Missing VCU Student, Taylor Behl

Richmond.com ^ | September 13, 2005 | Caine O"Rear

[thegreatbeast]

I don't know if I can take another beating for caring about only missing white girls.

[Yellow Rose of Texas]

I agree with you, spread the word. The world has become a very unsafe place for teens these days. I worked with teens for years and they all think they are (1) Immortal, (2) Invincible, (3) Infertile.

I closely followed the Natalee Holloway story as I have a teenage daughter who travels on school trips. I took advantage of the story to educate my daughter and her friends, (AGAIN), about the dangers of leaving drinks unattended at parties, restaurants, and school functions;
leaving with newly found friends;the reasons behind the buddy system; the need for adult sponsors on trips; the need to check in with friends; well you get it.

I was amazed at how naive many of my kids friends were, especially about the drink thing.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

When will cable start going wall-to-wall with this?

Disappear in an exotic location and it will become the lead story for months. The more expensive the place is, the better for the media to get several reporters there.

[smartin]

I am in the same situation as you. I am terribly concerned about these young kids and how they can easily fall prey to terrible individuals.

[johnb838]

OK, Greta has had the mother on twice. The mother says the man with the photos on the site is very very creepy, and much older than the 17 year old Taylor. He is the last person to see her alive outside her dorm room, discounting the roommate who apparently wasn't paying much attention.

Not much to see here. This creepy guy killed her. Find the car, find the body. Ice the creepy guy. Sorry about that, mom.

[smartin]

Didn't everyone help search for Latoya Figueroa and Tamika Huston?

[johnb838]

I was amazed at how naive many of my kids friends were, especially about the drink thing.

Oh, come'on... what are the odds...

[Andy'smom]

I don't know about this one. I know the school is supposed to be in a dangerous neighborhood but I wouldn't be surprised if she turns out to be a runaway.

[johnb838]

Disappearing on campus is pretty good too though... how many parents have sent their Jennifers and Ashleys and Katelynns off to college away from home for the first time this fall? Easy to get them all twisted up with fear like a slasher movie.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

But with a stateside location local reporters are often used and if network sends in the big guns, only the big "stars" gets good accommodations. The rest get motel five. An exotic local means resort stays for all and huge expense accounts.

[dinoparty]

Poor girl, Miss Overfelt. I guess its better than Underfelt.

[smartin]

In keeping with this side topic...

http://blogs.herald.com/dave_barrys_blog/2005/03/oh_come_on.html

[smartin]

Another article

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD/MGArticle/RTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031785071854

[Dante3]

I hope this case has a happier ending than Natalee's story.

Even though Joran confessed to rape, he, the two brothers and that lying deejay (whose lies led to the arrest of the two guards and gave the other three valuable time to cover-up) have not been charged with anything, not even obstruction of justice.

[smartin]

I agree. While America was dealing with the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, they let them out of jail and Joran left for Holland to attend college. What a crock!

[Gadsdenman]

This goes beyond Conservative/Liberal. This is all about finding this girl and/or her abductor. That requires the widest possible dissemination of information about her disappearance. Someone out there saw something, but they need to hear about what happened in order to put 2+2 together. I have been following this closely, even obsessively, because my oldest daughter and her two best friends are freshmen at VCU. One of the friends is in the same dorm as Taylor Behl and has already been interviewed by the FBI. I don't think they have any leads, so widespread publicity may be the only hope of solving this crime.
I, personally, have a conservative/libertarian concern involving this situation. For my daughter's 18th birthday,
I gave her a small, easily concealed 38 cal S&W revolver. (which she knows how to use) Of course according to Virginia law, she's not allowed to get a CCL until she's 21,and even then, the law specifically prohibits concealed carry on the VCU campus. So, instead of being allowed to have the best rape prevention tool ever invented, she has to settle for pepper spray and a kubotan.
I told my wife I just want to go live under her bed in the dorm and follow her everywhere she goes.

[Dante3]

Ironic that we can have our soldiers fight and die at 18, but do not allow her to have a gun.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

I love Richmond. I love Virginia. It is where my soul is. But it is not the Richmond I remember as a child. My mother could put me on the bus and I would meet my grandmother under the clock.

Sadly, Richmond is like every other city. If she was not oriented to where she was, if she did not know her way around town, if she did not know what areas to avoid, it can be a dangerous place.

I shudder to think what would be possible had she gone for a ride and ended up in one of several areas late at night. I hope to God she is a runaway.

That being said, I would move back in a minute. I left a part of me there when we moved away. I love Georgia, but Virginia is where I belong.

[smartin]

More information

http://www.nbc4.com/news/4981381/detail.html

[twigs]

We heard the mom on Greta's show last night and she looked significantly more upbeat. Then during our local 11:00 news, it was announced that an Amber Alert had just been declared for her. I'm guessing that they must think she might be alive.