You can host a TAKE 25 event right in your own community to help educate children and parents on safety. This program, offered by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, aspires to get communities across America involved and to hopefully prevent abductions. It was created in honor of National Children’s Day to encourage parents and guardians to take 25 minutes to educate their children about safety topics. The goal is to help children make better decisions in life, set limitations on what they do, and give parents and guardians the tools they need. Some of the topics covered are Internet, school, out and about, and at home safety. Take a few moments to read more about Take 25 and consider becoming a volunteer or hosting a program in your own neighborhood.

Aisha Kahn (police released photo)

UPDATE:  Police in Overland Park, Kansas say Aisha Kahn, 19, was found unharmed and she was not a victim of an abduction.  Aisha has been reuinted with her family and friends.  It is unclear where she has been for the last six days, her family released this statment on the ’Help Find Aisha Khan’ Facebook page, “On behalf of the Khan family, we are ecstatic to announce that Aisha has been found.”

BACKGROUND: Investigators in Kansas are searching for a 19-year-old student who has not been seen since Friday.  Authorities say Aisha Khan left her sister a troubling voicemail around 11 a.m. before she disappeared.  In the message, there were indications that Aisha may have been harassed by a man who appeared to be drunk and tried to kiss her.  Overland Park Police at this point to do not have information to confirm an abduction took place and they are moving forward with a missing persons investigation.

At this point, there are no suspects and Aisha’s family is offering a reward for information.  You can continue to follow updates on this case through Twitter @FindAisha and on Facebook, Help Find Aisha Khan.  Aisha is only 5 feet 2 inches tall and she weighs about 120 pounds, she was last seen wearing a black head scarf, black sweat pants and a black and white coat. 

If you have any information, please contact the Overland Police department:   913-344-8703 ]]> http://www.michellesigona.com/2011/12/overland-park-police-college-student-found-unharmed/feed/ 0 http://www.michellesigona.com/2011/10/police-baby-lisa-irwin-abducted-search-continues/ http://www.michellesigona.com/2011/10/police-baby-lisa-irwin-abducted-search-continues/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 13:19:56 +0000 Michelle Sigona http://www.michellesigona.com/?p=7779

Investigators say Lisa Irwin, 10-months-old, was taken from her home late Monday night or Tuesday morning.  Lisa’s family is pleading for her safe return.

Anyone with information on Lisa’s disappearance should call the Kansas City Police Department hotline at 816-474-TIPS.

Aliayah Lunsford, 3, vanished on Sept. 24.  FBI agents announced this week that they believe Aliayah is likely a victim of a homicide or abduction.  Lena Lunsford, Aliayah’s mother, told police her child was in bed around 6:30 a.m. that morning, but she has not been seen since.

Authorities continue to search a 5-mile radius from where she went missing.  Aliayah is 3 feet tall and weighs 35 pounds, she has brown hair and brown eyes.  She was last seen wearing a pink sweatshirt and purple pajama bottoms.  If you have any information, please contact the FBI.

Warren Weinstein, 70 (photo courtesy of Mike Redwood)

Investigators in Pakistan say Warren Weinstein, 70, was abducted by gunmen last weekend in the eastern city of Lahore.  The Associated Press reports that authorities are working to determine whether the armed kidnappers were criminals or Islamic militants.  The FBI is also assisting with the investigation.

Warren has lived in Pakistan for the last six years, and serves as the county director for Pakistan for J.E. Austin Associates.  The company is based out of Arlington, Va.  A spokesperson for the company says Warren is in poor health and needs a list of medications to keep him active and healthy.

The American embassy in Pakistan has offered its forensic teams to help with investigations.  If you have any information on this case, please contact the FBI. ]]> http://www.michellesigona.com/2011/08/missing-in-pakistan-warren-weinstein-still-missing-abducted-by-gunmen/feed/ 0 http://www.michellesigona.com/2011/07/active-detroit-amber-alert-mariha-trenice-smith/ http://www.michellesigona.com/2011/07/active-detroit-amber-alert-mariha-trenice-smith/#comments Mon, 25 Jul 2011 09:24:26 +0000 Michelle Sigona http://www.michellesigona.com/?p=7578

Mariha Smith (personal photo)

An Amber Alert was issued Sunday after a 5-year-old girl vanished in the early morning hours from her home in Detroit, MI.  Police say Mariha Trenice Smith was sleeping on the floor when her mom woke up around 3:30 a.m. to find the window open.  Police were called and an amber alert was issued.  Mariha was last seen wearing a t-shirt with pink flowers and jeans.  She has black eyes and hair and stands about 2 feet, 5 inches tall.  She is only 26 pounds and this is being investigated as an abduction.  If you have any information, please contact Detroit Police: (313) 596-5900

An Amber Alert is still active for 5-month-old Katherine Phillips. She was last seen on June 29 with a man who is believed to be her father, Sean Phillips. Mason County prosecutors charged Phillips with kidnapping and held him on a $500,000 bond.

At this point, he will not say where Katherine, also known as “Baby Kate’s” location.  Over the last few weeks, numerous searches took place, but none have led to the Katherine.

Baby Kate is only 2 feet tall, 12 pounds with blue eyes and light hair. She was last seen wearing pink shorts and a pink tank top with black and pink flowers.  

Investigators would also like to speak with anyone who saw Sean Michael Phillips during the hours of 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.  Phillips may have been at the Wendy’s near the Birch Lake Apartments during those hours. 

If you have any information, please contact the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children or 1-800-THE-LOST.

Katherine Phillips Missing

On Wednesday, June 29, authorities in Ludington, MI issued an amber alert for 4-month-old Katherine Phillips.  She was last seen with a man who is believed to be her father, Sean Phillips.  On Thursday, Mason County prosecutors charged Phillips with kidnapping and held him on a $500,000 bond.  At this point, he will not say where Katherine, also known as  “Baby Kate’s” location. 

Baby Kate is only 2 feet tall, 12 pounds with blue eyes and light hair.  She was last seen wearing pink shorts and a pink tank top with black and pink flowers.

If you have any information, please contact the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children or 1-800-THE-LOST.

Juliani Cardenas (MISSING)

Police say Juliani Cardenas, 4, was abducted from his grandmothers arms on Tuesday.  The Amber Alert to find him is still active.  Juliani’s grandmother, Amparo Cardenas, told police Jose Esteban Rodriguez abducted her grandson and took off.  Rodriguez is the child’s ex-boyfriend.

The official Amber Alert indicates Juliani was taken from Patterson, California and the suspect was last seen traveling in a silver Toyota Corolla with CA license plate: 6HBW445. 

The vehicle is known to have oversized aluminum wheels.  One of the left wheels is a spare wheel and is smaller than the others. 

ABOUT JULIANI:

Eye color:  Brown

Hair color: Black

Race:  Hispanic

Height: 3’6”

Weight: 40 pounds

Last seen wearing:  Dark pants and a light blue shirt

ABOUT THE SUSPECT:

Name:  Jose Esteban Rodriguez

Age: 27

Eye color: Brown

Hair: Color: Black

Race: Hispanic

Height: 5’9”

Weight: 180 pounds

Last seen wearing: White and black shirt, checkered shorts and a beanie hat

If you have any information, please contact: Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department at (209) 380-6015

Brittany Mae Smith (left) personal photo - Jeffrey Easley (right) booking photo

1)  Brittany Mae Smith vanished a little over a week ago from Roanoke, Virginia.  Investigators said the 12-year-old was taken by 32-year-old Jeffrey Scott Easley.  Easley met Brittany’s mother on the Internet.

2)  Brittany’s mom, Tina Smith, was found dead inside her home on December 6 when she didn’t show up for work.  Last week the Medical Examiner released the autopsy and ruled the case an official homicide.  An Amber Alert was issued for Brittany.

3)  Jeffrey Easley was charged with abduction and credit card fraud, and a nationwide manhunt ensued.  

4)  On Friday, December 10, a Good Samaritan recognized Brittany and Easley in San Francisco, California.  The pair was panhandling in front of the store.  The tipster said she remembered Brittany from HLN’s Nancy Grace show.  Authorities say the tipster ran into the Safeway and asked the clerk to call police.   

5)  Brittany Mae was rescued, Easley was arrested, and currently he is awaiting extradition.  He’s held without bond in San Francisco on the initial charges of abduction and credit card fraud.   As for Brittany, she was escorted back to Virginia yesterday to be reunited with her family.  She will attend her mother’s funeral later today.  At this point, no one is charged with Tina’s murder.