Why did it take until Tuesday afternoon to enter Brittanee Drexel as a missing child at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)? Shouldn’t she have been entered into the NCMEC database once she was entered into the FBI National Crime Information Center (NCIC) computers? It would seem it would have been the ideal time to obtain a waiver from her parent or guardian, so it was on file at the NCMEC giving them permission to disseminate her photograph, if that is the reason for the delay.
According to SCNow.com:
Police entered Drexel’s description into the National Crime Information Center database on Sunday.
On the NCMEC site they have tips of what to do should your child “runaway”. Some of them are:
Make sure law enforcement enters your child’s name and description into the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) National Crime Information Center’s (NCIC) databases. Law-enforcement agencies across the country have access to NCIC. This information will not give your child a record with law enforcement, but it may aid in his or her safe return.
If your local law-enforcement agency won’t enter information about your child into NCIC’s databases, the FBI will. The Missing Children Act of 1982 mandates this. Contact your nearest FBI field office for help.
If your local law-enforcement agency won’t enter information about your child into NCIC’s databases, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will. The Missing Children Act of 1982 mandates this. Contact your nearest FBI field office for help.
Remember no matter what you have been told, there is no law requiring a waiting period for reporting a child, who is younger than 21, to law enforcement or for entry into NCIC. The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (Pub. L. No. 109-248) mandates entry must be made by law enforcement into NCIC’s Missing Person File within 2 hours’ receipt of a report of a missing or abducted child.
Make sure that law enforcement passes on the necessary information about your child to the missing-child clearinghouse within your state or territory.
If you have not done so,report your missing child to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678). Staff members are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist. Ask about other missing-child organizations throughout the United States that may assist in the search.
Searching for updates on another missing teen, Kara Kopetsky is listed at the NCMEC as Endangered Missing. She has been missing since May 4, 2007.
Teen argued with teacher, left school and vanished
When Kara didn’t come home from school as usual, her family — mother Rhonda, stepfather Jim and stepbrother Thomas — grew worried. They filed a missing persons report later that afternoon.
Police told them they believed Kara was a runaway, and that she’d come back on her own in a few days.
Other children last seen walking to or from school are Mark Degner and Bryan Hayes last seen in Jacksonville, Fl. on Feb 10, 2005 and Amber Dubois last seen on Feb 13, 2009.
Update 05-05-09: When hearing of a Texas based non-profit group in Myrtle Beach to help in the search for Brittanee you may think it is Texas Equusearch who recently helped search for Caylee Anthony in Florida but you would be mistaken as there are members of another Texas based group the Laura Recovery Center for Missing Children.
“We’re still looking for her,” Knipes said. “She could be a runaway, a missing person or an abduction. We don’t have a label on it.”
Also Monday, two representatives from the Laura Recovery Center for Missing Children arrived in Myrtle Beach to assist in the search, according to Bob Walcutt, executive director. The Texas-based group’s mission statement is to “prevent abductions and runaways and to recover missing children by fostering a Triangle of Trust among law enforcement, community and a missing child’s family.”
Update 05-06-09: Crime Stoppers offers reward up to $1000 in Brittanee Drexel disappearance
The public is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers if they, or someone they know, have any information regarding the disappearance of Brittanee Drexel, or of any other crimes, by phone at 1-888-274-6372 (1-888-CRIME-SC), or on the web at http://www.5541111.com. Anonymous text tips can be sent to Crimes Stoppers by starting a new text message to CRIMES (274637), and mark the beginning of the message with “CSL”. All contact remains anonymous and tipsters could earn a reward up to $1000.
Update 05-09-09: N.Y. pastor offers additional $10,000 for info on missing teen
An Albany, N.Y., pastor has offered to pitch in $10,000 of his own money to up the reward for information regarding Brittanee Drexel, a missing 17-year-old from Rochester, N.Y.
Pastor Charles Muller of Victory Christian Church said he regularly works with teens in his community through mission centers and anti-violence projects. However, when he read about Drexel, who went missing April 25 during a trip to Myrtle Beach, it hit close to home.
Update 05-14-09: Police Investigate Possible Sighting of Missing New York Teen Who Vanished in Myrtle Beach
Police are investigating a possible sighting at a gas station of missing New York teen Brittanee Drexel, who disappeared while on spring break in Myrtle Beach.
Myrtle Beach Capt. David Knipes said detectives are reviewing surveillance camera footage from a Scotchman convenience store at a gas station in Socastee, S.C., after a woman fitting 17-year-old Drexel’s description was reported to have been there Thursday morning.
The Brittanee look-alike used the ATM about 8:30 a.m. Thursday, left the station’s store and then drove away in a red Dodge Stratus with New York license plates, Knipes said.
The vehicle’s plate number is EJS-9543.
Update 05-15-09: Police Determine Look-Alike Is Not Missing New York Teen Who Vanished in Myrtle Beach
Update 06-03-09: Brittanee Drexel Update
In five weeks of searching, there has been no sign of Brittanee Drexel. There have been dozens of leads and sightings. None have panned out.
Brittanee’s mother, Dawn Drexel, has been in South Carolina since the beginning. She is determined as ever, but she told News 10NBC by phone Wednesday she’s emotionally spent.
“This is very, very difficult because you don’t know, you just don’t know if she’s still here with us…or she’s not….But we’re trying to keep hopeful that we can find her still,” Drexel said.
Drexel has traveled to Charleston and points in between, talking to people, handing out flyers. This weekend, Brittanee’s story will air on “America’s Most Wanted.” That gives Dawn Drexel hope.
“I’m trying to get her on national television and keep her face out there so if somebody did see something or heard something, that they would come forward.”
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When a child goes missing 