Sheriff: Missing Girl Found 9 Years Later
Sheriff: Girl Reported Missing Nine Years Ago From California Found in Ohio
The Associated Press
NEWARK, Ohio July 15, 2004 — A girl reported missing in California nine years ago has been found in central Ohio, living under an assumed name with her mother, authorities said.
Licking County prosecutors said a woman recognized the girl's picture from the Web site of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and called sheriff's deputies.
She was found Friday in nearby Johnstown, about 20 miles northeast of Columbus, authorities said.
The girl, Vanesa Brancheau, and her mother, Sheri Lyn Taylor, were reported missing in 1995 from the Los Angeles community of Woodland Hills, the Licking County sheriff's office said in a news release.
The girl, 5 years old when she was reported missing, is now 13 and attending Southwest Licking Schools under the name Ariel Rose Wiggins, the sheriff's office said.
Sheriff's Capt. Rod Mitchell said Taylor indicated that she and her husband had been fighting for custody of the girl at the time of the disappearance.
"The mom claims that she couldn't, at the time of the custody battle, couldn't afford attorney fees and simply was running from him," Mitchell told Columbus television station WCMH.
No one was available to answer questions at the sheriff's office on Wednesday night. A Los Angeles police spokesman said he had no immediate information on the case.
Taylor could not be reached for comment. There was no listing for her in Johnstown.
The girl was placed in foster care Tuesday after a hearing in Licking County Juvenile Court.
No charges have been filed against the mother, but authorities are investigating.
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Keep investigating, guys..............then throw the book at her. In the meantime, talk to the father and see what he's gone thru for the past 9 years............
OMG that father must have been going thru hell for the last 9yrs. Oh come on she ran cuz she couldn't afford and attorney. God these woman make me sick, the child has lost all this time with her father.
I hope they throw the book at her and award custody of the child to the father.
**These are my opinions, they are not legal advice**
>"The mom claims that she couldn't, at the time of the custody
>battle, couldn't afford attorney fees and simply was running
>from him," Mitchell told Columbus television station WCMH.
The fact that this line of "reasoning" is being taken seriously shows in a nutshell what's wrong with the family court system. What she's saying basically is "Well, I was running out of money so I kidnapped and concealed my kid for almost a decade."
Uh-huh.
But where is the LOGIC??? Do you really think that GENETICS count for something in this case?? I bet the father didn't any have a BOND with this girl so what's the harm?? )(
(Excuse me while I go change my name to Instigator! :7 Sorry...just couldn't resist!)
Hmmm,
Lets see,,,,,,,if "I" had kidnapped my child, been on the run for a decade under an assumed name,( which IS illegal btw), all because I ran out of money for attorneys and wanted to escape the courts jurisdiction.......How long would I be in jail???
Come to think of it,, wouldnt I have been arrested as soon as this came out? After all, I AM a flight risk in this scenerio.
What the hell are they waiting for??
Hey this is my state.
Damn....... I wonder how I can use this to get publicity for the plight fathers are in here in OHIO?
Hey out there. Got any ideas?
As far as playing it FOR fathers,, regardless what they do,, it plays for dads.
If they charge her,,, it lends weight to fathers fighting for their rights.
If they DONT charge her,, it lends weight to gender bias, thus, STILL playing for fathers fighting for their rights. Thats when you bring the question into play,, what would the charges been if the dad in this case had done this.
>But where is the LOGIC??? Do you really think that GENETICS
>count for something in this case?? I bet the father didn't any
>have a BOND with this girl so what's the harm?? )(
>
>(Excuse me while I go change my name to Instigator! :7
>Sorry...just couldn't resist!)
I'm sorry..are you for real or are you being sarcastic??? Because if you really believe that...well, I'll wait to find out...
Jilly was referring to a post that was on the boards last week that created quite a fuss. So, yes, she was being sarcastic. :-)
>Jilly was referring to a post that was on the boards last
>week that created quite a fuss. So, yes, she was being
>sarcastic. :-)
Ah, yes, PainintheassGirl...trying to forget her...now it makes sense....Thanx
LOL "No charges have been filed against the mother, but authorities are investigating."
Right.... if the positions were reversed and the father had bolted, you could see the head lines now! "Dead beat dad arrested for obviously kidnapping poor daughter!"
Pathetic... no wonder we fathers have no respect for our judicial system... and the press isn't far behind.
I am in Ohio, and the local news reported no charges, as teh dad was not sure he was going to pursue custody, as he wants to weigh the best interest of the child first.
Here is a guy that is worried about how the child will react to this MESS her mother created, and his concern is the childs feelings. He seems like a compassionate guy.
Unfortunately its' the childs life that becomes a mess for the outcome–whatever it may be.
I think the point is,, if the situation were reversed,,,this man would be sitting in jail. Period.
Damn right PeanutsDad!!!!!!!!!!!
Having grown up in Woodland Hills, and having been kidnapped by my own mother...
My heart goes out to that poor man.
And throw that woman in jail!
challenge custody....how long before mom files for 9 years worth of back child support?
I was being VERY sarcastic. This story came out after all that crap with Raingirl and I just couldn't resist being a smarta**.