The Tragedy of Missing Persons
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Dugger: 20 Years and Counting .........................2 We Need Your Help; Unsolved Murders ................... 10 FUGITIVES To Protect and Serve .......................................3 Missing Persons .......................................................... 11 CAPTURED TOGETHER WE CAN 2663 Shame, Shame, Shame ...................................6 Attorney General Pam Bondi ..................................... 12 Mayor Brown: Train Up a Child ......................7 JSO Most Wanted .............................................13 Happy MISSING A Word From the JC Board Chair ....................7 Campaign Breakfast Busted ..............................................................14 PERSONS Hats Off!: Scotty McGee .......................................8 Nassau, Baker, Bradford, Clay and St. Johns Most Wanted ..14-15 FOUND 179 FSS Missing Children ...............................................8 February 19 Special Thanks ..................................................16 New Year AVAILABLE ONLINE 24/7 JANUARY 2015 WWW.JUSTICECOALITION.ORG Volume 20 • Number 10 • FREE Untested rape kits The Tragedy of Missing Persons – time to act now By Shirley Shaw MISSING MAN By Jay Howell Last month skull fragments were discovered at the former Northside home of a woman who’s been missing Modern science has 22 years. The Medical Examiner has not determined their Douglas David now provided the capabil- identity, but excavated remains are believed to be those Swanson ity to identify the criminal of Bonnie Ham, a lovely 23-year-old mother who disap- Last seen at a perpetrators of hundreds, peared January 6, 1993, leaving behind a 3-year-old son. friend’s birthday if not thousands, of un- Her husband was suspected of murdering her, especially party somewhere solved sexual assaults and after the son told police he saw his father shoot his mother near Newton Road other serious crimes. But and even showed them where the shotgun was thrown and Belfort Road on the critical evidence that will track down into a nearby river. Because her body was never found, December 14, 2014. the perpetrators and provide a measure charges were not filed. He was driving his of court-approved scientific evidence Family members now hope that finally justice will be white Chevy Tahoe against them is housed in the vaults of served and her killer prosecuted for her death. Although with a gray scoop on law enforcement and related agencies in they believed their loved one was dead, they were not ab- the hood. If you have information regarding his every state. solutely certain, and while this latest development stirs up whereabouts, please call JSO at 904/630-0500 or National estimates indicate there are all the pain of her loss, at least they will experience a mea- CrimeStoppers at 866/845-TIPS. more than 100,000 sexual assault foren- sure of closure. sic evidence kits, often called “rape kits,” This event also brings to the surface the grief of many sitting untested in law enforcement files. other area families whose loved ones’ whereabouts remain for them to post. Each day is a challenge; every second This situation does not exist because law a mystery. On page 11 in this paper (and every month) we of each hour is consumed with thoughts of our mother. enforcement has dropped the ball. To the list 18 pictures of missing individuals whom we’ve tried Countless hours without sleep have passed while we try contrary, many of these untested rape kits to help locate by posting rewards and information on bill- to put the pieces together and cope with her being gone. were filed away before science provided boards and by writing articles about their disappearance. We are living in a state of shock, unable to comprehend the the DNA key to unlocking their secrets. We know the pain of uncertainty and the agonizing ques- living nightmare into which we have been thrust.” As recently as the early 80s, when I prose- tions posed: Where are they? Are they in pain? Are they This scenario is/has been repeated for every single cuted sexual crimes in Florida, we did not hungry? What happened to them? Now does the discov- missing person – those we at the JC know about, as well have DNA evidence to use in court. We ery of Ms. Haims’ body give new hope for other families as multiple others in JSO’s Missing Persons Unit. Remem- had fingerprints and hair analysis, but no as they continue their search? ber when two 12-year-old boys went missing in February DNA. We published an article in August 2001 by the children 2005? Speaking on behalf of her family, Angie Campbell Actually, two separate events had of Jackie Markham who went missing from her Callahan writes, “Our family is no stranger to the overwhelming to occur before the testing of these kits home earlier that year. They said, “We have spent count- flood of emotions one goes through with a missing loved would guarantee any success. Obviously, less hours each day on the phone talking to anyone who one. We have been on this journey for more than nine one was the science necessary to identify will listen to spread the word of her disappearance; we’ve years since my nephew Mark Degner and his friend Bryan a human being through his/her DNA sent thousands of flyers throughout the Jacksonville area Hayes disappeared from Paxon Middle School. and the ability to readily retrieve and test and surrounding counties to business and organizations that DNA from a host of common surfac- Tragedy... Continued on page 4 es, from skin and clothing to household objects and weapons. The second event was the establish- Successful Child Sex Prosecution ment, by the individual states, of broad databases that would reveal the DNA By Angela Corey these tough cases every single day identities of individuals arrested or con- at the SAO. These two prosecutors State Attorney victed of a wide variety of crimes. were recently victorious in seeking The DNA Breakthrough . Child sex crime justice for two sex crime victims There may be no way to know for cer- cases are some of who were under the age of six when tain, but the first individual convicted in a the toughest cases their abuse started. case involving DNA proof may have been we prosecute at the French and Licandro took Ear- a burglar and rapist in Florida in 1987. State Attorney’s Of- nest Demetrus Bolton, 42, to trial The State of Virginia initiated the first fice (SAO). Many times, child vic- and convicted him on three counts DNA testing policy in 1989 and with it, tims fear going to court to face their of Sexual Battery, one count of At- the requirement that certain sex offenders abusers. They are afraid to testify tempted Sexual Battery, and one and violent felons provide samples to the in front of strangers. It’s also hard count of Lewd or Lascivious Mo- databank. At first, the states only man- for these victims to relive the pain lestation for his abuse on the two dated that convicted sexual offenders of their abuse all over again. But young girls. Bolton was sentenced in with the support and determination the case and received five life terms provide their DNA. Gradually, over a pe- Earnest Bolton riod of about ten years, the states began to of those who are assigned to these on each of the five counts. Two of the delay is the victim is scared or expand the criteria for mandatory DNA cases in the Special Assault Divi- the life sentences run consecutively; has even been threatened to not submission. sion, or SAD, justice can prevail. the rest run concurrently. Two Assistant State Attorneys, Many times, months or years say anything. In the Bolton case, Howell... Continued on page 5 Cameron French and Catherine Li- can go by before the abuse is dis- the abuse came to light years after candro, are assigned to SAD and see covered. Sometimes the reason for Corey... Continued on page 5 The views, opinions, and positions expressed in articles submitted by monthly and/or pe- The Justice Coalition is a grass roots, non-profit (501(c)3), non-partisan organization that operates on contri- riodic contributors to the Victims’ Advocate butions, proceeds from fundraising events and newspaper advertisements, etc. Please help us continue our newspaper do not necessarily reflect the advocacy for innocent victims of violent crime in NE Florida. Visit our website at www.justicecoalition.org, or views of the Justice Coalition. JANUARY 2015 call (904)783-6312The JU to sseeT howice you c cano beA ali partT ofio thisN vital’s service.VicTims’ AdVocATe • 1 20 Years and Counting! have not become calloused or indiffer- ent; rather our passion to continue the From the Director JC’s mission is firm. In this past year alone, we have assisted more than 300 by Ann Dugger victims, walking with them through every phase of their devastating ex- periences – from the occurrence of the This year marks the 20th anniversary crime through the maze of the criminal of the Justice Coalition. I can’t believe justice process and beyond. Through that much time has elapsed since Ted difficult times and economical setbacks Hires saw the need for someone to ad- God has been faithful to provide all our vocate for innocent victims of violent needs and sustain us. crime and started this organization. I’m In 2015 I’m excited about a new ser- sure most of you know that he was a vice we will provide that takes place local businessman who owned several right here in our office. As we have as- Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ restaurants – and sessed and responded to the immediate that he and his staff were held at gun- needs of victims and/or their families, point, fearing for their lives. During the we’ve also comforted and lent emotion- to learn more about Scotty and what short message from JC Board of Direc- subsequent trial Ted was appalled that al support during their heartbreaking makes him such a valuable asset to this tors Chairman Roger Delaney, propos- HE, the victim, was merely an observ- experience.