U.S.

Kidnappers Are Seldom Strangers

By David Hancock

June 19, 2002 / 1:40 PM EDT / CBS

In the light of the Elizabeth Smart case, CBSNews.com's David Hancock looks at the kidnapping of children.

Their names and sad stories are well known in America. Adam Walsh, a 6-year-old Florida boy snatched from a shopping mall in 1981. Polly Klaas, 12, abducted in 1993 from her bedroom in tiny Petaluma, Calif. Jimmy Ryce, a 9-year-old South Florida boy kidnapped while waiting for his school bus in 1995. Innocent children in ordinary situations — stolen and murdered by strangers.

Now comes Elizabeth Smart, the 14-year-old Utah girl snatched from her bedroom in the early morning hours of June 5. And again, a nation agonizes with the parents of a typical American family visited by unexpected, unspeakable tragedy.

"These abductions really do affect everyone," says Tina Schwartz, director of public relations for The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a national clearinghouse for information about missing children funded by the U.S. Department of Justice and private sources.

"The Smart case has really struck a chord with people, it's something that could happen to them," says Schwartz. "It's a fear that all parents feel."

Fortunately, cases where a complete stranger has abducted a child are just a tiny fraction of the number of annual missing children cases. Citing FBI and other law enforcement statistics, Schwartz says that only 200-300 cases nationwide involve children taken by a complete stranger. Those case are the most perilous for the victims – 75 percent of the time, the child is dead within three hours.

The FBI reports that in 2001, local law enforcement agencies fielded 840,279 missing person reports. Of that total, 85-90 percent were minors. In most of the missing children cases, the children were recovered in short order.

"The children, in the vast majority of cases, were recovered immediately. It was serious enough to report it to the police, but the child was recovered,'' says Schwartz. The vast bulk of missing cases are runaways, followed by family custody abductions.

In fact, the 840,279 missing people in 2001 is the lowest total since 1992. It's open to speculation why, but Schwartz guesses that news coverage of missing children might be a factor.

"This issue has been getting a lot of attention lately, it could be that parents are keeping a closer eye on their kids."

There are dozens, if not hundreds of law enforcement and non-profit groups dedicated to educating parents about child safety and sharing information about missing children. A simple Web search can find loads of tips, but Schwartz offers some key tips to keep in mind.

In custody abduction cases, typically between dueling spouses, it's important for a parent to have obtained legal custody of the child in advance. Many times, parents have an oral agreement, which means the parent left behind typically has to first go to court to gain legal custody before a serious investigation can be made to find the child.

In one out of six cases, a photo was key in recovering the child. Parents should make sure they have current photos of their children.

Children should be taught that if they are lost or in trouble, to seek out a person in a uniform or smock, such as a policeman, guard or company employee. Failing that, the child should ask for help from a pregnant woman or a woman with children, people whom Schwartz said are considered low risk.

It isn't enough to teach children not to speak to strangers. The child should be reared in such a way that he or she feels comfortable talking to parents about any situation that makes the child feel uncomfortable or suspicious. They should know that they won't be punished for confessing something that happened that didn't feel right.

If there is any silver lining to the Elizabeth Smart case, it's that it makes parents think about their children's security. Schwartz cautions that parents should remember that these nightmare stranger abductions are extremely rare.

"It's important for the parent to keep the risk in perspective."