Gone, not forgotten

[Maureen Reintjes-Peace4 Admin]

Great article on an incredible friend to the missing, Betty Brown.  Todd Matthews is also mentioned in this article as well as NamUs and Betty's inititative to have a hunter's protocol taught to all hunters to help them to know what to do when they came upon remains.

 

 

http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2011/feb/13/wsmain01-gone-not-forgo...

 

 

By PAUL GARBER
Published: February 13, 2011

Betty Brown never even knew until she was grown that she had a half-brother who had been kidnapped, so she understands a little of what Karen Scales has gone through.

 

And Karen Scales says Betty Brown has become her "little angel," helping Scales get her brother's information into a national missing-persons database.

 

Brown has done the same for around 400 missing-person cases. For free. Just because she thinks it's important.

 

Brown spends several hours a day working at the computer from her home in northern Davidson County, looking for details on long-ago vanished people from across the country.

 

"I like to focus on cases that have been forgotten," she said.

 

Cases like Karen Scales' brother.

 

Scales, of Winston-Salem, was just getting to know her brother Ronald "Byrd" Ross when he disappeared in 1978.

 

She was a teenager when Ross — a man she remembers as a dapper dresser who loved to draw and sing — told her he loved her and was leaving for Washington, D.C. Then he walked out of his mother's house on Cherry Street Extension.

 

No one from her family ever saw him again.

 

Scales reported his disappearance to police, but she said it wasn't taken seriously at the time.

 

"I was told, 'Maybe he doesn't want to be found,' " she said. "That was how they handled it back in the day. Things are different now."

 

The case languished for more than 30 years, until last summer, when Scales got a call from Brown, who was working on local cases and wanted more information about Ross' case.

 

Scales said the call from Brown floored her.

 

"I just felt like up to that point no one really cared," Scales said. "It just changed my whole world. She's like my little angel."

 

Brown helped Scales get her brother's information logged into www.namus.gov, a national clearinghouse for the missing and the circumstances of their disappearances. NamUs is run by the U.S. Department of Justice.

 

Brown helped Scales upload a picture of Ross and encouraged Scales and her siblings to submit DNA samples in case there is ever a possible match with unidentified remains.

 

Just as important, Brown has been an ear for her, someone who took an interest in the case long after anyone outside the family did.

 

Read the rest of the story here:

http://www2.journalnow.com/news/2011/feb/13/wsmain01-gone-not-forgo...

 

Todd Matthews is also mentioned in the article:

 

"Todd Matthews, a systems administrator for NamUs and a fellow advocate for the missing, has worked extensively with Brown. He estimates she has entered more than 400 cases in the registry, which has about 6,000 missing persons nationwide."

[Ra'Vae Edwards]

I think this is a wonderful concept and should be implemented in every state. My hat goes off to Betty!!

[Maureen Reintjes-Peace4 Admin]

Me too Ra'Vae, I think it's an exceptional idea.  I'm working on it in Kansas.

[Ra'Vae Edwards]

I've been working on a proposal for Missouri Department of Conservation for several weeks. I had no idea this was going on in another state. This is GREAT!! I plan to use this information in my proposal. You know, tell the officials...are you really going to let another state beat us?? HA! It works every time! :) Whatever it takes to get these programs implemented....that's how I feel about it!

[Maureen Reintjes-Peace4 Admin]

Oh man Ra'Vae we think too much a like at times.  That's what I'm doing too!

[Ra'Vae Edwards]

Great minds think alike!! :)

[Todd Matthews]

I TRIPLE dog dare you guys to get things rolling in all states!

 

Now that we do have have initial LE buy in / ownership of hunters protocol (attached)
 
How might something similar be incorporated in other states?
 
It's a simple document that LE were willing to present - but it was important to have THEM do it in meeting the public 1/2 way. Not only helping suggest a guideline - but to offer an ear, willingness and opportunity to respond.
 
The simple protocol will be incorporate into 19,000 hunter's manuals in North Carolina next book run. Plenty of room to be developed and further enhanced to better suit the mission.
 
Not just hunters -- but anyone in any outdoor activity and potential witnesses. I think it is essential to help create an awareness in the public so that they can responsibly respond when they encounter a potential crime scene.
 
This isn't just about the missing and unidentified - it's about public safety and our responsibility as a citizen to help insure the safety of our communities.
 
I'm not asking as NamUs - I'm asking as an advocate and a citizen. We have a responsibily to guide the public into a more informed society.

 

(Betty did very well in North Carolina. She took a triple dog dare and licked the frozen flagpole.)
 
-Todd

[Ra'Vae Edwards]

Uh!

 

Oh!

 

Todd!

 

Triple dog dare!!

 

Do you realize with whom you are dealing? LOL

 

Peace4 is FULL of strong advocates who are going to take that dare and run!

 

Oh, wait, you already knew that!!! 

[Todd Matthews]

I look forward to seeing many of you stuck to flagpoles all across the nation.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XlPwsmkPHI

[Ra'Vae Edwards]

I doubt you're going to see me stuck to a flagpole but you can at least promise to vote for me when I run for President!! LOL

I'll take your triple dog dare. I'm always up for a good challenge. Expect a call for help, soon!! :) 

[Maureen Reintjes-Peace4 Admin]

Everyone make sure you click over to the article and read the whole article and then leave a comment!  I just did.  If you don't like to comment openly then please send an email or phone the writer of this article and thank him for covering the world of the missing.  It's important that we get more and more and more of these articles out there like this!  The writer is Paul Garber | [e-mail] | [phone]

 

And, also please take Todd up on his triple dog dare.  :)

[Karen Sue Stratton]

 This is a great article and my admiration for Betty.