Police Think They May Have Break in Case of Missing 7 Year Old Girl

[honeywolf7]

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/9428819.htm?1c



I'm sorry, but what parent is stupid enough to allow their 7 year old child to ride her bicycle to the store by herself in the first place?

 

[CEDmom]

I couldn't read the article w/o registering and I didn't feel like doing that. It's amazing what some parents will allow their children to do that I'd never allow my DD but then again I'm sure there are things I allow her to do that other parents wouldn't approve of. The reality is that the world is a much different place from when most of us were kids, in some ways better and some ways worse.

I hope this child is found safe and sound.

 

[shortbun]

Originally posted by honeywolf7
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/9428819.htm?1c



I'm sorry, but what parent is stupid enough to allow their 7 year old child to ride her bicycle to the store by herself in the first place?

My neighbors and several of DS's friends parents allow itand
have for a couple of years. the other day his best friends Mom
was going to let DS and his friend walk to the pool alone. It's
a mile on a busy street. I said no in a pretty firm way.
DS is 9, he still isn't going anywhere by himself. I feel horrible
for these people about the dissapearance of their child.

 

[MeanLaureen]

What is sad is... when we were all kids, our mothers didn't have to even think twice about our safety doing things like that. We rode our bikes to the convenience stores, stayed out after dark..

It's a sad world kids are growing up in, having to worry about what is behind each corner.

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I know. When I was 7 I used to ride my bike everywhere and did not have to worry, but now, there just seems to be more awareness to how dangerous it is. Back then we did not really have 24 hour news to highlight all the horrible kidnapping cases.

Our perspective is skewed. I don't think kidnappings occur more now than they did before the mid 80's, but we have more coverage of them now and it makes it seem more dangerous because we were not as aware of them back then.

I'm glad we have more awareness now.

Personally, if I had a 7 year old, I would not let them ride their bike to the store, but I can see how someone might think "well I did this when I was 7...."

I hope she is safe.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

can't read the article, but there are places all over the United States where kids still ride their bicycles around town.

 

[Kallison]

My kids have been riding their bikes into town all summer -- they are 10 and 12, they can't go alone. It makes me nervous until they get home. I feel like I can't keep them in a bubble forever, although I would like to. The boys found a bike path to a reservoir and playground near our house, I went on it and it is very isolated through the woods. I said no way to that one. We are constantly negotiating where they can and can't go.

 

[Elwood Blues]

Originally posted by MeanLaureen

It's a sad world kids are growing up in, having to worry about what is behind each corner.

But really, what has changed? Are there more boogie men hiding out in the shadows?

 

[Jasminesmommy]

I am surprised noone posted they found her body yeterday.

 

[Pongo69]

Originally posted by MeanLaureen
What is sad is... when we were all kids, our mothers didn't have to even think twice about our safety doing things like that. We rode our bikes to the convenience stores, stayed out after dark..

It's a sad world kids are growing up in, having to worry about what is behind each corner.

I couldn't agree more ML

 

[gymnasticsmom68]

Could somebody post the whole article.

 

[JayBee]

Can't read the article(shrug)
In our small town, kids ride their bikes to the Library,the Locally owned Hamburger joint for an ice cream, or the snowball stand, or even the Exxon station for candy...they are all within two blocks of each other.

 

[Dan Murphy]

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/3829495.htm?1c

 

[phillybeth]

Dan that is an old one. Destiny Wright was raped and murdered in 2002, and her killer was just convicted a month or so ago- IIRC he got life in prison. Let me see if I can get the original article on the 7 YO, I'm registered with the website.


This is from the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Posted on Wed, Aug. 18, 2004

Friend charged in kidnapping

Associated Press

GILMORE, Ark. - A family friend has been charged with kidnapping a 7-year-old Arkansas girl who disappeared after riding her bicycle to a grocery store.
As many as 120 police officers and volunteers searched yesterday for Patricia Ann Miles, who vanished Sunday. Her pink bicycle and shoes were found Monday in a cornfield, police said.
A family friend who occasionally baby-sat for the girl, Jo Ann Buchanan, was arrested, but she has refused to speak to investigators, Carotenoid County sheriff's investigator Thomas Martin said. A judge set bond at $1 million for Buchanan at a hearing yesterday.

 

[MScott1851]

This is OLD news. That poor child's body was found yesterday in a field not too far from Memphis by a volunteer firefighter and his wife. The ex-babysitter has been charged. And in Gilmore, yes, children do ride their bicycles around. It's a small town. It's sad, because exactly a year ago yesterday another 7 year old girl was kidnapped and killed in Memphis. We are also leading the pack in children left in cars and daycare vans and dying.

Here's a link to DH's station's website (shameless plug).

www.wreg.com

 

[lightningcoach]

Guys it is usually someone a child knows that commits the crime. A stranger won't try to take a child on a busy street but someone they know will.

I have to teach my DD over and over again that mom and dad are the only people able to pick her up or take her anywhere. We also have a code word she is suppose to ask for if another adult tries.

I won't let her out of my sight, but things like this can happen even in church and at school.