Looking back at 2006

We are now a little over a week into 2007, so perhaps it is a little late to look back at last year. I had meant to post this sooner, and I feel that I still should.

First, I would like to rejoice once again over some who were located safely:
- Ambur Ditch ran away in Pennsylvania and was found at a friend's house 13 days later.
- Tanya Kach ran away with a security guard from her middle school in Pennsylvania. She was finally found 10 years and one month later, after she told a store employee who she was. The security guard and a hairdresser who helped change her appearance have been charged in Tanya's disappearance and subsequent events. The hairdresser's trial is scheduled to begin in February. Some news sources in Pennsylvania have listed Tanya's miraculous return as one of the top stories in the state in 2006.
- Ashley Childs ran away in New Jersey and was finally found two years later.
- Angelica Hernandez ran away in Pennsylvania and was found about a month and a half later.
- Nicole Marnich ran away in Pennsylvania. She seems to have been missing less than a month.
- Liliana Brito ran away in Illinois. I do not know the exact length of time she was missing, but I think it was over a year. She was one of three girls I considered my "Easter miracles" because of the timing of when they were located.
- Claudia Perez ran away from home in Florida and returned of her own accord one and a half years later. Her case had been featured by several missing persons' sites, although the media did not give her recovery quite as much publicity as Tanya Kach's. Claudia is another of my "Easter miracles"
- Harriet Cossell ran away in Pennsylvania and was found three months later. I never mentioned her on the blog while she was missing (except the index), but I still listed her as the third "Easter miracle".
- Areana Collins was abducted by her non-custodial mother from her school in Pennsylvania and was found two weeks later. She was only ever mentioned on the index of this blog, but I think she still should be mentioned now.
- Alfred Lee Jones was a native of Pennsylvania who disappeared in Tennessee and was found in New Jersey eight years and five months later.
- Sabrina Coker ran away in Pennsylvania and was found a month later.
- Leighann Gaylord ran away in Texas and was found two years later.
- Ashley Rogers ran away in Minnesota and was found a month later.
- Michael, Daphne, & Victoria Hook were abducted from Ohio by their non-custodial mother and were found in Pennsylvania 23 days later.
- Diana & Stan Butera were abducted in Utah by their non-custodial mother and were found two years and five months later.
- Lea Redmond ran away in Pennsylvania and was found two and a half months later.
- Marina Santiago ran away in Pennsylvania and was found two years and ten months later.
- Calvin Davis ran away in Pennsylvania and was found three months later.
- Sally Grossman wandered away in Pennsylvania and was found the next day. She was never featured on this blog except for the index.
- Jocelyn McNeish disappeared in Pennsylvania. Very little information was available about her, which means I do not know how long she was missing.
**I also would like to make a special note about a girl named Tajanik Thompson who is missing from Oakland, California. Tajanik's case is listed as "restricted" by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, so hopefully she also will be found safe soon. I have since learned that she was found safe sometime before December 12.

Now it is time to remember those who were not so lucky, some of the children and adults who were found dead this year:
- Ricky Holland was reported missing in Michigan and was found six months later when his adoptive father led police to the body. His adoptive mother was tried and convicted of his murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. His adoptive father avoided a trial by pleading guilty, and he was sentenced to 30-60 years in prison. Ricky is also important because he was the inspiration for this blog.
- Christina White went missing in New York and her remains were found in a wooded area eight months later. She was never on the blog except maybe the index. Her death is considered a homicide, but I do not know if there are any suspects.
- Tyreek Davis went missing in Virginia, and his mother's boyfriend revealed the location of his body in order to get less time in prison. The boyfriend was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
- William Rossey disappeared in Pennsylvania and his body was found in a creek six months later. His death was ruled a homicide, but, as far as I know, there are no suspects.
- Trent Stupak and Steve Berry Jr. disappeared after their boat overturned in Pennsylvania. Trent's body was found a week later, but Steve's body was not found for three months.
- Emily Rimel disappeared in Ohio and her skull was found in a creek one year and five and a half months later by a mother and son who were fishing. The rest of her body was never found. A family friend has been a suspect from the beginning and was convicted of kidnapping while she was still missing. He could receive the death penalty if he is convicted in her murder.
- Julie Crocker disappeared in England and her body was found in a wooded area one year and three months later. She was never featured on the blog because her remains were found before the blog was started. Her boyfriend was tried, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison for her murder.
- Yolanda Bindics disappeared in New York and her body was found in a wooded area two years and one month later. Her death has been ruled a homicide. While she was missing police had mentioned two persons of interest, but no one has been named a suspect in her murder.
- Joanna Rogers disappeared in Texas and her body was found in a landfill two years and five months later. A man with whom she communicated online is a suspect in her disappearance, and he told police he had killed her and disposed of her body in the landfill. To my knowledge, he has not yet been charged with her murder.
- Kelly Jo Elliot disappeared in West Virginia and her body was found in Pennsylvania . Her boyfriend has been charged with her murder and could receive the death penalty if convicted. Pre-trial motions will be January 29, and jury selection will begin February 6. Kelly was only featured on the index of the blog.
- Myron Simon disappeared in Pennsylvania. Divers conducting a training exercise found his car in the river three years later, and his body was inside. He was only featured on the index of this blog.
- Heaven Ross disappeared while walking to her bus stop in Alabama and her body was found three years and three and half months later. There do not seem to be any suspects in her case.

Finally, there are those who disappeared in 2006 and have yet to be found:

- Donald Smatlak disappeared from North Versailles, Pennsylvania, in January. His car was found, but he is still missing. His family has a small website for him, http://www.donaldsmatlak.com/. Donald has an unspecified medical condition which could require medication. (Poster here.)

- Kendel Opperman disappeared from Darlington Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, in February. I found out about her from a newspaper article and then the coverage just stopped, so it is possible that she has been found.

- Lonnett Jackson disappeared from Hazelwood, Pennsylvania, in April. Her family is worried that she may have overdosed on medicine, and she has an unspecified medical condition. (Poster here.)

- Vanessa Schultz ran away from Erie, Pennsylvania in June. She may be with an adult male, and she may be in Meadville, Pennsylvania. - found safe in December 2007, possibly in Florida; poster link removed.

- Mark Murincsak disappeared from New Castle, Pennsylvania, in September. His car has been found but he has not. (http://ellwoodcity.org/missing.htm)
- Sara Herbay ran away from Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, in October. She may be with an adult male. - found safe February 2, 2007; poster link removed
- Joshua Pelling ran away from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in November - has since been found, presumably safe; poster link removed
And never forget all of the others who are missing, only for a longer amount of time. Maybe 2007 can be the magic year when they are found and their families get answers.