Thank you, Kos community.
I have good news regarding my niece Sarah - she was found in Nebraska yesterday and appears to be OK. We are elated.
I originally posted a diary here on Sunday morning when we were increasingly distraught and trying to get more attention for her case. I asked for help on media contacts or other ideas. This community responded with numerous suggestions, reward offers, and many actual efforts on our behalf to distribute Sarah's poster to their local media or police. Some called us with other information, or provided other specific offers of help. We also got possible tips that were forwarded to the investigators. The response was a big source of comfort for Sarah's mother, who was very touched that a group of strangers would immediately respond with such concern and energy. We were helped by all of the concern for her welfare and all the good will sent our way. All efforts were welcome and needed - she was possibly anywhere in the U.S.
We got excellent help from the NJ State Police, who have a missing persons unit wholly apart from the local police department. The local police were not vigorous about the case, and we were constantly frustrated at that level. We also got prompt assistance from the Polly Klaas Foundation and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
This community really jumped in when I posted the diary asking for help. I hesitated to do so, because it was off-topic for the site, but I urgently needed the ideas of a very bright and sane group of people whose comments could largely be trusted when we were faced with a potentially life-threatening situation for a young person. I also knew that my attempts to get media coverage could be informed by comments from the very media-savvy group of people that visit this site.
Kos, thanks for allowing this diary on the site to collect comments for our assistance.
My assumptions about the Kos community and the decency of all were confirmed by my experience here in soliciting your help.
Many thanks.
Update [2004-8-28 11:34:1 by Athena]: Thanks for all of the cheer that we have found her safely. I can only report the details that locating involved the van breaking down, an event which came to the attention of the authorities. It would be inaccurate to say that any specific tip from this site led to her being found, so I want to clarify that. But that does not undo the importance of all of these efforts from the site when her whereabouts were completely unknown and all pieces of information might have led us to her. In addition, as the story was sent out more broadly, it only widened the circle of people on alert. So all efforts were valuable and welcome.