December 2010
6 posts
9 tags
A story from The Last Place You'd Look
Helen Aragona’s bright, lively young daughter had it all: Phyllis was in love and engaged to be married to a sweet, caring man, Scott Gasperson. She worked for Scott’s father in one of the many businesses he owned in her North Carolina hometown. Scott and Phyllis shared a place in the country with dozens of rescued animals. Phyllis had a weakness for anything with fur or feathers. But...
7 tags
And now this word from our sponsor
I’m in the middle of proofing my new book, The Last Place You’d Look: True Stories of MIssing Persons and the People Who Search for Them. It will be published in the spring (no exact date yet, but April or May) of 2011.
This book is a labor of love for me. It tells many personal true stories about families who are looking for their loved ones, the searchers (civilian and law...
6 tags
Why you're paying more for that sweater
(Note: I found this posted on some place called “Gather.” A woman named “Lynda F” claims to have written it. She’s a liar. This is my work. If you’re a writer, check Gather and see if you are being ripped off, too.)
Shoplifting’s often the culprit behind pricier retail goods. Merchants lose billions each year through theft and pass the costs on to the...
6 tags
Staying in a hotel? Stay safe
Travelers present an especially attractive opportunity for criminals because they’re in less-than-familiar territory and carry money. One of the best places for thieves to target travelers is at their hotel. You can reduce your chances of becoming a bull’s eye for criminals if you pay attention to details, trust no one and remember a few simple rules:
Crowded lobby? Keep an eye on...
8 tags
Missing man's foot found, but where is Stanley?
Stanley Driver of Freeport, Ill., vanished on Dec. Â 3, 2007. A homebody and someone who rarely strayed from the circle of his friends and family, no sign of Stanley was found until July 26, 2009, when some individuals came across a foot in the Pecatonica River. Police sent the foot to the lab for testing, where it was positively identified as having belonged to the missing Stanley Driver. But...
7 tags
Three missing boys spotted?
Three missing children — Andrew, Alex, and Tanner Skelton — missing since November after their father told police he handed them off to a woman he met over the Internet, were reportedly spotted by a woman who works in an area donut shop. The woman told investigators that a customer came into the shop with three young boys and ordered donuts. She referred to one of the boys as...