ACTIVE SEARCH SD - Serenity Dennard, 9, Children’s Home Society, Pennington County, 3 Feb 2019 #3

[kay74]

Fair enough, do you think it involved the center, or elsewhere IF that would have happened? I am not questioning an idea you may have, just curious is all.

I'm thinking someone seeing her and grabbing her, not the center.

 

[kay74]

You can watch this... there will be a more detailed report later... I hope this ok to post...
Report: Black Hills Children's Home Staff waited 1 hour, 41 minutes to call 911

Can you imagine if you had a 9 year old child that disappeared and you waited this long. You would be frantic

 

[girlhasnoname]

I as well do not remember hearing they did this. I do think if more of these kinds of things were shared, it would go a long way with the public. I felt much of the time as if nothing was being done. I do realize it is not their job to inform the public nor their priority but it is a different day and age, and even back before this day and age, people need to see that all is being done that can be. imo and jmo.

Someone on an early thread posted the idea of an alert in vicinity going out to cell phones like an Amber Alert in the cases of missing children. I thought that was a great idea. I said then, we sign up for dozens of other alerts (Email, FB, Weather, Sports etc.) why not alert the local area of a missing child. I think it would be very successful.

 

[girlhasnoname]

It's sad precious time was wasted for whatever reason. I'm sure those responsible feel horrible. It's like so many other cases here on WS, innocent victims die, but there can be something learned that might prevent it happening again. Like the SC college student getting into the wrong car thinking it was her Uber ride. I bet the majority of ride sharers are paying more attention now.

New video surveillance, faster response, better training, etc. for the Home would be a start in this case and if a 'runner' took off again, they'd most certainly be more prepared. Does it bring Serenity back, no. Is it fair? Absolutely not, but it could save another child in the future and I believe that would make even Serenity happy.

Still holding out hope!

 

[MsGazette]

Just catching up. Apologies if this has been posted.

New reports explain what happened the moments after Serenity Dennard disappeared

 

[girlhasnoname]

Just catching up. Apologies if this has been posted.

New reports explain what happened the moments after Serenity Dennard disappeared

A Lost Child Policy written 20 years ago per the link! That's hard to believe.

 

[human]

CHART: Here's How Long You Can Stay Outside In Extreme Cold Temperatures Before Getting Frostbite

 

[human]

How Does a Person Freeze to Death?

 

[Rocco]

IIRC, the temperature was around 20 degrees F when she ran off. Children do not like being cold. She was wearing a long sleeve tee shirt so she must have gotten cold as soon as she went outside without a coat. I just can't imagine that she didn't turn around and go back to the home to seek warmth after traveling a very short distance. If anyone remembers----did the couple who saw her outside say what they saw her wearing?

 

[ilovechili]

Someone on an early thread posted the idea of an alert in vicinity going out to cell phones like an Amber Alert in the cases of missing children. I thought that was a great idea. I said then, we sign up for dozens of other alerts (Email, FB, Weather, Sports etc.) why not alert the local area of a missing child. I think it would be very successful.

One would think that would be automatic, I agree it should be a thing. It amazes me even with an Amber Alert sometimes how many of a community may not know about a case in their own locale of a child gone missing. It reminds me as well that I should have received two Amber Alerts (at minimum) that I did not in recent months and I still do not know why. When I get a chance I need to look into that and see if the automatic delivery and rules have changed or see if some setting was changed on my phone.

Has anyone else experienced this or are there maybe different levels of alerts?

A couple of years ago, I was at a restaurant and everyone's phones started alerting and mine did as did the people I was with and the phones of almost everyone there. The entire restaurant did that moment of wth is going on? A child had just been abducted and it was an alert you could not miss with a different tone/pitch. I have never had another one since then.

I also until a recent case never knew there were different criteria for Amber Alerts in each state in order to get one issued.

I realize they cannot do it for each and every case but if we CHOOSE to receive such alerts, why not with any and all missing children and even people for that matter? As you stated, it would be like signing up for weather alerts, an alert of a favorite podcast, an alert of breaking news from a station you watch, etc. Maybe it is easier said than done, I don't know, but it sounds feasible to me.

 

[beatrixpotter]

Just catching up. Apologies if this has been posted.

New reports explain what happened the moments after Serenity Dennard disappeared

Pathetic. They were practicing for an active shooter but not a runaway child? Talk about poor management and planning. I'm so disgusted they took this long to call. And quite frankly I'm suspicious of staff at this point.

 

[PommyMommy]

Weather conditions for any anticipated search efforts are not looking good...

Pennington County SO on Twitter
No travel advisory for Pennington County roads due to hazardous road conditions. All county plows are in for the night. @PennCoSheriff

8:14 PM - 10 Apr 2019

 

[ilovechili]

Pathetic. They were practicing for an active shooter but not a runaway child? Talk about poor management and planning. I'm so disgusted they took this long to call. And quite frankly I'm suspicious of staff at this point.

I have ruled nothing out myself imo.

She may have been abducted by a stranger or a staff member.

She may have been harmed at the home.

She may have met someone who she knew on the road and it was planned, like a family member.

She may have went into the woods and did not make it. She could have been running from something or just running off for no planned reason or destination.

She may have encountered a kind stranger and be living and happy somewhere.

I rule none of it out because we have been given absolutely not one single reason to rule anything out. We have seen some reasons to at least question some things though.

With regard to the home and the findings, I am not surprised. Some may not like that opinion but it is a fact that often the big $$ go elsewhere and not to hire or retain quality employees, provide training, install security, etc. It happens in nursing homes, it happens in "non-profits", it happens all over the place, maybe not in every place, but it does happen and is not so rare imo. I also think the findings are not unexpected and there may be more we will never know, and then again, maybe that is it and it was simply lack of training, maybe a bit of negligence--pretty standard review--training, protocol, etc.

Sadly, today the weather is not cooperative in South Dakota it sounds like. I will never forget this case and this child and at the very least, I hope she brings some real change and attention to things. Sadly, I don't think that change or any big changes will occur but I sure hope I am wrong.

This case has been discussed imo very civilly and even with differing opinions, I have seen nothing but respect to other opinions, I just want to say that. Debate, yes but outright disrespect, no. It is refreshing, not all cases/threads are that way.

I am with this one until she is found. Continued prayers for Serenity.

All just my own opinion.

 

[flashy09]

IIRC, the temperature was around 20 degrees F when she ran off. Children do not like being cold. She was wearing a long sleeve tee shirt so she must have gotten cold as soon as she went outside without a coat. I just can't imagine that she didn't turn around and go back to the home to seek warmth after traveling a very short distance. If anyone remembers----did the couple who saw her outside say what they saw her wearing?

This is why I have always felt from the beginning she was abducted or had some sort of planned escape set up. Especially learning that the other child distracting the workers was not spontaneous, but something Serenity more than likely set up judging from her past history. Also the fact she was not running when the couple saw her. I do not think a 9 yr old would be able to blaze a trail in frigid weather and get so far away that she would not have been found by now. It doesn't even seem like the dogs are getting much scent. I don't think she ever went in the woods.

 

[AliceInPain]

This is why I have always felt from the beginning she was abducted or had some sort of planned escape set up. Especially learning that the other child distracting the workers was not spontaneous, but something Serenity more than likely set up judging from her past history. Also the fact she was not running when the couple saw her. I do not think a 9 yr old would be able to blaze a trail in frigid weather and get so far away that she would not have been found by now. It doesn't even seem like the dogs are getting much scent. I don't think she ever went in the woods.

I so agree with you and the post you quoted.
Humans have a natural instinct to survive. That's our #1. If it's deadly cold we will go to the nearest place we know is warm. To me it's pretty clear Serenity would have tried to get back to the home pretty soon if she didn't get warmth quickly enough. I just can't see a child keep walking in freezing temps when they know there is warmth elsewhere. Unless she perished quickly. Which I doubt because they would have found her by now.
Just my scattered thoughts and imo.

 

[mickey2942]

Just catching up. Apologies if this has been posted.

New reports explain what happened the moments after Serenity Dennard disappeared

This is pretty much what I thought happened, and mentioned that in the first thread. I have worked in a few residential treatment facilities, and there is a level of complacency among staff. I was pretty sure that protocol wasn't followed.

@ilovechili you are spot on with your assessment of "non profits", I worked for a non profit organization, the business side of the company was staffed with highly paid fundraisers, organizers, they were always arranging "events". It seemed like the treatment facility was an "add on", not really the focus, yet, that was the program that they were supposed to be raising money for...the whole thing was bizarre. And then they added a daycare and summer program for "under privileged children", there were two under privileged children in the program, and filled with children and grandchildren of the fund raising staff! I didn't need the job, I was doing it just to help the actual clients, I quit.

 

[ilovechili]

This is pretty much what I thought happened, and mentioned that in the first thread. I have worked in a few residential treatment facilities, and there is a level of complacency among staff. I was pretty sure that protocol wasn't followed.

@ilovechili you are spot on with your assessment of "non profits", I worked for a non profit organization, the business side of the company was staffed with highly paid fundraisers, organizers, they were always arranging "events". It seemed like the treatment facility was an "add on", not really the focus, yet, that was the program that they were supposed to be raising money for...the whole thing was bizarre. And then they added a daycare and summer program for "under privileged children", there were two under privileged children in the program, and filled with children and grandchildren of the fund raising staff! I didn't need the job, I was doing it just to help the actual clients, I quit.

Hearing that is very informative and matches what we have seen with some non-profits, private or public. I do not pretend to know much about treatment nor the children's issues (there are others on here that know far more about that than I) but with regard to top heavy money and lack of it spent elsewhere? That is not anything all that unusual, although I am sure it does not apply to all. Whether that applies here is anybody's guess but there is a report showing some issues as a result of something. I hope whatever the reasons, that positive changes come as a result of Serenity and I hope she is found.

I hope you went on to find a place to work that exists for the right purposes and where you do make a real difference like you wanted to. What you described should not even be allowed to go on but it does.

 

[Rocco]

In addition, the review by the two agencies, noted the staff of the Children's Home was operating on three different radio frequencies on the day Serenity disappeared, which did not allow everyone to hear the same thing at the same time.

Report released in the early search for Serenity Dennard

 

[misgrn]

If you want info on some of the financials of Children's Home Society of South Dakota, the non-profit that operates Black Hills Children's Home, you can go to their website. They have the 2019 Spring Newsletter which features the 2018 Annual Report, 2016's 990 tax form, plus a couple other audits. I am not sure if it is an approved website to link but that info on their site under About and then News.

 

[SuziQ]

IIRC, the temperature was around 20 degrees F when she ran off. Children do not like being cold. She was wearing a long sleeve tee shirt so she must have gotten cold as soon as she went outside without a coat. I just can't imagine that she didn't turn around and go back to the home to seek warmth after traveling a very short distance. If anyone remembers----did the couple who saw her outside say what they saw her wearing?

I have not kept up with this case, so pardon me if I am off base. I just can't see a poorly dressed child hanging out at the gate in 20 degree weather.