Gone Without A Trace...
Could Your Child Be Next?

By LIZ GOFF

They’re probably not as safe as you want them to be – or as safe as you think they are.

The New York City Police Department has offered the following tips, designed to help you keep your children safe:

• Talk to your children – and encourage them to talk to you about everything and anything that happens.

• Teach children to be aware of their surroundings and to talk to the people around them – even if they are relatives or good friends. Remember, the majority of child abductors and child molesters are known to the child (i.e. parents/guardians, grandparents, babysitters, friends, neighbors, etc.). Tell children to:

• Make sure your child knows that he or she has the right to say "no" to any unwanted touch.

If someone wants to touch their "private parts" (parts that underwear or swimsuits cover), say "no!" Get away as quickly as possible and tell an adult you trust what happened.

• Never, ever let anyone convince them to keep unwanted "touches" a secret.

• Never wander off alone when you are out with parents, school or any other group at picnics, barbecues, etc.

Decide on a prearranged place where your child can go if he or she gets lost. Tell the child to wait there for you – and that they should not leave with anyone else.

• Be sure doors and windows are locked when children are left home alone. Don’t tell anyone that you are alone. Don’t open the door to anyone you are not expecting. Don’t tell anyone on the phone that you are home alone – say a parent or other adult is there, but cannot come to the phone.

• Always enter public restrooms very carefully. It is best to have an adult accompany you. Do not speak to strangers and don’t loiter in the restroom.

• Always tell your parent or guardian where you are going, who you will be with and when you will return.

• Know your neighborhood. Learn where you can to seek help, if you need it (i.e. store, gas station, police, fire station, friend’s home).

• Be aware of the danger involved when you think about taking a "shortcut" through an alley, an abandoned lot, etc.

• Always walk and play in open spaces where you can be seen by other people. Don’t stay in a schoolyard or playground after your friends have gone home. If possible, travel to and from school with a friend or a group of friends.

An added note to parents: Law enforcement officials believe that for each missing child, there is at least one person who knows something – where the child is, how he or she is ,and who is holding them.

Police urge adults to be aware of children in their families, the children of friends, neighbors, etc.

If you feel there is foul play or that the child is being abused, contact police. You may be the only voice the child has.

About NCMEC

The non-profit National Center for Missing and Exploited Children was founded in 1984 to serve as a focal point for parents, children, law enforcement agents, schools and the community in recovering missing children and raising awareness about ways to prevent child abduction, molestation, and sexual exploitation.

To date, NCMEC has handled more than 73,000 cases of missing and exploited children and helped recover 48,000 children. The center’s recovery rate rose from 60 percent in the 1980s to 91 percent today – earning its title as "the resource" for missing and exploited children.

It’s simple to contact the center, to seek help in recovering a missing child or to report a sighting. The center’s toll-free telephone number projects the desperation of parents and loved ones who are seeking help: 1-800-THE-LOST.

The New York City Police Department’s Missing Persons squad handles hundreds of cases each year of child abduction by family members, stranger abduction and endangered runaways.

To report an abduction, a missing child or a runaway, contact the NYPD Missing Persons Squad at (212) 374-0319 or your local precinct.

When reporting a missing or abducted child to NCMEC or the NYPD, be prepared to give authorities all pertinent information regarding the child, and a recent photo.

Keep A Record

There are other ways to record your child’s identity to present to officials if the unthinkable should occur.

The Queens District Attorney’s office offers free fingerprinting of children and adolescents. Trained fingerprint experts will record your child’s prints on three sets of cards – one stays with the District Attorney’s office, one is for your personal record, and the third can be forwarded to your local precinct where police will keep the prints on file for future reference, should they be needed to help find a missing child.

Contact the Queens District Attorney’s office at 286-6400 for further information.

The same service is offered by many precincts at crime prevention seminars and displays, at street festivals and during annual "National Night Out" celebrations held each August.

Contact your Crime Prevention or Community Police Officer at your local precinct for more information.

Web Worries

As if parents didn’t have enough to worry about, with family member abduction, stronger abduction and runaways, the internet has introduced a whole new realm of crimes against children.

Internet crimes are increasing at an alarming rate, law enforcement officials said.

Normal kids from normal families are being drawn by curiosity about what lies at the other end of the computer keyboard –a world of adult conversations and websites unfit for young children.

Youngsters are being drawn into viewing "XXX" and pornographic material and are participating in "chat room" conversations that are light years beyond their ability to understand.

Robert Moteki and Elaine Lederer, directors of the Long Island Consultation Center at 97-29 64th Rd., Rego Park, recently devoted two days to a New York State and Federal law enforcement seminar to become better educated regarding internet crimes against children – a nationwide epidemic. Among preventive measures stressed at the seminar was parental supervision – in other words, know what your child is doing while he or she is at the computer, and where journeys through the internet take your child.

Experts suggested that parents spend time at the keyboard with children, and place limits on time spent surfing the "net."

Moteki and Lederer will speak on these suggestions and other tips presented at the seminar at a free Town Hall meeting for parents on Saturday, Nov. 20 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Meeting Room at the Consultation Center.

For further information on the Town Hall Meeting or the seminar, call 896-3400.

Bring Them Home

The responsibility for protecting and finding lost children belongs to all residents of Queens, according to the Queens D.A. Local residents must keep their eyes open to bring them home.

The following is a list of numbers of agencies that handle cases of missing and exploited children, set in cut-out form for you to clip and save:

Where Are These Queens Children?

There one minute, gone the next. Missing children –the sin of 20th Century society.

Case No. NY3623:

Melissa Reiter was a healthy, happy baby – and the child of a broken home.

On May 23, 1992, Melissa disappeared from her Queens home. The courts had awarded custody to Melissa’s father, something her mother was apparently unable to accept.

Melissa was 16-months old when she disappeared so many years ago, her blue eyes just beginning to open on her world.

Detectives at the NYPD Missing Persons Squad have classified her disappearance a "Family Abduction." She is believed to be with her non-custodial mother, Beth Shari Reiter, aka Beth Shoken.

Melissa is now eight-years old. When last seen, she had brown hair and piercing blue eyes. Beth Reiter will be 38-years old on Dec. 23. Investigators believe Melissa may still be in the New York area.

Case No. 861112

Milena Markovic was last seen on Feb. 20, 1999. The 15-year-old left her Queens home and never returned.

NYPD Missing Persons detectives have classified her as an "Endangered Runaway." Alone on the streets of New York City.

Like most teenagers, Milena’s days ran hot and cold, and she possessed a normal adolescent curiosity about the world around her.

Milena’s birthday is June 9. When last seen, she was five-feet, two-inches tall, with red hair and blue eyes. She weighed about 95 pounds.

Investigators believe Milena may still be in the New York City area.

Case No. NY 4218

Police and the FBI have issued an arrest warrant for Mohammed Saad El-Sayed. They believe he abducted his then-three-year-old daughter on June 18, 1993 and fled the country, but he may since have returned.

Nashwah Lylah El-Sayed was a well adjusted, happy three-year-old when she was snatched from her Queens home by her father.

The child of a broken home, the courts had awarded custody of Nashwah to her mother – a circumstance her father apparently chose to defy.

Nashwah is nine years old now. Her birthday is Sept. 26. When last seen, she had big brown eyes and a head full of bouncy brown curls.

Mohamed Saad El-Sayed is now 47-years old.

Father and daughter may be in the metropolitan area.

Case No. NY5169

Melissa Maria Samaniego smiles from ear-to-ear in the photo distributed by NYPD detectives.

She was five-years old when she disappeared from her Queens home, where she lived with her father, who had been awarded custody of the little girl.

NYPD Missing Persons detectives believe she was abducted by her non-custodial mother, Ana Fonesca. Melissa has been missing since March 7, 1994.

When last seen, she had brown eyes and brown hair. She would be nine years old today.

Ana Fonesca is now 48 years old. Police are unsure of the whereabouts of Melissa and her mother.

If you have any information regarding these children, you are urged to contact the New York State Missing and Exploited Children Clearinghouse at their website: missingkids.com.

You may also contact the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.

If you have information regarding Melissa Erin Reiter, Milena Markovic, or Melissa Maria Samaniego, you may also contact the NYPD Missing Persons Squad at (212) 374-0319.

If you have information on the whereabouts of Nashwah Lylah El-Sayed you are urged to call the FBI at (212) 335-2700 or 1-800-THE-LOST.

Officials also urge: If you think you may have seen any of these children, please call the numbers listed above. You do not have to give your name. All calls may be anonymous, and will be kept strictly confidential.