"Michaela Joy Garecht was nine-years-old when she was abducted by an unknown male assailant in the parking lot of the Rainbow Market in Hayward, California, on the morning of November 19, 1988. She was attempting to retrieve her friend's scooter that the abductor had moved closer to his vehicle while the girls were inside the market when she was grabbed by the assailant and pulled into a car. Garecht has not been seen or heard from since this date."
Please also see the Charley Project's website for even more info.
There is also a Facebook page set up by Michaela's mother, and you can feel free to :like" it if you want to stay on top of any and all information that comes in. As Sharon mentions, this case is not cold, and they do investigate any and all tips that come in.
Her mother has set up a website, which you can find here. Here is an excerpt from the home page written by her mother Sharon:
"I am filled with a desire not only to continue the search for Michaela, but to keep her alive by keeping her memory alive. Michaela was a bright and shining light in the world, and I am determined that her light will never go out. In her honor, I offer you this website. I seek information about her kidnapping. I offer a book I have written on child safety, and what an honor to my daughter it would be if that book should ever result in keeping even one child from having to endure the horror she did. "
The website created by her mother has several links and lots of information about the case, and I urge you to take a look at it. It is painful to think about something like this happening to our own. I feel it is important to think about though, so we can try to prevent it. There will come a time when our children will be out of our eyesight at some point. Weather it be walking to or from school, waiting for the school bus, in a store where you have averted your eyes for only a second, a crowded area where your hand accidentally slips from your child's without meaning to, or sometimes even in your own home while you are asleep at night. Or when our little ones, unaware of the dangers of the outside world, get curious and sneak away from us.
In honor of Michaela, I will be giving away one copy of the book that Sharon wrote "Listen To Your Smart Voice: And Stay Safe!"
This is the best way that I can think of to honor Michaela. To try and help make sure this doesn't happen to any of you. All week I will be posting other cases and products that can help protect your children and keep them safe.
To win the book, there is only one way to enter.
Please comment your thoughts below, leaving your email so I can contact you if you have won.
This will be open from today 11/15 until 11/22 at 12:59 pm PST
If you decide to like Michaela's facebook page, please don't post our usual "tidee bums sent me!" type of comments. Obviously, this isn't that sort of page. Supportive comments are always welcome to Sharon though. Thanks for understanding!
2 comments:
My 2 year old son ran off the other day in Target, got through the two doors to the outside before Target security got him. It was the WORST feeling thinking about the POSSIBILITY of something horrible happening to him. I can only imagine the deep gut wrenching pain that Sharon (and parent's who have lost a child) must feel. My thoughts and prayers are with those children and with the family and friends that are waiting for them to return home.
lifesemicrunchy at gmail dot com
I recently lost a close family member and I remember the way it felt and how I cant even imagine her two little angels are coping through this. I cant even begin to wonder how losing a child is. Im thankful for my son every day, and knowing he was on the brink of death when he was born makes me even more thankful for him. My heart goes out to this family and I pray that their little girl is found and brought home safe and sound.
khrystal_benites@hotmail.com
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