Missing and Murdered Children

Update December 18, 2006 10:45 a.m. PST:

According to a news story published today on the Dallas Morning News website Jaaiber Bell and his brother Xavier have been located safe and are now back with their mother.

The neighbor, Lloyd Declouet, 31, of Dallas, was arrested and charged with 2 misdemeanor counts of ‘enticing of a child’. The police could not charge him with kidnapping because Mr. Declouet had permission to take the children. Short description of the charge ‘enticing of a child’:

“…a misdemeanor in which a person “knowingly entices, persuades or takes the child from the custody of the parent or guardian,” according to the penal code…”

According to the news account, Mr. Declouet, pulled into a closed gas station in West Dallas at approximately 1:30 a.m. Monday. He was apprised by people there that the Dallas Police were looking for him regarding the children. At that point the children were sleeping in his vehicle - he called 9-1-1 and waited for police to arrive.

The children were examined at a hospital and returned to their mother in good condition. So far there is no explanation why Mr. Declouet diverted from the normal routine or where he kept the children for 3 days. According to Sgt. Cedra of the Dallas Police department, Mr. Declouet seemed surprised that police were searching for him.

I am glad this case had a good outcome. Perhaps it was just a case of poor communication on the part of the babysitter and the mother. [Source]

Jaaiber Bell, age 4 years was supposed to be taken to daycare on Friday by a neighbor after his mother left for work but he never arrived. The neighbor was also supposed to babysit the younger boy. Apparently the last time the two brothers were seen was on Friday morning with the unnamed male neighbor when the mother left for work.

Information regarding this disappearance is that the case has been upgraded to a critical missing child case and the FBI and NCMEC has been brought in to assist in the investigation. However, an Amber Alert has not been issued and that has been a source of frustration for family members.

When first questioned about why an Amber Alert has not been issued Dallas Police Sgt. Gil Cerda said the following:

“Number one, the mother knows this person … who had baby-sat the children for at least a year.”

When questioned further about the fact that the alleged abductor does not need to be a stranger according to current protocol in order to issue an Amber Alert, Sgt. Cerda said the following:

“I think it’s always under consideration”… “However, at this point it doesn’t fit the protocol.”

If at this point, the police have determined it is warranted to call in the FBI and the NCMEC for assistance then I think it is also warranted to call for an Amber Alert to be issued in this case. Clearly, if the babysitter in question did not deliver the older child to daycare then he diverted from the normal plans he had with the mother. More attention would be given to a car taken without permission than has been given to these missing children. Even if the mother had reported her car taken without permission by a friend the police would have issued a “Be on the lookout” for the car. The police in this case have a description of the vehicle for the neighbor.

The neighbor in question is not currently charged with kidnapping, there is no warrant issued for him.

I don’t know, maybe the police do not believe the mother’s story and that is why they are not issuing the Amber Alert. Maybe they have already spoken to the neighbor in question and are keeping that information close to the vest.

Missing Children Descriptions:

Jaaiber Bell

• Age: 4 years
• Sex: Male
• Race: Black
• Hair: Brown
• Eyes: Brown
• Height: 3′0″ (91 cm)
• Weight:35 lbs (16 kg)
• Last seen wearing: white shirt and blue corduroy pants

Xavier Bell

• Age: 3 years
• Sex: Male
• Race: Black
• Hair: Black
• Eyes: Brown
• Height: 2′5″ (74 cm)
• Weight: 25 lbs (11 kg)
• Last seen wearing: red long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans

Possible Vehicle Description:

• Make: Saturn
• Model: Four-door Sedan
• Year: 2000
• Color: maroon
• Texas license plates 420 PXF
• The driver’s window of the vehicle is broken.

[Source]

[Source]