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Chase of TBL
PAPER CHASE OF "TBL"
- ARTICLES
"Elizabeth
Smart -
A Miracle Of Life In The Hands Of A Greater Power"
by Ray “Rajko”
Ranic
March 12, 2003-after nine months
of kidnapping, frantic search, many prayers, and the
vigilance of a nation, one of the most astounding
events in United States history has occurred. Fifteen
year old Elizabeth Smart was found and rescued ALIVE
thanks to the watchful efforts of Rudy and Nancy Montoya,
and Anita and Alvin Dickerson of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Both families contacted the police who located and
confronted Brian David Mitchell and Wanda Eileen Barzee.
Mitchell and Barzee have been arrested and charged
with the heinous crimes which include kidnapping and
sexual abuse charges among others. Elizabeth Smart
was found (with Mitchell and Barzee) disguised in
a wig and robe. She was taken by the police who confirmed
her identity and reunited her with her family of parents,
siblings,grand parents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews,
and cousins.
The community of Salt Lake City decorated streets
in blue balloons to celebrate. Blue is Elizabeth’s
favorite color. A block birthday party was held on
Elizabeth’s street-where family and friends were
dancing in the streets in sheer joy. Just as important
- Elizabeth Smart was reunited with our nation and
all of America (and internationally!) celebrated her
rescue and homecoming.
The Elizabeth Smart kidnapping took place inside the
Smart house. The kidnappers cut through a window screen
and took Elizabeth Smart at approximately 3 a.m. in
front of her 9 year old sister Mary Katherine and
left leaving the Smart family initially targeted with
suspicion (as is normal in comprehensive police investigations)
and heart broken in the process. The Smart family,
friends, and supporters never gave up their faith
or hope and left a light on for Elizabeth in their
home and within their hearts.
The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
(NCMEC) claim that most abducted children in serious
cases are harmed or killed within the first three
hours. My research shows that most children missing
for more than a few days usually end up either not
found or become death statistics. Less than 1% of
serious child abductions are found alive. According
to the FBI (National Crime Information Center (NCIC))
“Every 37 seconds a child is reported missing.”
John Walsh (host of America’s Most Wanted and
The John Walsh Show) stated before Congress that there
is currently more than 1.5 million yearly abductions
of children in America. The US Dept. Of Justice tells
us 4 million pedophiles (child molesters) reside in
America (one child molester for every square mile).
The National Crime Victims Research and Technical
Center states one of every 3 girls and 1 of every
7 boys are sexually abused before age 18. 29% of rape
victims are younger than age 12.
The trauma that young children experience as a result
of such an experience (especially Mary Katherine-Elizabeth’s
younger sister age 9 at the time of the abduction)
can block out the memory of the incident. Mind trauma
can block out memories and in some cases it can also
enhance memory - even enhance photographic memory
and recall.
Approximately 5 months after the kidnapping took place,
Mary Katherine went to her parents and identified
the kidnapper as the man who had completed home repairs
at their house. He was Brian David Mitchell and Mary
Katherine’s breakthrough of the mind trauma that
terrorized her initially is what I believe to be the
key event that saved Elizabeth Smart’s life.
It makes the words “and a child shall lead them”
true in this case. Nine year old Mary Katherine Smart
- America’s hero!
I am reminded of a case in the Western New York area-in
which an eleven-year old girl was found strangled
and unconscious over the body of her mother-who was
murdered. The young girl was unable to remember or
identify the attacker. It wasnt until years later-the
victim-now a young woman in her teens-(with the help
of mind recovery experts) began to recover memories
of the incident. While this was taking place–her
father-took his own life-just as the young woman-identified
him-as the attacker of both her and her mother. The
father was originally the main target of suspicion
and it was the trauma-and memory recall-that solved
this sad case bringing it to a conclusion.
As parents and families we can do things to protect
our children. These rules should be helpful and thought
provoking at the same time:
- Protect your home-have it checked by a police officer
for safety recommendations and protection. They will
make recommendations for securing doors, windows,
basement windows, locks, and security systems.
- Be familiar with your local police - have your emergency
numbers ready for calling (such as 911 in many states),
emergency numbers for your areas - doctors and hospital
information and family numbers as well.
- If you have a neighborhood watch - keep this information
handy - your neighbors can be your best friends in
an emergency.
- Education and resource information that I recommend
are as follows:
- Check out the NCMEC resource information (National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children) either
through your school, public library or the internet
(_www.missingkids.com_ (http://www.missingkids.com)
) or call 1-800 - the lost or 1-800-843-5678 for more
information.
NCMEC has excellent information in several areas that
are critically important to know to protect your child.
Know the rules:
1. Abduction and kidnapping prevention tips for parents
2. School safety tips
3. Tips for going to school more safely
4. After school safety for children who are home alone
A few brief examples of questions you might have would
be as follows:
1) Do you know what clothing your child wears to school
daily and be able to describe your child and any identifying
marks such as scars and birthmarks if you need to?
(This question really made me consider the seriousness
of this issue).
2) Who has control of your child from the time they
leave your house to the school bus, to entering school
and finally to their teachers. Do you have your school,
teacher, and bus numbers handy if you need them? What
are emergency school procedures in the event of storms,
lockdowns, fire emergencies and terrorist threats?
3) Does your child walk to the bus stop? Are they
supervised or alone? Are they warned about talking
to strangers and how to react? Your children need
to know this going to the bus and getting off the
bus or going to school and coming home from school
- especially when walking home.
4) In today’s society of “latch key children”
safety tips for children home alone are important.
Having keys on them to get into the home works fine
until the key is lost - the key is broken - and there
is no back-up key. What if you have to pick up your
child at school or at the bus stop or your home and
you get into your car and your car breaks down - you
are stuck in a storm - or you are late getting home
from work? Are your neighbors, friends and back-up
emergency plans available to protect your children?
As a parent - are you ready for that responsibility
of being fully able to protect your child at a moment’s
notice?
On the internet, with NCMEC visit www.RINOKIDS.com
You’ll find a least 24 different agencies/organizations
that have much information to help you in the protection,
and if necessary, networking of lost children services
and support. Registering your children with organizations
that keep a database on your child is a consideration.
NCMEC, additional internet sites, schools, libraries
and your local police department can help with community
network and child data base information. Your spiritual
communities should also be a part of your information
and support system to protect your child.
Parents-please listen to your child. If your child
is afraid of someone, find out why. If there has been
inappropriate contact or you see changes in your child’s
demeanor and personality, look into it. The average
child molester attacks 117 children (National Institute
of Mental Health). In addition- on the subject of
runaway children, 2,700 children and teens in the
next 24 hours will run away from home. Nearly one
million children a year run away from home.
What you do in your house makes a big difference in
their lives. The average runaway is usually missing
143 days while living on the streets where drugs,
alcohol, sexual predators, prostitution, disease,
weather, poor living conditions, hopeleness and despair
await them. On the internet are many runaway locate
and recovery services. Once again, your police, library
and school resources are important. www.runawaylocate.com
is just one of those internet services available for
research and information.
In short, parents, love your children, listen to them,
and take to heart the information in this article.
Some day the life of your child may depend on it.
Of important note as of April 11, 2003 the AMBER ALERT
BILL has been passed by the Senate and thanks to the
concerns of politicians listening to the families
of victims, the public, organizers and supporters
- this important legislation will be signed in the
near future into law by President Bush.
The Amber Alert plan was created in 1996 as a legacy
to 9 year old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped and
brutally murdered while riding her bicycle in Arlington,
Texas. The tragedy shocked and outraged the entire
community. The Amber Alert Law will have stricter
provisions in it meaning that child molesters/pedophiles
and pornographers will be punishable with severe consequences
as the law will provide. The Amber Alert Law will
also protect volunteer boys and girls organizations
(where child predators hide easily) requiring state
and federal background checks for volunteers-again-as
the law will provide. This is good news for our country
to protect our children.
To date, the Amber Alert has resulted in the recovery
of at least 50 children (Reuters) and that news is
as good as it gets. Please refer to AMBER ALERT updates
on the internet, www.johnwalsh.com.
Check your library, school, public information centers
and local police representatives for further information.
As of March 12, 2003 with our country on the brink
of war-the return of Elizabeth Smart (with the darkness
of war, politics, crime, and terrorism ) is a bright
light that shines and spreads itself over the surface
of our country and our planet. It hits us in the center
of our hearts and brings joy to us- replenishing our
spirit. ELIZABETH SMART truly is the MIRACLE GIRL
in the hands of a far greater power. Thank God!
Hvala,
Ray “Rajko” Ranic
APRIL 22, 2003
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