Governor Blunt signs Proclamation for Missing and Unidentified Persons Awareness Day
Read the press release.

Below is the news coverage picked up from the AP after the press release was distributed. This story was picked up nationally in publications such as The Washington Post, NY Daily News, Kansas City Star.

Posted: Wednesday, Jun 18, 2008 – 01:12:26 pm CDT

MoCHIP takes child ID program to next step

By Jeff Haldiman
jhaldiman@newstribune.com

As part of the first observance of Missing and Unidentified Persons Awareness Day in Missouri, the Missouri Masons were on hand at the state Capitol to allow children to go through a free identification program they say can make a difference in finding people quickly if they are reported missing.

Nick Cichielo, state coordinator for the Missouri Child ID & Protection (MoCHIP) program, said they go out every weekend to between four and six locations around the state to conduct the program.

In just over three years, 55,447 children have been processed through the MoCHIP program in Missouri alone.

The program consists of five major components – digital photographs, digital fingerprints, vital child information and emergency contacts, a dental bite impression and two laminated ID cards.

The photographs, fingerprints and child data are burned onto a mini-CD that is compatible with the AMBER ALERT system already in place. If a child is reported missing, law enforcement can have an AMBER ALERT issued in less than two minutes with the mini-disc.

The dental impression provides a virtual diagram of the child’s biting surface, which, like fingerprints, is unique to each individual, and further supplies enough saliva to provide a DNA sample that also can be used as scent source for trained K-9 search teams.

Although they must adhere to the guidelines of reaching people up to 21 years of age, programs like MoCHIP can be established for people of any age.

More information about the program, along with a calendar of where and when the program will be done, can be found at mochip.org.

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Posted: Wednesday, Jun 18, 2008 – 01:12:27 pm CDT

Day for the missing

By Jeff Haldiman
jhaldiman@newstribune.com

Tear-filled rally builds awareness

At the beginning of this month, the National Crime Information Center listed 1,462 missing persons and at least 48 unidentified bodies in Missouri.

Tuesday marked the first time in Missouri, and first time in the nation, that those unidentified persons have had a day set aside each year so they can be remembered.

Missing and Unidentified Persons Awareness Day will now be observed every June 17 in the Show-Me State after the Legislature passed a bill and Gov. Matt Blunt signed it into law.

At ceremonies to mark the day at the state Capitol, there were many hugs and tears from family members and those involved with Missouri Missing. The Jefferson City-based not-for-profit organization has been trying to get the plight of those families with missing and unidentified loved ones more attention.

“For so many years I have lived my life thinking I could not make a difference,” said Missouri Missing co-founder Peggy Florence, whose daughter Jasmine Haslag disappeared last year in Callaway County. “Over the course of the past year I have learned that I can make a difference. Today we are shining a bright light on an issue that has long been in the dark.”

“In the almost five years since she has been gone, I have learned what it’s like to suffer in ways that no human should ever suffer,” said Missouri Missing co-founder Marianne Asher-Chapman, whose daughter Angie Yarnell went missing in Morgan County. “In the past year, I’ve learned that a small group of determined, caring and passionate people can make a difference.”

Many law enforcement representatives were on hand, including Cole County Sheriff Greg White, who told the crowd that he hoped law enforcement put themselves in the shoes of those families who have loved ones missing so they can better understand what they’re going through.

“I have to look at it as though my sons were the ones who were missing,” he said. “Never let us put you on the back burner. Calling us or visiting us is not a bad thing.”

Franklin County Sheriff Gary Toelke echoed White’s comments. His department was involved in the finding of Shawn Hornbeck in 2007 after he had gone missing for four years. He said despite getting numerous tips, he was skeptical that they would find Shawn alive.

“The lesson is, never give up hope,” Toelke said. “I was surprised at how many people we found that thought they had seen Shawn, but didn’t report it, so it’s important to convince people to go ahead and give law enforcement a call.”