.
During 2005, approximately 2000 law enforcement agencies requested the assistance of NCMA. The agency handled 23,421 missing person reports and provided assistance to over 24,741 family members of missing persons. In addition, over 300 law enforcement agencies received training provided by NCMA, in partnership with the Criminal Justice Center for Innovation at Fox Valley Technical College, the premier provider of training to criminal justice related agencies nationwide.
When the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance called on the NCMA to provide case management and support services to thousands of families of missing adults left in Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath, NCMA worked in partnership with governmental agencies and handled over 13,500 missing adult reports. They closed 99.9% of the cases in the months following the hurricane. The Hurricane Katrina effort cost the agency over $200,000 of their own non-federal funding and has depleted the agency’s reserves.
“Currently Kristen’s Act Reauthorization of 2005, H.R. 2103, which is pending in the House of Representatives, would appropriate up to $4 million per year to the agency, but with continued delays in Congress, the number of families needing services and the quality of those services are severely impacted,” said Erin Bruno, Director of Case Management.
The public may contact the agency by calling (800) 690-3463. For more information and to write representatives in Congress visit the agency website www.missingadults.org.
National Center for Missing Adults is a division of the Nation’s Missing Children Organization, Inc. a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization working with local, state and federal law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners. NCMA, a division of NMCO is the only national missing adult clearinghouse funded by the US Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance to provide advocacy and support services to families of missing adults and directly involved in the President’s DNA Initiative, “Advancing Justice through DNA Technology.”

They Are Missed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kym Pasqualini (602) 399-0630
Veronica Abeyta (602) 334-3789
Nation’s Missing Children Organization/National Center for Missing Adults
LOCAL NASCAR DRIVER RETIRES FROM TRACK BUT NOT HIS MISSION
November 9, 2006 (PHOENIX, AZ) – Local NASCAR driver, Darrell LaMoure will be driving in Thursday’s AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series race at Phoenix International Raceway during Konica Minolta 125 at 7:00pm. This race will mark the end of twenty years in competitive racing but not the mission to help families of missing persons.
LaMoure has worked with the Phoenix-based Nation’s Missing Children Organization, Inc. & National Center for Missing Adults, since the disappearance of eleven year old Mikelle Biggs who vanished in Mesa on January 2, 1999. Shortly after Mikelle’s disappearance, LaMoure contacted Kym Pasqualini, founder of the missing person agency and offered to place a larger than life photograph of Mikelle on the hood of his car during a race at Phoenix International Raceway. Since 1999, LaMoure has enlisted the help of other NASCAR drivers and has profiled over 200 missing adults and children at NASCAR races throughout the country. Over the years LaMoure has featured even high profile cases like Chandra Levy and Laci Peterson.
During the Konica Minolta 125, LaMoure will be driving Car #94 with a full hood photograph of Randy Charles Spring, who mysteriously vanished while hitchhiking on October 10, 1988 from White Water, CA. Randy Spring’s family will be traveling from California to attend the race. In addition, another Racing for the Missing driver, M.K Kanke, also competing in the Konica Minolta 125, will be driving Car #33 with a full hood photograph of George Milan who vanished on April 19, 2004, from Oilve Branch, MS.
A local missing child’s family especially affected by LaMoure’s retirement is the Florez family. Jesse Florez vanished at the age of fourteen, September 14, 2001 from the vicinity of 55th Avenue and Indian School Rd., in Phoenix. LaMoure initially met the Florez family in 2003 when he profiled Jesse on the hood of his car. Veronica Abeyta, Jesse’s older sister and her husband, Manny have become close friends with LaMoure. After meeting LaMoure Manny Abeyta became a member of LaMoure’s pit crew. Veronica and her mother will be in the stands during the last race of LaMoure’s career.
Currently, Jesse Forez is included in a national effort to raise awareness for missing persons who have received little media attention. Joe Mammana, a Philadelphia businessman and victim’s rights advocate has offered $2 million in rewards for 20 missing persons. A $100,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Jesse and/or information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for his disappearance is available until November 24, 2006.
LaMoure intends to continue working with families of missing persons and expand the Racing for the Missing program. “LaMoure will be missed on the track but we look forward to continuing to work with him,” said Kym Pasqualini. “Darrell LaMoure has made such an astounding impact in the lives of families of missing persons and those of us who are fortunate enough to work with him. At a time of such loss and trauma in the lives of families of missing persons, Darrell gives them Hope when everything seems lost.”

Patricia's Law

Everyone,
We are gaining some steam for "Patricia's Law" which has now been introduced in both the NJ
Senate (S2255) and the NJ Assembly (A3643) in the past 3 weeks and assigned to respective
committees. The committee meetings are coming up in a few weeks and I plan on testifying at
these public discussions.

The following video link is the News 12 New Jersey coverage which ran on Oct. 30-31, 2006 at
7PM, 8PM, 9PM then another version at 10:30PM every hour into late morning the next day:

http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/News12_NJ_Patricias_Law_Oct_30_2006.wmv

The Bergen News (weekly) covered "Patricia's Law" in two of their editions on Nov. 1, 2006. This
covered around 15 towns in Bergen County where we live. See link below to article which contains
other important links:

http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/Patricias_Law_Bergen_News_Article_Nov_1_2006.pdf
Thanks for everyones continued support and encouragement !

Warmly,
Jim
http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/

http://patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/Patricias_Law.html

New Jersey Residents Click Here: http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/Patricias_Law.html#anchor_27

Missing

Trenton Duckett. LeeAnn Warner, Bianca Damanik and many, many more

http://www.missingchildrenvideo.com/

Please watch your children. If you don't, someone else may.

http://www.angelsthatcare.org/alert.html

http://www.missingchildrenvideo.com/MISSING_CHILDREN_VIDEO_SMALL.wmv

Jerae James Update

Former soldier convicted in death of pregnant teen

Associated Press

WAYNESVILLE, Mo. - A former Fort Leonard Wood soldier has been convicted in the death of a pregnant teen whose body was found in the trunk of a burned car.

Pulaski County jurors convicted Luther D. Martin, 25, on Tuesday of two counts of first-degree murder in the death of Jerae James, 17, and her unborn child.

On Wednesday, jurors began hearing testimony in the sentencing phase of the death-penalty trial, hearing from James' mother about the effect of the killing on her family, from relatives of Martin and from jailers who said he was a model inmate.

Prosecutors said James died on Oct. 7, 2001, after she was stuffed in the trunk. The car, which was set on fire with pages from a military operations manual, was discovered two days later in a field next to a water treatment plant.

Police believe James, who was 7-months pregnant, died from smoke inhalation because the fire burned out before it reached the trunk.

At the time of the killing, Martin was a member of the 5th Engineer Battalion stationed at Fort Leonard Wood. Two other former soldiers also were arrested in the case.

One, Stephen V. Ragas, 24, of New Orleans, La., faces two counts of first-degree murder. Another soldier was released from jail in April because there wasn't enough evidence to link him to the crime.

During Martin's trial, prosecutors presented evidence that his fingerprints were found in the car along with a phone bill in his name.

But defense attorneys argued Martin may have been framed. They also sought to implicate a fourth man, who has not been charged in the killings.

Colleen Stevens, a friend of the James family who is serving as their spokeswoman, said the family was pleased by the murder verdict and hopes the jury decides that Martin should be sentenced to death.

"It's been five years, it's been a long time coming, and it's overdue," Stevens said.

---

Information from: Waynesville Daily Guide, http://www.waynesvilledailyguide.com

Jerae James Update

Murder trial begins in Jerae James death

Published: Tuesday, September 19, 2006 10:25 AM CDT
E-mail this story | Print this page

James

Darrell Todd Maurina

Opening arguments began Monday in the first of three murder trials for three men, all former soldiers in the 5th Engineer Battalion at Fort Leonard Wood, who are accused of killing a pregnant Waynesville High School student by stuffing her in her car trunk and setting the car on fire.

Luther Martin has been held for several years on first-degree murder charges in the death of Jerae James on Oct. 7, 2001. Within the past year, Stephen V. Ragas, 23, and Donald Robinson, 26, have also been charged with causing the death of 17-year-old Jerae Nicole James and her unborn baby in October 2001 by setting James' car on fire.

Ragas and Robinson will face trial at a later date.

Robert J. Ahsens III, an assistant attorney general with the state of Missouri, opened his arguments Monday morning by recounting the history of the case and what the jurors could expect to hear in upcoming testimony.

"The defendant picked Jerae James up, put her in the trunk of her own car, set the car on fire, and the smoke from that fire killed her," Ahsens said.

Ahsens said Jerae had received a blow to the head that may or may not have rendered her unconscious and was found with her wrists bound and ankles bound. Her trachea was found full of soot and ash, an indication that she was breathing and alive at the time her car was set on fire.

An autopsy showed that James' blood had an 81 percent saturation level of carbon dioxide, which Ahsens said is always fatal to humans.

Martin is charged with killing not only one but two victims.

"The baby, even if it had been delivered at the time of Jerae's death, very, very likely would have survived," Martin said.

Evidence found at the scene includes Martin's fingerprints on the car, military manuals from the 5th Engineers, a military-issue glove, and a phone bill in Martin's name, Ahsens said. That evidence led police to arrest him as a suspect shortly after the death of James.

Jerae James' mother Jennie James took the stand as the state's first witness and testified that her daughter was about 7-1/2 months pregnant but had a restraining order against the child's father.

The teen was being home-schooled due to problems with her baby's father, James testified. Despite her relationship problems Jerae James was a devoted daughter, her mother said.

"Jerae was the type that she knew I was a worrier, so she was pretty punctual about calling me and telling me where she was," James said.

Her mother said she first began to worry about 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 7 when she woke up, found that her daughter had not returned home, and was not able to reach her by cell phone. Her mother said she drove repeatedly around local roads trying to find a wrecked car or locate her vehicle in town but was unable to do so.

Jerae James' last night of life included contact with a number of people involved in criminal activity. Her friend Jamie Robertson testified Monday that she stopped at the home of a man, spent 15 to 30 minutes inside, and sold drugs to a man at the house. Under cross-examination by Bevy Beindeik of the state public defender's office, Robertson testified that Jerae James had a "big wad of cash" but invoked her Fifth Amendment right not to incriminate herself when questioned about several drug-related matters. Robertson testified that neither Jerae James nor her sister Whitney James had ever mentioned Luther Martin in their conversations.

James' body was found on Oct. 9, two days after she died, by Bill Anderson, who at that time was a sheriff's deputy but is now in the Army civil service as a criminal investigator.

Anderson said when he saw the car in a field near the St. Robert sewage treatment plant he initially thought it belonged to a bow hunter but decided to check it more closely after noticing soot near a window. Upon investigation he decided it may have been a stolen vehicle that someone had torched.

The fire went out after it was started, Anderson testified, leaving a number of items of evidence that police later used to identify Martin.

Retired police Sgt. Ralph Roark said there was no sign of fire in the trunk but that investigators found the phone bill for Luther Martin and used it to track him down.

Roark and others testifying later in the day said the fire never reached the trunk of the car and appears to have gone out on its own.

Investigators showed graphic pictures to the jury showing a burn mark on Jerae James' thigh but indicating no further burn injuries.

Testimony is expected to continue Tuesday and could run as late as Sept. 29 in a case for which prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.

DARRELL SCOTT TESTIMONY

DARRELL SCOTT TESTIMONY Guess our national leaders didn't expect this, huh ?
On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited t o address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee.
What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well.
It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert!
These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness.
The following is a portion of the transcript: "Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children wh! o died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers. "The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain , and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart. "In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.
I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy-it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves.
I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. This was written way before I knew I would be speaking here today:
Your laws ignore our deepest needs, Your words are empty air. You've stripped away our heritage, You've outlawed simple prayer. Now gunshots fill our classrooms, And precious children die. You seek for answers everywhere, And ask the question "Why?" You regulate restrictive laws, Through legislative creed. And yet you fail to understand, That God is what we need!
"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, soul, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and reek havoc.
Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? !
We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws.
"Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts. "As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes-He did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on Apr! il 20, 1999 , at Columbine High
School prayer was brought back to our schools.
Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA - I give to you a sincere challenge. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"




Do what the media did not - - let the nation hear this man's speech. Please send this out to everyone you can. !

Friends

Friends

You never have to be alone
you never have to fear
You are as close as a mouse click
to the friends who hold you dear

Through this door is friendship
through this door you will find.
A world of Angels who are waiting,who have your happiness in mind

Come right in and stay a while
please leave us a post or two
Here you'll find helpful hintsand might learn a thing or two

Some days we may be quite silly,some days we may be a little bad.
But we always enjoy the companyand the discussions that we've had

The friendships here are solid
the friendships here are strong.
We are a universal neighborhoodwith a kind and healthy loving bond

If you need a shoulder to lean on or someone with a listening ear
We are always here to hold you up
because we are the

Angels That Care

Missing Exploited Children

Digital cameras are very handy in keeping current photographs of your
children on hand. These photos are important if your child is ever
missing. In this weeks article you will see how to use your digital camera
on family outings to guarantee you will have the most recent information
on your child’s appearance at all times.

Everyone wants to believe it will never happen to me, yet in reality
children on average are missing and reported missing to the authorities by
caregivers daily, most are found with in a few minutes to a few hours.

If you read my latest article at the link below, you will learn new ways
to keep your children safe with the digital technology available, while on
family outings. Please let me know what you think when you are finished
reading the article, I value your feedback.

Digital Camera Can Help Keep Your Child Safe on Outings
Use your digital camera on outings to document what your child looks like,
just in case something happens. The digital camera gives you an instant
picture to keep with you in case you need it.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art27472.asp/zzz

Help Wanted

http://moldypeaches.blogspot.com/2006/08/help-wanted.html

Tim Dick Legal Affairs ReporterNovember 6, 2006
THE mother of two missing Canadian girls is trying a novel legal way to find them: suing members of her estranged husband's Sydney family to force them to say where they are.
Until July, Melissa Hawach had sole custody of her two daughters - Hannah, 5, and Cedar, 3 - and they lived in Calgary.
Her relationship with their father, Joseph Hawach, had broken down, but they maintained regular contact until the children travelled to Sydney with their father to have a holiday with his family.
Mrs Hawach intended to pick them up three weeks later for an Australian holiday of their own. But soon after they left, daily phone calls with the girls stopped and they disappeared.
When Mrs Hawach arrived in Sydney, she was told by a member of the Hawach family that the girls were no longer in Australia.
They are believed to be in Lebanon and, according to a website set up to find the girls, they were last seen travelling with Mr Hawach and his mother, Gladys.
The Missing Children Society of Canada issued a statement saying: "Joseph's family also informed Melissa that the only way the girls would be returned to Australia would be if she agreed to live in Sydney, give Joseph full custody and dropped the charges against him." It said Mr Hawach had dual citizenship of Australia and Lebanon.
After other efforts to find the girls - including asking her in-laws for information - failed, Mrs Hawach's lawyers have begun Supreme Court action.
Under new court rules, third parties to possible litigation can be compelled to reveal what they know before a civil claim for damages is brought. Two of the three family members targeted by this preliminary action have been served with a summons to appear in court tomorrow.
Telephone messages left by the Herald at Mr Hawach's Harris Park home were not returned. According to company records, other family members live at the same address, but no one was returning calls yesterday.
Mrs Hawach's solicitor, Bill Madden of Slater & Gordon, declined to name the family members named in the summons to appear tomorrow, while the Supreme Court does not release court papers before a hearing.
But Mr Madden said the action was intended to help Mrs Hawach - who was "anxious and concerned" - find the girls.
He said that while claims for damages against family members of estranged spouses had been brought overseas, he was not aware of any previous attempt to do so in Australia.