Nasty news about POFQ!!!!

[bytheblood]

I find it odd, that no U.S. creditable paper or news station even broke this story. I mean when Tigger was accused of touch someone it made national news in America, and the woman's story found to be made up. BUT now the Toronto Sun which to me looks like a Tabloid news paper, much like the "SUN" that is sold in America broke this story. Though Not saying it is not possible for something like this to happen as there are sickos who are out there. This particular story just does not seem like the real think. I mean something this BIG even Disney could not cover from the American Journalist who represent America's creditable papers and news agencies. Thats my opinion on this article.

Tron72

Again, I have to agree.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

Here's a more credible news source than the Sun:

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/02/04/police-toronto050204.html

I saw the CBC story yesterday morning, and thought to myself, "that's a WDW hotel, I know it is!" And I never stayed at POFQ until after renovation, and only stayed at POR one other time, so it just goes to show you how "signature" Disney's look and feel is. It wasn't until I saw a thread on the Canadians forum that I heard it was the FQ. Someone there said there'd been something in the Orlando Sentinel too, but I couldn't find it.

The Sun will sensationalize, no doubt. The whole thing is stomach-turning.

Thank you for posting another link to the story - It is heartbreaking and sickening that someone would do that to a child - I hope that they are caught! It is also sickening the way the Sun sensationalized the story. Thanks again for another link to the story.

 

[pjpoohbear]

That was a poorly done article. It looks and reads like a tabloid article. It's distasteful that they focus on the "Disney hotel" (c'mon...RESORT) and not at the alleged perps. Who cares what the front desk clerk says? And of course they are going to splash the Disney name everywhere because of what it is connected with. Would this be such a big deal if it was committed at another huge hotel? Probably not and the pain of the crime would still be the same. I don't get why they'd print an article if you have little actual in depth info to report on other than slandering Disney...well, yes I get it but think it is very poor journalism.

The Toronto Sun is not much above a tabloid. It is our least intelligent paper here in T.O.

So if you want a better article maybe check out www.thestar.com (you may have to register for this site) or http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050205.wxchild0205/BNStory/Front/

 

[DisneyMomOK]

I pray they can rescue that little girl. Since this monster has obviously been abusing her for years, it is obvious that no matter how alert Disney police were, they would never know...she is too traumatized to ask for help.

Sharon

 

[kellymouse]

I still find it odd that it's not on any Google search and I am a news freak and haven't heard about it yet. I just hope it's not true.

 

[Mortlives]

I still find it odd that it's not on any Google search and I am a news freak and haven't heard about it yet. I just hope it's not true.

Try googling "crimestoppers resort". The story started yesterday morning when the police released the pictures in the hope someone would recognize the location.

Cordially,
Morticia.

 

[highland3]

I provided the Sun link, just because it was the first paper I skim in the morning. I'm in law enforcement here in Canada... and the bottom line is that this likely does happen in hotels and motels everywhere. The only difference here is that the Toronto Police released images of the hotel room and it was easily identified. My thoughts and prayers are with this girl and the hundreds (thousands) of others who are victims of this kind of thing.

 

[Jamesbyr]

The Globe/Mail version of this story actually has a positive tone to it: that the technology now exists to trace and identify a crime scene (even one from several years ago) to a degree that might not have been possible back then without compromising the identity of the victim. The tabloid version of the story somewhat muddles the message, and hints that the hotel itself somehow collaborated with the perpetrator. Alas, that is what catches some people's eyes and sells papers.

 

[ducklite]

I pray they can rescue that little girl. Since this monster has obviously been abusing her for years, it is obvious that no matter how alert Disney police were, they would never know...she is too traumatized to ask for help.

Sharon

Sadly because it's been going on for multiple years, it's a pretty sure guess that the abuser is someone known to the victim, most likely a family member or close friend of the family's.

In all likelihood it's not someone in the victims immediate household, but rather someone who she vacationed with once a year. An uncle, cousin or grandparent or perhaps a neighbor or old family friend. If it was someone who had day-to-day access I think there would have been more photo's in other locations.

I'm hoping that they have thought to interview the housekeepers at POFQ. NOT saying they were involved--but they have unique access to the rooms, and perhaps something in one of the photo's might trigger a memory.

It's absolutely vile. A childhood lost. My prayers go out to this child.

Anne

 

[disneyfan67]

I can't wrap my mind around this. Too cruel for words. All I can do is pray. I will never see the POFQ the same way the I used to. I think my whole world view has changed.

I don't see how this is Disney's fault or POFQ. You can't see what goes on behind closed doors in any hotel room. I own a small carpet cleaning company and have been called to clean many of a hotel room and I have my share of horror stories to tell. Most victims of this type know their attackers (the studies show) and probably wasn't aware of what was going to happen. It's a sad sick world out there and it doesn't stop at the Disney gates, sadly. You never know what is going on behind closed doors in any home or hotel, so I think it's unfair to blame Disney for this. That newspaper should be ashamed for trying to boost it's numbers by tying Disney in with this. They sound like a tabloid rag to me and it smells like one too! Disney does have some pretty good security, but you can't be everywhere and even camera's in the hall wouldn't have prevented this unless the victim was seen kicking and screaming into the room. Most hotels have small pinpoint cameras installed in the hallways and they are undectable in most cases. When I would clean the office's of the hotel, I would see the video monitors and I never could tell where the cameras were. So let's take a deep breath here and not jump to conclusions or place blame yet. Say a prayer for the victim and hug your kids if you have them and enjoy yourself at Disney, don't let this destoy the magic for you.

 

[dreamflight99]

That was a poorly done article. It looks and reads like a tabloid article. It's distasteful that they focus on the "Disney hotel" (c'mon...RESORT) and not at the alleged perps. Who cares what the front desk clerk says? And of course they are going to splash the Disney name everywhere because of what it is connected with. Would this be such a big deal if it was committed at another huge hotel? Probably not and the pain of the crime would still be the same. I don't get why they'd print an article if you have little actual in depth info to report on other than slandering Disney...well, yes I get it but think it is very poor journalism.

Great observation...The "Toronto Sun" (in the world of journalism--is YELLOW) frequently publishes such things, and is definitely in the ranks of the National Enquirer and the Star. It's actually more like the "Daily Mirror" published and circulated in the UK. Some folks thrive on such garbage. Here's a "typical" piece & subsequent complaint from this rag mag:

http://www.ianchadwick.com/mexico/mexcrime.html

This story may also be along the same lines. Until it can be checked/double checked (facts) as "truth" it will remain fiction. Anyone can report such, and anyone can take pictures of an alleged criminal act, and through the sophisticated use of the computer, enhance them to fit any scene, etc. We could even have Mike Eisner standing atop the balcony of Cindy's Castle, engaged in something derelict/illegal. Photos, are NOT the evidence they used to be.

Here's a few more links for the SUN:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Sun

http://www.winnipegsun.com/TorSunHistory/30th_worthington.html

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/News/2004/02/07/338730.html

(They mimic the GLOBE!)

Just remember an old aphorism commonly used among great journalists..."Believe NONE of what you hear/read, and HALF of what you see."

*WDW has a wonderfully equipped internal affairs criminal division, and they often work side by side with our top federal agencies when investigating such alleged acts. If the story is true (and I pray it was staged, etc.), the investigation team in Orlando will quickly get to the bottom of this (and handle it appropriately).

 

[TDC Nala]

Maybe it will cause some consideration in having surveillance monitors at public areas in the parks/resorts...I would not oppose it.

Unless the child was with the offender due to an abduction and was obviously resisting, this wouldn't help unless the cameras were actually in the hotel rooms - unless it was to identify the perpetrator on security videotapes. These are usually not kept for three years.

 

[4orm]

This is not Disneys fault, it just unfortunatley happened on their property.

It maybe a blessing in disguise! So many have stayed at POFQ and recognised it as soon as the police released the photos. That helped with the investigation.
The police in Toronto said they have been watching this poor girl grow up over the years in the horrible photos online. Maybe this is the lead they need to get this jerk!

 

[rich4949]

Why would a Canadian "newspaper" have a ".com" suffix on its web address? Shouldn't it use the ".ca" instead. That was my first clue that this story may not have been legitimate. Then when some of you mentioned it was tabloid newspaper, it made sense.

 

[Robopig]

They were showcasing Torontos new innovative way to find offenders without clues that wouldn't normally be found in a normal picture by 'wiping' out the other distracting images withing the same picture. It was all over the US National news to.

As far as Disneys' fault??? That's just like blaming Ford for a guy having their truck while he kills someone drunk driving!!

 

[limabeanmom2003]

I saw this story on the news last night - I may be wrong, but I think it was ABC Nightly News! I didn't recognize the pictures that they showed as a Disney hotel and they only said that many people recognized the photos as a hotel in the southern part of the USA. Wow! Such a sad story. I hope the police are able to find the perp!

 

[Misti]

Locking thread. This has more to do with a very sad story than a WDW resort.