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Baker,Erica N. February 7, 1999; Ohio
Topic Started: Sep 6 2006, 11:56 PM (1,315 Views)
oldies4mari2004
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http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/b/baker_erica.html

Erica Nicole Baker



Top Row and Bottom Three from Left: Baker, circa 1999;
Bottom Far Right: Age-progression of Baker at age 16 (circa 2005)


Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

Missing Since: February 7, 1999 from Kettering, Ohio
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: June 22, 1989
Age: 9 years old
Height and Weight: 3'10 - 3'11, 65 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Blonde hair, hazel eyes. Erica has a scar on the inner arch of one of her feet. Her ears are pierced. Erica's front teeth were crooked at the time of her 1999 disappearance. She has an oval-shaped, tan-colored birthmark, about the size of a dime, on one of her hips. Some agencies spell her first name "Erika."
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A pink raincoat, a pink Winnie The Pooh sweatshirt, pale blue jeans and white tennis shoes with purple inserts.


Details of Disappearance

Erica's parents are divorced and she spent most of February 7, 1999 with her father, Greg Baker, in their hometown of Kettering, Ohio. Erica was apparently upset that Greg had forgotten to purchase tickets to an upcoming father/daughter dance, but her father said she settled down shortly thereafter. Greg dropped Erica off at the home she shared with her mother, Melissa "Misty" Baker, at approximately 3:00 p.m. Photos of Greg and Misty are posted below this case summary.
Erica received permission from Misty to take her aunt's Shih Tzu dog for a walk in Indian Riffle Park, which was close to her family's residence. Erica left the house sometime between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m. Two witnesses saw her sitting on a bench with the dog near the park's pond shortly after 4:00 p.m. She has never been seen again. The dog, dragging its blue leash, ran unaccompanied to the witnesses sometime after Erica was last seen. They called Animal Control to pick up the dog, but didn't realize the girl they had seen earlier was Erica until news reports of her disappearance surfaced later that night.

Misty became concerned when Erica failed to return home later in the evening and summoned the authorities. An extensive search of the area produced no clues as to Erica's whereabouts. A pink Winnie The Pooh sweatshirt was discovered on a road in Germantown, Ohio several days after Erica disappeared. Bloodhounds reacted positively to Erica's scent on the clothing, but her family said the shirt did not belong to her.

Investigators would like to identify and question a two possible witnesses who were seen in the area around the same time Erica was last seen. The first is a Caucasian female jogger, who was wearing a white turtleneck, black Spandex pants, and white sneakers. The other is a middle-aged white man who was wearing a black raincoat and walking a long-haired spaniel type dog.

Greg and Misty passed polygraph tests and are not suspects in their daughter's case. Authorities said that they identified four possible suspects in January 2000, five months after Erica was last seen. None of the suspects have been charged due to a lack of evidence. According to investigators, several of the men have histories of child molestation.

There have been tips to the police about Erica's case, saying she was struck by a vehicle and killed the day of her disappearance and the occupants of the car panicked and disposed of her body. The tips named Jan Marie Franks, a drug addict, as the driver. She died in 2001. Her lawyer, Beth Lewis, has refused to tell the police what, if anything, Franks told her about Erica's case, citing attorney-client confidentiality. Ohio law states that a dead person's spouse can waive attorney-client confidentiality for them, and Franks's husband did so. However, Lewis has disputed Franks's husband's authority to waive confidentiality and continues to refuse to answer questions, in spite of being held in contempt of court by a judge.

In February 2004, just three days before the statute of limitations on the offenses would have expired, Christian John Gabriel was indicted for evidence tampering and gross abuse a corpse in connection with Erica's case. A photograph of him is posted below this case summary. Gabriel was Franks's boyfriend. The grand jury had the option of indicting him for a range of offenses such as aggravated murder and vehicular homicide, but declined to do so. They also refused to indict another suspect, Clifford Butts.

Prosecutors stated they believed Gabriel was driving a van which struck and killed Erica on Glengerry Drive near the Kettering Recreation Center, and he buried her body in Caesar Creek State Park to cover up the crime. Gabriel confessed the crime to police and stated that he and Franks were in the van together and they were under the influence of drugs and alcohol and had been shoplifting in the area the day Erica was killed. He lead authorities to various places where he said he had buried the child's body, but nothing was discovered in any of the locations and investigators stated they were not going to search again for Erica's remains unless they found more evidence indicating where she was.

Gabriel pleaded not guilty to the charges and maintains his innocence in Erica's disappearance; he stated his confession was completely untrue and he only made the statements because he was being pressured by authorities. He was nevertheless convicted in October 2005 and sentenced to the maximum, six years in prison.



Erica has never been located. Foul play is suspected in her case due to the circumstances involved.




Left: Greg Baker; Center: Misty Baker, circa 2000;
Right: Gabriel, circa 2005


Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Kettering Police Department
937-296-2555



Source Information
The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
Child Protection Education Of America
Alma Pintada's Childhood: A Cultural Study Of Sexuality and Violence
Rino Kids Online
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Child CyberSearch
The Dayton Daily News
WCPO-TV
The Akron Beacon-Journal



Updated 6 times since October 12, 2004.

Last updated October 9, 2005; picture added, details of disappearance updated.

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By Janice Morse, jmorse@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer

DAYTON, Ohio — The case of Erica Baker, a 9-year-old girl abducted while walking her dog in February 1999, has become entangled in a complex legal dilemma that could have statewide implications.

On Monday, the Ohio 2nd District Court of Appeals will consider whether to invalidate a lower court's June 26 order to jail attorney Beth Lewis. Free pending the appeal's outcome, Ms. Lewis refused to tell a Montgomery County grand jury what, if anything, a now-deceased client may have revealed about Erica's disappearance.

Prosecutors say Ms. Lewis was required to testify after her client's widower signed a waiver, activating a section of state law that says lawyers may break client confidentiality under certain conditions. But Ms. Lewis' attorneys warn that if the contempt order against Ms. Lewis is allowed to stand, there will be “serious repercussions for the entire legal community in Ohio by undermining the most basic principle of attorney-client relations.”
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Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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Court Rules in Missing Girl Case
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DAYTON, Ohio (AP) -- A state appeals court has ruled that a public defender must reveal whether a deceased client knew anything about the disappearance of a 9-year-old girl.

The 2nd Ohio District Court of Appeals sided Thursday with a judge who held public defender Beth Lewis in contempt for refusing to tell a grand jury whether her client talked about Erica Baker's disappearance. Lewis contends such testimony would violate attorney-client privilege.

Erica has not been found, and no one has been charged in the case.

The girl's relatives hope the ruling helps them figure out what led to Erica's disappearance in suburban Kettering. She was last seen there walking her dog in 1999.

``It's a great day for the whole family,'' said Misty Baker, Erica's mother. ``I hope that Ms. Lewis chooses to tell us what information, if any, that she has.''

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/A...irl-Lawyer.html
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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http://www.wcpo.com/news/2004/local/03/03/baker.html
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Court Rejects Attorney-Client Privilege In Erica Baker Case

Reported by: AP
Web produced by: Liz Foreman
Photographed by: 9News
3/3/04 10:36:11 AM
The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected an attorney's right to invoke attorney-client privilege in the case of a 9-year-old girl who disappeared in suburban Dayton more than four years ago.

The court ruled 7-0 that the spouse of a deceased client has the right to waive confidentiality, which would compel former federal public defender Beth Lewis to comply with a court order to tell a grand jury whether her client talked about the disappearance of Erica Baker in 1999.

Two lower courts had sided with Montgomery County prosecutors, who wanted Lewis to talk about what her client, Jan Franks, may have known about the girl's disappearance.

No one has been charged in the case. Investigators think Franks may have known something about Baker's disappearance based on information from a jail informant.

They want to know if Franks, who died of a drug overdose in 2001, told anything to Lewis.

Her husband, Shane Franks, had granted Lewis permission to disclose the information, but Lewis argued the state law regarding privilege gave her the choice to refuse because it included the phrase "may testify."

Chief Justice Thomas Moyer, writing for the court, rejected that interpretation, saying: "The attorney-client privilege belongs solely to the client -- not the attorney."

"Lewis contends that she knows better than Shane Franks whether Jan Franks would have wanted Lewis to disclose a communication Jan Franks made to her," Moyer wrote. "Whether this is true is irrelevant. The General Assembly made that policy decision."

In June 2002, a Montgomery County Common Pleas Court judge held Lewis in contempt because she invoked attorney-client privilege and refused to tell a grand jury whether Franks talked about the girl's disappearance.

The court delayed imposing any sentence, which could include jail, pending the outcome of Lewis' appeal.

The 2nd Ohio District Court of Appeals sided with the trial court, and Lewis then appealed to the high court.

According to the appeals court, police apparently received information that Jan Franks and other people may have been in a van that allegedly struck and killed the girl, who was never found.

Prosecutors had argued that Ohio law allows a surviving spouse or trustee of an estate to give up confidentiality rights. But Lewis' attorney, John Feldmeier, said the law allows lawyers to exercise professional judgment to maintain confidentiality if consistent with a client's wishes.

Lewis has defended her decision, saying she took an oath to put her clients' interests above her own. But she added she understands the feelings of Bakers' parents and would do the same thing in their situation.
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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http://www.whiotv.com/news/3828834/detail.html
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High Court Lets Ruling Stand In Erica Baker Case

POSTED: 11:48 am EDT October 18, 2004
UPDATED: 11:52 am EDT October 18, 2004

DAYTON, Ohio -- There are some new developments Monday in the case of Erica Baker, who vanished from a Kettering park more than five years ago.

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the case, meaning a lower court's ruling that a local attorney will have to testify about what she knows about Baker's disappearance will stand.




Local prosecutors have been trying to get Beth Lewis to testify for quite some time. They believe she has information from a now-deceased client about Baker's disappearance.

Lewis has appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, and now the court has decided not to hear her case, thereby upholding the lower court's ruling.

Baker vanished in 1999 while she was walking her dog near the Kettering Recreation Center. She was 9 years old at the time and has not been seen since.

Lewis was a federal public defender who represented a woman named Jan Franks. Prosecutors believe Franks may have had information about Baker's disappearance, specifically that Baker may have been struck by a van.

Franks died and her widow gave Lewis permission to testify, which is possible under Ohio law. However, Lewis claims she cannot reveal what her client told her, citing it would violate attorney-client privilege.

The Ohio State Supreme Court ruled Lewis must testify.

Even with the ruling from the high court, the fight may not be over. Lewis has filed a motion before a federal judge to have the whole case moved to the federal court system instead of a state court.
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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http://www.whiotv.com/news/2571386/detail.html

Erica Baker Case

The case of a missing Kettering girl will go before the Ohio Supreme Court Wednesday.

Local prosecutors believe a federal public defender may have information about Erica Baker, and they want her to testify before a grand jury.

But attorney Beth Lewis says if she talks, she will be violating attorney-client privilege.

Two lower courts have already ordered her to testify.

Erica Baker disappeared in February of 1999.

The Ohio Supreme Court will hear arguments at the Clinton County Courthouse.

Copyright 2003 by WHIOTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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http://www.whiotv.com/news/1945223/detail.html

Erica Baker Case Update
The Ohio State Supreme Court Has Agreed To Hear Information Regarding The Disappearance Of Erica Baker
Ohio's highest court agrees to hear a case linked to the disappearance of Erica Baker.

The nine year-old Kettering girl vanished nearly four years ago while walking her dog in a park.

Today the State Supreme Court agreed to hear the appeal of a public defender who may know what happened to Erica.

Beth Lewis is a federal public defender and investigators think one of her clients may have known what happened to nine year-old Erica Baker, but her client refused to talk to police.

That client then died from an overdose.

Now the public defender has refused to talk about any client information because of attorney-client privilege.

Now, the state supreme court could eventually break her silence.

Erica has been missing for almost four years without a trace.

Now, a slim chance of gaining new information to find her may come through Ohio's highest court.

Montgomery County Prosecutor Matt Heck says, " we're here to try and find out what happened to a human being that's why we're here we're not here to debate legalities."

Heck hopes to gain insight into the case through public defender Beth Lewis.

Lewis represented Jan Franks who may have told Lewis information about the Kettering girl, but Lewis has refused to reveal anything even though her client Jan Franks is dead and Franks widow has agreed to release any information that might help the investigation.

Attorney David Greer, who represents Public Denfender Beth Lewis, says, " it's the clients privilege not the client's spouses privilege."

Last year a state appeals court sided with a Dayton judge who threatened jail time for Lewis if she did not reveal information on the case from her deceased client.

Prosecutor Heck says, "I would hate to think that anyone would go through this exercise unless there was some reason for it."

This could be the final step in gaining new information to help find Erica Baker.

The Ohio Supreme Court could take several months before a ruling is made.
Copyright 2003 by WHIOTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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Prayer Vigil To Be Held Monday For Erica Baker

AUDIO/VIDEO

Watch this 9News video

We use RealVideo format only. Click here for help.


RELATED WCPO STORY

Charges Filed In Erica Baker Case (2/04/05)


RELATED PICTURES

Click for larger images.


Erica's mother, Misty Baker
(WCPO/WCPO.com)


Erica Baker before her disappearance in 1998
(WCPO/WCPO.com)


Reported by: 9News
Web produced by: Neil Relyea
Photographed by: 9News
2/5/2005 6:07:00 PM
Nearly six years after Erica Baker's disappearance in Kettering, Ohio near Dayton, reality is sinking in for the young girl's mother.

With the indictment of a Springfield, Ohio man this week in connection with Baker's death, her mother, Misty Bakers, has been forced to accept that after years of holding out hope for her daughter's return, it won't happen.

But a prayer vigil on the sixth anniversary of the nine-year-old's disappearance will still be held this Monday at 7 p.m. at the Kettering Recreation Center.

"We're going to be praying that we find her remains so that I can bury her," said Misty Baker, "and I hope that everyone will come and offer their support, because we still need it."

http://www.wcpo.com/news/2005/local/02/05/ericabaker.html
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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http://www.newsnet5.com/news/4168824/detail.html

Man Indicted In Girls 1999 Disappearance
Erica Baker Was 9 When She Disappeared

UPDATED: 2:37 pm EST February 5, 2005

DAYTON, Ohio -- A man was indicted Friday with gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence in connection with the disappearance of a 9-year-old girl.


Montgomery County prosecutors said that Christian Gabriel, 33, of Springfield, was charged in the case of Erica Baker, who was 9 years old when she disappeared while walking her dog near her Kettering home in suburban Dayton. Her body has not been found.

A secret grand jury convened on Thursday to examine more evidence in the case. Prosecutors said the grand jury heard testimony from 10 witnesses over a period of five days.

New Video: Mom Pleads For Return Of Erica's Body
Erica Baker's Father Speaks Out
Slideshow: Images Of Erica Baker

Montgomery County Prosecutor Mathias Heck Jr. said the Kettering Police Department got a tip on Gabriel, followed the lead and gathered information and evidence leading to the indictment against Gabriel, who was not charged with homicide.

Heck said he could not go into many specifics because the case is still under investigation.

Gabriel was brought to Dayton from the Southeastern Correctional Institution, located near Lancaster, in December under a grand jury subpoena. He was sentenced in November to nine months for receiving stolen property.

Gabriel has described himself as a boyfriend of the late Jan Franks, a drug addict who police believe was a passenger in a van that struck Erica.

"We know that Gabriel was certainly a participant and perhaps the driver of the motor vehicle that struck and killed Erica Baker," Heck said.

Kettering police have received tips that Erica was taken from the scene and her body buried.

"The family's hope is to recover the body of this little girl," Heck said. "We are still hoping for that. Whether that happens, we never know."

Gabriel in the past has denied he had anything to do with Erica's disappearance.

Monday is the sixth anniversary of Erica's disappearance.

"So far, this is what we've been hearing the last three or four years," Erica's father, Greg, said. "It's all starting to come together now and the pieces are starting to fit. Hopefully, Erica ... you know I love you honey, and Daddy and Mommy and everybody's doing everything that we can to get you back here."

Misty Baker, Erica's mother, told The Associated Press that she learned of the indictments from the county's victim-advocate office.

"It was shocking," Baker told the AP. "You might suspect some things, but when reality comes, it's still hard to accept."

Prosecutors are trying to bring a former federal public defender in front of a grand jury to testify about what a client may have known about the case.

Police received information that the client, who died in 2001, may have been in a van which struck and killed Erica. The deceased woman's husband has said that Beth Lewis may disclose what his wife said.

Lewis has refused to tell prosecutors what she knows about the case and is appealing a judge's order to force her to testify.
Copyright 2006 by NewsNet5. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



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Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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http://hometown.aol.com/__121b_hQkV/3rixjQ...mWxh08Kl7xIDZU=

Erica's website


http://hometown.aol.com/friendsoferica/

Erica's Description
Date Missing: February 7, 1999
Missing from: Kettering, Ohio
Age at time of disappearance: 9
Age now: 15
Eyes: Hazel - blue dominant
Hair: Blonde
Height: 3'11"
Weight: 65 lbs
Complexion: Fair to medium
Race: White
Note: Erica's two front teeth slightly protrude.
She was last seen wearing a pink sweatshirt
with Winnie-the-Pooh characters on it, a
bubblegum pink hooded raincoat, light colored
blue jeans, and white cheerleading shoes with
purple inserts.

Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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Christian Gabriel (33), charges have been filed for tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse; Convicted on two felony charges; sentenced to six years in prison

Dayton Daily News

Conviction doesn't settle much in Erica Baker case

Where is Erica Baker? Will we ever know? The trial last week and conviction Friday of Christian John Gabriel on felonies connected with moving and concealing the girl's body — she is presumed dead — disclosed little to investigators.
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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http://www.mcc.ag.state.oh.us/P3.aspx?PQID=ERICAB

DOB:6/22/1989
SEX:Female
RACE:White
HEIGHT:3'11''
WEIGHT:65 lbs.
HAIR:Blonde or Strawberry, Shoulder, Straight
EYES:Hazel
Last seen on 02-07-99 in Kettering,Ohio


ears are
pierced and a scar on the inner arch of one foot.;
wearing pink rain jacket, pink Winnie the Pooh
sweatshirt, blue jeans and white tennis shoes.; leaving
her residence to walk her dog.
http://www.mcc.ag.state.oh.us/P2.aspx?PQID=ERICAB
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/o...012107mary.html

Mary McCarty: Could Erica Baker case end with a miracle, too?
Click-2-Listen
By Mary McCarty

Staff Writer

Sunday, January 21, 2007

For years the FBI had a working theory about Shawn Hornbeck, last seen riding his bicycle more than four years ago.

Agents suspected the 11-year-old boy had been struck by a motorist who panicked and buried his body.



That theory was proven wrong last week when detectives looking for another missing boy, Ben Ownby, found both boys safe and sound in the Kirkwood, Mo., apartment of 41-year-old Michael Devlin.

It's being called "The Miracle in Missouri."

This community can't help seeing the haunting similarities with the disappearance of Erica Baker nearly eight years ago. No physical evidence of her death has ever surfaced. Police and prosecutors have long held to the theory that the child was struck by motorists who panicked and buried the body.

Could there be a "Miracle in Ohio"?

Is there any chance, however infinitesimal, that Erica, too, could be found alive?

Erica's grandmother, Pamela Schmidt of Kettering, lived on that hope for years. She wholeheartedly understands why Shawn's mother and stepfather, Craig and Pam Akers, never gave up hope. "When a child goes missing you make pacts with yourself, that unless someone proves your child is deceased you are going to hope," Schmidt says. "You owe that to yourself and you owe that to the child."

There is, of course, one very dramatic difference between the disappearances. Christian Gabriel of Springfield was convicted of tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse in October 2005. Gabriel's attorney, Mark Fisher, filed an appeal of his conviction last week, claiming Gabriel was denied a fair trial because his own statements provided the only evidence against him. But Schmidt remains convinced by what she heard during the trial. "I don't hold onto hope any more," she says, "not after the trial. He knew too many things that only the person responsible would know."

She is overjoyed by the safe return of the two boys in Missouri: "Miracles do happen. This brings hope for the families of other long-time missing children."

Schmidt is troubled by the questions leveled at Shawn Hornbeck. "People ask why he didn't try to escape," she says, "but that's not the right question. The real question is how we help him to heal. His childhood was stolen. He never had a chance to vote on whether he would be abducted."

Kettering Police Detective Bob Green holds an unshakable belief in Gabriel's guilt. "It's based on spending many hours with the defendant and the fact that his confession was very detailed," Green says.

Investigators have conducted fruitless searches for Erica's body based on Gabriel's leads. "I believe he knows where she is," Green says. "I can't tell you why he won't tell us, but I would love to bring her remains home so the family has a place to visit. That would be my miracle."

Is there really no possibility of any other miracle? Everyone closest to the case, the ones who have lived and breathed and cried over it, seem convinced of that sad conclusion. They are dedicated professionals and loving family members whose beliefs merit a great deal of respect.

But it's a certainty based on one man's statements.

After the events last week in Kirkwood, I can't help feeling a sliver of doubt.



Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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http://www.daytondailynews.com/search/cont...ssing_Girl.html

Attorney says evidence lacking in missing-girl case
DAYTON, Ohio — The attorney for a man convicted of charges in the 1999 disappearance of a 9-year-old girl told an appeals court that his client was denied a fair trial because the only evidence against him is his own statements.

Attorney Mark Fisher told the 2nd Ohio District Court of Appeals on Tuesday that there is no physical evidence that ties Christian Gabriel, 35, of Springfield, to the disappearance of Erica Baker.

Fisher also said the prosecution can't prove that the crimes of which Gabriel was convicted actually occurred because the girl's body has never been found.

In October 2005, Gabriel was sentenced to six years in prison after a jury found him guilty of abuse of a corpse and evidence tampering in the girl's disappearance.

Prosecutors believe Gabriel was driving the van that hit the girl in suburban Kettering as she darted into a street between parked cars and that he helped bury the girl's body.

Gabriel took investigators to various sites in their search for the body, but no trace of the girl was found. Gabriel was not charged directly with causing the girl's death.

Carley Ingram, assistant Montgomery County prosecutor, told the appeals court that the girl's disappearance was obviously the result of a crime and that Gabriel's statements showed what the specific crimes were.

The court did not immediately rule on the appeal.

___

Information from: Dayton Daily News, http://www.daytondailynews.com


___

January 10, 2007 - 10:50 a.m. EST

Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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http://webmail.aol.com/37080/aol/en-us/Suite.aspx
Photo at link

Mary McCarty: Graduating classmates still remember missing girl

Click-2-Listen
By Mary McCarty

Staff writer

Sunday, June 08, 2008

On the last day of third grade in 1999, Erica Baker's classmates hung a crystal star on a tree in the courtyard outside their classroom. "Make a wish that she comes home safely," instructed their teacher," Billie Green.

Green held on tightly before they left the classroom. "I had a hard time letting them go," she confessed. "I wanted to continue to protect them and to comfort them."

That closeness was obvious Tuesday afternoon, June 3, as some students from that 25-member class reunited in their old classroom at Indian Riffle Elementary School, where Green still teaches.

On the eve of their high school graduation, Erica's classmates reflected back on that time when their safe, familiar world turned upside down.

They opened up to one another almost immediately, just as they had on so many school mornings when Green held a "rumor control session," encouraging the students to share their thoughts and fears.

"I honestly don't remember a lot of third grade," confessed Brandon Printiss. "It was so traumatizing, I blocked a lot of it out."

Olivia Zahora carries her friend's "missing person" card in her wallet. She still feels guilty about a tiff with Erica on her last day at school, when she wouldn't let her friend join her at the lunch table.

And she's still grateful to the teacher who encouraged them "to talk it out, and not hide it under a barrel."

Zahora plans to attend Wright State University and to become an elementary school teacher. "You helped us a lot, a lot, a lot," she told Green.

Green said the students bolstered her morale with their unfailing optimism. "You always said 'when' she comes back, not 'if,'" she said. "You were my support and you made me strong enough to keep going."

It would be several more years, the students said, before they understood that Erica probably wasn't ever coming home. "There's a little part of me that still wonders," Zahora said.

When Erica disappeared Feb. 9, 1999, both the veteran teacher and students were thrust into unfamiliar territory.

"I wasn't a psychologist," Green said. "I had never lost a student from one of my classes."

Recalled Stephanie Ewry, now vice president for the Fairmont Class of '08. "Nothing like that had ever happened to someone we knew. That was the main thing that made me wake up to the real world. It opened my eyes up to what could really happen."

Green protected the students from the media swarming around the school in the early days after the disappearance. Parents picked up their children every day after school, quashing the 9-year-olds' first tentative steps toward independence. No more walking home from school alone.

"I would be outside playing and my mother would be standing on the sidewalk watching me," griped Printiss. "If I went to the park, I had to bring my brother with me."

The ordeal made it more difficult for Jessica Herman to trust strangers: "If I rode my bike or went to the park, there were constant reminders to be cautious."

The parents found themselves walking a precarious balance beam. "You needed to put more safeguards in place, yet still allow them to grow up," said Brandon's mother, Carrie Printiss. "They had plenty of fears of their own; we didn't want to project our fears onto them."

Jessica's mother, Valerie Herman, also praised Green. "She left Erica's seat open all year," she said. "She did a good job of protecting their innocence, but as a parent I lost some of mine. I couldn't believe this would happen in our little town, our little community."

The students themselves insisted on making Erica part of their classroom. They made Valentines for her; they left class paperwork on her desk. "Don't worry, Mrs. Green, we'll help her catch up with multiplication," they promised. Recalled Green, "I was so impressed with their compassion. One of the students left a sandwich outside of Erica's house, so she wouldn't come home hungry. They worried about her when it was rainy or snowing."

Despite the frequent distractions — whether questioning by the police or the whirring of helicopters — Green still had a classroom to run. She had to prepare them for their academic futures.

She listened with delight as the seniors at the reunion, all college-bound, shared post-graduation plans. Anthony Gardina hopes to become a firefighter: Kena Hoover, a photographer. Herman is studying accounting; Printiss will pursue his passion for music and art.

What would Erica be doing today?

Everyone is convinced she would be one of the most stylish members of the class. "Everything always matched," Green said.

Nobody liked the "age-enhanced" sketch that detectives once developed of Erica. "NO, NO, NO," Herman insisted. "She wouldn't have looked like that at all. She wouldn't have worn her hair that way, and they didn't get her eyes right at all."

Sherry Morse — Zahora's mother and Erica's former cheerleading coach — believes she would have been a member of the competition cheerleading squad that recently took third-place honors in a national meet in Florida. "She was the most persistent girl on the squad," Morse said. "Every day she would write a new cheer on notebook paper and ask, 'Coach, can we do this one?' Finally we had to let the girls do one of her cheers, and it was really cute, she had the moves and everything."

Morse recently ran into Erica's father, Greg Baker, who said he was planning a memorial service on her birthday. "It made me feel so bad, because here I am planning a graduation party," she said.

The students vividly remember that last day of school, when Erica's mother and grandmother passed out Popsicles to the whole class. Then they cleaned out her desk.

Green hopes the reunion will achieve some of the closure that has eluded Erica Baker's classmates all these years.

"We didn't know then what happened," she said softly, "and we still don't, really."

As the graduating seniors left her classroom Tuesday evening, Green hugged them as tightly as she had on the last day of third grade.

Then she closed the classroom door and said, "I'm so proud of them and what they've accomplished, after everything they've been through
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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monkalup
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Mary McCarty: Fairmont grads can't forget Erica Baker

By Mary McCarty

Staff writer

Sunday, June 08, 2008

The 600 members of Kettering Fairmont Class of 2008 amassed an impressive number of accolades.

They won more than $6,473,000 in scholarships. The class boasted 20 valedictorians, with perfect 4.0 grade point averages, as well as two National Merit-commended scholars.

But the most famous student who started kindergarten with the Class of '08 is the one who has been missing for more than nine years. The one whose name didn't show up on the graduation roster between Ashley Nicole Baker and Jennifer Marie Baker.

"Erica Baker" is merely a well-known name for most of these graduates. But she is more than a "missing person" flier for her classmates from Billie Green's third-grade class at Indian Riffle Elementary School. They have never forgotten the little girl with the striking blue eyes and keen fashion sense.

"I was missing her at prom," said Jessica Herman. "I was wondering what she would have worn and who she would have gone with."

That nostalgia was noticeable Thursday, June 5, before Fairmont's commencement at Wright State University's Ervin J. Nutter Center.

"I wonder if they will mention her," said Kena Hoover as she adjusted her cap and gown. "That whole year of third grade I always thought she would come back. And now years have gone by, and we're graduating."

They have graduated from Winnie the Pooh to American Eagle, from Raffi to Rhianna, but they have kept a place in their hearts for their missing friend.

The Erica Baker case

Missing: Erica Baker
2/7/1999: Erica Baker, 9, leaves home to walk the family dog on a drizzly Sunday afternoon. She is last seen near the Kettering Recreation Center.

The search
2/1999: A days-long search involving 375 volunteers and more than 100 police, firefighters and medics fails to find her.

Informant tips police
7/1999: A jailhouse informant told police that Christian Gabriel (pictured at left) of Springfield and his girlfriend, Jan Franks, had been shoplifting from a nearby store and were high on drugs when their vehicle struck Erica. According to the informant, Erica was taken from the scene and her body was buried. It has never been found.

Six suspects pursued
2/4/2000: Kettering Police Chief James O'Dell tells reporters detectives have six suspects in Erica's disappearance, at least two of whom may have worked together.

Suspect dies
12/30/2001: Franks, a drug addict with a criminal record, is found dead at 32 of multiple drug toxicity in a bunk at a homeless shelter in Dayton.

Attorney refuses to talk
6/26/2002: A judge holds former federal public defender Beth Lewis in contempt of court after she refuses to tell a grand jury what Franks, her former client, may have told her about Erica. Lewis, who claimed attorney-client privilege, finally is compelled to testify in secret before a grand jury in 2006.

Suspect revealed
12/2004: Gabriel, serving prison time for another offense, is transferred to the Kettering jail for questioning in the Erica Baker case. It's the first time Gabriel is publicly named.

Charges filed
2/4/2005: Three days before the statute of limitations expired on most possible charges in Erica's disappearance, Montgomery County prosecutors announced Gabriel was charged with tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse.

Gabriel sentenced
10/2005: Gabriel is tried, convicted and sentenced to the maximum of six years in prison on the two felonies. During the trial, a Kettering police detective testified Gabriel confirmed the shoplifting scenario and said he tried to revive Erica for 10 minutes, then drove off and buried her that night in a shallow grave in Caesar Creek State Park.

Conviction upheld
2/23/2007: An appeals court upholds Gabriel's conviction. He had appealed, saying he was denied a fair trial because the only evidence against him was his own statements to police. In October, the Ohio Supreme Court refused to hear the case. Gabriel is to be released in July 2011.

Source:
http://www.daytondailynews.com/o/content/o...0808marya1.html
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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http://www.pal-item.com/article/20081119/UPDATES/81119022

Authorities search for remains of missing Ohio girl
ASSOCIATED PRESS • November 19, 2008

ENON, Ohio (AP) — Investigators say they are searching an area next to a pond between Dayton and Springfield for the remains of girl who went missing nine years ago.

Kettering police spokesman Bill Torok said today authorities received an anonymous tip about the location of Erica Baker, a 9-year-old who disappeared in 1999 while walking her dog in a park.

Torok says police have received many tips over the years and always check them out. He says this search near Enon Beach is more visible because it's out in the open, unlike previous searches in wooded areas.

Prosecutors accused Christian Gabriel of Springfield of driving a van that hit the girl as she darted into a street and then burying the girl's body. Gabriel was convicted in 2005 of corpse abuse and evidence tampering.
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http://www.local12.com/content/breaking_ne...05-051980762ad5

Police End Lake Search for Erica Baker

Last Update: 11/19 6:22 pm

Related Video | Print Story | Email Story

Search for Erica Baker's Remains
New Search For Remains of Erica Baker


Slideshow
Erica Baker Kettering police have wrapped up their search near a pond in Clark County for the remains of Erica Baker. The area is in Enon, which is Northwest of Dayton.

The nine year old Baker disappeared in Kettering in 1999 while walking her dog. Christian Gabriel is serving a six year sentence for abusing a corpse and tampering with evidence. Gabriel confessed to hitting Baker with his van. Her body was never found. Police believe Gabriel hid the body.

Late this afternoon, crews wrapped up their search, releasing the scene, after finding nothing.
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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http://www.daytondailynews.com/n/content/o...20709baker.html
10 years later, Erica's family still waiting
'It's painful,' says missing girl's mother
By Kyle Nagel

Staff Writer

Saturday, February 07, 2009

Extras
Photos
Misty Baker, Erica Baker's mother, holds one of many images Daytonians have sent her of her missing child. 'You didn't have Erica to hold in your arms, so here is a picture of her you can hold,' was a note someone sent with a gift. 'We live in a great community,' Baker said. The 10th anniversary of Erica Baker's disappearance is Feb. 7.Click to enlargeWith two brothers in the Marines and spread across the globe, the family of Erica Baker won't hold any event to recognize today, Feb. 7, as the 10th anniversary of her disappearance.

But, her mother and grandmother said, that won't make the day any easier.

It was Feb. 7, 1999, when word spread that 9-year-old Erica was missing. She left home to walk the family dog and has not returned. The dog was later found with its leash still attached.

As the anniversary approached, Baker's mother Misty Baker and grandmother Pam Schmidt said they balance hope with the desire to honor Erica with a monument.

"The hardest day is her birthday," Misty Baker said. "People call around this time and ask if there's anything they can do, which is so nice."

Of Erica's three brothers, one is stationed in Okinawa, Japan, and another is in Iraq. The family hopes that when all three brothers are home, they can set a memorial stone in Kettering's David's Cemetery in Erica's memory.

Until then, the family continues to wait.

"To have 10 years and you still don't know, to still not be able to lay her to rest, is very painful," Schmidt said. "The feelings change a little year to year, but this year is particularly hard for everyone."


Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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http://www.whiotv.com/community/18663874/detail.html

Erica Baker Has Been Missing 10 Years
Saturday, February 7, 2009 – updated: 10:49 am EST February 8, 2009

KETTERING, Ohio -- Erica Baker, 9, disappeared 10 years ago while walking her dog near the Kettering Recreation Center.

It was Feb. 7, 1999, when Kettering police got the call that Baker had gone missing. She had left home to walk the family dog near the Kettering Recreation Center.

The dog was later found with his leash still attached.

Family members said two of Baker's brothers are now in the Marine Corp and stationed overseas.

Her mother, Misty Baker, hopes that when the brothers return home again, the family can put up a memorial stone in David's Cemetery in Baker's memory.
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an older article
Wednesday Marks 8-Years Since Baker Disappearance
Posted: 11:30 am EST February 7, 2007
Updated: 12:03 pm EST February 7, 2007

KETTERING, Ohio -- Wednesday marks the eighth anniversary of the disappearance of 9-year-old Erica Baker.

Baker was last seen near the Kettering Recreation Center walking the family dog on Feb. 7, 1999. The girl whose picture made national headlines has never been seen since.

Since her disappearance, there has only been one conviction in the case. Christian Gabriel was convicted two years ago of gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.

Gabriel is currently serving a 6-year sentence.

Although several different stories have surfaced about Baker’s disappearance, prosecutors believe it was Gabriel who was in a van that struck and killed the girl and then later buried her body.

Baker’s body has never been found. A woman who police said was also in the van at the time died before she could tell authorities about the case.

The woman’s husband gave her attorney permission to talk about the case, but attorney Beth Lewis refused to talk for years and was even jailed on contempt charges.

Lewis has since testified giving no new information about the case.

Last month, Gabriel’s attorney argued that the case should be overturned because he said his client’s confession was coerced and that there was no new physical evidence in the case.

The attorney also said his client’s trial should have been moved because of publicity.
http://www.whiotv.com/news/10953933/detail.html
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/pressReleas...009+PRN20090922
74 Families of Missing Children Team Together to Provide Help and Comfort to Other...
Tue Sep 22, 2009 8:01am EDT
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74 Families of Missing Children Team Together to Provide Help and Comfort to
Other Families with Missing Children

Families from 64 Cities and 30 States Attend Team HOPE Training at the
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

The discovery of Jaycee Dugard has given renewed hope to many families of
missing children throughout the nation. Seventy-four family members who have
personally experienced the pain of a missing child have registered to attend
training as a Team HOPE volunteer for the National Center for Missing &
Exploited Children (NCMEC). The training will take place on September 25,
2009 at the organization's headquarters in Alexandria, VA.

Team HOPE, which stands for Help Offering Parents Empowerment, is a unique
program that NCMEC makes available to families of missing or sexually
exploited children. Team HOPE volunteers are family members of missing
children or sexually exploited children. Volunteers are trained and after
assisting other families for a year are invited for retraining.

The September program is a retraining program for Team HOPE volunteers.
Attendees will travel from 64 cities and 30 states, and 2 Canadian provinces.

Seventy-four of those attending the training are family members of missing
children. Included in the seventy-four are family members of 15 children who
are currently missing (a list of those cases is attached).

Also participating in the training is Doris Ownby, mother of recovered missing
child Ben Ownby who was 13 when he went missing from Beaufort, Missouri in
2007. Ben was recovered after an intensive investigation which also located
missing child Shawn Hornbeck who disappeared in 2002.

"Parents of missing and exploited children have suffered a great loss, perhaps
the greatest their family will ever endure. They are members of a club that
no one wants to belong to. Many of these families have spent decades looking
for their children never giving up hope." Said Ernie Allen, President & CEO
of NCMEC. "They are the only ones who can truly understand the pain other
families of missing and exploited children are going through. Despite their
own pain and suffering they want to help other families. This is a very
unique program. It an example of extraordinary kindness, the strength of the
human spirit and the power of hope."

Team HOPE is comprised of mothers, fathers, siblings and extended family
members of missing or exploited children who volunteer their time and are
trained to help other victim families. Volunteers are matched with families
who have had similar experiences. Because of their personal experience Team
HOPE volunteers are uniquely qualified to offer emotional support, compassion,
guidance, empowerment and assistance in ways traditional community service
agencies can not provide.

Since its creation more than 10 years ago, Team HOPE has trained more than 235
volunteers and helped more than 40,000 families. Candidates to become a Team
HOPE volunteer are nominated from a variety of sources including: other
active Team HOPE volunteers; law enforcement; state missing children
clearinghouses; nonprofit organizations dealing with missing children issues;
and some families contact NCMEC directly.

This year the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children observes its
25th anniversary. NCMEC has played a role in the recovery of more than 138,500
children. Today more children come home safely than ever before. In 2008,
NCMEC helped recover more children than any other year in the organization's
25-year history raising the recovery rate from 62% in 1990 to 97% today. And
more of those who prey on children are being identified and prosecuted. Yet
too many children are still missing and too many children are still the
victims of sexual exploitation. There is much more that needs to be done.

About the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501©(3) nonprofit
organization. Since it was established by Congress in 1984, the organization
has operated the toll-free 24-hour national missing children's hotline which
has handled more than 2,400,000 calls. It has assisted law enforcement in the
recovery of more than 142,000 children. The organization's CyberTipline has
handled more than 733,690 reports of child sexual exploitation and its Child
Victim Identification Program has reviewed and analyzed more than 27,030,500
child pornography images and videos. The organization works in cooperation
with the U.S. Department of Justice's office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention. To learn more about NCMEC, call its toll-free,
24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit its web site at
www.missingkids.com.

MEDIA NOTE: Many of the family members participating in the training will be
available to be interviewed during the lunch break. Any media interested in
covering the Team HOPE training program or interviewing family members need to
contact the Public Relations Department at (703) 837-6111 or at
media@ncmec.org.

Participants in the training include family members of sixteen children who
are currently missing. Information about these sixteen cases is attached.
They include Non-family Abduction (NFA); Lost Injured and Missing (LIM);
International Family Abduction (IFA) and 5779 (A missing child between the age
of 18 and 21).

LIST OF FAMILIES OF MISSING CHILDREN WHO ARE PARTICIPATING TEAM HOPE TRAINING
ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2009







STATE VOLUNTEER NAME CHILD/ CASE CITY MISSING
CHILDREN'S TYPE DATE
NAMES

AL Stringfellow, Betty Sherry Lynn NFA New Brockton 6/6/1984
Marler
AR Nick, Colleen Morgan NFA Alma 6/9/1995
(Team Coordinator)
FL Leonard, Marilyn Clifton LIM Lakeland 8/22/1983
IL Teague, Kathy Vinyette NFA Chicago 6/25/1983
KS Clasen, Dee April Wiss LIM Wichita 1/11/2000
KY Cotton, Wanda Randy Sellers NFA Burlington 8/16/1980
NY Lyall, Doug and Mary Suzanne 5779 Ballston 3/2/1998
OH Culberson, Debbie Clarissa NFA Blanchester 8/28/1996
OH Schmidt, Pam Erica Baker NFA Kettering 2/7/1999
PA Murray, Lisa Jeffrey Lynn NFA Harrisburg 12/4/1985
(sibling)
Quebec Temperton, Melanie NFA Montreal 9/21/1988
Gwen Vatcher
TN Green, Donna Raymond NFA McLemoresville 11/6/1978
TX Saileanu, Tammy Isabella IFA Cedar Park 10/18/2001
Saileanu
WA Pichler, Kathy Joseph 5779 Bremerton 1/5/2005
WA Woody, Shawna Joseph NFA Tacoma 1/5/2005
Pichler (sibling)




NFA - Non Family Abduction - A child who is missing under circumstances
indicating that the disappearance is not voluntary and who has been abducted
by a non-family member.

LIM - Lost Injured and Missing - When a child's whereabouts are unknown to
the child's caretaker and the child is presumed to be lost or injured.
IFA - International Family Abduction - when a child is concealed or
transported out of the country by a family member with the intent to prevent
contact or deprive the other parent of custodial rights.

5779 - a missing child between the age of 18 and 21

CASE SUMMARY FOR SIXTEEN MISSING CHILDREN WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS
PARTICIPATING IN TEAM HOPE TRAINING ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2009

-- Sherry Lynn Marler hasn't been seen since she was 12 years old in
1984. She went into the downtown area of New Brockton, AL with her
step-father. He went to the bank and Sherry went to the store.
Sherry
never returned to the truck where she was scheduled to meet her
step-father. (Sherry's mother, Betty Stringfellow, will participate
in the training).
-- Morgan Nick was abducted from a little league ball game by an
unidentified man on June 9, 1995, in Alma, AR. Morgan still missing,
turned 20 on September 19th, 2009 (Morgan's mother, Colleen Nick,
supervises a team of volunteers and will participate in the training).
-- Clifton Patrick Leonard went missing from Lakeland, FL when he was 16
years in 1967. Clifton had been diagnosed with teenage schizophrenia
before his disappearance. He disappeared after leaving a friends home
and may have met with foul play. (Clifton's mother, Marilyn
Leonard, will participate in the training).
-- Vinyette Teague was just two and a half years old when she went
missing
from Chicago, IL on June 25, 1983. She was last seen in the hallway
outside her apartment. Vinyette turned 26 this past June.
(Vinyette's mother Kathy Teague will participate in the training).
-- April Wiss was 16 years old when she went missing from Wichita, KS.
April's roommate woke the morning of January 11th( )2000 to find
April missing. Her purse and belongings were in the apartment, but
April had disappeared. (April's mother, Dorothy Clasen, will
participate in the training).
-- Randy Lee Sellers disappeared from Burlington, KY on August 16th, 1980
when he was 17 years old. Randy went to the Kenton County Fair with
his
friends that evening, and has not been seen since that night.
(Randy's mother, Wanda Cotton, will participate in the training).
-- Suzanne Lyall was a 19 year old college student and working part time
at
the local mall when she went missing in 1998 from Albany, NY. Suzanne
has not been seen since 3/2/1998 when she left work and went to the
bus
stop to return to her dormitory. (Suzanne's parents, Doug and Mary
Lyall, will participate in the training).
-- Clarissa Ann Culberson on August 28, 1996, at the age of 22 Clarissa
disappeared from her home. It is alleged that Clarissa met with foul
play. Her boyfriend was found guilty of her murder, but Clarissa's
body has not been found. (Clarissa's mother, Debbie Culberson, will
participate in the training).
-- Erica Baker was almost ten when she went missing from Kettering, Ohio
on
February 7, 1999. She was last seen between 3:00 and 3:30 p.m. when
she
left the house to walk her dog. The dog was later found, but Erica
has
not been seen since. Erica turned 20 this past June. (Erica's
grandmother Pam Schmidt will participate in this training).
-- Lynn Smith went missing from Hot Springs, AR in 1985 when she was 16
years old. She was last seen walking home from school. (Lynn's
sister, Lisa Murray, will participate in the training). -- Melanie Lynn Temperton was last seen on September 21, 1988 in
Mascouche,
Quebec, Canada when she was 20 years old. She phoned her mother to
say
she was staying at a friend's house the night. It is suspected that
Melanie met with foul play. (Melanie's mother, Gwen Vatcher
Temperton, will participate in the training).
-- Raymond Green was abducted by an unknown woman on November 6, 1978
from
Atlanta, Ga when he was 6 days old. The day Raymond went missing this
unknown woman came to the home, when there other people going in and
out. She took Raymond, walked out of the home and disappeared.
(Raymond's mother, Donna Green, will participate in the training).
-- Isabella Saileanu was abducted by her father in Rumania at the age of
2
on September 18, 2001. Isabella was living with her mother in Santa
Clara, CA prior to the abduction. (Isabella's mother, Tammy
Saileanu, will participate in the training).

-- Joseph Pichler a childhood actor went missing at the age of 18 on
January 5, 2006 from Bremerton, WA. His car was subsequently found
with
his cell phone and identification. Joseph remains missing.
(Joseph's mother, Kathy Pichler, and sister, Shawna Woody, will
participate in the training).



Contact:
Public Relations Department
(703) 837-6111
media@ncmec.org


/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Sept. 22/

SOURCE National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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monkalup
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http://abc.daytonsnewssource.com/shared/ne...697.shtml?wap=0

KETTERING-- Monday, February 7th, marks the 12th anniversary of Erica Baker's disappearance. The nine year old girl was last seen on February 7th 1999 while walking the family dog near the Kettering Recreational Center.

Christian Gabriel is suspected of hitting her with his van and burying her body.
He is currently serving a sentence for tampering with evidence and gross abuse of a corpse. Erica's case remains unsolved.
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


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monkalup
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Gabriel Released, Picked Up By Erica Baker's Grandmother


ERICA BAKER CASE: Gabriel Released From Prison

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ERICA BAKER CASE: Gabriel Released From Prison

Posted: 11:35 am EDT June 23, 2011Updated: 7:16 am EDT June 24, 2011
MERCER COUNTY, Ohio -- Christian Gabriel, the only person ever charged in connection with the disappearance of Erica Baker, was released from the Mercer County Jail on Thursday.

In an unexpected twist, he was picked up by Baker's grandmother and the two went to a restaurant to talk.

Baker, 9, disappeared from a Kettering park in February 1999 and has never been found.

Gabriel, 41, was convicted of gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence in connection with the case in 2005. He was sentenced to six years in prison.

Police believe Baker was hit by a van that Gabriel and others were driving on Glengarry Drive.

Gabriel was released from prison June 14, but handed over to the Mercer County Sheriff's Office, where he was wanted on an old domestic violence conviction. Gabriel was in jail until Thursday, when his release was granted by a judge.

The grandmother of Erica Baker spoke up during the hearing, and asked the judge to send Christian Gabriel home because his son is ill.

Pam Schmidt said, "It would not serve a purpose to keep him here another moment."

Erica Baker's mother also supported his release from prison.

"I don't have my daughter. I don't wish that on anyone. He should be there with his son," said Misty Baker.

Misty Baker stood outside the Mercer County Jail on Thursday, holding posters with her daughter's photo. Erica would have turned 22 years old on June 22.

She is still hoping that Gabriel or others who may have information, will come forward.

Misty Baker said, "If there is anyone out there with information, I'm still waiting to bring her home."

When it was time for Christian Gabriel to go home, his ride was unexpected. Erica's grandmother, Pam Schmidt, pulled her car to the curb outside the jail, and he got inside.

http://www.whiotv.com/news/28332764/detail.html
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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monkalup
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Erica Nicole Baker
Missing since February 7, 1999 from Kettering, Ohio
Classification: Lost, Injured, Missing

Vital Statistics

* Date Of Birth: June 22, 1989
* Age at Time of Disappearance: 9 years old
* Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 3'11" (119 cm); 65 lbs (29 kg)
* Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Blonde hair; hazel eyes.
* Clothing: She was wearing a pink rain jacket, a pink Winnie the Pooh sweatshirt, blue jeans and white tennis shoes.
* Dentals: Available; Erica's front teeth are crooked.

Circumstances of Disappearance
She was last seen when she left the house to walk her dog between 15.00 and 15.30 on February 7, 1999. The dog was later found but Erica has not been seen since.
Police found few clues, but they developed a scenario based on sources that Erica had been struck by a car and one or more occupants picked up her body and hid it.

Christian Gabriel was found guilty on one count of gross abuse of a corpse and one count of tampering with evidence.
In the search for the girl's body, Gabriel took investigators to Eastwood Lake, Huffman MetroPark and finally to Caesar Creek State Park. In July 2004 he told Kettering police that he and three others were in a van when they struck Erica in the street. The other three buried her at Huffman MetroPark, he told police.
Four months later, his story changed. He was in the van with just one other person, Jan Franks, and they buried the body in a different location, according to his statement.
Three months later, his story changed again. This time he said he didn't even own a van at the time of her disappearance. Baker’s body has never been found. A woman who police said was also in the van at the time died before she could tell authorities about the case.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Kettering Police Department
937-296-2555
Email

Local Case Number: 990266

NCMEC #: NCMC860119

NCIC Number: M-188731580
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2499dfoh.html
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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monkalup
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The Old Heifer! An oxymoron, of course.
[ *  *  * ]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AqD60VeQTQ
video with dad
Lauran

"If you have a chance to accomplish something that will make things better for people coming behind you, and you don't do that, you are wasting your time on this earth." The late, great Roberto Clemente.


In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only.
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