Retrial for confessed Etan Patz murderer reset for winter:

 This May 28, 2012, file photo shows a newspaper with a photograph of Etan Patz at a makeshift memorial in the SoHo neighborhood of New York where Patz lived before his disappearance on May 25, 1979. (Photo credit: AP/Mark Lennihan, File)

The retrial of the murder and kidnapping case of Etan Patz, a Jewish boy who disappeared in 1979 in New York, has been rescheduled for the winter.

New York judge Justice Maxwell Wiley set a new date of February 22, 2016 to allow the case’s new prosecutor ample time to prepare the retrial of the alleged abductor.

The murder and abduction case was reopened over 30 years after Patz’s disappearance. Acting on the tip from a relative, police arrested the accused, Pedro Hernandez, 54, of Maple Shade, New Jersey.

Relatives told the media Hernandez has a long history of mental illness. Prosecutors, however, felt confident that 20 years of medical records supported their conclusion that Hernandez was “credible and persuasive.”

The case ended in a mistrial this past May when the jury could not reach a decision. Of 12 jurors, one refrained from voting to convict.

 

Pedro Hernandez, the murder suspect in the case of missing child Etan Patz. (photo credit: YouTube screenshot)

 

Patz’s abduction is considered one of the most notorious child kidnappings in US history. It led to a nationwide movement that can be traced to today’s Amber Alerts, which notify drivers of missing children.

His image was reportedly the first of a missing child reproduced on a milk carton. In 1983, then-US president Ronald Reagan designated May 25, the anniversary of his disappearance as “National Missing Children’s Day.”

Six-year-old Patz disappeared near West Broadway and Prince Street in Manhattan on the first day his parents gave him permission to walk to his school bus stop unaccompanied. He left home and never returned.

A New York judge did not declared the kindergartner legally dead until 2001.

When Hernandez confessed to the killing, The New York Times reported that he told police he took the boy inside a local bodega, a Hispanic mini-mart. Patz’s body was never found.

Based on his confession, Hernandez was charged in November 2012 with second-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.

Source: http://goo.gl/CIj30s

 

Trinity Mount Ministries Website

North East India - Gogoi directs strong action for child and women safety

                                                          

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday directed comprehensive enforcement of laws to remove all encumbrances coming in the way of child and women safety and their development.

The direction was given in a high-level meeting chaired by him, an official release said.

He also directed the concerned department to formulate a strict deterrent to stop child and women trafficking, unlawful employment of children through placement agencies and other crimes related to children and women.

The meeting decided to carry out a comprehensive survey on child labor in the state for evolving an action plan to tackle the problem of child labor.

"Gogoi directed that a survey should be undertaken in consultation with Kailash Satyarthi Children Foundation and UNICEF.

"A state level Advisory Council, headed by the Chief Minister, would be constituted to review the progress of the State Convergent Plan of Action for Child Abuse, which would be implemented in partnership with UNICEF," the release said.

Assam would also partner with the Kailash Satyarthi Foundation for rehabilitation and welfare of trafficked children, it added.

A mechanism would be put in place for fast tracking of cases related to child abuse and violence against women.

The chief minister directed convening a meeting with NGOs working throughout the state in the field of child protection and development.

"The government would also strengthen measures by legislation to prevent child marriage in the state," it added.

      Source: http://goo.gl/9fKVVW

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Leander ISD to try letting parents track their child’s bus:

Leander, Texas (KXAN) — Technicians are installing GPS systems in Leander Independent School District buses this week, in an effort to get the systems running in all operational buses by the first week of school.

“We recognize that we want to give parents the best data that we can give them, even an extension into the school bus,” said Leander Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Bret Champion. “The school bus is really the first class of a student’s day. So, we believe that and we want to make sure that kids are well taken care of from the time we pick them up to the time we get them home.”
Dr. Champion said in an interview with KXAN News Today that GPS on each school bus will let parents get real-time data about the location of their child’s bus. The district contracted with the company Zonar for the GPS technology. It plans to try a mobile app by the company that lets parents use “specific credentials” to track their child’s bus.

“For safety and security [the GPS system] is a great enhancement for us,” said Dr. Champion. “We’ll know immediately where each bus in our fleet is. We’ve got 161 routes that are running.”
Leander ISD Assistant Superintendent Veronica Sopher says the decision to install the equipment was not based on any one event. The district believes it will help make its system more efficient, improve communication with parents, and increase safety.

District officials say the GPS installation and first year of service costs $160,000. Each year after that will cost about $53,000.

The technology also has implications for safety. Last year, Leander ISD fired a bus driver after she was arrested for driving while intoxicated. Investigators believe bus driver Kathy Legrand, 61, hit a mailbox and tree limbs and drove up to 30 students while intoxicated last October. Emails obtained by KXAN News between district officials and law enforcement indicate Legrand did not return cell phone and radio calls after parents raised concerns.

“I was notified by Jim Rose, Principal at River Ridge Elementary, that several parents informed the school of a bus driving erratically on Quinlan Park Road. Mr. Rose requested I help the other bus drivers locate this bus,” wrote a Travis County Constable in an email.

A district investigation found no evidence that Legrand ever reported to the district that she was taking medications, despite telling deputies she takes up to nine medications daily, according to the district’s assistant superintendent and court records.

Arrest records state that 61-year-old Kathy Loraine Legrand admitted she took pain killers and anti-depressants. She also had beer and medication the day before she was arrested. A grand jury has not formally charged Legrand with DWI. Her next court date is September 30. KXAN News reached out to Legrand’s last listed attorney Monday, but did not immediately hear back.

    By Kevin Schwaller 

Trinity Mount Ministries Website

Worried About Your Child’s Safety Online? Watch This:

Do you know how to keep your kids safe online? FBI cybersecurity experts joined CBS2 today to share advice on protecting and monitoring kids online. With the internet so easily accessible,kids can post content anytime, anywhere. Here FBI special agents share cyber safety tips for parents.
Source: http://goo.gl/zLUh14

Trinity Mount Ministries Website

National campaign to find missing children launches in Indianapolis:

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A national campaign helping to find missing children is launching in Indianapolis.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children started the campaign called “Be Here for Kids.”

The goal is to raise awareness about missing children in the community. The non-profit organization is partnering up with Clear Channel to get the message across on digital billboards.

Digital billboards similar to the ones seen at a bus stop in Washington D.C. have already launched in Indiana. Each frame will flash a photo of a missing child in that local community.

“We never give up hope on our children no matter how long they’ve been gone, no matter what the circumstances, we keep hope alive,” said Robert Lowery, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said the billboards in Indianapolis will highlight the recent cases of two missing teens: Mary Boyer, 17, and Gabriella Howard, 16.

“We want the public to be the eyes and ears of law enforcement,” said Lowery. “Pay close attention to the images of our children and report anything they might know or see.”

Howard was reported missing by her mother in April and has not been seen since.

According to a police report, Howard’s mother said her daughter was last seen at home near North Tremont and West 12th Street.

The 16-year-old left for school, but never made it to class. Her mother believes she may have met someone online.

Despite the circumstances, NCMEC is hoping for a safe outcome in all of the cases.

“We believe strongly there are other cases like what we’ve seen in Cleveland, where the three ladies escaped captivity, there’s another Jaycee Dugard out there,” said Lowery. “We are very confident and another Elizabeth Smart. We’re going to continue to look for those children and hopefully find them and reunite them with their families.”

The billboards can be seen along interstates near Martinsville, Moorseville, Greenwood and Plainfield.

If you think you may have seen Boyer or Howard before you’re asked to call police. 

Trinity Mount Ministries Website

Source: http://goo.gl/vL7imw

Facebook helped find missing kids - Hobart, Tasmania:

By Jennifer Crawley

TWO young Hobart children were found safe and well at the weekend after family members posted photos of them on social media and asked friends for information.

Inspector David Plumpton said police started their investigations as soon as they were told of the two missing children and at the same time family members posted details on Facebook.

Insp Plumpton said it was important to get the message out quickly, particularly in relation to children. “Posts asking for help to find missing people really engage with the community because people want to help,’’ he said.

Social media is proving a powerful tool for police in tracking missing people.

Last week’s National Missing Persons Week campaign in Tasmania reached a massive audience on Facebook, resulting in two arrests. The campaign was seen by tens of thousands of Tasmanians.

The campaign encouraged readers to follow their instincts when reporting information and started with individual photos of missing people on the popular Tas Police Facebook page.

The post on missing Latrobe man Andrew Jarman, who failed to return from a bicycle ride in August 2012, reached nearly 110,000 Facebook followers.

And the post that offered a $50,000 reward for information into the disappearance of Launceston man Christopher Watkins reached more than 100,000 followers.

The average reach of the eight missing people cases was more than 60,000 Facebook followers.

Insp Plumpton said the missing persons campaign aimed to dispel the myth that people had to wait 24 hours before reporting someone missing.

More charges are expected to be laid in the disappearance and suspected murder of Mr Watkins after police charged two men with conspiracy in connection with his disappearance.

Inspector John King said the campaign and offer of a reward for information provided fresh information that led to the conspiracy charges.

Anyone who has information they feel is relevant to a missing persons case is asked to call police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000.

Source: http://goo.gl/TC7k2Q

 

Trinity Mount Ministries Website

Kristi's Kids: Lifesaver - Drowning prevention efforts in the autism community

KVOA | KVOA.com | Tucson, Arizona

Written By Edgar Ybarra

TUCSON – This “Drowning Impact Awareness Month,” Kristi’s Kids is drawing special attention to children with autism.  Ninety-one percent of all child autism deaths are from drowning and, this summer, at least 18 of those cases have been reported nationwide.  Children with autism have a notorious attraction to any and all bodies of water.

The Autism Society of Southern Arizona and Firefighters vs. Autism want you to sign up for a special alert, in the event that a child with autism goes missing near you. 

The so-called “Puzzle Alert Safety System,” or P.A.S.S., is similar to an Amber Alert.  Parents pre-register their autistic child and send an alert if that child goes missing.  The alert goes to everyone else in the city who’s also registered. 

It’s important to have a high sign-up rate, to better spread the word.
To register for the “Puzzle Alert,” click here.
To learn more about Firefighters vs. Autism, click here.
To learn more about the Autism Society of Southern AZ, click here.

Source: http://goo.gl/SJrno8

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