- - Monday, February 28, 2005 I'm not sure what to title today's post, so I'm not going to! As most of you have heard/seen/read, it's been a very busy weekend here. This weekend was supposed to be a much anticipated break from the norm, with many parrotheads coming in from all over the US (as far as California, Michigan and New York), as well as many from our department for a weekend full of drinks, fun and food. It turned out to be just food. Thursday morning we got a call that a local 9 year old was missing from her house she shared with her grandparents and father. Later that afternoon we ended up leaving the conference we were in up in Tallahassee and heading back south. Little did we know what it would turn in to. I'm not going into all of the details, as I'm sure everyone knows all about the Jessica Marie Lunsford case. I think if you don't know about it you either don't have a TV or have been living under a rock! Chris and I (as well as many others from our department) have been all over CNN and the local channels. You can also go to www.sheriffcitrus.org to check out more information. As myself and the other advocate Melissa have sat with, hugged with, ate with, prayed with and nearly cried with the family, we've also seen and heard some interesting things. The grandmother of Jessica (who calls us her kids as we've been with them so much!!) came up to me Saturday morning, hugged me and whispered in my ear "keep your kids close and never lose your sight of them" as she softly cried. I reassured her I would, but told her I wouldn't have done anything different than what she did on that fateful Wednesday night when she tucked in her precious granddaughter. She gave her a kiss, told her she loved her and expected to see her in the morning. She had her granddaughter as safe as anyone would, with the doors locked and blinds shut. I don't think anyone can personally imagine what this family is going through. Day by day, night by night, an emptiness surrounds your life that you can't fill. How do you think you would handle this? Any thoughts or suggestions or just general comments? I'm interested in hearing (reading) opinions.

posted by VRA @ 9:03 AM 1 Comments: At 10:59 AM,  Holly said... What gets me is that she was taken out of her own bed, out of her own home. A thief wouldn't take her. There were people home and the house was locked up. The average child abductor wouldn't take her because they could just scoop up a kid off the street (I hate the thought). This had to be someone that knew her, don't you think, Kell? I don't have a mind for crime but it just seems that the person had to know that a 9-year-old girl lived there and where her room was located in order not to disturb anyone. It really makes me T.O.'d. Did she yell and no one heard her? Did she trust the person who took her? Did she think she was coming back? The poor, sweet, little soul.... It makes me so sick and so sad for this world. We are supposed to be able to protect them. I'm sure her grandmother just feels helpless. God just really needs to bring this to an end. All of it. I'm ready. Well, not really because there were a few other things I want to do. But geez, is it even worth having kids anymore? Some sicko couldn't rip the baby out of me or take it from me after I took him or her into bed. Sorry, I think I should stop now and get back to work.   Post a Comment << Home