Police Seize Joshua Powell's Van

Today seems to be a day of updates. I was just thinking about Susan Powell yesterday. I prayed for her and for her sons. I don't know Susan. I just can't help but feel sorry for her sons. I had two sons and I think that my presence in their life helped shaped the men that they became.

I saw that te police have seized Josh Powell's van for the second time. I pray that police find the evidence that will solve the mystery of Susan's disappearance.

Sometimes I wonder if Susan's relatives would be willing to let me interview them. Would they be willing to post something here about Susan. Periodically I try to put something out there on twitter with the hashtag #SusanPowell. I try to link it up to my post that contains the information for the West Valley City Police. I think it's easy for the media to forget a story when new stories appear on the horizon. I don't want Susan's story to get lost. For the sake of her boys, for the sake of her family and friends. I want Susan found and I'm willing to keep trying to help if only I knew what to do to help.

Anyone with information about this case should contact the West Valley City Police at 801-840-4000.

The Remains Of Morgan Dana Harrington Found

Back on October 17th, Dana went missing. Dana, a Virginia Tech student had gone to a Metallica concert. Around 8:40 p.m., she went outside to smoke a cigarette and left her ticket inside. Her friends in the arena called her and she told them she'd find her own ride home. That was the last time anyone saw her.

Police found her purse, ID and cell phone in the parking lot, but said there was no sign of a struggle.

David Bass found the remains on Tuesday in a remote hayfield on his farm approximately 10 miles outside of Charlottesville. There is no public access to the area where the body was found. Police had not searched the area before this morning.

"I was on my tractor feeding cows on a remote part of the farm I don't normally go to," Bass told The Hook, a Charlottesville newspaper.

The remains reportedly have blond hair and were clad in black clothing. Missing-person fliers for Harrington described her as blond and said she was wearing a black T-shirt with the word "Pantera" on it, a black miniskirt, black tights and black boots when she disappeared.

"This is a horrible day" for the family, her father, Dan Harrington, told WTVR in Richmond after the remains were discovered.

Did she know her killer? Had he targeted her as a victim? Will her killer ever be found?

The Harrington family has offered a $100,000 reward for her return or information leading to the arrest of anyone involved in her disappearance. Metallica has added another $50,000 in reward money.

If you have any information please use the contact information below:

Tip Line: (434) 352-3467

State Police E-Mail:
bci-appomattox@vsp.virginia.gov

General: info@findmorgan.com

"Abducted" Toddler Now Believed Deceased

Once again I find myself writing about a story of a missing child that has come to a tragic end. He is such a beautiful child but his life was snuffed out way too early. I wish this would be the last story like this I would report but sadly I don't believe this it will.

The Roanoke Police Department is now treating the case of a missing toddler as a death investigation.

2-year-old was reported missing last Thursday, but police say conflicting information has turned the focus on Brandon Lockett, the boys step-father. Lockett is now being questioned by Police in the death of his step-son. No charges have been filed.

Roanoke Police say that Lockett has told them the boy was dead prior to his 911 call reporting him missing.

An Amber Alert was originally put into effect for 2-year-old Aveion Malik Lewis. He was reportedly last seen wearing yellow SpongeBob Squarepants footie pajamas.

Police reported that the stepfather claimed that three men took the boy Thursday after they knocked him (the stepfather) unconscious. They left a note asking for money.

The police department says authorities have conducted ground and aerial searches and spoken to residents in the area.

It is so tragic when a young child loses his life to an adult who should have been there for him. I hope that they find the child soon to give him a proper burial.

*************UPDATE**********************

The stepfather of a missing Roanoke toddler has been charged with felony child neglect.

Roanoke police said 24-year-old Brandon Lockett also was charged Wednesday with improper disposal of a human body and obstruction of justice.

Police continued to search wooded areas and the banks of the Roanoke River for the body of 2-year-old Aveion Malik Lewis.

New Earth Quake Magnitude 4.7 - Haiti Region

Earthquake Details
Magnitude 4.7
Date-Time

* Friday, January 15, 2010 at 04:04:46 PM at epicenter

Location 18.012°N, 72.333°W
Depth 10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program
Region HAITI REGION
Distances 60 km (35 miles) S of PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti
130 km (80 miles) W of Barahona, Dominican Republic
155 km (95 miles) E of Les Cayes, Haiti
1185 km (730 miles) SE of Miami, Florida

US Red Cross Is Out Of Medical Supplies In Haiti

Conditions in Haiti are worse after a devastating earthquake struck the Caribbean nation on Tuesday. Haitians are frantically struggling to save those injured in this week's earthquake as desperately needed aid from around the world began arriving Thursday.

A spokesman for the American Red Cross says the aid organization has run out of medical supplies in Haiti.

Red Cross spokesman Eric Porterfield said Wednesday that the small amount of medical equipment and medical supplies that were available in Haiti has been distributed.

The Red Cross is sending more medical supplies to Haiti, but Porterfield says he does not know when they will arrive.

Porterfield says he doesn't know if the depletion of medical supplies is preventing victims in critical condition from being treated.

I support the Presidents efforts to help Haiti in their time of need.President Barack Obama promised an all-out rescue and humanitarian effort including the military and civilian emergency teams from across the U.S. The aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson was expected to arrive off the coast Thursday and the Navy said the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan had been ordered to sail as soon as possible with a 2,000-member Marine unit.

The U.S. and other nations said they were sending food, water, medical supplies to assist the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, where the international Red Cross estimated 3 million people - a third of the population - may need emergency relief.

If you wish to help you can refer to the following agencies:

You can text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti. Please retweet this on Twitter to help get the word out: RT @RedCross You can text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to Red Cross relief efforts in #haiti. You can also donate at the Red Cross web site.

Singer Wyclef Jean is from Haiti. He is using Twitter to promote relief efforts and you can donate $5 by texting YELE to 501501. Please retweet this on Twitter to help get the word out: RT @Wyclef: Help Haiti Earthquake Relief Donate $5 by texting YELE to 501 501 right now please RT For more information or to donate online, go to: http://yele.org. (I think their web site is overwhelmed right now.)

You can also help children affected by the earthquake through a donation in any amount to UNICEF through their web site. If you prefer, print a form to send your donation by mail or call 1.800.FOR.KIDS (1.800.367.5437) to donate by phone.

Angry Customer Trashes McDonalds

Sometimes a video needs very little commentary. I saw this video a few days ago and I wish I could say that I was shocked or amazed. Sadly I was not.

While most people are basically good I see more people having melt downs than I ever remember seeing when I grew up. Now I realize that I am ancient so maybe it's not a fair analysis but I NEVER remember seeing anything like this at a McDonalds ever.

My students will tell you differently. They will regularly tell you stories about customers who are cruel to them because their fries are cold. Then again I did have one student who had a customer going off at him calling him a "little F'ing Queer." The young man (my student) threw the customer's soda in his face.

While I think the customer was very WRONG and showed their ignorance, I counseled my student that he should have stepped away from stupidity and let the manager handle the moron. Ultimately, my student was fired.

This customer looks young and I can only hope that as she matures she will learn better coping methods.

I will tell you that in some school districts behavior like this is not unusual. I used to teach in a school district where TEACHERS and students were wanded down at the door. I had a student lift a desk over his head and threaten to kill me because on my first day of class he felt I should call him by his Gang name.

So does this mean that I have never witnessed this kind of behavior. I have. Does it frighten me that it is often glossed over and sometimes accepted? Absolutely. Is this a very, very troubled young lady? Obviously.