I have just been sent an article that states Damaris Herrera-Lopez has been found safe and her mother has turned herself into authorities. (If her mother is going to use the typical “he was abusive” defense, it’ll be that much harder to defend with this. Mexico would have never extradited her; she could have remained there indefinitely.) I wish her and her father the best in reuniting. I have resolved her case. The new case on the site is that of Shirlyne Ong.
Archive for Opinion
Stephanie Cano and Sofia Filippo found safe
I have just received word from NCMEC that Sofia Filippo has been found safe, and have seen several articles that say Stephanie Cano has been found in Virginia. She was thought to be in Mexico, and this is a good reminder that a missing child can literally be anywhere. I have resolved their cases and modified the anniversary post so there are no dead links. The new cases on the site are those of Drew Drees and Yashima Grandberry.
Miguel Morin and Timothy Torres found safe
I have just received word from NCMEC that Timothy Torres has been found safe, and have read numerous articles that state Miguel Morin has been found safe and will be reunited with his mother soon. His case was inexplicably closed before he was located, and it seems from further reading his case was not given a great deal of priority. Only when his abductor was reported to CPS without knowing that she had an abducted child in her care did the case become resolved. I wish the best for him and his mother in reuniting, and will remind others that even a “closed” case can still become a resolved one. I have resoved their cases, modified the anniversary posts so there are no dead links, and if I find any articles about Timothy Torres I will post them here. The new cases on the site are those of Albert and Alfred Jacob, Devishi Nandanoore, and Antoinette Marino.
I hoped I’d never make a post like this this year
The “poster partner recovery” emails I get usually are good news and well received. Except ones like this.
It is with great sadness and deep regret that we notify you that Eowynne Anderson missing from Lynnwood, WA, has been located deceased. Please discontinue dissemination of this poster.
Please remove and discard any posters on this case that you have placed in public view.
We greatly appreciate your part in our efforts to reunite families and look forward to your continued support.
Thank you for your support.
And of course she wasn’t taken by some stranger. She was taken by her mother.
Chevelle Wheeler found deceased
I have seen many articles that have stated that Chevelle Wheeler’s remains have been located and identified from a well in Linden, California. As someone was already convicted of her murder this is no more than what one could expect, but her family now has closure. I have resolved her case. The new case on the site is that of Walter Ackerson.
Saxon Kawar and Jesus and Rigoberto Vargas found safe
I have just received word from her mother that Saxon Kawar has returned to the United States from Jordan, and have found a news article that states Jesus and Rigoberto Vargas have been found safe when their mother tried to cross into Texas from Mexico. I wish them and their families the best in reuniting. I have resolved their cases and modified the anniversary posts so there are no dead links. The new case on the site is that of Israel, Yehzekel, and Yoshua Bordaty, who were incorrectly listed as having been found.
Larry Synclair found safe
I have just received word from his father that Larry Synclair has been found in Russia and will be returning to the United States for the new year. His father has been very active on the behalf of parental kidnapping victims since Larry’s disappearance and I wish him and the rest of his family the best in reuniting. I have resolved the case and modified the anniversary post so there are no dead links. The new case on the site is that of Andrew Bustillos Camara.
Sigourney Chisholm found safe
I have just received word from both her family and this article that Sigourney Chisholm has been found safe. I wish them the best in reuniting. The new case on the site is that of Diana Portillo.
Two more family abduction victims
Mira and Yaanis Mellersh were abducted by their mother from Germany in 2010; they were supposed to be living in England with their father. A few days ago they were found dead in Turkey, killed by their mother who then committed suicide. I have always hated the fact the British press uses the phrase “tug of love” for parental kidnapping, but the fact that many news outlets are continuing to use the phrase when the two children involved were murdered is frankly quite stunning. They have been added to the victims page. I don’t have the energy to cry over these anymore.
Adam Jordan Haseeb
Adam Haseeb would have been sixteen years old today.
He would probably be excited about learning to drive and considering what he would do with himself after he graduated from high school. He’d almost be an adult. By all rights, his mother should have been thrilled with a day like today. Any parent should be. There are all sorts of things that he should be doing right now.
But he was abducted by his father and died in an accident in Syria, along with his father. No, not a murder, but if he hadn’t been abducted he would probably be here to celebrate this day. But he didn’t see his sixteenth birthday; he didn’t even see his tenth.
Adam Haseeb’s death affected me profoundly. It still does. His death was the third in a recent series (at the time) of children abducted by a parent who were found deceased. Perhaps that was the reason it affected me so much. Perhaps it was just Adam himself – a cute little boy with short hair, ears that stick out, and a big smile. Whatever the reason, if he had not died I probably would have not spent the last seven years throwing myself into the world of parental kidnapping. He was the one that inspired me to create a section of For the Lost for family abductions, which is now by far the biggest section of the site. I named them after him and his picture is on every page of the photo directory. He is perhaps my best example of the tragedy of family abductions. I have talked to his mother on occasion. I cannot even begin to imagine the grief she must still feel, but I hope she can take comfort in the fact he is not forgotten. Until I die, I will use his story as the inspiration for work on the behalf of those children who are still kidnapped, still missed by their parents.
Happy birthday, Adam. You are very much loved.
