Before Id repost it I talked to a member of the family
http://savemanessa.wordpress.com/manessa/
On Friday, November 17th 2007, Manessa boarded a Greyhound bus out of Tampa, Florida and back to her recent home in Bristol, Connecticut. As she was en route, her friends covered for her. She was on a Journey to be with her ‘man’. They helped to weave a web of deception, giving several stories about where she was going, what was happening, and why she had left. However, once she left home, according to friends, she was never seen again. Her best friend in Bristol who was anxiously waiting for her to arrive hasn’t seen her.
Her bus ticket puts her as arriving at 3:45, November 18th, at the Greyhound bus terminal in New Britain, CT.
Kevin - Makes 14, 15 and 16 year old girls his “homies”.
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
This is Kevin Childs. He’s 37. This is the only picture we can find of him . It was found in Manessa’s room after she ran away. The caption on the image states “Chillin wit my Homies”. Make no mistake, his ‘homies’ are well documented by the local authorities to be girls aged 14-16. He’s had several complaints against him, and the police are aware of him, but to date, there’s no evidence he does anything with these girls. Beyond that, we really don’t know WHAT the police do or do not know. However, the Bristol Police Department does know who he is and that other parents have complained.
We first came across problems with Kevin just after Manessa turned 15. We got a call from her friend’s mother telling us that neither her daughter nor Manessa were where they said they were. Instead, they were at Kevin’s home drinking and carrying on. The mothers both went to get their girls, who were plastered, after which, her mother drove Manessa directly to the police station to make a complaint. They were told that the police couldn’t take a statement from someone who was drunk. She would have to come back the next day. Without a statement, the police never checked out the situation to see what was going on. When they took her statement the next day, they had already talked to Kevin, who apparently told the officers that he hadn’t even been home that night, and it came down to her word against his. No charges were ever filed. He was ordered to stay away from Manessa. Apparently he didn’t as she was caught there several more times.
Since Manessa left, a thorough search of her room turned up what appear to be several pornographic photos of her. We fear that this Kevin may indeed be a child pornographer, if not a predator.
As of November 29th, this case has been reported to the FBI, and is currently under review.
As of December 1st, this case has been registered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at http://missingkids.com. However, standard fact checking needs to be done to determine age, guardianship, etc. and the profile will not be posted until approved, which is likely to be Monday, December 3rd. When the profile is posted, a link will be posted here.
What we are trying to do:
1. We need visual confirmation that she is still alive and well. If you have seen her, then please let us know. Email us at savemanessa@gmail.com or call the hotline in the US - 860-906-7398.
2. To let her know that she is loved and wanted. We’ve been searching high and low, staking out places where Kevin is known to frequent. Calling Manessa’s friends. Knocking on doors.
3. To let her friends know that she might be in trouble, and that if they know anything they should speak up now, while it might not be too late.
How to Help:
We’re reaching out to everyone we can. There are several things we hope will help.
1. We don’t know if she has access to a computer. If she’s not being held against her will and does have access, we’re expecting she will try to reach her friends by logging into her mySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/prettygirl224. If you are a mySpace user, please leave her a message that let’s her know that she is loved and appreciated, that her life still has great value and potential and that she should return home.
* Update - As of December 2nd, Manessa still hasn’t accessed her mySpace account since November 17th, and all comments are moderated by her. This means that nothing is getting through. A colleague and friend, Chris Penn, created a new myspace page where a number of her friends have come to join and show their support at http://myspace.com/savemanessa
2. Leave her a comment on this website in the ‘friends’ or ‘others’ section. Let her know she’s loved and appreciated. Let her know what it was like when YOU were 16, and what you think of what she’s doing, and encourage her to figure life out while with people who really love her.
3. Please Digg this story. We’re trying to get it in front of as many people as we can as quickly as we can. We need people to see this so they can start keeping an eye open for the two of them.
4. If you are a friend and know something, PLEASE SPEAK UP. She apparently isn’t living whatever dream she was running to. Her best friends haven’t seen her for weeks. There are a number of ways to get information to those who need it.
* Email us at savemanessa@gmail.com
* or call the hotline in the US - 860-906-7398.
* In Florida, contact the Hernando County Sherrif’s department @ 352.754.6830. The Detective handling this case is Det. Randy Williamson.
* In Bristol, contact the Bristol Police Department @ 860.584.3011. The Officer handling this case is Officer Scott Thomas.
5. The Donovans (Mom & all 3 sisters) run a family operated business which, as of Saturday, Dec. 3 are closed for business. Since the whole clan is in CT, no one to mind the shop. They are accepting donations on their business website.
Thanks,
The Donovans, Family and Friends
