Amber Alert - Missing Children

January 30th 2009 marked the 20th year that Local girl Ilene Misheloff -- Dublin, CA went missing. With the popularity of Blogging on sites such as Broakley.com and Claycord.com in the California Bay Area I wanted to makes sure that local coverage for missing children continues even after the news ratings say don't talk about it anymore.

For those of you who don't know, Amber Alert is when a child has gone missing and law enforcement issues immediate, up-to-date information that aids in the child's safe recovery.

The AMBER ALERT Program has helped in successfully recovering over one hundred children since it was established statewide in California on July 31, 2002.

The AMBER ALERT Program originated in Texas in 1996 after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted and murdered. Texas organized a system that encouraged law enforcement agencies to alert the media following a confirmed child abduction. California introduced the AMBER ALERT concept in 1999 as a regional program. In 2002 it was adopted statewide after legislation established procedures to assist law enforcement.

The Bay Area has had more than it's share of missing Children.
Antioch, CA Chelsea & Zachary Smith Missing 12/19/1997

Concord, CA Nelssy Gonzalez Missing 9/1/2003
Concord, CA Tara Burke "Found Alive"
Dublin, CA --Ilene Misheloff Missing 1/30/1989
Fairfield, CA -- Amanda Campbell Missing 12/27/1991

Fairfield, CA --Clark Handa Missing 8/23/1984
Hayward, CA -- Michaela Garecht Missing 11/19/1988
Pinole, CA -- Amber Swartz-Garcia Missing 6/3/1988
S.F., CA -- Kevin Collins Missing 2/10/1984
San Pablo, CA -- Tara Cossey Missing 6/6/1979

As shown with the case of Tara Burke who was just under 3 years old when she was abducted and held captive for 10 months in a Van that drove through our neighborhoods and stayed at different locations throughout the Bay Area these children can be found alive with our help.

Also we can't forget the story of Steven Stayner who was abducted from Merced County on December 4th 1972 when he was 7 years old. He was held captive for 7 years until his kidnapper Kenneth Parnell brought home a new child Timothy "Timmy" White that was abducted. Steven hitchhiked with Timmy to Ukiah where they went to the police while their kidnapper was away at work. Kenneth Parnell only served 5 years of his 7 year sentence.

Update: In 2003 Berkeley police took 72-year-old Kenneth Parnell into custody for allegedly trying to buy a 4-year-old child. He was convicted and died in prison January of 2008