From: lindae@netcom.com ()
Subject: Searching for Your Missing Child
Date: Sun, 16 Aug 92 15:54:11 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 



############ I bring the following information as a service of Child
Quest International, a non-profit organization, devoted to the protection
and recovery of missing, abused, and exploited children.  Child Quest
is headquartered in San Jose, CA and can be reached at (408) 492-1122.
This newsgroup is for discussion purposes -- for all of us to share 
information on safety tips, education, prevention, etc.  We encourage you
to join in the discussion in this newsgroup!! #####################

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children gives some real good
information on searching for your missing child.  Most of this information
relates to children who have been abducted by a non-custodial parent.

Here is what they say...

"Once you have filed a missing persons report with the local police,
requested assistance from the police and prosectuor, and hired a lawyer
to obtain or enforce your custody decree, there are many ways that
you can help the investigation on you own.  First, you should contact
your state clearinghouse (if any) or nearest missing children
organization for information and advice.  Then, you can begin investigating
the whereabouts of your child and the abductor by contacting a number of
information sources.

You should expect to be an active participant in the search for your child.
No other investigator knows the case as well as you, and no one else has
as much at stake as you do...Remember to try the abductor's married name,
maiden name, and variations of the name -- for instance, the first
and middle names only."

*Note:  Because the abductor may change addresses several times, you should
repeat your investigation every six months to a year.

Sources of Information:

Airlines:  Contact the airlines to find out if the abductor and the child
had reservations on a flight.  If the abductor has left the area
recently, show pictures of the abductor and the child to employees in 
the local airline terminals.  You may have even better success if you give
copies of your child's picture to airline employees to post in employee
meeting places.

Banks:  Check with the abductor's bank to find out whether an account has
been closed and whether funds have been transferred to another account or
another bank.  Obtain records of transactions for several months prior 
to the abduction and ask for copies of cashed checks returned after the abduction.    (Banks will cooperate if the account in question is a joint account
or if you are still legally married to the abductor.  A few may be willing
to help out even if the account belonged only to the abductor.

Dept. of Motor Vehicles:  Ask the state DMV to check on recent car
registrations, title transfers, new licenses, and license renewals for the
abductor's address.  In the case of a new car registration, it may be
possible to find out the name of hte car dealership that sold the car.
Contacting the dealer may lead to other information about the abductor.
	WARNING:  Some states may notify individuals when inquiries are
		  made about them.  Ask the DMV's public information
		  officer if a notification policy is in effect.  If so,
		  do not use the DMV as a source of information if there
		  is reason to believe that the abductor will flee once he
		  or she finds out that a request has been made.

Employers:	Check with the abductor's last employer to find out where
		paychecks and health benefits are being forwarded.

Garbage:	If you are quick enough, you may be able to exaimine the
		garbage left behind by the abductor for clues as to where
		he or she went.  Old letters, old phone bills, holiday and
		birthday cards, and so on, may contain information about the
		abductor's intentions.  Also, consider checking the garbage of anyone who may be helping the abductor conceal the child.  Some courts have
extended privacy rights to garbage, and so you should determine the legality of this technique before you use it.  If your state protects privacy rights to
garbage, obtain a court order allowing you access to it.

Medical Records:	It may be necessary to confirm inoculations for
		childhood diseases in order to enter a daycare program, 
		school, or summer camp.  Ask the medical provider to alert
		you or the authorities if any request for the records is
		received.
		Also, contact doctors, dentists, and hospitals that have
		provided health care to your child or to the abductor.  Ask
		if they have received any requests to transfer records to
		another doctor or hospital in a new location.  If so, find
		out where the request originated and where the records were
		sent.  Ask them to notify you or the investigating officer
		if any contact is made by the abductor parent.  If the
		abductor or the abducted child regularly takes a special
		medicine, the abductor may contact the local pharmacy for 			a refill of the medication or may have the prescription
		transferred to another pharmacy.


			(((((((((((  MORE TO COME.... ))))))))))))))))))

Keeping Hope Alive,
Linda
Child Quest Volunteer
lindae@netcom.com