Missing and Murdered Children

Original PostUpdated: 11.11.09Sources

There are some stories that come out about missing children that I hesitate to blog about because I can almost feel the outcome is going to be bad. I read the story last night about missing 11-month-old Harmony Creech last night. There wasn’t much information available at that time so I decided to wait.

I read another article this afternoon and I discussed the story with a friend.

Below is what was told to police:

“…Harmony was last seen in her crib in the family’s Spring Lake home, at 1680 Ray Road, around 11 p.m. Thursday. Investigators said Harmony’s mother, Johni Michelle Heuser, claimed to be the last one to see the child after putting her to bed Thursday night.(…)”

“…A pink bed sheet, a few bibs and most of her clothing were also taken, authorities said.(…)”

“…Harnett County Sheriff Larry Rollins said the window in the baby’s room was open. The screen had been removed and was sitting outside of the house…”

The father of the missing child has been deployed to Iraq and was not in the country when Harmony was born. However, he flew into the country on Friday morning and Harmony’s grandmother picked him up at the airport, leaving a sleeping Harmony and the mother behind with her other 3 children.

When I read this account things just did not ring true. The first thing that did not ring true was not bringing this returning soldier’s new baby to the airport to greet her new father. The second thing not ringing true was the grandmother picking him up at the airport.

The last thing that did not ring true was the baby was not discovered missing until approximately 11:00 a.m. after the grandmother and father returned from the airport. Having been a mother I know children just do not sleep in until almost noon at 11 months of age.

So I discussed my misgivings with my friend. She was quick to ask me why I thought the child was dead. What could be the reason for someone killing a baby? Well, my response was of all of the babies and children I have heard of being murdered by someone, there never has been a good reason for the murder – there never can be a good reason to murder a child.

Updates 

Latest Updates

So I just checked for new developments in the story. Harmony’s body was located this afternoon in the attic of the home where she lived. Apparently she has been dead for several weeks. I suppose they needed to come up with a story to explain to the father why his daughter was not there to greet him at the airport.¹

There have been no arrests made at this time. The baby’s mother, Johni Michelle Heuser, told police she discovered Harmony’s deceased body in her crib a few weeks ago and concealed the death out of fear. An autopsy will determine if there was anything the mother should have been fearful about regarding the death of her baby.

I will continue to update this story.

That poor little baby. If she did die of natural causes she deserved to have a decent burial — not stuck up in an attack like an unwanted doll.

After several hours of questioning regarding the death of her 11-month-old daughter Harmony, Johni Michelle Heuser was charged with first-degree murder. She is being housed at the Harnett County Detention Center on a no bond hold.

An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death. Johni told authorities that she found her daughter dead in her crib a few weeks ago and decided to hide the body and the death because she was afraid. News accounts do not elaborate on the cause of that fear.²

September 4, 2008

October 20th will mark the 1 year anniversary of Harmony Jade Creech’s alleged murder at the hands of her mother. At least that will mark the anniversary of the discovery of her badly decomposed body. Harmony’s mother  has yet to be indicted for the crime.

In case you don’t recall Hueser reportedly discovered her baby dead in the crib several weeks prior to reporting her missing. Instead of calling authorites on the day of the discovery Hueser decided to place her dead baby in a plastic bag, place that inside a diaper box and put the box up in the corner of the attic.

She then waited until the day the baby’s father was returning from a tour of duty in Iraq to report the baby missing which prompted the activation of a statewide Amber Alert.

What a piece of work.

In January of this year authorities were awaiting test results from Harmony’s skeletal remains that had been sent to a Texas lab for analysis. Then on March 11 it was reported that the autopsy discovered nicotine in Harmony’s body and there was no way to figure out how that happened.³

On March 18 it was determined that the cause of death was inconclusive. Other tests are being conducted and the investigation is ongoing.⁴

November 11, 2009

Prosecutors have decided to seek the death penalty in the first-degree murder case of Johni Heuser. It has been difficult for investigators to determine exactly how Harmony Creech died in 2007. What they have determined after having Harmony’s remains examined by an anthropologist is that Harmony was starved to death.

Harmony’s remains were found in the attic of her mother’s home on Oct. 20, 2007. Investigators believe Harmony died sometime between August 31, 2007, September 30, 2007.

Sources 

Death Penalty Sought Against Mother in Toddler’s Death, WRAL.com, Last Accessed: November 11, 2009.

1. Missing Harnett County Baby Found Dead in Attic, WRAL.com. [↩]
2. Mom Charged with Murder After Baby Found Dead, WRAL.com. [↩]
3. Autopsy Finds Nicotine in 11-month-old’s Remains, WRAL.com, March 11, 2008. [↩]
4. Infant’s Cause of Death Remains Under Investigation, WRAL.com, March 18, 2008. [↩]

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: Monday July 20, 2009Click for UpdatesView Sources

Yes, you read it right, a Virgin Island AMBER Alert. When I first saw the missing poster for this child with the letters “VI” for what I thought was the initials of the state of residence I thought it was an error. Certainly they must have meant “VA” for Virginia. Anyway, call me nationalistic in my thinking. But you can’t call me that either because much to my surprise the Virgin Islands are considered part of the United States. Of course that echoes in my brain somewhere – United States Virgin Islands. I guess I just think AMBER Alerts are for the fifty states that make up United States of America. Enough of my meandering.

According to a Virgin Islands news website called St. Croix Source, two-year-old Alayah Watley resides with her mother on the island. She was last seen on Saturday at the home of her father, Rolando Watley. According to the article, Alayah was in her father’s temporary custody, however he is currently “off island”.

The AMBER Alert issued by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children states that Alayah is the victim of a non-family abduction and is believed to be traveling in a car owned by her father but driven by Candice Hazel. The AMBER Alert goes on to state that if contact is made with Alayah or either Candice Hazel, Delicia Hazel, Tiffany Hazel, Kyle Hazel or Rolando Watley police should be called. It sounds as if Alayah has more than one abductor, including her father.

I like the way the reporter for the St. Croix paper put it in no uncertain terms what will happen to anyone not contacting law enforcement if they know anything about this abduction:

If you are with Watley or may know her whereabouts please contact Detective M. Myers at 712-6046 immediately. Anyone withholding information on the whereabouts of this missing child and does not contact police immediately will face criminal charges.

It is refreshing to see someone not be so politically correct when asking for help to find a missing child.

Victim: Alayah Watley

Alayah is a 2-year-old Black female with black hair and brown eyes. She is 1’5″ tall and weighs 30lbs. When last seen Alayah was wearing black pants, a red shirt, gold earrings and no shoes. Her hair is worn in braids and her ears are pierced. Alayah is in need of medical attention.

Suspect: Candice Hazel

There is no information about Candice Hazel except that she is a female.

Suspect Vehicle

White Compass with License Number CDH-815

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective M. Myers at 712-6046 or the Virgin Islands Police Department at 340-772-9111.

Updates

July 20, 2009: 9:30 p.m. PST

The AMBER Alert activated this afternoon for Alayah has been canceled. A relative contacted police this evening and said Alayah was with her. Police interviewed the relative and then returned Alayah to her mother. Detectives will contact the Attorney General to see what charges, if any, will be filed.

Sources

Two-Year Old Alayah Watley Missing on St. Croix, St. Croix Source, Last Accessed: July 20, 2009.

AMBER Alert: Alayah Watley, NCMEC, Last Accessed: July 20, 2009.

Alayah Watley Missing Poster, NCMEC, Last Accessed: July 20, 2009.

Source Staff, VI Amber Alert Called Off: Missing 2-Year-Old Found on St. Croix, St. Croix Source, Last Accessed: July 20, 2009.