Did anybody know they were missing? They weren't cute white girls.

[wndycty]

Missing N.J. boys found dead
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

June 24, 2005

CAMDEN, N.J. -- The father of a missing 6-year-old boy found his son's body and those of his two young friends in the trunk of a car Friday, two days after the children disappeared from a nearby yard where they were playing.

A neighbor, Carmen Cilla, said she saw David Agosto open the trunk of the car and collapse to his knees screaming. It was not immediately clear how the three boys got into the vehicle or whether foul play was involved.

Yolanda DeNeely Aguilard, an aide to Mayor Gwendolyn Faison, confirmed the bodies had been found. She had no immediate information on how they died.

The boys -- Jesstin "Manny" Pagan, 5; Daniel Agosto, 6; and Anibal "Juni" Cruz, 11 -- had vanished from the yard next to Anibal's home on Wednesday evening. The car where they were found was parked in a driveway next to the yard. It was not immediately clear if the car had been searched previously.
-snip-

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/nyc-kidsdead0625,0,5037479,print.story?coll=ny-top-headlines

[Bluebear]

1. Never heard one word. And NO Amber alert. n/t

[wndycty]

3. 3 boys with Hispanic names missing for 2 days. . .

. . .I did not hear a damned thing!

[Bluebear]

6. Thank goodness Aruba news wasn't pre-empted!

I am sick for the Natalee Holloway situation, but she has been missing over 30 days. Still, the media could not bring themselves to cover these Latino lads being missing. Disgraceful.

[Speed8098]

12. I don't dare to defend MSM, but.................

If you didn't hear about these boys, you must be under a rock somewhere.

It's been all over the news since they went missing.

[wndycty]

13. You live in NY. . .

. . .did you get it on the local or national news. I have seen nothing in Chicago and I read both the Trib and Sun-Times, and I watch all of the local news. Did this get a lot of play on CNN, FAUX or MSNBC?

[elehhhhna]

27. yes. cable covered it.

[Bluebear]

16. I'm not under a rock but sincerely, heard nothing

At least in the Boston market or the cable news channels.

[Radio_Lady]

17. Bluebear, in hindsight, you can go to the following web site to see

how a story was covered by various media.

The site is:

http://news.google.com

In this case, I keyboarded "three boys missing in camden NJ" and came up with many hits. Of course, now that they have been discovered deceased in a car trunk, those more recent datelines supercede the search.

Hope this helps. I find it a big help when I hear something briefly on the news and want to understand it better.

[Bluebear]

19. I love that site, use it all the time!

:toast:

[wakeme2008]

7. Not a Amber Alert case

Nor was Jessica Landford



For Amber Alerts you have to have a car tied to the missing person.. We in Florida asked that question a number of times over Jessica.

[Bluebear]

9. Interesting. NJ police say it a bit differently...

But I didn't know that.

'Lynch said the Camden Police attempted to call in an Amber Alert at 3 a.m. Thursday morning, but it was denied because it did not meet the criteria. State police said today that an Amber Alert can only be issued if there is definitive evidence of an abduction.'

http://www.courierpostonline.com/1119641946.html

[wakeme2008]

14. We heard "did not meet the criteria" in Florida over Jessica

Car looked to be the main point. And in a way I makes sense Amber came out for drivers to watch to cars that are connected to a missing child on the road.

[Eloriel]

39. Yes, I heard about their disappearance on MSNBC not long after it

happened. I saw a number of news reports on MSNBC including desperate pleas by their parents, some of which were shown again in later broadcasts. It's true that they did NOT get the coverage Natalee has, but they did get covered, with pix, parents, etc. Further, they got the coverage starting not too long after they went missing (don't remember exactly when, though, but I was pleased and impressed). I thought it was proportional coverage (as opposed to DISproportional coverage Natalee is getting).

I'd like to point out for wndycty that EVERY parent would want the kind of coverage Natalee is getting, and every parent should get good coverage for their missing children. I thought the coverage of the missing boys of color was quite good, all in all.

I really object to the resentful attitude embodied in the subject line and would urge you to remember that the "cute white girls" were born that way and also have NO CONTROL over how the media covers (overreacts to) their disappearances. Please don't blame them, and please stop resenting THEM for what the media is doing. It makes you look like a misogynist -- and you aren't, are you?

[Radio_Lady]

2. More reason for the car trunk that can be opened from the inside.

(If they got in there accidentally --)

[wakeme2008]

5. It is Fed Law for new cars and been out for a couple years... :) nt

[Radio_Lady]

8. Thanks, wakeme2008. I have a 1997 Mercury Sable and wish it

had this feature. I knew it had been voted in, but even my husband's 2000 Mitsubishi Eclipse doesn't have the trunk pull. Our next car will.

[wakeme2008]

10. FYI they "glow" in the dark.. nt

[Radio_Lady]

4. Sorry, but their pictures and descriptions were on TV over the

past 48 hours. However, I had house guests and can't tell you where I heard or saw this.

[wndycty]

11. You mean to tell me these 3 boys got as much press. . .

. . .as the little boy in Utah and the woman in Aruba? I didn't see it, and I'm sure they did not get as much press.

[Radio_Lady]

15. No, I didn't say that, wndycty.

Please see Bluebear's former post about not hearing a word... that was post #1 and it was the one to which I was attempting to respond.

[Eloriel]

40. No, they didn't get "as much" as Natalee

-- but they did get covered, and well, IMO. Nor did the little boy in Utah. But IMO these 3 boys got equivalent coverage if not more than the Utah boy (up to the point he was recovered, which was then over the top, IMO).

If "as much as Natalee" is your standard -- and I don't think it is, I think you just said that to avoid being WRONG about your complaint about pretty white girls.

[wndycty]

42. Oh well. . .LOL

Spotlight skips cases of missing minorities
by Mark Memmott
USA Today
Originally posted 6/23/2005

Tamika Huston's family reported her missing a year ago.

When police in Spartanburg, S.C., began investigating the 24-year-old woman's disappearance, her loved ones swung into action. They distributed fliers, held news conferences and set up a Web site. Huston's story became a cause célèbre in the local media.

Huston lived alone and obviously hadn't been home for days, if not a week or two. Her dog, Macy, had given birth to puppies.

Rebkah Howard, Huston's aunt and a public relations professional in Miami, tried to get the national media interested in the case. ''I spent three weeks calling the cable networks, calling newspapers — even yours,'' Howard said this week.

Not much happened.
-snip-

Woods and others say the media misleads the public about ''typical'' victims. FBI statistics show that men are slightly more likely than women to be reported as missing, and that Blacks make up a disproportionately large segment of the victims. As of May 1, there were 25,389 men in the FBI's database of active missing persons cases, and 22,200 cases of women. Blacks accounted for 13,860 cases, vs. 29,383 whites.
-snip-

http://thebirminghamtimes.com/News/article/article.asp?NewsID=58617&sID=4

[alphafemale]

18. I'd guess murder. Can't imagine an eleven year old not knowing better.

Unless he was used to a car with the trunk release thing, and somehow assumed this car had one, and was going to show the younger ones how to get out of a car trunk.

But still...

[Radio_Lady]

23. Here's the latest on this story that I can find from the NY Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/25/nyregion/25camden.html?ex=1120363200&en=6c0eb2a37ce5d3ca&ei=5099&partner=TOPIX

No doubt they will do autopsies. This is a very sad story with many ramifications. The descriptions of Camden make my skin crawl.

[BR_Parkway]

41. There was a quote from his mother that he had mental age of a 4

or 5 year old, I don't know why. But that's why he was playing with the other boys even though he was much older.

[ElectroPrincess]

20. Yes, and if you you're a blond, blue eyed, light skinned beauty ...

Hell! It don't even matter if you are AN ADULT and not a GIRL anymore.

Yes, we're hyper-focusing on an Adult (18 y.o.) regardless how the media whores try to spin this sensational HYPE (with no delivery) so caring and innocent, i.e., teen, girl, etc.

I graduated from High School at the age of 16 y.o. and immediately went off (on my own) to live in a dorm.

I'm sorry that this young woman is missing but it only proves that our Corporate Media is OVERTLY vice COVERTLY racist.

The civil right struggle is alive and well thanks to these corporate whores who care not about REAL CHILDREN and PEOPLE OF COLOR.

Oh how convenient for us to take our eyes of the WOMEN MARINE PATRIOTS of similar age but less wealthy backgrounds ... 4 of whom died *serving their country* in The Middle East. Nope, they're not near as important as a rich, blond, white WOMAN who's missing in ARUBA.

I thought that I couldn't get more disgusted with the "Republican Stenographers, corporate shills and Right Wing Spin Machines" we know as the USA Mass Media. But I was wrong. Each day brings more and more gut retching disgust. :puke:

[Radio_Lady]

21. ElectroPrincess, you might get more straightforward news that you

yourself select, by using:

http://www.topix.net/

or

http://news.google.com


Others might have some suggestions to help overcome the bias that DOES exist in the U. S. media.

I have been in broadcasting since 1957 and I can tell you that news stories are selected against a background of what the news editors/managers think will sell newspapers or engender radio or TV watching. This does not always correlate with the information YOU might like to have.

Please stay calm and keep trying to be informed. The internet does allow you to pick and choose (and dig, if you have time) for the news YOU want.

In peace,

Radio Lady

[ElectroPrincess]

22. I'm not buying it ...

Sorry, and my blood pressure is just fine. I'm a lively broad with no apologies for my natural temperament.

I'm disgusted and this argument doesn't wash with me: The editors select the stories they think will sell.

Bull shit! The editors are bought and paid for by the Corporate Mass Media.

I don't believe for a moment that "the people" are this DUMBED DOWN.

No, and with due respect, please to not provide personal advice that is unsolicited.

Sincere Regards, EP

[Radio_Lady]

24. Sorry if I offended you. My suggestions were just that -- suggestions.

I agree that the media has always been bought and paid for by large corporations. The fact is that it's an expensive business to run. Few have the capital to invest in it. I don't find it useful to rail against this -- I've seen it for many decades.

Perhaps you might enjoy watching "Democracy Now" with Amy Goodman, broadcast by the Pacifica Corporation. Information on this excellent news program is available at:

http://www.democracynow.org/

Links to local broadcasts are available in the left column.

As far as providing unsolicited advice, I will continue to respond to people's personal comments with ideas which might help (emphasize might). You're speaking to a radio talk show host who is used to doing this. By the way, I grew up in the "segregated South" (Miami, Florida). We had to deal with a great deal of overt racism and I am proud that I helped integrate one children's show which was on the air five days each week for one hour. Prior to that time, no "Negroes" ever appeared on television and only white children came to the station to be in the audience.

Later in my life, we were honored to know the late Gregory Hines and his family ("Hines, Hines and Dad," as well as Mrs. Alma Hines, Gregory and Maurice's mother, as personal friends) in New York. Gregory agreed to be my daughter's godfather in 1968 prior to his untimely death. I feel I have done my part to help decrease the racist myths.

Thank you for listening.

[ElectroPrincess]

25. Please

Please stop giving me web sites (Google?!? Everyone online knows about that - or they should.) that I've known about for years.

I'm a geek from way back - I had a 1200 baud modem dial up to our University's computer running BMDP in 1989. - Yes I'm not only Internet proficient, I have lists of progressive and foreign news sites within my Favorites folder.

Please stop trying to comfort me ... provide undue advice? I'm fully aware that TRUE journalistic sources are all over The Net.

My point: I'm disgusted The Mainstream Corporate mass media feeding propaganda and sensationalism to the people. Now, I don't wish to banter about how this is not a new phenomenon, but I am thoroughly disgusted, and I have a right to be.

It's cool if you wish to respond "generically" ... just please consider NOT spining-off this advice from my stated opinion posts?

[Radio_Lady]

26. OK, ElectroPrincess -- you're just angry and that's OK with me! You win!

The Google site to which I referred is a BETA site still under test at news.google.com. (It is NOT the usual Google site that "everyone knows about" and many people are pleased to learn about it.)

My husband is a former electrical engineer and now a software engineer who just turned age 71 this week. We were connected with technology in 1981 when he built a Heathkit computer. I'm glad you are up to date on everything technological and wasn't implying that you weren't.

In case you missed the point, I completely agree with your final statement and share your disgust. However, I don't feel it's something that I want to focus on at this moment. I apologize for trying to placate your apparent misery instead of allowing you to wallow in it.

Your option now is to stop responding to what I believe is a reasonable exchange of information and go on to something of more importance this weekend. Clearly, you want to be angry and I respect your right to feel the way you do.

Good-bye and have an excellent Saturday!

In peace,

EP (my real initials, incidentally!)

[ElectroPrincess]

28. OK, best to you also :-)

I feel like we're partaking in a BBC Letters.com comedy skit.

"apparent misery instead of allowing you to wallow in it"

If anything else, you sure know how to apply your backhanded barbs with a flare of "class."

No Ma'am, As always - you win. :hi:

[anarchy1999]

38. IMVHO, I think maybe you should consider giving EP a little more respect.

That's all I have to say.

[oblivious]

45. But it was an excellent exchange by two classy people.

[SouthernDem2004]

29. I has been on Fox news since it happened. /nt

[wndycty]

30. Since they went missing. . .

. . .or since they were found dead?

[brook]

32. I watched...

this story from the start - and I'm in California. Saw it on several channels. Accident or homicide, it's tragic.

[SouthernDem2004]

44. Yes, since they went missing. /nt

[peekaloo]

31. CBS aired a story on the search. Damn I thought the boys may have

drowned since they showed crews searching a nearby river.

Sad.

[barb162]

33. it was on every national news station I saw

[stray cat]

34. It was on all the cable news stations and the internet sites

It was definitely well covered with major searches ungoing. It is a shame it ended this way. It was even mentioned a few times on DU.

[SW FL Dem]

35. CNN covered it from shortly after the kids

disappeared until their bodies were found. Both events were treated as breaking news.

Edited to add : CNN just broke into regular programming with a report that the boys died from accidental suffocation, no evidence of foul play.

[bicentennial_baby]

36. I knew about it from the day it occurred

It was on all the nat'l networks I saw...

[BlueStateGirl]

37. I did, but then again I live outside Philly.

[Atalanta]

43. I heard about them

I heard reports about this earlier in the week. I knew that three boys were missing in NJ. I live in Washington State.

Atalanta

[FreedomAngel82]

46. How sad

:cry: