Missing and Murdered Children

I really don’t understand the delays in reporting missing children, especially when these children go missing from a group home or foster care placement. These placements should be held to the strictest of standards to promptly report the disappearance of a child under their care.

Thirteen-year-old Goi Anne Smith went missing on October 20, 2008 when she reportedly walked away from the Magic Unity Home for Girls in Baltimore, Maryland. Apparently the group home was not magical enough to make Goi want to stay there. The Baltimore County Sheriff’s Department did not issue a press release until November 7. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released their poster to the public via e-mail, today, November 24. The NCMEC poster indicates that Goi may be in need of medical attention. There was been some press coverage earlier in the month; I wonder what the delay was in getting the information to the press. I just found a story that was published on November 7 regarding Goi’s disappearance; the information is incorrect regarding the date of her disappearance.

From wjz.com:

Detectives say that Goi Anne Smith, 13, has been missing since Monday, when she walked away from the group home.

The press release clearly states she has been missing since Monday, October 20.

Anyone with information about this disappearance is asked to call Baltimore County Police at 410-307-2020.

Goi Anne Smith

Goi is a 13-year-old Black female with black hair and brown eyes. She is 4′9″ tall and weighs 160lbs. When last seen Goi was wearing a maroon hooded sweatshirt, white t-shirt, and blue jeans. She may try to pass herself off as a male and may be in the company of an older male.