Is there an increase in Missing/Murdered children?

Has there been an increase in child abductions or murders?

The answer is no. So now your saying "What? How can you say that." Easy it's true. What is so different now to make it seem like it has gone up?

We have 24 hour news channels and yep the Internet. And don't forget social media which also plays a big part in getting the news out quickly. That includes tablets, cell phones and laptops. We live in a around the clock information network. There are many sites dedicated to finding the missing and posting AMBER Alerts. But not every missing child gets an AMBER Alert due to parental abductions, no suspect or car information. They get an Endangered/Missing child alert.

A few years ago I posted the statistic that a child goes missing every 41 seconds according to NCMEC. Then an uninformed person said "If that's the case we would run out of children." Wrong, the number does not include how many are found or how quickly they are located. Also many are not reported and counted so the number may be higher.

Another reason it seems to have increased is we are paying attention. Especially pregnant or new parents. Many times if something doesn't effect us personally we don't take notice to the alerts. Usually it has to happen to someone close to us or a family member for people to care.

We need to care before it happens people. I can't stress this enough. Are you ready if it happens to you? Do you have ID/DNA kits on all your children, nephews, nieces, grandchildren? Recent pictures or what were they wearing this morning, do you remember. Have you checked for Sex Offenders in your neighborhoods? What are you waiting for?

We need to be the ones who protect all children and the best weapon is knowledge. Search the Internet on ways to protect your family. Read everything you can and follow through with it. Be aware of your surroundings and any dangers in your neighborhood. Ask your children the tough questions about improper touching, even if its mom or dad doing it. Watch programs like Raising America with Kyra Phillips on HLN for the latest trends our children are doing.

What we do now will impact our children and their future. Why not start protecting better now? Why wait until something has to happen to your loved ones. The DOJ has a printable book on what to do when a loved one goes missing that you can download for free. But why wait until they are gone to learn what to expect and what to do.

Be informed. Be diligent. Be prepared and most of all share your knowledge with other parents. The best defense is KNOWLEDGE! 


Any questions? Please just ask!

Music to My Ears

Getting back to work

Well I got back to writing my book yesterday and I noticed something.
I write whatever the music I'm listening to makes me feel. My story has so many emotions and the last thing I want is to feel them all again at the same time.

So I have to make play lists for each chapter. This way I can write some of the hard stuff and then relax and breathe. And when it hurts too much I can listen to something that will ease the pain and change my mood.

I've always used music to inspire me but not to this extent. I also like to read to music, specific music, for the type of book I'm reading. So this is in a way a new thing for me.

I'm almost done Chapter 2 and luckily it's happy memories. Remembering the beginning actually brings me joy. It's what happens later that changes everything. Up down round and round goes the emotion wheel.

I'm hoping I can get Jane Velez-Mitchell or Nancy Grace to write my forward. That would be amazing. I'll let you know how it goes.

Well enough yapping time to get back to work.

Stay safe and love your children.

Robin

Ali Gilmore has been missing for 7 years, 199 days, 15 hrs, 11 mins, 54 secs

Ali Gilmore of 231 Lorraine Ct in Tallahassee, FL is missing under suspicious circumstances. Ali Gilmore was also 4 months pregnant at the time of her disappearance. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Ali Gilmore please contact the Big Bend Crime Stoppers at (850) 891-HELP or (866) 979-0922

Ali Gilmore was born on January 5, 1976, and was 30 years old at the time of her disappearance form her home in Wilson Green in Tallahassee, Florida. She is a black female, 5 feet 6 inches, has brown hair, brown eyes, medium complexion and weighs approximately 180 lbs.

Identifying characteristics: Pierced ears, tattoo of the name "Ali" on right side of her chest, birthmark on abdomen. Ali Gilmore was four months pregnant at the time of her disappearance!

As I write this post the timer counting how long Ali has been missing still grows. Second by second it continues to show she is still not home with her family and friends. Do you know Ali's story? Have you heard of her at all. It's been 7 years since anyone last saw or heard from Ali. She was 4 months pregnant with her first child when she vanished without a trace.

With the recent discoveries of Jaycee Dugard, Gina DeJesus, Amanda Berry and Michelle Knight,  who all were missing for 10 years or more, the hopes and hearts of the families of missing persons were again filled. They feel if the others were found after so long that their loved one may also be found.

Now is the time for all out campaigns focusing on the missing in each state and county. Show their faces and stories and remind the public they are still gone. Get the age progressed photos in the paper, on the news or on billboards. Think back if you heard or over heard a story in a bar or at a gathering about one of the missing. You may be the one who finally breaks a case wide open and helps LE bring someone home. Someone knows the truth but for some odd reason they keep their silence. You hold the answers, you can solve a mystery. And in this day and age you can be anonymous or protected by Law Enforcement. So why aren't more people speaking up? Why aren't missing people home?

The families have a right to know. If someone knew where your loved one was or what happened to them wouldn't you want them to speak up? Wouldn't you expect them to do the right thing?

Sadly the missing adults get little to no press coverage. People like Ali Gilmore are all but forgotten. The only people who remember them are either their family or owners of missing persons sites like ours.

This needs to change and now. Priceless seconds are ticking by and bringing us no closer to our missing loved ones.

Stop, think, remember. You could bring someone home and make their Missing poster or site vanish for good.

For more information please visit our site or Where is Ali Gilmore's site. I'm going to try and focus a person a week. If there is someone you want posted please leave a comment or shoot us an email at fromwhisperstoroars@yahoo.com .

Help Ali's family know where she is or what happened to her. They have the right to know before anymore precious seconds tick by.

Michelle Knight is a Hero

Freedom from Hell, Re-entering Life, Forgive but not Forget.

Michelle Knight Speaks, and is heard.

Right now all across the country words of praise and strength are being spoken about a very brave and strong woman. Her name is Michelle Knight. Eleven years ago, when she was abducted off the street just blocks from her home, the Internet was still young and campaigns to find the missing were small and unorganized. As computers became more affordable and the Internet seemed endless sites popped up all over to help locate the missing. Whether children or adults, abducted or runaway it didn't matter. In 2005 my best friend Kris and I created one of those very sites. Our site, From Whispers to Roars, was and still is unique. We posted all missing from the 1930's to present. The circumstances of how the person became missing didn't matter. If you weren't home you were posted. There are many things that made FWTR original and my regular readers know them. But I'm not here to focus on the site. I'm here about one individual young woman who was posted on our site.

Her name is Michelle Knight. And I'm here to talk about Michelle and the Demon she no longer has to deal with, Ariel Castro. The Sexual Predator who abducted her by mentioning he knew her through his children.

We now know how many pedophiles operate. The ploys they use with children and teens and yes even adults. Sadly those of us who post online "How to protect your family from pedophiles." gave them many of their ideas on how to get around these directions that were meant to protect and use them for their own gain. We shouldn't feel guilty. We were seriously trying to protect people and not hurt them. I didn't realize we were doing this until I found out my own husband was using my words and posts to get away with molesting our oldest daughter for 4 years.

I will continue posting and will also add new ways to protect our families with this new knowledge I have acquired. I will never stop and hope that what I write will save others.

Now to Michelle. I watched you along with most of America stand tall and speak from your heart. And I was proud. Why you ask. Because I was one of many who listed you as missing and every year on the anniversary of your disappearance moved your story to the top for all to see. You were never alone Michelle and never forgotten. The missing community is a tight group. We pray together and cry together. Whether they are happy tears like on the day you, Gina  and Amanda were found alive. Or when one of our missing is found dead. No matter the circumstances you were never alone and always loved. I hope you read this and know I'm speaking the truth and find some comfort from it.

The missing become part of our daily lives and part of our family. You Michelle have a huge family out there you just didn't know it. Now that you do you can turn to us for comfort, a hug or even a prayer. All you have to do is ask and we are there for you. Things don't stop or change when your found. You are apart of our lives forever now. And I felt blessed because of how strong you are. You proved it when faced with giving the victim impact statement and you didn't back down or show fear standing in the same room as that animal Castro. You did us all proud and I will never forget seeing you there. You spoke of how what happened didn't define who you are or who you will be. And how his hell is just beginning. How you will forgive what happened but will never forget. I was totally in awe. You are sweet and beautiful and strong. No one can ever take that from you. No one.

So when you go to sleep tonight know that your actions have helped others in your situation. You have made others strong who thought they couldn't be just by seeing you do it. You are an inspiration and always will be. Bless you Michelle Knight. We know God already has blessed us with you. You are a Hero.

Part 1 of 2

An Open Letter to Steven and Samantha Alexander

I don't normally use the blog to post about murders not affiliated with missing persons. But after watching HLN and the coverage of Travis Alexander's death I felt compelled to do so.  This is for the Alexander family, especially Steven and Samantha.

First I think I should give you a small glimpse into my life. I'm the youngest girl in a family of 6 siblings. Just like your brother Travis I'm the " go to" person when anyone needs a shoulder or an ear to listen and advise. I'm also the one to handle the bad news and to tell the rest of the family. As many of my regular readers and friends know I have a background in the Medical field and Law Enforcement. I've had to testify in each venue of court from civil to criminal.

It was a little scary at first but it was never about any of my loved ones so it was easy. But that changed quickly when my oldest daughter and I both had to read our victim impact statements against my husband, her father, her molester.

Because of my background, the support of my family and my religious beliefs I knew I could do this. I was however worried about my daughter. She had been through so much and now she had to tell the judge, the public and friends/family who were present what he did to her and how she has grown and changed because of it.

She was amazing. So strong and clear. She even looked right at him so he would know her words, no expression from him. Now my turn......

I stood up at the podium with my papers and immediately began to ball like a baby. I totally froze.

WTHeck?? Why in the world am I carrying on this way. I don't cry, I never cry. It's against my beliefs! All I knew was I couldn't stop. His lawyer began to object to how long I was taking and the judge told him to sit down and shut up! She said  "She can take as long as she wants and needs. Take your time and ignore him." Yes I loved our Judge.

About 5 minutes went by and I finally said "Your Honor, how can I follow that." and I gestured towards Meg and I smiled. So did the Judge, the clerk and an Officer. Feeling stronger while looking at my first born baby I began to speak. I couldn't look at him even though he was sitting to my right. So close I could have reached out...no...spit on him.

I only cry if I see him because of what he did and what he lost forever. I was told it is the same as him dying. Ripped out of your life never to see or hear again. And despite what he did it did hurt and I was mourning our 20 year marriage, my children losing their Dad and at my one time soul mate. Gone.

The words flowed easier and every now and then I had to stop to compose myself. But it was quicker than when I started. I was able to finally look at him so he could hear me loud and clear. It felt great.

After I finished he stood up to all acute his crime. He called us "Those Individuals" Not his wife or children, just Those Individuals . Yeah that impressed the Judge, NOT.

Then the Judge spoke. She looked at Meg and I and said we were very brave to do what we did. Many can't and regret not doing it. She could tell we both wrote are own statements. She told Meg she was mature and very intelligent just by what she wrote. And she looked at me and said I can see how much pain this had caused you and your children but I am a very strong woman who will not only get passed this but be better for it.

The reason I told you this story , Steven and Samantha Alexander,  is to express my  awe in you both. You spoke so clear and honestly it impressed me. You two did something I couldn't and that was tell how your brothers death effected you and your whole family without losing it like I did..

I just wanted to tell you how proud I was and I am positive Travis was impressed and felt a lot of love for you both. Your strong, caring, loving and devoted to your family as I am. I pray for your whole family. And not only will Travis's killer have to pay here on Earth just remember it's not the only place she will be punished for murder.

God bless and keep you all.

Originally written May 16, 2013 but not published til now.