FBI Looks to Fill Vacant Spots on Most Wanted List

FBI Looks to Fill Vacant Spots on Most Wanted List  

With Usama bin Laden dead and mobster “Whitey” Bulger behind bars, the FBI has two open spots on its Ten Most Wanted list and is enlisting the help of field offices to fill them, reports the New York Post.

An email was sent out to the 56 field offices across the country asking for suggestions for candidates that meet a few requirements.

“One, they have to be a menace to society. Two, they have to have a long rap sheet. And three, publicity is needed to capture them,” an FBI rep told the Post.

The vetting process will take from three to four weeks after the submissions are due at the end of July.

The new selections will join a list including suspects wanted for armed robbery, rape, first-degree murder, arson, RICO conspiracy, securities fraud and kidnapping, among other crimes.

Most missing persons don't get media spotlight

Most missing persons don't get media spotlight

INDIANAPOLIS— 

The disappearance of Indiana University student Lauren Spierer has drawn extensive media attention, but that's the exception rather than the rule in missing persons cases. 

The Indianapolis Star reported Sunday that most of the hundreds of thousands who go missing each year vanish without a peep of publicity. Only a fraction are missing for more than a few days, but their cases compete for attention from the media and the public and the limited time of overworked police. 


The Star says relatives who want to find their loved ones often discover that what makes the news can depend on race, class and social status.

For most missing persons' families, the void of attention makes their disappearance a private ordeal.

"Some of these families just don't know the steps, and they face roadblocks when they try to get a response from the media," said Gaétane Borders, president of Peas in Their Pods, a group that tracks missing black children and adults.

WTHR news director Keith Connors said the deciding factor in coverage of missing people is the amount of community interest and involvement.

"In the Spierer case, we are talking about huge search parties, divers and a large amount of involvement by the community," said Connors, who assigned reporters to the story around the clock for two weeks after Spierer disappeared in downtown Bloomington. "It is the largest university in Indiana, and a lot of parents of a lot of kids down there wanted to know what's going on."

Jonathan Rossing, an assistant professor at IUPUI, said connections, determination and organization help get media coverage. But he said there are other factors, too.

"It has to be a compelling story," Rossing said. "There is a bias toward stories that are unexpected. Where the audience says, `How can that happen in my neighborhood?' A missing person of color from an impoverished area is not as exciting for a large portion of the audience to hear about, nor do they want to hear about it.

"But it doesn't mean we are all racists, and saying only pretty white girls get coverage is simplistic," he said. "But it does mean we have a bias toward race and class and privilege."

The family of 23-year-old Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis student Molly Dattilo launched a media blitz when she disappeared in 2004. She is still missing.

"It is up to the family to keep pushing," said Keri Dattilo, 37, Molly's cousin. "You have to keep coming up with new ideas to keep it in the news, anything to get another story out and keep their face in the news."

Neatrice Billingsly, whose son Jason Thomas Ellis went missing in Indianapolis in 2006 at the age of 20 amid a lack of coverage, said race and class have a lot to do with media coverage.

"Unfortunately, people stigmatize each other according to where you are from, what you are and your nationality," said Billingsly, an African-American who lives in Gary. "It's just another black child missing a lot of the time." 

GE teen missing since Saturday

GE teen missing since Saturday
BY EMILY CHARRIER-BOTTS

A Glen Ellen family is frantic for information about their daughter, 16-year-old Kasandra Rose Poshepny, who failed to return home after spending the night out on Friday, July 8.

The teenager was last seen with her boyfriend, Robbie Huffman, 19, when the pair slept over at his cousin's Healdsburg residence. When Kasandra didn't return home on Saturday, her father, Tony Poshepny, filed a missing persons report with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office. Kasandra's mother, Noreen Hughes, lives in Rohnert Park but the teen lives with her father and step-mother in Glen Ellen. Huffman's family has not reported the 19-year-old as missing.

Kasandra's older sister Jess Poshepny, 26, said she was told the couple left very early on the morning of July 9. "I don't know if anyone even saw her that morning, that's just what the police told me," Jess Poshepny said.

Kasandra is 5 feet 3 inches tall with brown eyes and long brown hair that is naturally curly, but that she sometimes wears straight. Huffman drives a late 1980s Nissan pick-up truck painted a primer gray that can appear Army green, and has a dent in the driver's door. His tags were stolen shortly before the disappearance, so the truck may not have any license plates.

Ryan Patrick, a missing persons investigator with the Violent Crimes Investigation Unit of the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office, is working with the family on the case. Lt. Dennis O'Leary, with the Sonoma County Sheriffs Office, said law enforcement does not think that foul play is involved. "We believe she's voluntarily missing," he said. "The cousin up in Healdsburg said they have a good relationship and (Huffman) is not forcing her to do anything."

Jess Poshepny said the last time anyone in her family can confirm seeing Kasandra was on Friday, July 8, when the teen left early that morning to attend summer school at Sonoma Valley High School, where she will be a senior in the fall.

Jess Poshepny said she spoke to Kasandra's best friend, who also attends summer school at the high school, who reported that Kasandra seemed upset that day.

"She said while (Kasandra) was at school she looked like something was wrong, but (Kasandra) wouldn't tell her anything," Jess Poshepny said, adding that the friend offered an ominous message. "She said, 'I hope we bring (Kasandra) home alive.'"

Kasandra and Huffman's cellphones have both been off since Saturday and neither have responded to voice messages. Jess Poshepny said it is out of character for Kasandra not to check in.

"This has never happened with her before," she said. "I have been trying to reach her since last Monday and she always responds to me."

O'Leary said the Sheriff's Office is securing Kasandra's phone records to see if there has been any activity on the cellphone in the past week, and expected to have that information Thursday afternoon, after presstime. In the meantime, Jess Poshepny has launched a Facebook page called "Bring Kasandra Home Safely," where she is posting information and hoping to get tips on the couple's whereabouts.

"She's been gone for almost a week now and that's not normal," Jess Poshepny said. "We're all just in shock."

Jess Poshepny said she did not know much about Huffman, other than that the couple has been dating off and on for around a year. He is a native of Missouri, and O'Leary said he was a "drifter," with no permanent residence. O'Leary confirmed that Huffman was arrested in April in San Francisco, but did not yet know the nature of the crime. Erica Terry Derryck, a spokeswoman with the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, said that a Robert Ray Huffman was arrested on narcotics charges on April 20, but the I-T could not confirm that it is the same Huffman.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office at 565-2185. Jess Poshepny is also seeking information on her sister and can be reached at jess.poshepny@gmail.com or on the "Bring Kasandra Home Safely" Facebook page.

Governor Offers Rewards In 3 Missing Persons Cases

Governor Offers Rewards In 3 Missing Persons Cases

 

Shelley Mook

 

Lydia Gutierrez

 

Zaylee Grace Fryar

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Governor Bill Haslam announced Wednesday that his office is offering rewards for information leading to the apprehension, arrest, and conviction of the people involved in three separate missing persons cases.

A $10,000 reward is being offered in the case of Shelley Mook. She was last seen on February 28 at her ex-husband's Bedford County home when she dropped of her daughter.  Several hours later, Mook's car was found in flames in Rutherford County.

Investigators believe Mook was the victim of an aggravated kidnapping and/or intentional homicide.

Another $10,000 is offered for information on Lydia Gutierrez's killer. She was found stabbed and strangled in her Gallatin apartment on August 12, 2010. Her two sons, ages one and two, were in the apartment at the time of the murder. Her 8-year-old son found her body when he came home from school.

$5,000 is being offered in Zaylee Grace Fryar's case, a Millersville 3-month old missing since early May. She and her mother, Shauna Fryar, were last seen at her home in Millersville on May 1. They were reported missing on May 5.

Shauna's body was recovered from the Cumberland River days later. An Amber Alert was issued for Zaylee Grace Fryar on May 10.

If you have any information on any of these cases, you're asked to call the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.

Police Search for Missing Connecticut Woman Believed to Be in Danger

Police Search for Missing Connecticut Woman Believed to Be in Danger

By Cristina Corbin

Police are examining surveillance video from a convenience store in their search for a missing 30-year-old Connecticut woman they believe is in danger.

Marianne MacKinnon was last seen at a convenience store in Rockville, Conn., at about 3 a.m. on Tuesday, according to a spokesman with the Vernon Police Department. 

"We are considering her endangered at this point," spokesman James Grady told FoxNews.com. "We're quite concerned over her well being." 

Grady said the store is located about three-quarters of a mile from MacKinnon's home. Police are now analyzing security footage taken from the store for any clues in her disappearance. 

MacKannon is described as 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 125 pounds.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts is being urged to call the Vernon Police Department at 860-872-9126.

New tips revive search for missing woman

New tips revive search for missing woman

Maryland State Police spent Tuesday along the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal looking for clues into the almost three-year-old missing persons case of 21-year-old Brittany Nicole Peart.

"They haven't come up with anything yet," said Elena Russo, state police spokeswoman.

State police, aided by the Maryland Natural Resources Police Tactical Team, crime scene and forensics investigators and boats from Cecil County and Chesapeake City rescue squads were assembled at the entrance to Canal National Refuge off of Third Street.

Russo said the search focused on new information received by the North East barrack about the disappearance of Peart. The Elkton woman was last seen July 25, 2008.

Peart had had a disagreement with her mother, packed an overnight bag and left their Elkwood Estates home before 1 a.m. A week later, her 2003 Pontiac Sunbird was found with the bag inside and the keys in the center console.

Peart was never located.

Her family hired private investigator Harry McDaniel in October 2009. McDaniel focused on trying to keep the investigation alive. He helped the family compose a letter to the state police Cold Case Unit. He believed at the time Peart had relocated to "a major city where she can blend in."

Then new tips came in to police.

According to Russo, the search began around 9 a.m.

"They are searching an area that borders the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal," she said.

Land and water are being probed.

"They are searching all kinds of terrain. Some of it is pretty dense," she said. Using golf parlance, she compared it to "four par-5 holes of an area."

Terry Vari, who lives a block away, said the refuge is typically a popular spot for people to run or walk for leisure or exercise, but not on Tuesday.

"A lot of people went down there with their dogs ... or kids in (strollers). They're turning people away," Vari said.

Russo said James Peart, Brittany's father, has been notified of the revived search effort.

Anyone with information that could help in the investigation should call the state police cold case hotline at 410-953-8211.

Missing Since January 16, 1987: JOSEPH DAVID HELT

Missing Since January 16, 1987: JOSEPH DAVID HELT

JOE HELT DISAPPEARED AT AGE 17 WITHOUT A TRACE. THIS MONTH HE'D BE 42 YEARS OLD. WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO JOE HELT?
Joseph Helt disappeared without a trace in 1987, but his story lives on in the hearts of those he left behind. So many questions left unanswered, so many hopes left unfulfilled. Whatever happened to Joe on that cold January night?

Both of Joe’s parents died of cancer in 2007 & 2008, twenty years after their son vanished from Cragsmoor, without ever knowing what happened to their boy. Now his remaining family and friends seek an answer to this 24-year-old mystery.

The story goes that on January 16th of 1987, 17 year old Joe Helt was partying with friends at the remains of Mount Cathalia Ski Lodge in Cragsmoor, a few miles from his hometown of Ellenville, NY. This was a frequent hang out spot for the kids in that area. At some point in the night, Joe left the party with three acquaintances, Kelly Diaz, Wade Marks, and John LaForge. The four got into LaForge’s Subaru and drove a few miles, heading for Sam’s Point Dwarf Pine Ridge. They drove up the mountain and were following the loop road around the lake when the four wheel drive vehicle got stuck. After attempting to free the vehicle for some time, they say Joe got frustrated and walked off alone, heading back down the mountain and five miles into Ellenville for help. This was at about 3:30 a.m. Twenty minutes later, Marks and Diaz left as well, heading the same direction as Joe, walking to Marks' house which was within two miles of their location. Alone, LaForge left about ten minutes later, heading to his home only a mile and a half away. When the others didn’t catch up to Joe, they thought nothing of it. It was cold and dark; he must have been moving quickly. The next day, LaForge returned to the loop road with some friends to retrieve his vehicle. That evening, Joe did not show up for work. His mother, who had thought he spent the night with friends, became concerned. She made some calls but couldn’t find him.

And the search began. For all of that evening and much of the next day, state police with canines searched a twenty mile square area around Sam’s Point Preserve. As the team searched, the snow began to fall. Over the next few days, a harsh winter storm blew in over the Shawangunks, dumping over two feet of snow on the area around Sam’s Point. The search had to be called off after six days, when the storm made roads impassable, and survival nearly impossible. Search teams returned to the area after the snow melted, but still not a trace of Joseph Helt was ever found.

In January 2011, a group of Joe’s classmates arranged a candlelight vigil, to mark the 24th anniversary of his disappearance. They are working to raise awareness for Joe’s case, which is now under a new detective and being reviewed. A Facebook page and Twitter account are the center of the awareness effort in support of Joe Helt. Media response includes articles in local and regional newspapers and coverage on YNN News Channel 6, NBC and Nancy Grace. Most recently, an online petition is asking for FBI involvement in Joe’s case, and it appears there may be reason.

Those supporting Joe’s cause have been putting up fliers around the Ellenville area, and those fliers have repeatedly been torn down, except for the two in sight of security cameras. Suggestions have been made of fabrication or alterations of details to the case and the story of what happened that night. Some say that the story given by the last three to ever see him makes no sense at all. There are also suggestions that conflicts of interest may have occurred between this case and a political figure in the area at the time. It seems that there is more motivation behind this publicity than just closure. And one can't help but wonder about any such motivation, especially since Joe's case was never listed with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children until 2010, a full 23 years AFTER he disappeared. He was never listed on the NYS Police's list of Missing Persons until 2011, a full 24 years AFTER he went missing. Law enforcement has never contacted Crime Stoppers either. Family, friends and those familiar with Joe’s case think there is something yet to be discovered. Perhaps there really is a mystery to be solved in Ellenville, NY. 24 years later, as his 42nd birthday approaches, it is about time we found an answer to the big question; what really happened to Joe Helt?


7/5/11:truecrimediva.com "What Happened to 17-year old Joseph Helt? 24 Years Later Justice is Demanded
www.truecrimediva.com/?p=344


6/14/11 CrimeWire: Joseph Helt's Story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS8zIok7T6A


5/29/11 Cold Case Mystery Show: The Joseph Helt Story

http://forjoehelt.webs.com/apps/videos/videos/show/13797323-cold-case-mystery-the-joseph-helt-story



1987 Times Herald Record articles:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1848765859457.111570.1250022293



Jan. 13, 2011, Tod Westlake

Shawangunk Journal article:

http://www.shawangunkjournal.com/2011/01/13/news/1101130.html

http://www.shawangunkjournal.com/2011/01/20/news/1101203.html



Times Herald Record articles:

1/15/2011 Kevin Gleason

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20110115%2FNEWS%2F101150324

1/17/2011 Keith Goldberg

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20110117%2FNEWS%2F101170325%2F-1%2Frss01

Times Herald Record photos:

1/17/2011 Jeff Goulding

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=%2F_flash%2Fgallery%2Fgallery.html&Site=TH&Date=20110116&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=116009997&Ref=PH





YNN Hudson Valley News Channel 6 coverage (3 stories):

YNN News 4/9/11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snfCBxLrY38



YNN News 1/16/11 Candlelight Vigil story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmN5xKsTI64



YNN News 1/16/11 News story

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnB-xEkW664





1/29/11 Nancy Grace‘s “America’s Missing: 50 people in 50 days”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVJnVvCNzME



2/11/11 NBC (NYC) news segment, Pei-Sze Cheng:

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Decades-Old-Disappearance-Still-Haunts-New-York-Town-116025154.html



2/11/11NBC (NYC) VIDEO segment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0hD7baDT3s



2/14/11 Poughkeepsie Journal article Emily Hamilton:

http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/a...sing-classmate



Blog Talk Radio:

2/27/11 Bring Them Home Now Radio:

http://forjoehelt.webs.com/apps/videos/videos/show/13491140-joseph-helt-story-on-bring-them-home-now-blog-talk-radio



2/26/11 CUBANARAMA Radio:

http://forjoehelt.webs.com/apps/videos/videos/show/13486474-joseph-helt-story-on-cubanarama-blog-talk-radio