PARENTS OF MISSING ESCONDIDO TEEN ASK PUBLIC’S HELP, ORGANIZE SEARCHES: $60,000 REWARD OFFERED
Printer-friendly versionMarch 14, 2009 (Escondido)–One month after the disappearance of Amber Leeanne Duboise, 14, Escondido police have received new tips and family members are organizing searches in the community. To volunteer, visit http://www.bringamberhome.com/. Donations are also requested to help with costs of the search, which has drawn national attention. You can download flyers to post or distribute here: http://eastcountymagazine.org/?q=bringamberhome. A $50,000 reward is offered for Amber’s safe return, with another $10,000 in rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of abductors. Laden with valentine gifts for her friends, Amber walked to school on February 13th, but never arrived. She was wearing black jeans, a black hoodie and black sneakers when last seen. One witness saw her walking toward Escondido High with a tall, slender, dark-complexioned young male, court documents reveal. New tips to police suggest the girl had been chatting with boys online, raising concerns among her friends , North County Times has reported. Police have obtained a warrant to search the teen’s computer and are investigating online activities of Amber, who used the screen name wolfintheend. She reportedly liked wolves and collected wolf items. (Details: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2009/03/14/news/inland/escondido/z01d2d40cc4e7093388257579006e3580.txt.) A page devoted to finding Amber has also been set up on Facebook. The page states, "The investigation is ongoing, however, we have been advised that local police and private investigators believe that a dangerous predator may currently be in this area, and we are trying to do everything we can to get the message out." The case has drawn national attention and was recently featured on America’s Most Wanted. The TV show resulted in new tips received by Escondido Police, according to the website established by Amber’s family. "We cannot bear the thought of life without her," her family has posted on the website. Both parents and her mother’s boyfriend have taken and passed lie detector tests, and are not considered suspects. Police thus far are treating the case as a missing teen, not an abduction or runaway, although friends and family have indicated they do not believe Amber would have left voluntarily. A candlelight vigil was held at Escondido High School on Friday. Searches are planned each weekend and more volunteers are needed. Amber is 5 feet, 5 inches, weighs 130 pounds, has brown hair and blue eyes with a small scar on her cheek. She was last seen walking toward Escondido High School on North Broadway in Escondido at 7 a.m. on February 13th. She was reportedly looking forward to receiving a lamb at school that day through the Future Farmers of America Club. On Feb. 14, Dubois’ cell phone was turned on for 20 seconds, but it has not been activated since, KFMB reported. Escondido firefighters took up a collection, using their boots, and raised approximately $10,000 to help fund search efforts. An estimated 500 to 600 people have turned out to help with the weekend searches so far. If you have any information on Amber’s disappearance, please call (760)743-TIPS (8477) or e-mail: missingamber@yahoo.com. Printer-friendly version
THREE ARRESTED FOR STREET ROBBERY IN LA MESA
Printer-friendly versionMarch 14, 2009 (La Mesa) At about 6:30 p.m. this evening, a man was robbed by three suspects while walking near Grossmont Center, La Mesa. The suspects walked up to the victim, brandished a knife, and demanded the victim’s wallet, I-pod, and cell phone. The suspects took the property and ran away. The victim ran and called the police from a nearby pay phone. La Mesa Police Officers responded and contacted three suspects in the area within four minutes. All three suspects were positively identified and the stolen property and knife were recovered. The suspects were booked into jail on robbery charges. Suspects included two juveniles, ages 15 and 17, and one adult, David Pineda, all from San Diego. If you have any information on this case, please call the La Mesa Police Department at (619) 667-1400. You may also call Crime Stoppers’ anonymous toll-free tip line (888) 580-TIPS (or www.sdcrimestoppers.com). You can remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case Printer-friendly version