#missingadults

Addiction and the Endangered Missing

Short's mother said she hasn’t seen or heard from her daughter for more than a year. She also hasn’t been active on social media, which is rare because Short is “a social butterfly,” her mother said. She also hasn’t contacted her five children who range from 9 to 15.

From The Charley Project:

(Image from: https://disappearedblog.com/disappeared-episode-list/)

The Loxahatchee Horror – Could It Happen to Your Aviary?

© Howard Voren. Click here to use this content.

If everyone in your household should suddenly disappear, would anyone notice? If they did notice, would they have the initiative or the authority to break into your house to rescue your birds from starvation? In the case of Moses Lall, the well-known bird importer, the answer was no–at least not in time to save the lives of most of the approximately 1,000 birds whose cages lined the open field behind his rented house. On June 15, l994, after the continued urging of several concerned parties, local authorities entered the property. The gruesome sight that they beheld was something that should appear only in ones’ worst nightmare.

What Happened

Moses Lall and his aunt, Lila Buerattan, both natives of Guyana, South America, had lived on a rented 5-acre ranch in Loxahatchee, Florida, since December of 1992. They had moved to the rural community with the idea of starting a large bird-breeding farm. They spoke with no one in the local avicultural community, nor did they interact with anyone at any of the surrounding ranches. They lived extremely private lives, and no one, except their veterinarian, was ever permitted to see their birds. In fact, they even refused to purchase a license that would have allowed them to legally breed and sell birds within the state of Florida. When approached by Florida Fish and Game officers the previous year and urged to purchase a permit and undergo the minimal inspection procedures, they declined. They claimed that the birds were not for sale or breeding, and were being maintained for their personal pleasure. Most of us locals who knew of them never saw them, and were aware of their existence only because we all used the same feed company. In fact, it was the feed company that began sounding the alarm that something was wrong.

On June 9th, the driver for Bird Haven Feed Company arrived to deliver the weekly supply of primate biscuits, sunflower seeds and dried corn to Lall’s farm. No one was there to let him in. Finding no one at the gate to receive the feed was highly unusual. Realizing that they never purchased reserve supplies, and not wanting the birds to go hungry, he piled the feed up in front of the gates. They tried to reach Lall by phone to make sure all was well, but no one answered. Feeling uncomfortable about the situation, they returned the next day. The feed was still piled up outside the gate and had been ruined by the rain. At this point, they called several local aviculturists, as well as Lall’s veterinarian. The questions put to all of them were the same: Do you know where Moses and Lila are? Do you now them well enough to jump the fence, walk through the pack of dogs and go around to the rear of the property to see if someone has been feeding the birds? They all gave the same negative answer.

Between the 11th and the 15th of June, several concerned parties, including the seed company and the veterinarian, began calling the authorities and demanding that action be taken. As birds were starving to death, the concerned parties were sent in a circular motion from one agency to the next. The Palm Beach County Sheriffs’ Department, upon hearing the story, said that animal abuse was the jurisdiction of the Palm Beach County Animal Control. When Animal Control heard the words macaws and parrots, they explained that jurisdiction over exotic birds had been taken way from them and given to Florida Fish and Game. Florida Fish and Game explained that since the facility was not permitted by them, they had no right to enter. They added that if, in fact, birds were starving, a misdemeanor had been committed and that was the jurisdiction of the Sheriffs’ Department.

On June 15th, the feed company contacted Bob and Liz Johnson, who rescue abused, mistreated and crippled birds through a branch of their nonprofit organization, Life Awareness Inc. At that point, Liz contacted me and Dr. Susan Clubb to get a full update on what avenues had been pursued. Upon discovering that pleas for action had been thwarted by “red tape,” she called the Sheriffs’ Office and made demands. After “much insistence,” they reluctantly agreed to send out someone to investigate. The deputy immediately called the Johnsons and reported that our worst fears had been realized. The Johnsons, Dr. Clubb, I and my daughter Stacie raced to the scene to offer assistance in the feeding and care of the birds. By that time, all three of the previously contacted agencies were present.

We were totally unprepared for the sight that we encountered. It was a horror beyond belief: row after row of cages with either dead or dying green-winged and blue-and-gold macaws. Literally every pair of macaws had at least one dead member. Several had succumbed to starvation and dehydration, with their heads in their empty food bowls–a final desperate move with the hope that food would arrive before their last breath was drawn. Although the collection was made up predominately of large macaws, there were also hundreds of smaller parrots and toucans. These included Amazons, hawk heads, African greys, Jardine’s, Pionus and mini macaws. Most of these had succumbed. There were several cages with 25 to 30 birds in them that had either one or no survivors. It was a miracle that any of the birds were alive.

The feed company had told us what the farm’s approximate weekly consumption was. By taking inventory of the feed that was left in the garage, we were able to determine that the birds had not been fed in at least 10 days.

Inside the house awaited another horror. Incubators, still operating, contained dead babies that had hatched but were never fed. Aquarium brooders that were lined up against the wall all had one or two dead baby blue-and-gold macaws. All had starved to death, sitting on clean bedding, while waiting for their next meal. An open bucket of handfeeding formula was on the kitchen counter with a bowl and spoon next to it. It appeared as if someone had changed the bedding in the brooders and was ready to mix up some formula when he or she was interrupted. With our assistance, Dr. Clubb was able to tube-feed those that were too weak to eat or drink. One died in Bob Johnson’s hands while it was waiting to be tube fed. Another 60 birds that were too far gone died the following day. In all, there were only 335 birds left alive from the flock of almost 1,000. The following morning, the birds were taken to the Palm Beach Animal Control facility. Food donations, as well as volunteer labor from all the local bird clubs and organizations, began pouring in. When Lall’s family from Guyana tried to claim the birds as family property, they were presented with a bill for $130,000. The majority of this bill was Animal Control’s standard charge of $10 per animal per day for the care of confiscated animals. Ten dollars per day multiplied by 335 birds adds up very quickly. As the Lalls fought to regain the birds at a more reasonable price, the bill rose to approximately $180,000. On August 22, a judge ordered that the birds be auctioned off individually to the general public in order to raise the most money. Exactly what happened to Moses and Lila is still officially a mystery. Those who knew them said that they truly loved their birds and would never have deserted them. Moses and Lila are now considered dead. The murder investigation cannot proceed any further until their bodies are found. There were also two other people staying at the farm that were originally considered missing. They were Daljeet “Harry” Gobin, a fellow Guyanese, and Felix Eyuom, a reptile dealer from Africa. Harry Gobin is being sought for questioning.

The purpose of this article is not to try to solve an unsolved crime. It is to make everyone aware that such things can and do happen. Although this situation may be unique due to its magnitude, it is not unheard of on a smaller scale. It is not uncommon to read about animals dying from lack of care due to the undiscovered death or incapacitation of those responsible for their care.

What You Can Do

To prevent such a calamity from happening again, each and every one of you should have a plan. This plan should ensure that, should anything happen to you, it will be discovered without delay and your animals will be cared for. This can be as simple as a regularly expected phone call to a friend, a relative or someone’s answering machine. A simple statement like “I’m okay” is all that is necessary. The receiver of the regular call must be ready to notify someone who has been given written authority by you to break into your house and aviaries to care for your birds if you cannot be located. It must also be specifically stated, in a notarized document, who will hold and care for your birds until your whereabouts are discovered, or until your estate is settled. Your birds must never be allowed to be considered legally abandoned.

Lall’s birds were considered abandoned. They suffered the ultimate fate of being sold to the highest bidder without regard to the bidder’s expertise. Two thousand people converged at the auction on September 10th. Most were there to buy a cheap bird for their kids. Most bought bronco wild breeder macaws with the intention of turning them into pets.

Luckily, due to some generous monetary donations, the Johnsons were able to purchase the birds that were blind or crippled. These were purchased to be retired to the parrot sanctuary that they maintain.

All the birds were sold in small temporary holding cages with no doors and with two tiny metal cups. The idea behind no doors was to keep the public from opening the cages at the auction site after the purchase. It was explained to the buyers that the birds should be transferred to suitable housing after they were removed. Unfortunately, two weeks later buyers were still showing up at local vets with their purchases still in the temporary cages with no doors and nothing but the two tiny cups for food and water. As time went on, a large percentage of the birds were diagnosed with papilloma infections.

Brandi Wells was season 1, episode 1 of the tv show Disappeared. Her episode, The End of Innocence, aired on April 5, 2010, almost 4 years after she vanished from Longview, Texas. Her case remains unresolved.

THE CHARLEY PROJECT

Details of Disappearance

(Terrance Williams Missing Person Case)

The deputy argued he'd merely provided transportation to a service station for a man who later went missing.

By Melissa Siegel | February 21, 2021 at 04:29 PM

The case revolved around a man who disappeared shortly after being pulled over by police. Photo: Susan Chiang.

A Collier County sheriff’s deputy prevailed in litigation filed by the family of a man who vanished 17 years ago, shortly after a roadside interaction with the deputy.

On Jan. 12, 2004, plaintiff’s decedent Terrance Williams, 27, a Black man and a pizzeria’s employee, was driving near Naples Memorial Gardens cemetery in North Naples.

An interaction ensued between Williams and Collier County Sheriff’s Deputy Steven Calkins, a white man. Williams was frisked and placed in Calkins’ patrol vehicle, but the interaction was not reported to Calkins’ dispatcher and Williams was not handcuffed or charged with a crime.

Williams was declared missing a short while later and has not been located. He was declared legally dead in 2009.

Williams’ mother, Marcia Williams, acting as the representative of her son’s estate, sued Calkins. The lawsuit alleged that Calkins was involved in Terrance Williams’ disappearance and presumed death.

The matter proceeded to court-ordered arbitration.

The estate’s counsel claimed that Calkins was the last person to see Terrance Williams alive. The estate’s counsel claimed that Calkins returned to the cemetery without Williams, moved Williams’ vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway, then radioed dispatch and reported that he had found an abandoned vehicle.

Calkins did not tell dispatch about his prior encounter with Williams. Calkins also described the vehicle as a “homie” car and made racially insensitive remarks about the type of person who would own such a vehicle.

The estate’s counsel further claimed that Calkins called a towing company to remove Williams’ vehicle before reporting the vehicle to dispatch. The estate’s counsel noted that, when the towing company retrieved the vehicle, Calkins had the towing records sent to him personally, rather than to his police-department computer.

The estate’s counsel also claimed that, in October 2003, a Mexican immigrant vanished after having been the subject of a traffic stop effected by Calkins. The estate’s counsel claimed that the immigrant was not arrested but was placed in Calkins’ police cruiser.

The defense claimed that there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Calkins. The defense claimed that Williams was experiencing vehicular problems and that Calkins merely provided transportation to a gas station. The defense also presented witnesses who claimed to have seen Williams five to 11 days after the incident involving Calkins. One witness claimed that he knew Williams by sight and saw Williams a week after the incident involving Calkins.

Calkins claimed that he did not feel threatened by Williams and therefore did not feel the need to inform dispatch regarding the encounter. The defense also claimed that the October 2003 incident was a response to a traffic accident.

Williams was survived by his mother and four minor children. Williams’ estate sought recovery of wrongful-death damages that included damages for his family’s loss of services, loss of support and emotional suffering.

Court-appointed arbitrator Robert Doyle Jr. found for the defense. Doyle ruled that the estate’s counsel did not demonstrate ”with the more persuasive and convincing force and effect of the evidence” that Calkins was responsible for Williams’ disappearance and presumed death.

The sealed arbitration ruling was filed on Nov. 24, 2020. Neither party moved for a new trial during the ensuing 20 says, so the ruling was unsealed on Dec. 21, 2020. The estate’s counsel moved for relief from judgment and for a trial, but the motions were denied. Judgment was entered on Feb. 2, 2021.

Ben Crump, Michael P. Gagliardi and Christopher M. O’Neal of Ben Crump Law in Tallahassee teamed with Devon M. Jacob of Jacob Litigation Inc., Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania to represent the plaintiff.

The defense attorney was John F. Hooley of the Law Offices of John F. Hooley in Naples.

Case no.: 11-2018-CA-002611-0001-XX.

Read more at: https://www.law.com/dailybusinessreview/2021/02/21/florida-deputy-denied-role-in-mans-disappearance-after-roadside-encounter/?slreturn=20210327220436

Pics from The Charley Project: https://charleyproject.org/case/april-beth-pitzer

From the Kristen Foundation:

April Beth Pitzer was last seen in the vicinity of the 30000 block of Caspian Way in Newberry Springs, CA. She told her roommate that she was leaving on a bus to visit her mother in Arkansas, but never arrived. Pitzer had also been a model for a variety of clothing stores in Arkansas and Texas. She left behind two young daughters, whom she reportedly doted upon.

In December 2005, clothing was found in a mine shaft in Ludlow, California. In January 2006, April's mother positively identified the clothing as belonging to her daughter. There was no other sign of April at the scene. April has a medical condition and requires medication.

Classification:  Endangered Missing Adult Alias / Nickname:  Coggins or Campbell Date of Birth:  February 19, 1974 Date Missing:  June 28, 2004 From City/State:  Newberry Springs, CA Missing From (Country):  USA Age at Time of Disappearance:  30 Gender:  Female Race:  White Height:  69 inches Weight:  125 pounds Hair Color:  Brown Eye Color:  Hazel Complexion:  Medium Identifying Characteristics:  Small round scar on left side of chest, scar on elbow, scar on lip. No upper teeth. Clothing:  Wears size 6 athletic shoes or sandals. Jewelry:  Gold hoop earrings.  

Read more at: http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1581dftx.html

(Image: https://int-missing.fandom.com/wiki/Roxane_Easland )

Roxane Easland, also known by the aliases of Karen Baunsgard, Robin Lee Easland and Karen Lee Baunsgard .

Details of Disappearance

Easland was last seen on June 28, 1980. She had been staying for the past two weeks with her boyfriend at the Budget Motel on Spenard Road in Anchorage, Alaska, and was supposed to meet an unidentified male on 4th Avenue downtown that day. She has never been heard from again. Investigators believe the serial killer Robert Hansen may have been involved in Easland's case, as well as in the disappearances of Megan Emerick, Mary Thill and Andrea Altiery. In 1984, he confessed to 17 murders and 30 rapes over the previous twelve years, and acknowledged Easland was one of his victims. He lead authorities to the grave sites, but only twelve bodies were recovered. A map in Hansen's home had marks on it matching the locations of his victims' bodies, but there were more than 17 marks on it, suggesting he had more victims then he admitted to. Most of the women he is known to have killed were prostitutes or exotic dancers. He died in 2014, while serving 461 years to life in prison for his crimes. A photo of him is posted with this case summary. Foul play is suspected in Easland's case due to the circumstances involved.

Missing Since06/28/1980

Missing FromAnchorage, Alaska

ClassificationEndangered Missing

SexFemale

RaceWhite

Age24 years old

Height and Weight5'3, 90 - 105 pounds

Clothing/Jewelry DescriptionA short brown leather coat with a fur collar, pants or blue jeans and black high-heeled boots. Possibly carrying a purse.

Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian female. Brown hair, brown eyes. Some agencies spell Easland's first name "Roxanne" and her last name "Easlund." She may use the alias names Karen Lee Baunsgard and/or Robin Lee Easland. She has a birthmark on the top of her shoulder and a birthmark on the top of her right thigh. She may wear wire-framed eyeglasses.

Addiction and the Endangered Missing

(Image: https://philosophyofcrime.com/missing-where-is-amy-hambrick/)

On November 11, 2017, 29-year-old Amy Nicole Hambrick left Youngstown, Ohio to go to a friend’s house in nearby North Jackson. She never arrived and was never seen or heard from again.

Amy’s mother, Debra Dolin, told WKBN 27 News that Amy was not perfect. She was a heroin addict. She was also a loving mother to her daughter Jayden, now 12 years old, who lives with her grandparents.

Debra believes there are people who know what happened to Amy. Her family is offering a $50,000 reward. If you have any information, call the Youngstown Police Detective Bureau at 330-742-8911 or CrimeStoppers Youngstown at 330-746-CLUE.

From The Charley Project: