WV WV - Aliayah Lunsford, 3, Lewis Co., 24 Sep 2011 - # 1

[shefner]

I'm not necessarily going to jump to conclusions on the photo. It looks like a Christmas photo which means it could have been taken when she was still 2. It could have been taken at a family gathering in which she didn't have time to nap and was whiny and crying. 2-3 year olds without naps can have that same sad look.

OT- but I once took my son to a 1pm afternoon Wiggles concert when he was a few months shy of 3. Without his nap he didn't make it through the end of the concert without crying - and I had to miss them singing the big red car, lol.

Her eyes don't look empty to me, she looks like a typical 2-3 yr old who was probably tired and crying.

Yeah...but is this the photo you would give to the authorities? I mean, it might be cute to laugh at when the child is 16 and you are recalling a whiney Christmas of childhood. But this is the photo people are going to use to try to find your child....
Maybe I'm jaded. I just think they would have a better photo to share with the media....and a more recent one, at least.

 

[JeannieC]

Lets pray that she just wandered off and will be found. This is heartwrenching!

 

[deelytful1]

http://www.wvstatepolice.com/

Not a good sign...

 

[eileenhawkeye]

Here's info about WV's Amber Alert system:

Activation of the Amber Alert System requires law enforcement to meet ALL the following minimum mandatory criteria:

Law enforcement confirms a child 17 years of age or younger has been abducted.

Law enforcement believes the circumstances surrounding the abduction indicate that the child is in danger of serious bodily harm or death.

Law enforcement has enough descriptive information about the child, abductor and suspect’s vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast will facilitate the child’s location.

A law enforcement officer must enter the abducted child into NCIC and must provide supporting documentation as to why the Amber Alert System should be activated.

 

[fhc]

http://www.wvstatepolice.com/

Not a good sign...

What on that site is not a good sign? There were no RSOs in Lewis County.

 

[peeples]

I think they mean no amber alert

 

[fhc]

http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/201109243611

Nothing new here, but hopefully another source.

 

[deelytful1]

I was pointing out the fact that there was no amber alert....
I really think ALL states should get rid of the stipulation that they have to have a description of the car or the abductor... many times this info isn't even correct.

 

[JeannieC]

Here's info about WV's Amber Alert system:

Thanks. Basically the Amber Alert is only used IF they see the person being abducted. Have a description of the car, etc.

 

[cluciano63]

Amber Alerts are a good tool if you have a vehicle since it was designed to pass news quickly to people on the roads.

But surely another type of alert should be used for children who are simply "missing", reasons unknown. It should be separate from Amber Alert, more for people on foot, or just going about their business. There is no way people in cars are going to recognize a missing child as a car speeds by if they do not have a car description, IMO.

 

[JustPeachy]

She was last seen at 6:30a.m., who saw her then?
What was she doing, still sleeping, up going potty, or eating her little bowl of cereal?
Who reported her missing and what time?
Who else lives in the home?

So many questions and NO answers.

 

[dsntslp]

In regards to the picture, I think she looks like her mouth hurts and she is sucking her bottom lip into the hole where the teeth previously were.

Has it been said at what age her teeth were lost?
Can it be ascertained if, in this picture, she still had her teeth or if they were recently lost and her mouth would be painful?

Either way I do agree that she appears tearful. She sure is sucking on that bottom lip, IMO.

Not that any of this would help to find her...sorry.

 

[Sharedspirit]

http://sundaygazettemail.com/News/201109243611

Nothing new here, but hopefully another source.

That's good! It's getting state wide coverage instead of just the local news. If she's been taken out of the area, we need her picture out there in the media!

 

[JeannieC]

Amber Alerts are a good tool if you have a vehicle since it was designed to pass news quickly to people on the roads.

But surely another type of alert should be used for children who are simply "missing", reasons unknown. It should be separate from Amber Alert, more for people on foot, or just going about their business. There is no way people in cars are going to recognize a missing child as a car speeds by if they do not have a car description, IMO.

I agree. I heard just the tale end of something on TV about changing the criteria or making changes to the Amber Alert. They added the Silver Alert and I think there is a Gold Alert too. (I could be wrong about the last one but they have three). Another wouldn't hurt. One for missing children.

 

[cluciano63]

In regards to the picture, I think she looks like her mouth hurts and she is sucking her bottom lip into the hole where the teeth previously were.

Has it been said at what age her teeth were lost?
Can it be ascertained if, in this picture, she still had her teeth or if they were recently lost and her mouth would be painful?

Either way I do agree that she appears tearful. She sure is sucking on that bottom lip, IMO.

Not that any of this would help to find her...sorry.

There has been zero info, other than she is missing, certainly no deails about her teeth, etc...(other than that they are missing.)

 

[eileenhawkeye]

If you don't have a description of the vehicle, then I don't see how the current Amber Alert would be useful. Are the signs on the highway just going to say "(Race)(Sex)(Age)(Height)(Weight)" and people are going to look into cars to see if anyone matches that description?

 

[cluciano63]

I agree. I heard just the tale end of something on TV about changing the criteria or making changes to the Amber Alert. They added the Silver Alert and I think there is a Gold Alert too. (I could be wrong about the last one but they have three). Another wouldn't hurt. One for missing children.

It shouldn't be brain surgery for towns and or communities to simply post any and all info in any and all sources when a child is missing; it should not require a program to do so, JMO (not directed at YOU- it is so frustrating).

 

[Cubby]

Have they done an amber alert?

No. Amber alerts are usually only done with known abductions and almost always a vehicle description. The laws vary by state, but most require at least verification of an abduction or possible abduction and a vehicle description.

hth

 

[eileenhawkeye]

I think that if LE felt Aliayah had wandered outside on her own, they would put more of an effort into getting media coverage because she's only 3, and they could tell people to check their yards for her. I know there's a game on right now, but I don't think the WV media would ignore the story if LE was holding press conferences. I think it speaks volumes that they aren't asking for the media and public's help; possibly because they don't need it.

 

[JeannieC]

It shouldn't be brain surgery for towns and or communities to simply post any and all info in any and all sources when a child is missing; it should not require a program to do so, JMO (not directed at YOU- it is so frustrating).

I totally agree with you. I don't see why that can't go across the TV and be on the road signs too. This child could be miles away by now.