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Show REFLEX JOURNAL BULLETIN LEADER SEPTEMBER 9, 1982 One kidnapping was tragic, a second was horrifying, and the third, parents wont permit. 1. The By W AMH I t'M) D XYesidcnt here have reacted to the kidnapping of a Rachael Marie Runayn v. ith various emotions. There has been a great outpouring of sympathy for the predicament in u hich the Jeff Runyan family has been placed, but many other emotions as well. I F.AR AM) anger may be the top two. Sunset parents are angry that such a thing as Rjchael's kidnapping could take place in such a peaceful little city, and they are fearful that something similar could happen to their own children. The result has been a tightening of parental restraints. i HEARD ONE mother say 1 leave my children home rather than take them shopping w ith me, because 1 cant keep track of them in a store," said Mrs. Janet Nutley, Sunset Elementary School PTA President. She is the mother of two school age children. Shannon, nearly S, and Alisa, 7, both pretty little blondes. "I have been walking my children to school ever since this happened," she said. "We have felt so safe here in Sunset. Nothing ever happened, but with this kidnapping happening so close to home everybody feels more protective and cautious. It gives me a chill to see the place where Rachael was taken, and I really identify with her iarents." Terror W E WANT everyone to know that wc arc on our toes. We are not slacking off, and we are watching our children very closely." Another Sunset mother who wished not to be identified said, "This is getting to be a scary world. 1 walk my little First grader home from school, because the First grade lets out earlier than the other classes. I don't feel like this is the same world it was when my older daughter, now 16, was going to grade school. Not knowing w hat has happened to Rachael is the worst thing. SHE SAID A program will be initiated in Sunset and possibly throughout Utah in which a large letter E will identify homes to which children can go to get help as they go to or from school. "We will screen the houses through the police department, and each house that is selected will be provided with a list of all the children in the school by classrooms, as well as names of parents. I KNOW THAT a lot of other Sunset parents feel the same way I do. We went to a prayer meeting at the city park last week, attended by about 200 people. Mayor Norman Sant talked to the people for a few minutes and then Odell Cutler gave the prayer for Rachaels safe return or if she weren't alive that the uncertainty about her fate would be removed. "I think most people can accept death, but it is not knowing what has happened that is so "I AM SEEING more mothers on the sidewalks w ith their children than I have ever seen before, and we are getting children to walk together, rather than separately. We think that if there are a lot of children together, they will be safer. We also want to have three or four mothers to a block who will stand on the wide-walto watch the younger children as they go to school. hard." Wc moved our family to Sunset just a couple of years ago so that wc could raise them in safety. MRS. SHIRLEY Pearson, Principal of the Doxey Elementary School, located immediately next to the park from which Rachael disappeared, said children at the school are "quite aware" of what has happened. "I know that the children are getting an awful lot of information about the kidnapping from home. This is good, but there is a point where you can threaten children too much. You have to be careful about that." MANY MOTHERS are driving their children to school, and car pools have been organized. Jeff Runyan We are taking extra steps to watch our children closer than we have ever done before. We also hope to get a program going in the schools so that the parents of children who don't show up at school will be telephoned immediately. Parents On Watch Program - Parents on Watch (POW), BOUNTIFUL a program being organized by concerned citizens, will be presented Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Viewmont High auditorium. DOUG AND Chris Beckstcad, who formed Parents on Watch, said Thursday's program will focus on ways parents can participate with school, church and city officials to provide a better watch for children going to and from school. Mr. and Mrs. Tom Beck, parents of Melanie Kaysvillegirl that was Larsen, the and taken to Nebraska before being found safe more than a week later, will address Thursday's meeting, according to Mr. Beck- stead. A CITV OIF1CIAL from Sunset, where 3- Rachael Runyanwas kidnapped Aug. 26, a Bountiful police officer, and perhaps a member of the Runyan family arc also on year-ol- d Thursdays program. Meanwhile, a Rachael Runyan Trust fund is being organized and donations will be accepted at the meeting, said Mr. Bcckstcad. A reward ofS40,000 is being offered forthe safe return of little Rachael. MR. BF.CKSTEAD noted that someclemcn-kidnappe- d tary schools are holding Back to School Night (Thursday), but an effort is being made to have some of the meetings changed so parents and students can attend the POW meeting. despite the fact that many of the children live within walking distance, Mrs. Pearson said. Mothers are also meeting the school busses alter school and walking their children to the bus stops in the morning. Duane Stoker, Principal of the Sunset Elementary School, a few blocks north of the Doxey School, said that many more parents are driving their children to school, although all live within walking distance. Two teachers are now assigned to playground duty, rather than one, and children are instructed that they may not leave the playground area, except for those who go home for lunch. "ONE LITTLE girl wanted to go with her friend and have lunch at the friend's house, and I just said, no'," Mrs. Pearson said. WE CAUTION the kids to walk in groups and not get near cars. We tell them if they have a problem to start screaming and yelling as loud as they can or to run. We are asking our children to stay back away from the streets when they are playing on our playground. If they see any strangers nearby, they are to notify the teacher on playground duty. 2. The Pursuit By WANDA LUND By TOM BUSSELBERG P UJX dice here have virtually been working around the clock in attempts to solve the kidnapping case of pretty little Rachael Marie Runyan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Runyan, 132 W. 870 North. She was kidnapped August 26. RACHAEL HAS long, blonds naturally curly hair and blue eyes. She wore a white background play suit with green and blue flowers, brown leather shoes with bright yellow laces printed with Smile, a blue ribbon in her hair and pierced ears, with gold studs. She has a habit of sucking her thumb. She was playing in the Doxey Park right behind her home with her two brothers, ages 18 months and 5 years, when she was abducted by a black male. He is described as 25 to 35 years of age, 6 feet tall, slender to medium build, short Afro type hair, wearing a mustache (possibly a handlebar type). old brother, told police JUSTIN, THE that his sister was placed in a medium sized dark blue car. A $40,000 reward has been offered for the return or recovery of the little girl, half of which was contributed by the girls grandfather. Contribution boxes have been placed in various business places throughout Davis County, and checks may be mailed to the Rachael Runyon Trust Fund, o Clearfield State Bank, Clearfield, Utah 84015. ONE LADY from the Salt Lake City area went around to her neighbors and collected $370 to contribute to the reward fund, said Sunset Police Chief Archie Searle. "I am sure she didn't do that for any personal glorification, because she didnt want her name used. "Nearly everyone has a relative that reminds him of Rachael, so there has been a lot of sympathy generated. This is the type of thing that could happen to anybody. Just the fact that Sunset is a little city doesnt make it ex- ve never been involved in anything like this, a Clinton mother of four says, adding, but I wasnt going to stand there and not do anything. THAT DETERMLNATION has led Sheila and Melvin Pettypool, recent Arizona transplants, to feverishly begin implementing a in the program that was Phoenix area. Called The Big Red E, it involves stationing mothers at bus stops and along routes children would have to walk to school as well as identifying homes where children can turn for help when legitimate problems arise. SIMILAR TO the Neighborhood Watch program, it goes beyond that, though, in its attempt at assuring youngsters can turn with trust to someone displaying The Big Red E for help. Working in conjunction with the city police departments and the county sheriff, Mrs. Pettypool says prospective participants will be ar screened by law enforcement officials although results will be kept in confidence by police. Beyond the screening, its hoped the specially-prepare- d Big Red Es will be sealed by the various city and county seals. c-- HE SAID there is no question about the girls being kidnapped. "The FBI doesnt get involved unless there he said. We have had as is an abduction, FBI agents with us at one time, and high as five two who have been on the case been there have almost constantly. Several of the Davis Counand ty Deputies have also been assisting us, lot a of Clinton Police have helped by taking our other calls. . THAT WAY, if a child is really frightened and cant even remember his name, it may be possible to determine which teacher from the J ; childs description and age. The Big E can be in effect seven days a week, as long as people are home and kept their sign out and their hearts open, she empha- - : sizes. I have four children and Im usually home anyway. I can form the habit, put the : sign in the window when Im home. BUT SHE reminds those who would partici- - -pate it is vital that sign be removed when no -one is home so a child wont expect help and 4 not get it. Thats worse, she emphasizes, than never expecting help. Most people dont want to get involved with money, etc., but this does not require all : I " i4 risk for abductors. 4 4 ID "I HAVE THREE grandchildren, the chief continued, "and one of them resembled kidnapper. We figure there was about half an hours delay before we got the call," Chief Searle said. Then we had road blocks out within four minutes after Detective Phil Olmstead was notified. ' All homes and businesses participating will receive lists of those children who would be walking by on their way to school or the bus stop, she explains. That will include phone numbers where a parent can be reached, their address as well as tell which class and teacher each one has. Hopefully, well be able to prevent further kidnappings. It will be too much of a empt. Rachael so much when she was that age that they could have been sisters. The family lives about a block from me. The chief said the Runyan children were playing near a bowery at the park about 400 or Big Toy 500 feet from the playground directly behind their home. MRS. RUNYAN had called her children, and Justin responded, the officer said, then told his mother that Rachael had been taken by the the bus stop could qualify, for example. THE PROGRAMS not just an at home" one, either, because businessmen are being encouraged to help, especially in sections where there are more commercial than residential buildings. They too can qualify for Big Red E status. "WE HAVE HAD eight or or what has happened to her. All we can do is to hope that she will turn up. We have to keep nine psychics from all over the country who have called us, but their information has not agreed. We havent left a stone unturned that we know of, and we have had hundreds of calls. Some of them have been pretty weird, almost unbelievable. There is a lot of interest in this case. We treat every call as being serious and prioritize it, so we can follow up. WE HAVE HAD an average of two to five officers on the telephone ever since this happened. Mr. and Mrs. Runyan appeared on the Good Morning, America television show in an Monday, telecast from New York City, kidthe on attention national focus attempt to their of daughter. napping IT IS ANYBODYS guess as to what has continued. happened to Rachael, the chief We dont know whether she has been killed hoping! ' What is frustrating to police is the small amount of information that is available in the case. The chief notes that there are hundreds and hundreds of cars that would fit the meager description given, and it is not known whether the car has two doors or four. OUR ONLY HOPE is to tie something in with Rachael, because even the description of her kidnapper is so general that it could fit hundreds of men, he said. We have had calls from all over the country Florida, Georgia, Colorado, Nevada, everywhere. We get exhausted, but we keep going. The last couple of days, I have tried to work it so each of the officers has got a little extra rest, but most of us have only had a couple of hours off and then we were at it again. The night before last, I had my first eight hours of sleep since the kidnapping. - THAT WILL NOT only add authenticity but make it harder for an imposter, she emphasizes. We dont want any undesirables. Involvement isnt limited to only parents of elderly who may not get young children-ev- en the chance to often leave their homes can help. Their house can be one to display The Big Red E. AS MANY HOMES as want to participate can, in one block, she says, whether it be one or 30, its that many more chances to be saved. Say a child is five doors from his house and is beset by a real emergency, whether hes sick or frightened. If theres a Big Red E house nearby, and the sign is displayed in the front window, he can run there for help rather than try to make it back home. It gives him another chance, Mrs. Pettypool insists. of that such as having to put in untold hours at 1') the school. AN IMPORTANT part of the program, 1: H though, is to obtain sponsorship and donations s5 from businesses and residents-a- ny amount at )4 all will help. She emphasizes funds will go for the Big E prevention program, nothing else, !JI with a special account being set up. Fundrais- iI ers will also be set up. I 14 a Its a beginning. The first businessman I Ik talked to, I got a donation, she said, noting it i .k will take time to set up although parents natu- 4 4 rally want it now. 4 I i . HOPEFULLY WELL be able to prevent I1 (further kidnappings), eventually there will be 44. too many involved, it will be too much of a risk 4 (for abductors). Were in for all kinds of ideas-will- ing 34 to try anything. It will, it can work, the ' I 'i concerned mother says. 4 3 Its a great program if its utilized to its 1a To Mrs. Pettypool, its become i capacity. every minute of our time because the only thing is the safety of our children. -- IN AREAS where there are few buildings, such as where she lives, volunteers can be placed at the bus stops, for example. I cant see where my child is standing and there are fields on three sides of my home, she says. That same situation exists all over the county. . Mothers who already walk their children to THOSE WISHING to donate to the Big Red E fund may write to: 882 West 1300 N., : Clinton, Utah 84015. - |