Forty-seven missing and endangered children were reunited with their families in a first-of-its-kind rescue operation in New York. More than 55 experts, including 22 law enforcement agencies, collaborated in the mission to locate missing Erie County children who had been taken by non-custodial parents or had run away. “I have 30 years of doing this, and this has been the proudest, most impactful moment of my career,” said Kevin Branzetti, co-founder and CEO of the National Child Protection Task Force. Branzetti and Cindy Neff, manager of New York’s Missing Persons Clearinghouse (and AATTAP/NCJTC Associate), spearheaded the initiative in which law enforcement provided investigative support to Amherst and Buffalo police departments. Investigators gained valuable knowledge and now have “more tools in our toolbox” to tackle future cases of missing children, Branzetti said.
What began as a runaway case changed after Ogdensburg, New York, police learned a missing 15-year-old girl may have been threatened and held captive by her boyfriend. The threat prompted officers to ask the New York State Police (NYSP) to issue an AMBER Alert for Olivia Roberts.
Roberts was reported missing on December 12, 2018, after meeting with her 27-year-old boyfriend, Kenneth Snyder. A month earlier, Snyder was charged with unlawful imprisonment for forcefully restraining her during a domestic violence incident. But Snyder fled from police as he was about to be transported from court to a secure facility.
On December 19, Roberts didn't show up after she asked a friend to pick her up. The same friend was then blocked from Roberts' Facebook account. He told police he was concerned Snyder may have taken control over Roberts' Facebook account. That same day Ogdensburg police asked the public on social media to help them find Roberts.
At 6:51 p.m. on December 20, a family member told police that Roberts made a call using Facebook and was screaming frantically for someone to come get her. The family member then heard a male voice asking what she was doing and the call suddenly went dead.
“There in fact was a particular incident and that's what led to the criteria change that led to the AMBER Alert,” said Ogdensburg Police Detective Mark Kearns.
NYSP received the request for an AMBER Alert; agents first made sure the child and suspect had been entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC). They also started gathering information and photos of the child and suspect for the state's web-based public notification system for AMBER Alerts.
“We always have concern for the victim in every case we receive,” said NYSP Investigator Michael O'Connell. “We felt this child was being held against her will and in danger of serious bodily harm or death, thus meeting our criteria.”
The AMBER Alert was disseminated at 8:16 p.m. through faxes, emails, text messages, phone calls, highway signs, lotto terminals, broadcasters and social media. New York residents can also sign up to get the alerts at alert.ny.gov.
The NYSP Computer Crimes Unit contacted Facebook and learned the device Roberts used to make a call may have been in Massena, New York. Massena police officers arrived at an apartment and two adults claimed Roberts wasn't there.
Both adults were arrested after police discovered they told Roberts to go out a window and hide on the roof. Snyder was later found and taken into custody. The AMBER Alert was canceled at 9:30 p.m., a little more than an hour after it was issued.
“We were relieved to learn the child was recovered safe and unharmed,” said O'Connell. “It was a challenge to have people helping the suspect and child avoid the police.”
New York has issued 89 AMBER Alerts since the program began in 2002. O'Connell has been involved with 20 alerts since 2016. He said lessons are learned with every alert. “This case reiterates a need for continual communication with requesting agencies as new information develops,” he said. “We train often and try to prepare as best as we can.”
Rochester, New York, police issued an AMBER Alert on November 20, 2018, but people using one cell phone service provider did not receive it. The missing 18-month-old girl was later found safe and returned to her mother. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) said it was a technology glitch with a single provider that prevented people from receiving the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA). NCMEC suspects that in some cases, people did not get a good connection in their area or may have opted out of receiving the alerts.
New York law enforcement officers are stopping motorists and asking them to replace peeled license plates for their own safety and for others. “Without us being able to read the license plate then it would make it difficult for us to spot stolen vehicles, or vehicles if there's an alert or an Amber Alert [on them],” said Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy John Gleason. The peeling plates can be replaced for free.
About 24,000 taxi and limo drivers in Queens, New York, are receiving online training on the AMBER Alert system. The training program teaches drivers how to respond to AMBER Alerts. Drivers can receive AMBER Alerts directly through their dispatcher devices. Drivers can also become members of a “neighborhood watch on wheels” to help make the streets safer.
Dick and Eugenia Novik
Dick Novik's career in broadcasting began humbly in 1963 when he was hired to hold cue cards at a New York TV station. He went on to become a salesman, general manager, and radio station owner. For the past decade, he has been the senior vice president of the New York Broadcasters Association, which represents 400 radio stations and 45 TV stations in the state.
During his time with the broadcasters association, Novik learned about AMBER Alerts. It was his experience as a father that motivated him to help create the New York AMBER Alert Plan, he said.
“When I first heard of the AMBER Alert concept, I thought, of course, broadcasters will participate because they are all parents,” said Novik. “I pitched it to the broadcasters, and they all gave me their home numbers and cell numbers so they could participate. I have gotten nothing but enthusiasm from broadcasters.”
New York AMBER Alert Coordinator Gary Kelly said the state's program works because Novik participates in every AMBER Alert review and is constantly educating broadcasters about the alert.
“He has a 100 per cent buy-in from broadcasters in New York state,” said Kelly. “He continues to have strong relationships with broadcasters, which allows us to focus on new technology. I cannot say enough about Dick Novik because I do not know where our program would be without him.”
Even though his background is in broadcasting, Novik has had a role in developing new technology for AMBER Alerts, as well. For example, the taxi and limousine commissioner told him four years ago that every vehicle in New York City has an LED screen for drivers to learn about traffic conditions as well as a TV screen for customers.
“That triggered an idea, and I said it would be great if a taxi driver could help save an abducted child,” said Novik. The commissioner said he would make it happen, and now more than 30,000 taxis and limousines in New York City receive AMBER Alerts. Novik is now working to get the alerts in private rented cars.
New York Missing & Exploited Children Center Manager Ken Buniak described Novik this way when presenting him with the Hope Award in 2009: “I would characterize Dick as an ordinary person who does extraordinary things. His integrity, commitment, kindness, and ability to generate collaboration between so many people and groups are always evident and are always making a difference.”
Novik also facilitated a 30-minute Webcast in 2009 to train broadcasters on AMBER Alerts. The interactive Webcasts are now used for other AMBER Alert partners.
“I think it is important that we are called AMBER Alert partners,” said Novik. “There cannot be any competition. Logic says it has to be done as quickly as possible with as little red tape as possible so we make sure we focus on the child.”
So far, every AMBER Alert in the state of New York has ended with the safe recovery of a child. Novik said the one alert that stands out for him involved a woman watching an AMBER Alert on TV, who then looked out her window and saw the suspect's car. The police arrived immediately and found a little girl inside the car trunk.
“If there was no AMBER Alert that little girl could have been dead,” said Novik. “The thrill of saving a child helps us keep going to make sure the next AMBER Alert works.”
Most recently, Novik's passion for the AMBER Alert program earned him recognition as the 2011 AMBER Alert Broadcaster of the Year. “It is thrilling to know you have something that works,” said Novik. “Broadcasters are licensed to serve the public and I cannot think of any way we can do it better than with an AMBER Alert.”
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a law in July to create the Gold Alert, a statewide system for missing vulnerable adults, similar to the nationwide AMBER Alert program. The Gold Alert will distribute photographs and posters with a toll-free 24-hour hotline when cognitively impaired individuals have wandered away from home and gone missing for an extended period. “By creating this alert system, we are protecting vulnerable adults who go missing from potential harm and helping families find and return their loved ones to safety,” said Governor Cuomo.
A rare four-state AMBER Alert was issued on July 13, 2011, shortly after three people were murdered and a suspect took off with a hostage and a baby. Twenty-three-year-old Matthew Slocum allegedly shot and killed his mother, stepfather, and stepbrother and then set their White Creek, New York, house on fire. He then forced his 23-year-old girlfriend Loretta Colegrove and their 4-month-old son Raymond Slocum into his car as he fled.
New York officials issued an AMBER Alert at 1:42 p.m. because they believed the child was in imminent danger. Law enforcement authorities learned from a family member that Slocum was in Massachusetts attempting to sell numerous weapons.
The White Creek, New York, house Slocum reportedly set on fire
“We have never activated an AMBER Alert when we knew the suspect was not in the state,” said New York AMBER Alert Coordinator Gary Kelly. “We also knew he might head to Connecticut, and we figured it would be very simple for him to jump back to New York to get to Connecticut.”
Kelly asked his counterparts in Massachusetts and Connecticut to issue AMBER Alerts. Massachusetts AMBER Alert Coordinator Nicole Morrell said the case clearly met her state's criteria, and she decided without hesitation to issue an alert.
“Gary contacted me directly, which saved a lot of time overall,” said Morrell. “Trying to reach the right person can be problematic, but we are fortunate that the Northeast states know each other so well.”
Connecticut State Police Sgt. Corinne Sandberg was also quick to issue an alert once she received the details.
“It is a matter of trust,” said Sandberg. “We are all law enforcement, and we all have to work together. We are going to get the AMBER Alert out every time.”
During those first frantic hours, information also came in that the suspect could also be headed to New Hampshire. Within minutes, New Hampshire became the fourth state to issue an AMBER Alert.
“Time is critical in these cases,” said New Hampshire AMBER Alert Coordinator Jill Rockey. “Trust your peers. If their alert matches your criteria and you have information the child has entered your state, then activate the alert as soon as possible. The faster the public gets the information, the sooner the child is located.”
At 6:23 p.m., the suspect's vehicle was found in Gilsum, New Hampshire. However, the suspect and the victims were not found. All four states decided to keep the alert active.
Suspect Matthew Slocum
“As soon as New Hampshire notified us they had the vehicle, we held off canceling the alert until we knew they had the child,” said Sandberg. She said another recent AMBER Alert had been canceled prematurely when the suspect and vehicle had been found, but it was unclear whether the child was safe.
“Once we heard the vehicle was found in New Hampshire, we removed it from our sign boards but replaced it with a generic AMBER Alert message to keep the public engaged,” said Morrell. “We had a strong feeling they were in New Hampshire, but there is always that small chance they found other means of transportation.”
Looking back, Kelly said it was a mistake to put out an update stating that authorities were no longer looking for the vehicle.
“The abductor could hear that on the radio,” said Kelly. “We should have just kept taking vehicle sighting calls without jeopardizing the investigation.”
By 9:30 p.m., SWAT teams found Slocum hiding in a relative's home near where the vehicle was found. Police ordered Slocum to surrender, and a half hour later, Colegrove emerged from the home clutching her baby.
“I am just glad my daughter and my grandchild are safe,” said James Sicotte, Colegrove's stepfather, to reporters.
Communication became crucial during the AMBER Alert involving 4 states. Most of the coordinators credit their ability to react quickly to the relationships developed at the National AMBER Alert Symposiums.
“The relationships developed at the annual conferences pay off huge dividends,” said Kelly. “We did not have to jump through hoops or look for numbers because we had already met and knew each other and trusted each other.”
“The National AMBER Alert Symposiums were absolutely beneficial in building reliable contacts especially amongst our Northeast states,” added Morrell. “The relationships remain strong and we can, without hesitation, rely on one other for help.”
Sandberg began working with Connecticut's AMBER Alert Plan in January but had never met the other coordinators or been to a symposium. She said she learned a lot from the previous AMBER Alert Coordinator and from AMBER Alert reviews held earlier that year.
“We want to improve the AMBER Alert Plan. Even if the alert went flawlessly, we want to find out what worked and why,” said Sandberg.
Slocum faces three second-degree murder charges in connection with the deaths of his 44-year-old mother, Lisa Harrington; her husband, Dan Harrington, 41; and Dan Harrington's son, Joshua O'Brien, 24. Slocum's attorney has claimed he was not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect or because he suffered an “extreme emotional disturbance” before the killings.
The New York Police Department has expanded the types of alerts that will be sent to the public by phone, text and e-mail. Notify NYC will send a Senior Alert when an elderly person is missing. A Missing Child/College Student Alert will be activated when a child or college student of any age is reported missing and deemed to be endangered, but does not meet the AMBER Alert criteria.
