Missing and Murdered Children

| August 24, 2010 | The New Jersey State Police issued an AMBER Alert this afternoon for Terry Dusseault, Jr., 8 years. He was allegedly abducted by his father, Terry Dusseault, Sr., 38, from the area of 301 Canal Circle in Lumberton, New Jersey.

There are many AMBER Alerts issued when a parent abducts a child and usually it is due to a custody dispute. However, in this case, the parent in question may be feeling more desperate.

Terry Dusseault, Sr. is a registered sex offender. The crimes that earned him the registered sex offender designation were committed in North Carolina in 2005. He was convicted on several counts of Third Degree Sexual Exploitation on June 13, 2007 according to the North Carolina Department Of Correction Offender Public Information site. A story I read stated that Dussealt served a prison term for those convictions and the charges involved possession of child pornography.

The reason he may have decided to take the drastic step of abducting his son and going on the run is that he was charged this morning with sexual assault of three children in Burlington County, New Jersey. None of the charges involve his son.

The AMBER Alert site states the following about outstanding charges:

The suspect is also wanted for 6 counts of Child Sexual Assault & Endangering the Welfare of a Child charges in NJ.¹

I don’t know about anyone else, but I have a firm belief that sex offenders cannot be cured, that most remain predators, and that they should be sentenced to long prison terms if not to life without parole. I am in favor of Civil Commitment, if that commitment is for life. But I digress…

I really do not understand why Dussealt, Sr. was allowed to walk out of court after being charged. In my view, given his past convictions and the current charges, which if true shows a progression of his “disease” and warrants no bail or at least a very high bail amount. There is no information at this time that he in fact out on bail.

Anyway you look at this situation, there was an error in judgment made and now an innocent 8-year-old boy is in the company of a most likely desperate father who has nothing to lose.

Terry Dusseault, Jr.

Terry is an 8-year-old white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 4’8″ tall and weighs 80lbs.

Terry Dusseault, Sr., suspect

Dusseault, Sr. is a 38-year-old white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He is 5’10″ tall and weighs 210lbs. When last seen he was wearing a tan, short-sleeved shirt and khaki shorts. He has a tattoo of “NY” on his left arm and tattoo of “Schaney” on his upper chest.

Suspect Vehicle

Black 2001 Hyundai Santa Fe with New Jersey license text: LXB61U. According to some reports, this vehicle belongs to the suspect’s girlfriend, Amy White Additional information gives the Vin number of KM8SC 83D81 U125802.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the New Jersey State Police or 9-1-1.

August 25, 2010

The AMBER Alert issued yesterday has been canceled. Terry Dusseault, Jr. was found safe and unharmed in the company of his father, Terry Dusseault, at a market in Medford Township, New Jersey. The elder Dusseault was taken into custody.

More information has been revealed about the family dynamics. Prior to the alleged abduction, Terry Dussealt, Jr., resided with his father and uncle at an apartment building located at 301 Canal Circle in Lumberton, New Jersey. According to news reports, the child’s mother is deceased.

After finding out charges were filed against him yesterday morning for the sexual assault of three children, Terry Dusseault fled with his son before police could take him into custody.

Some news reports state Dusseault’s previous convictions in North Carolina resulted in prison time, other news accounts state he only received probation.

I am glad this AMBER Alert came to a positive conclusion. It is really sad that this little boy has not only lost his mother, but will now most likely lose his father to prison time. Hopefully his uncle is a positive influence in his life.

NC DOC Offender Public Information, Terry Dussealt, Jr., 08.24.10.

Police: Convicted Sex Offender Abducted Son in NJ, CBS3.com, 08.24.10.

Tom Hester, Sr., State Police Issue AMBER Alert for Burlington County Kidnapping, NewJerseyNewsroom.com, 08.24.10.

NJ Boy Found Safe, Dad in Custody, KYW.CBS.LOCAL.com, 08.25.10.

NJ Father Arrested After Abducting Young Son, CBS3.com, 08.25.10.

1. NCMEC AMBER Alert, Terry Dusseault, Jr., 08.24.10 [↩]

Original Post: September 26, 2008Last Updated: September 27, 2008View Sources

Yesterday the mother of 5-year-old Geontae Glass went into a convenience store and then reported that her car had been stolen with her son inside. Witnesses in the area had said they had seen a pickup truck drive up and a black male exit the pickup truck. He got into the mother’s vehicle and drive off. The driver of the pick up truck also drove off. The mother indicated to authorities that she had left her vehicle’s engine running when she went into the convenience store. ¹

Updates 

September 27, 2008

An Alabama Amber Alert that was issued yesterday has been canceled. The reported kidnapping was a hoax and police have arrested the mother and another male and have charged them with the death of the 5-year-old boy.

“…The body of Geontae Glass and the car that was reported stolen Monday morning were found Tuesday at a residence in Etowah County, Sheriff James Hayes said.
Shalinda Glass, 25, of Rainbow City, and Kevin Andre Towles, who is believed to own the house where the body was found, were being held, Hayes said…”²

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of death and it is not clear if the boy was already dead at the time of the reported abduction.

It is so hard to keep believing parents when they report a missing child when stories turn out this way. It is such an abuse of the Amber Alert system and law enforcement resources when parents use those resources to cover up a crime.

Sources 

Atlanta Journal Constitution.com

1. Car Left Running Stolen with Child Inside, WSMV.com, Last Accessed: September 26, 2008. [↩]
2. AJC.com [↩]

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

Updates 

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.

Sources 

1. KGW.com Staff, Missing Woodburn Girl May Have Been Kidnapped, KGW.com, Last Accessed: August 5, 2009. [↩]
2. Missing Poster: Elvia Morales, NCMEC, Last Accessed: August 5, 2009. [↩]
3. Ibid. [↩]
4. Jeff Jaeger KATU News and KATU.com Staff, Police on the Hunt for Kidnapping Suspect, KATU.com, Last Accessed: August 5, 2009. [↩]
5. Erica Heartquist and KGW.com Staff, Woodburn Girl Kidnapped by Family Acquaintance, KGW.com, Last Accessed: August 6, 2009. [↩]
6. KGW.com Staff, Missing Woodburn Girl had ‘Ongoing Relationship’ with Abductor, KGW.com, Last Accessed: August 6, 2009. [↩]
7. Laborlawtalk.com, Last Accessed: August 6, 2009. [↩]