Post by LadyBlue on May 7, 2013 11:30:31 GMT -5
On Friday, March 2, 2004, Nancy Ruiz gave her 14-year-old daughter, Georgina DeJesus, $1.50 for bus fare as the child started to leave their West 71st Street home. It was a cold and blustery day in Cleveland, Ohio and she did not want her daughter walking to school. Gina, as Georgina preferred to be called, was a seventh-grader in special education classes at Wilbur Wright Middle School. The school was almost 40 blocks from her home, yet Gina had the habit of spending part of the bus fare money for after-school snacks and would walk home.
Nancy Ruiz watched the clock, noticing that her daughter was late. It was almost 3:45 p.m. and Gina usually would be home by 3:55. Nancy walked to the nearby corner store, hoping her daughter had stopped there. When she could not find her, Nancy went home and began calling Gina's friends, none of whom knew of the child's whereabouts. At 5:30, Nancy and her family notified the Cleveland Police Department about the missing child.
A vast search of the neighborhood and school route was immediately implemented by police, on foot and horseback, with trained dogs and more than 200 volunteers. That Sunday, the FBI joined a city-wide search for Gina, with more than a dozen agents. "They offered their assistance and we took them up on it," said Cleveland Police Lieutenant Brian Hefferman. Fliers were circulated city-wide; known sex offenders, and over a hundred people, were questioned. An Amber alert was quickly initiated.
Jane Campbell, Mayor of Cleveland, became involved in the pleas and held a press conference with Gina's family, pleading for the child's safe return. Campbell also encouraged parents to talk with their children to gain information about where Gina could be, and with whom. "We still do not have a grip on where Gina is. We have to have every bit of information."
Concerned city councilmen assisted in the search and made pleas for Gina's safe return. "We have had three abductions in recent months. Something needs to be done," said Councilman Matthew Zone.
There are a lot of kids who walk down Clark as far as West 56th, and nobody saw anything," said Ricardo DeJesus, Gina's brother. "Somebody has to know something."
Felix DeJesus, Gina's father, was rushed to a hospital after suffering chest pains while putting up fliers about his daughter's disappearance. He and his entire family remain extremely devastated over Gina's disappearance. They, and law enforcement officials, are convinced she was not a runaway, but had been abducted. "I will not give up," said Felix. "As long as she's out there missing, I'm going to be out there with her."
FBI agents emphasized that the importance of any information on Gina's disappearance would be vital. "there is someone out there who has information that would resolve this investigation," said Special Agent Bob Hawk, of the Cleveland FBI office. "And we remain optimistic. We hope she does return. We're still committed, most definitely, but we have nothing of any value right now."
Georgina DeJesus' ears are pierced and she has a second piercing in the cartilage of her right ear. She has a birthmark on her right leg and one on the right side of her chest. Anyone with information on Georgina should immediately contact the CLEVELAND POLICE DEPARTMENT (216-621-1234) or the nearest FBI OFFICE.
Nancy Ruiz watched the clock, noticing that her daughter was late. It was almost 3:45 p.m. and Gina usually would be home by 3:55. Nancy walked to the nearby corner store, hoping her daughter had stopped there. When she could not find her, Nancy went home and began calling Gina's friends, none of whom knew of the child's whereabouts. At 5:30, Nancy and her family notified the Cleveland Police Department about the missing child.
A vast search of the neighborhood and school route was immediately implemented by police, on foot and horseback, with trained dogs and more than 200 volunteers. That Sunday, the FBI joined a city-wide search for Gina, with more than a dozen agents. "They offered their assistance and we took them up on it," said Cleveland Police Lieutenant Brian Hefferman. Fliers were circulated city-wide; known sex offenders, and over a hundred people, were questioned. An Amber alert was quickly initiated.
Jane Campbell, Mayor of Cleveland, became involved in the pleas and held a press conference with Gina's family, pleading for the child's safe return. Campbell also encouraged parents to talk with their children to gain information about where Gina could be, and with whom. "We still do not have a grip on where Gina is. We have to have every bit of information."
Concerned city councilmen assisted in the search and made pleas for Gina's safe return. "We have had three abductions in recent months. Something needs to be done," said Councilman Matthew Zone.
There are a lot of kids who walk down Clark as far as West 56th, and nobody saw anything," said Ricardo DeJesus, Gina's brother. "Somebody has to know something."
Felix DeJesus, Gina's father, was rushed to a hospital after suffering chest pains while putting up fliers about his daughter's disappearance. He and his entire family remain extremely devastated over Gina's disappearance. They, and law enforcement officials, are convinced she was not a runaway, but had been abducted. "I will not give up," said Felix. "As long as she's out there missing, I'm going to be out there with her."
FBI agents emphasized that the importance of any information on Gina's disappearance would be vital. "there is someone out there who has information that would resolve this investigation," said Special Agent Bob Hawk, of the Cleveland FBI office. "And we remain optimistic. We hope she does return. We're still committed, most definitely, but we have nothing of any value right now."
Georgina DeJesus' ears are pierced and she has a second piercing in the cartilage of her right ear. She has a birthmark on her right leg and one on the right side of her chest. Anyone with information on Georgina should immediately contact the CLEVELAND POLICE DEPARTMENT (216-621-1234) or the nearest FBI OFFICE.