Archive for the ‘age’ tag
OR Non-Family Abduction: Elvia Morales
Original Post: August 5, 2009Last Updated: August 6, 2009: 7:30 p.m.View Sources
I don’t understand why this case has not resulted in the activation of an AMBER Alert.
According to authorities, 14-year-old Elvia Morales was allegedly abducted from her Woodburn, Oregon home by thirty-six-year-old Juan Morales-Morales. Elvia’s 17-year-old cousin said she witnessed the abduction and Elvia was not happy about going with Morales. According to the witness, Morales arrived at the home and announced he was taking Elvia with him. The cousin and Elvia told the suspect he was not going to take Elvia with him; however, Morales forced Elvia to accompany him.
Elvia’s mother has made a plea through an interpreter for her daughter to come home. Maybe there is something being lost in the translation, but it sounds as if Elvia’s mother is confused and not sure whether her daughter went willingly with the man who used to work with her husband.
Elvia’s family simply hopes she returns home soon. “She says she wants her to come home because she’s really worried about her cause this has never happened to her and she’s really upset and wondering why she’s all of a sudden gone,” said Morales, speaking on behalf of Elvia’s mom.1
The suspect may be headed to California. The FBI is already involved in this case and have issued a Felony warrant for Kidnapping. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Woodburn, Oregon Police Department at 1-503-982-2345.
Victim: Elvia Morales
Elvia is a 14-year-old Hispanic female with long black hair and brown eyes. She is 4’5″ tall and weighs 110lbs. Elvia has a birthmark on her left arm. When last seen Elvia was wearing an aqua shirt, blue jeans, and white shoes2
Suspect: Juan Martinez-Martinez
Juan Martinez-Martinez is a thirty-six-year-old Hispanic male with black hair and brown eyes. His is 5’6″ tall and weighs 145lbs. Morales-Morales has a scar on the top of his head.3
Suspect Vehicle
A black or dark blue sedan, possibly an older-model Saturn. No license information available.4
August 6, 2009: 3 p.m. PST
As of today authorities say there will be no AMBER Alert issued for this non-family abduction because there is not enough information about the suspect vehicle and it does not appear that Elvia is imminent danger of injury or death.
Also, Elvia’s father, Sebastian Morales, told reporters he received a phone call from his daughter after she was abducted:
The girl’s father, Sebastian Morales, said he received a call from his daughter asking to be left alone, to not search for her and that everything was okay. But Morales wonders whether the girl was coerced into making the call.5
It’s hard to tell anymore what is in peoples’ minds and what they will or will not do. It is said the suspect has a wife and children in Mexico. It does not make sense that he would take Elvia to Mexico as authorities believe he may do. Maybe Martinez believes Elvia is his daughter. Who knows?
August 6, 2009: 7:30 p.m. PST
According to KGW.com, police revealed this afternoon that Juan Martinez and Elvia Morales have had an ongoing, inappropriate relationship.6
No matter what people may think about this situation, Elvia needs to be found and brought back home to her parents. She most likely will need therapy. If the allegations are true, Morales needs to be tried for sexual assault of a child.
Age of consent in Oregon:
…If you are under the age of 18, you are considered unable to consent to a sexual act. Any person under the age of 18 that engages in a sexual act with another person under the age of 18 subjects themselves and the other person to prosecution. Any person over the age of 18 that engages in a sexual act with another person under the age of 18 subjects themselves to prosecution. In order lawfully consent to sex, a person must be at least 18 years old…7
I don’t know what this grown man was thinking. This girl still goes to middle school for cripes sake. The article says he has a wife and kids. I wonder how old his children are and I wonder if those children are girls. I wonder how he would feel if a grown man came after his daughter.
- KGW.com Staff, Missing Woodburn Girl May Have Been Kidnapped, KGW.com, Last Accessed: August 5, 2009. [↩]
- Missing Poster: Elvia Morales, NCMEC, Last Accessed: August 5, 2009. [↩]
- Ibid. [↩]
- Jeff Jaeger KATU News and KATU.com Staff, Police on the Hunt for Kidnapping Suspect, KATU.com, Last Accessed: August 5, 2009. [↩]
- Erica Heartquist and KGW.com Staff, Woodburn Girl Kidnapped by Family Acquaintance, KGW.com, Last Accessed: August 6, 2009. [↩]
- KGW.com Staff, Missing Woodburn Girl had ‘Ongoing Relationship’ with Abductor, KGW.com, Last Accessed: August 6, 2009. [↩]
- Laborlawtalk.com, Last Accessed: August 6, 2009. [↩]
TN AMBER Alert: Damien Duncan
Located safe on July 10, 2009
An East Tennessee AMBER Alert has been issued for an 11-year-old Seiverville boy. His parents told police the last time they saw their son, Damien Duncan, was when they left for work just before 8 a.m. on July 8, 2009. When they arrived back home from work that day at 4 p.m. Damien was gone.
I don’t think it is legal to leave a child home alone under the age of 12 years.
Well, apparently it is legal in Tennessee. According a quote on WikiAnswers from the Tennessee Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges:
“There is no legal age for children to stay at home alone. Parents are advised to use their best judgment, keeping the child’s maturity level and safety issues in mind. Younger children have a greater need for supervision and care than older children. Obviously, young children under age 10 should not be left without supervision at any time. In most cases, older teenage children may be left alone for short periods of time.”
I don’t know, for myself I would have a problem leaving my 11-year-old home alone for an extended period of time – such as a full workday.
Well, now the child is gone. If you have seen Damian, please contact the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department at 865-453-4668 or TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND.
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AMBER Alert Subject: Damien Paul Duncan
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Damien is an 11-year-old white male with brown hair and blue eyes. He is 4FT tall and weighs 75LBS. When last seen Damien was wearing a green t-shirt with white stripes, red and white Nike tennis shoes, and a purple ball cap with an LSU logo on the front.
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July 10, 2009: 11:30 p.m. PST
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There is now clarification of where police found Damien. He was found in an unfinished home five miles from his home. He suffered some scratches, bruises and managed to find some poison ivy. Otherwise, I guess he is going to be OK. Once again, the only person talking to the media at any great length is Damian’s biological mother. She says she is grateful her son was found safe.
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July 10, 2009: 4:45 p.m. PST
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According Damian’s mother he has been found safe. Damian was in found in a creek and has been taken to Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center. It is not clear if Damian is injured or if it is just routine to want to examine a child who has been missing.
I am glad I was wrong about Damian’s fate. I still feel his disappearance needs to be evaluated by the proper authorities.
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July 10, 2009: 3:30 p.m. PST
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The AMBER Alert remains active for Damien Duncan; however, police now believe that he probably ran away from home. There have been several people who have claimed seeing Damien in the immediate area even as late as this afternoon.
Damien lives with his father and stepmother. I have seen Damien’s biological mother on the news searching for her son. I have not seen his father or stepmother out searching nor have I read reference in the news media that they are out searching. I am not comfortable with this child’s “disappearance”. Damien was last seen according to his father when he and his wife left for work on the morning of July 8. The father explains that he did not bother calling police when he found Damien gone on the evening of July 8 because he thought his son was with his mother. Well, I suppose the smart thing to do at that point was to call his ex-wife and ask if the boy was with her. Apparently he did not do that and Damien’s disappearance was not reported until sometime July 9. Damien’s mother has been quoted in the media that she was told Damien was being punished and he ran away.
When Ricky Holland was reported missing from his home in Williamston, Michigan the parents said he ran away and had a history of doing so. Many of the town’s people searched for Ricky and several people claimed to have seen Ricky in the area. Almost a year later Ricky’s adoptive father, Tim Holland, led investigators to a swamp where he had dumped Ricky’s body. Tim and Lisa Holland were found guilty of Ricky’s murder. When they called police to report Ricky’s disappearance, Ricky’s body had already been dumped.
I hope Damien is in fact hiding somewhere, afraid to come home after causing such a ruckus in the town for running away. I have my doubts.
AMBER ALERT Issued for Missing Sevier County Boy, WLVT, Last Accessed: July 9, 2009.
AMBER ALERT: Search Continues for Boy Believed to Have Run Away, WLVT, Last Accessed: July 10, 2009.
AMBER ALERT CANCELLED: Sevier County Boy Found Safe, WLVT, Last Accessed July 10, 2009.
