Adji Desir, age 6 Missing 1/10/09 From Immokalee,Fl [Archive]

Pauli

01-13-2009, 03:07 AM

UPDATE: Sheriff asks for volunteers to help find boy

By WINK News

Story Created: Jan 11, 2009 at 9:12 AM EST
Story Updated: Jan 12, 2009 at 6:34 PM EST

UPDATE: MONDAY 1/12/09 6PM
Nicole Papageorge, WINK News
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - 6-year-old Adji Desir was last seen outside his grandmother's home Saturday night.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office has expanded their search area from 4 miles to 8 miles.

The Seminole Police heat-seeking camera helicopter will search for the boy Monday night.

The search will resume tomorrow, Tuesday.

UPDATE: MONDAY 1/12/09 5:30PM
By Nick Spinetto, WINK News
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - The Collier County Sheriff's Office is also asking for volunteers to help in the search for Adji Desir.

Several volunteers answered the call Monday afternoon.

The volunteers job was to go to door in different neighborhoods in Immokalee and hand out fliers with Adji's face on it.

Since the search began for the missing 6-year-old Saturday night, investigators focused on Adji's neighborhood, but with the help of volunteers, authorities hope to go to every house and business in Immokalee.

They hope the more people who see Adji's face the better chance they to find him.

"He's probably very scared. It's important everyone pool their resources," said volunteer Lorrie Johns.

Volunteers will also be out helping tomorrow. If you want to help, call the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

UPDATE MONDAY 1/12/09 12 NOON
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - Deputies expanded the search for Adji Desir Monday morning. The Collier County Sheriff's Office is making flyers with pictures of the little boy in Spanish, Creole and English.

The Sheriff's Office is asking for volunteers to help in the search. Please sign-up at the Immokalee Community Park, located at 321 N 1st Street Immokalee, FL 34142. All volunteers should bring identification.

UPDATE MONDAY 1/12/09 7:15AM
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - Crews will resume searching Monday morning for missing 6-year-old boy Adji Desir. He went missing from his Immokalee home at Farm Workers Village, around 7:15 p.m.

The Sheriff's Office tells WINK News that they will be expanding the search area around Farm Workers Village Monday morning.

UPDATE: SUNDAY 1/11/09 5:30PM
Release from Collier Co. Sheriff's Office:
IMMOKALEE - Dozens of law enforcement officers from agencies around Southwest Florida joined more than 100 CCSO deputies in the search for Adji Desir the six-year-old Immokalee boy that has been missing since Saturday evening.

Deputies on horseback, on ATVs, in helicopters, with K-9, as well as in patrol cars, and on foot were searching the area in and around Farm Workers Village for a second day on Sunday.

Investigators have learned that the boy is developmentally disabled and functions on a two-year-old level. The boy has a very limited vocabulary. He knows his name, but can not speak it. He understands Creole, but can not speak it. He may be hiding from searchers.

Family members initially told deputies the boy was last seen wearing a blue and yellow t-shirt and blue and yellow shorts. Since then other family members have provided deputies with a different version of a clothing description. The boy may also be wearing a blue shirt with yellow stripes, blue shorts with a pink stripe down the side and black and gray sneakers.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff's Office at 793-9300.

ORIGINAL STORY
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - Deputies are searching for a 6-year-old boy reported missing in Immokalee Saturday night.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office says Adji Desir around was last seen leaving his home in Farm Workers Village around 7:15 p.m.

Deputies say Adji was watching television in his bedroom when he told his parents he was going outside to play with friends.

His parents watched him leave the house and go outside. When they went to check on him a few minutes later he was nowhere to be found. His parents called for help.

Adji is described as 3 feet tall, 45 pounds, with short black hair and dark eyes. He was wearing a blue and yellow T-shirt and blue and yellow shorts.

Deputies are searching the area with patrol cars, a helicopter and K-9s. They are also going door-to-door assisted by local firefighters.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239-793-9300.
http://www.winknews.com/news/local/37408699.html

Pauli

01-13-2009, 03:16 AM

Grandmother of Adji Desir.

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/11/091011NS-LS-Missing07_t600.jpg

http://74.125.45.132/search?q=cache:PQE8NgzUplAJ:www.naplesnews.com/photos/today/+missing+desir&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Pauli

01-13-2009, 03:20 AM

Naples Daily News

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/10/collier-deputies-search-missing-6-year-old-boy-imm/

IMMOKALEE — 7:40 a.m.

Vehicles from the Collier County Sheriff's Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife have been coming into the Farm Worker Village all morning as officers once again begin the foot search for missing six-year-old Adji Desir.

Adji, who has developmental disabilities and the mind of a 2-year-old, has been missing since Saturday.

Students and their parents walked to Village Oaks Elementary School, where Adji is a student, through heavy fog this morning. Fish and Wildlife vehicles carrying all-terrain vehicles on trailers passed them headed towards the last place Adji was seen.

The Sheriff's Office will expand its search for Anji this morning. Law enforcement officers from other counties are expected to join the search this morning.

Dorcus Howard, principal at Village Oaks Elementary School, declined to comment on the situation Monday morning. She referred all comment to the Collier County School District's administrative offices.

The search team will have to deal with a dense fog that has blanketed Immokalee

POSTED SUNDAY AT 9 p.m.

Saturday’s disappearance of 6-year old Adji Desir from Immokalee’s Farm Worker Village has shaken the traditionally close-knit community — where kids’ playing outside without parental supervision has long been the norm.

“I won’t let them out now,” said Village resident Wendy Salas, 20, in an interview Sunday afternoon.

The mother of two said Adji’s disappearance was scary because she’d always felt the Village was a safe neighborhood.

Fellow resident Nadaish “Nana” Dore, 26, agreed with Salas and said she too would not let her three children play outside anymore.

“Nothing like this has ever happened,” said Dore while sitting outside her home with friends on Sunday. “There’s something going on here. This is a good community.”

As of Sunday, some among the community feared that an outsider might have taken Adji.

That was Kethly Bechat’s main worry as she combed her 6-year-old daughter’s hair before work on Sunday night at her home.

“I’m afraid,” said Bechat, 36. “I don’t want somebody to take my baby, too. Everybody afraid.”

Bechat said she knows Adji’s mother and her daughter attends school at Village Oaks Elementary with Adji. She also said neighborhood children regularly play in the nearby woods.

“If he’s out in the woods, hopefully he’s curled up somewhere, keeping warm. We’re going to find him,” said Collier County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Michelle Batten on Sunday.

Batten said the investigation remains a missing child case, but that the department is not ruling anything out.

“From what we’ve been told, he’s not a kid who runs away,” said Batten. “We don’t have any reports of him ever straying before.”

On Sunday afternoon, a Sheriff’s Office commander confirmed that Adji has developmental disabilities and the mind of a 2-year-old boy.

“Very limited vocabulary, non-verbal. Knows his name but cannot say it. Shakes his head yes and no. Understands Creole but does not speak it,” reads the official be-on-the-lookout sheet from the Sheriff’s Office, which also adds that the boy may hide from searchers.

“He may understand he is lost, but he may not approach a stranger to say he is lost,” Batten said.

There are more than 150 law enforcement officers involved in the search, of which 100 are Collier County authorities and include K-9 and horse units. The Sheriff’s Office suspended the foot search in the woods Sunday night, but Batten said a helicopter equipped with infrared radar was going to continue the search for Adji throughout the night. The foot search will resume in the morning.

Adji’s family spoke through an interpreter Sunday afternoon, begging for help from the community.

“If you see Adji, please call the police,” said the boy’s stepfather Antal Elant, 41, in Creole. “Because we want him back.”

The stepfather also told members of the media, with help from Collier County Sheriff’s Office translator Nymphgamey Oboute, that their son is a “good boy” who knows everybody and plays with the other children in the small community.

“Everyone knows Adji,” said Elant.

The boy’s mother, Marie Nadia, 36, said she came home late Saturday night to find her family members in tears. She didn’t know what had happened until she arrived at midnight after a long day at work.

“I just really want to have my child back,” she said in Creole.

The boy spent most of Saturday with his grandmother Jesula Thebaud, 55, who lives in the community a few blocks away from Adji’s parents house. Also speaking through the interpreter, Thebaud said Adji came in and out of her house several times, playing with neighborhood friends and eating lunch with her.

It wasn’t until Elant arrived to pick up Adji around 5 p.m. Saturday, that the family realized he was missing.

“We saw all the kids except him,” said Elant. “We asked the kids where he went and they didn’t know.”

After two hours of looking through the community with friends and family, Elant said they knew what had to be done.

“We called the police,” said Elant.

Sheriff’s Office officials said that as of Saturday afternoon, that Adji was possibly wearing a blue shirt with yellow stripes, blue shorts with a flamingo pink stripe down the side, and black and gray sneakers.

Collier officials added that the outpouring of support from neighboring law enforcement agencies and area volunteers has been a lot of help.

Along with the Collier County authorities, members from the following agencies arrived to help in the search: Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Hendry County Sheriff’s Office, Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigations and Hendry Correctional Institution. The Hendry Correctional Institution provided bloodhounds for the search.

In addition, members of the Collier County Housing Authority, Collier County Public Schools, Fort Myers Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Farm Worker Village Association and community residents also turned out to help.

Village resident Eva Ramirez, 34, and her friend Joshua Alponte, 32, were among the volunteers who started passing out flyers around the neighborhood with Adji’s information Sunday morning.

Ramirez said association members started making the rounds Saturday night.

“I’m very surprised that anything like this happened,” said Ramirez.

According to National Center for Missing and Exploited Children President Ernie Allen, there aren’t statistics that show how many missing children are disabled.

However, Allen said due to their condition, they are very vulnerable.

“That is why it is important that the Collier County Sheriff’s Office has moved so quickly,” said Allen. “Time is the enemy here.”

He says the risks in this area are different than, say, Wisconsin, at this time of year, but they are serious nonetheless.

“The vast majority of kids in these cases are recovered safely. The assumption is this is a little boy who has wandered away, who may be confused,” Allen said. “Collier County has put people up in the air, they have put people on horseback. We’re also very enthusiastic about the use of bloodhounds in these cases.”

Pauli

01-13-2009, 03:21 AM

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/12/photos-day-3-search-adji-missing-6-year-old/

As the search for a missing six-year-old boy moves into its third day, law enforcmement officials are doubling their search area to find him.

About 150 law enforcement officers are in the Farm Worker Village looking for Adji Desir, who has developmental disabilities and the mind of a 2-year-old and went missing Saturday.

Law enforcement officials are concentrating their search on the Northwest side of the Farm Worker Village, according to Collier County Sheriff Sgt. Robert Brown.

"We have two distinct areas we are searching. One is the residential area within the Farm Worker Village and then you have the woods with the mangroves and the swamp-like condition," he said. GIVES ME CHILLS JUST THINKING ABOUT IT.

Officers are conducting line searches, traversing an area north to south and east to west to ensure they find the missing boy, he said.

The officers are searching the four-square miles they searched Sunday, as well as an additional four miles, Brown said. The search includes looking for places Adji might hide, like in trash cans, and along the canal that runs on the west side of the Farm Worker Village.

In addition to officers on foot, law enforcement officers are searching for the boy on horseback and on all-terrain vehicles.

Brown said the search through the mangroves and wooded areas has been difficult and slow, but thorough.

Complicating the matter is that Adji has a limited vocabulary and is non-verbal. He knows his name, but cannot say it. Sheriff officials have also said the boy may hide from searchers and, while he may understand he is lost, he might not approach a stranger to say he is lost.

One thing the officers are thankful for is the fog. Though visibility out in the Farm Worker Village is 20 to 30 feet, Brown said, the fog is keeping the sun off searchers' backs and allowing them to stay hydrated and out searching longer.

Brown said the sooner officers can find Adji, the better.

"He is out there and has had a lack of food and sleep," he said. "We are going to keep the same tempo we have had. The sense of urgency has not stopped."

On Monday morning, Fiesta 5 Supermarket employee Gladys Aurelio said patronage at the community mini-mart was down.

"Almost no one is coming around," said Aurelio, who attributed the drop to residents hunkering down at home, awaiting for news on Adji.

Long-time resident Delfina Vasquez, 60, agreed and said a sense of fear had permeated the neighborhood.

However, both agreed that more should be done to find the missing child.

"Everyone talks about the disappearance," Aurelio said. "But no one gives any tips (on how to find him)."

Officers began searching for Adji at 8 a.m. Monday. Brown said they would keep searching for him until they found him or were told to stop.

"We are on a mission to find this child," he said.

Pauli

01-13-2009, 03:23 AM

Missing 6-year-old's grandmother says boy may hide from searchers

Originally published 2:04 p.m., Monday, January 12, 2009
Updated 3:34 p.m., Monday, January 12, 2009
IMMOKALEE — Jesula Thebaud looks through her purse.

She brings out two passports - one of her and another of a smiling little boy.

She chokes back tears as she looks at the photo.

The little boy, six-year-old Adji Desir, is her missing grandson.

In Thebaud's small bungalow in the Farm Worker Village, the living room is dark and stifling hot. The windows closed so that the 54-year-old woman and her daughter can cry with friends and family who have stopped by.

Outside, police search for Adji, who disappeared Saturday evening.

They have even started making specific visits to known criminals.

"We’ve been physically knocking on doors of registered sex offenders in the Immokalee area," Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Michelle Batten said. "We’ve been interviewing them; asking them about their whereabouts."

The Sheriff's Office is inviting the community to assist law enforcement in the search for 6-year-old Adji Desir of Immokalee.

From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. today, Monday, Jan. 12, deputies will be at Immokalee Community Park, 321 N. 1st St., handing out fliers to members of the public to distribute.

Deputies will return to the park at 10 a.m. on Tuesday to once again pass out fliers.

Anyone interested in distributing fliers is asked to bring identification with them and they will receive fliers to hand out.

The boy spent most of Saturday with his grandmother, who lives in the community a few blocks away from Adji's parents house.She has said Adji came in and out of her house several times, playing with neighborhood friends and eating lunch with her.

It wasn't until Adji's stepfather arrived to pick him up around 5 p.m. Saturday, that the family realized he was missing.

Complicating the matter is that Adji, who has developmental disabilities and the mind of a two-year-old, has a limited vocabulary and is non-verbal. He knows his name, but cannot say it. Sheriff officials have also said the boy may hide from searchers and, while he may understand he is lost, he might not approach a stranger to say he is lost.

Sitting in Thebaud's living room Monday afternoon, Adji's mother Maria Neida said she has received no new information about her missing son.

"It's hard. It's very hard," she said.

Neida said the family is hoping the police find her son. She said her son is a good boy who likes juice and cookies.

"He's always playing," she said. "He's always riding bicycles or playing football."

As Neida talks about Adji, Thebaud begins to wail, throwing her arms up in the air. Her anguished cries, asking for the gods to help her, bring tears to the other women's eyes in the room.

The outburst was too much for Neida, who retreats into the back of the home. A toy fire engine sits on the floor in the doorway of one of the bedrooms.

"He is a good boy. He is happy," said Patricia Belizaire, a family friend.

As the family grieves inside, officers walk through the woods behind the broken chain link fence behind the home, hoping for a sign of the little boy.

About 150 law enforcement officers from nine different agencies are in the Farm Worker Village searching by foot, horseback, all-terrain vehicle and with dogs for Adji. The Collier County Sheriff's Office has expanded the search from four square miles Sunday to 8 miles Monday.

Anyone with information on Adji's whereabouts is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff's Office at (239) 774-4434.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/12/missing-6-year-olds-grandmother-says-boy-may-hide-/

sarahhod

01-13-2009, 05:52 AM

Search for missing Immokalee boy in spotlight
Adji Desir, 6, disappeared from Immokalee home

http://www.news-press.com/article/20090113/NEWS01/901130364/1075

By Christina Cepero • ccepero@news-press.com • January 13, 2009

Volunteers with ID are asked to pick up fliers to distribute between 10 a.m. and noon today at Immokalee Community Park, 321 N. 1st St.

The flier explains in English, Spanish and Creole that 6-year-old Adji Desir was last seen in Farm Workers Village at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. He was wearing a blue shirt with thin yellow stripes, blue shorts with flamingos down the sides and sneakers that are black and gray.

Deputies describe the boy as 3 feet tall and 45 pounds with short black hair and dark eyes. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at 793-9300.

Searchers found no sign of 6-year-old Adji Desir on Monday after two days of looking.

The search is scheduled to continue today.

Adji vanished Saturday evening from his home at Farm Workers Village off State Road 29 in Immokalee.

About 150 law enforcement personnel from the Collier County Sheriff's Office and other local, state and federal agencies, plus volunteers, looked for Adji across 8 square miles through brush and ditches Monday.

They used all-terrain vehicles, dogs, horses and helicopters with infrared technology to detect body heat because the area around Farm Workers Village is heavily wooded.

All to no avail.

But Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, who was sworn in last week, will not give up. "We're not going to stop looking for a missing child," Rambosk said.

"This is a significant comprehensive effort with law enforcement and residents throughout the community.

"In the five years I've been with the sheriff's office, I've not ever seen this length of an effort."

Sheriff's spokeswoman Jamie Mosbach said no Amber Alert has been activated because there is no indication the boy was abducted.

"There's no suspect. There's no vehicle," Mosbach said. But officers did knock on the doors of local sex offenders Monday to check on their whereabouts.

The sheriff's office distributed fliers with Adji's picture in English, Spanish and Creole to volunteers with identification Monday afternoon so they could post them in their neighborhoods.

On Monday night, Collier sheriff's Lt. Tom Smith appeared on CNN's "Nancy Grace" show to talk about the case. He said Adji's inability to communicate may hamper the search.

"He's extremely non-verbal," Smith said. "He couldn't speak up and say, 'Help me.'"

Smith said the sheriff's office is investigating whether Adji may have been abducted. Smith said there's no evidence so far to suggest foul play.

"At this time, there's no reason to sway us or lead us in that direction," Smith said.

Erica Ramirez, 28, posted fliers in the vicinity of the Lake Trafford Marina with her four children, ages 6 through 14.

"It hurts my heart because I have four kids of my own. I have a 6-year-old, too. It hurts," Ramirez said after picking up a stack of fliers at Immokalee Community Park.

"We can do something to help. I want them to see that we can."

Luckner Neida, 30, Adji's uncle, said his nephew's favorite sport is soccer. He said Adji has never wandered off before.

The boy went outside to play Saturday evening but has not been seen since.

The Collier sheriff's office said Adji has a developmental disability and functions on a 2-year-old level. He is unable to say his name but knows it. He understands Creole but doesn't speak it. Because of his disability, Adji's family fears he might hide from searchers.

sarahhod

01-13-2009, 05:53 AM

Search for missing Immokalee boy gets national attention
By Tami Osborne, WINK News

http://www.winknews.com/news/local/37485594.html

Story Created: Jan 13, 2009 at 12:42 AM EST

Story Updated: Jan 13, 2009 at 1:24 AM EST

IMMOKALEE, Fla. - As authorities scaled back their ground and air search for a missing Immokalee boy, word of his disappearance made national news.

6-year-old Adji Desir disappeared after going outside his Farm Workers Village home to play on Saturday evening.

Since then, hundreds of law enforcement agents and volunteers have searched an 8-mile area of Immokalee by foot and by air for the little boy. So far, they've found nothing.

On Monday night, a Collier County Sheriff's investigator appeared on CNN's Nancy Grace show by telephone to talk about the case.

At this point, the Sheriff's Office says they continue to look at all possibilities. Right now, they say there is no evidence to say that Adji did not simply wander off, but they still have not ruled out kidnapping either.

Authorities say they plan to resume their ground search at daybreak.

sarahhod

01-13-2009, 05:56 AM

Search area doubled, but boy’s whereabouts still a mystery
Missing 6-year-old's grandmother says Adji may hide from searchers

By KATHERINE ALBERS (Contact), RYAN MILLS (Contact)

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/12/missing-6-year-olds-grandmother-says-boy-may-hide-/

Originally published 2:04 p.m., Monday, January 12, 2009
Updated 9:10 p.m., Monday, January 12, 2009

DAVID ALBERS / Daily News

IMMOKALEE — Jesula Thebaud looks through her purse.

She brings out two passports — one of her and another of a smiling little boy.

She chokes back tears as she looks at the photo.

The little boy, 6-year-old Adji Desir, is her missing grandson.

In Thebaud’s small bungalow in the Farm Worker Village, the living room is dark and stifling hot. The windows are closed so the 54-year-old woman and her daughter can cry with friends and family who have stopped by.

Outside, police search for Adji, who disappeared Saturday evening.

They have even started making specific visits to known criminals.

“We’ve been physically knocking on doors of registered sex offenders in the Immokalee area,” Collier County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Michelle Batten said. “We’ve been interviewing them; asking them about their whereabouts.”

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating all angles, but spokeswoman Jamie Mosbach said the agency is not focusing on a possible abduction by a stranger, because there is no evidence of it at this point.

“They have spoken to the sex offenders in the area,” Mosbach said. “They’ve talked to family, friends and neighbors to eliminate them as suspects.”

If Adji is alone in the woods, Mosbach said the biggest concern for his safety is the elements, cool temperatures and lack of food.

When asked if the searchers were still optimistic about finding Adji alive, Mosbach said, “They’re determined.”

“I can’t give you optimistic or not,” she said. “We’re still hopeful.”

The Sheriff’s Office invites the community to help law enforcement in the search for Adji.

From 10 a.m. to noon Tuesday, deputies at Immokalee Community Park, 321 N. 1st St., will hand out fliers to members of the public to distribute.

Anyone interested in volunteering to distribute fliers is asked to bring identification with them.

“We need to get into the neighborhoods,” said Collier Sheriff Kevin Rambosk. “The residents know their neighborhoods the best. They will know if there is anything suspicious.”

Adji spent most of Saturday with his grandmother, who lives in the community a few blocks away from Adji’s parents house. She has said Adji came in and out of her house several times, playing with neighborhood friends and eating lunch with her.

It wasn’t until Adji’s stepfather arrived to pick him up around 5 p.m. Saturday, that the family realized he was missing.

Complicating the matter is that Adji, who has developmental disabilities and the mind of a two-year-old, has a limited vocabulary and is non-verbal. He knows his name, but cannot say it. Sheriff officials have also said the boy may hide from searchers and, though he may understand he is lost, he might not approach a stranger to say he is lost.

Sitting in Thebaud’s living room Monday afternoon, Adji’s mother Maria Neida said she has received no new information about her missing son.

“It’s hard,” she said. “It’s very hard.”

Neida said the family hopes the police find her son. She said her son is a good boy who likes juice and cookies.

“He’s always playing,” she said. “He’s always riding bicycles or playing football.”

As Neida talks about Adji, Thebaud begins to wail, throwing her arms in the air. Her anguished cries, asking for the gods to help her, bring tears to the eyes of the other women in the room.

The outburst was too much for Neida, who retreats into the back of the home. A toy fire engine sits on the floor in the doorway of one of the bedrooms.

“He is a good boy. He is happy,” said Patricia Belizaire, a family friend.

As the family grieves, officers walk through the woods behind the broken chain link fence behind the home, searching for a sign of the little boy.

About 150 law enforcement officers from nine different agencies are in the Farm Worker Village searching by foot, horseback, all-terrain vehicle and with dogs for Adji. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has expanded the search from four square miles Sunday to eight miles Monday.

The fog had lifted enough on Monday afternoon for a Sheriff’s Office helicopter to take to the sky to look for Adji.

Volunteers also walked the streets, passing out fliers with Adji’s photo and information on them. As children walked home from Village Oaks Elementary School where Adji attends, volunteers handed them fliers to take home to their parents. Some children waved to law enforcement officials as they left to continue the search.

Fifty-seven volunteers, some who traveled from as far as Fort Myers, covered 31 areas throughout Immokalee on Monday.

“If I had a child, I’d want people to get involved as well,” said Immokalee resident Rudy Campbell, 29, who arrived at the Immokalee Community Park volunteer gathering site with co-worker Kevin Richards, 24. “The more people (to look) the better.”

The decision to involve local residents in the search was intended to tap into area residents’ knowledge of their town and their own neighborhoods.

“The community can reach more people than we can,” said Collier County Sgt. Danny Curran, who assigned coverage areas to the volunteers.

Among the volunteers were seven Village Oaks Elementary staff members, including Adji’s teacher Claire Howard who passed out flyers with the boy’s information on Main Street.

The Sheriff’s Office began reining in the search at sunset, but the Seminole Police helicopter remained in the air searching the area with an infrared camera.

The search will resume in full force on Tuesday morning.

“They’re working hard,” Mosbach said. “They’re working very, very hard.”

Anyone with information on Adji's whereabouts is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff's Office at (239) 774-4434.

sarahhod

01-13-2009, 05:58 AM

Foul play not suspected in case of missing boy

Christina Cepero • ccepero@news-press.com • January 12, 2009

http://www.news-press.com/article/20090112/NEWS01/901120353/1002/NEWS01

9:05 p.m. update

Tonight, Lt. Tom Smith appeared on CNN’s Nancy Grace show to talk about the case. He said Adji’s inability to communicate may hamper the search.

“He’s extremely non-verbal,” he said. “He couldn’t speak up and say, ‘Help me.’”

Smith said the sheriff’s office is searching for the boy and also investigating whether he may have been abducted. He said there’s no evidence so far to suggest foul play.

“At this time, there’s no reason to sway us or lead us in that direction,” he said.
8 p.m. update

Lt. Tom Smith of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Crimes Bureau will appear live on Nancy Grace’s CNN show tonight to discuss the disappearance of 6-year-old Adji Desir.

Smith, who is one of the lead investigators on the case, is scheduled to be a featured guest during a live segment on Nancy Grace’s show on CNN sometime between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office.

CCSO deputies assisted by law enforcement agencies from around Southwest Florida have been searching in Immokalee for Adji since Saturday evening when his relatives reported him missing after he went outside to play in Farm Worker Village and then disappeared.
2 p.m. update

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office will distribute fliers with Adji Desir’s face to volunteers between 2 and 4 p.m. today at Immokalee Community Park 321 N., First Street. They’re asking people to pass them out in their neighborhoods.

“What we’re looking to do right now is to provide an opportunity to take this a little bit further, a little bit more local,” said Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, who was sworn in last week.

The flier explains in English, Spanish and Creole that the 6-year-old boy was last seen in Farm Workers Village at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. He was wearing a blue shirt with thin yellow stripes and blue shorts with flamingos going down the sides, and black and gray sneakers. Anyone with any information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 793-9300.

Rambosk asked residents to search for the boy around their own homes and properties.

He said there will be another opportunity Tuesday morning for volunteers to pick up fliers if need be.

Already, hundreds of people, including volunteers and two shifts of some 150 local, state and federal law enforcement officers, have been looking for the boy.

“This is a significant comprehensive effort with law enforcement and residents throughout the community,” Rambosk said.

“In the five years I’ve been with the sheriff’s office, I’ve not ever seen this length of an effort.”

Of the family he said: “They’re doing as well as can be expected. It’s a trying time for any family. They want an answer more than even the hundreds of volunteers who are out here today.”

The 8-square mile search area around Farm Workers Village is heavily wooded.

“There’s a lot of scrub, brush, very difficult to get in,” Rambosk said.

“He is going to be scared. He is going to be hungry. He may be out of his neighborhood, which is difficult for him, which is why the more resources we can put up in the first 36 to 7 hours, the better.”

An Amber Alert has not been activated because there is no clear indication he was abducted.

Rambosk said they are considering all possibilities, and he remains optimistic.

“We’re not going to stop looking for a missing child,” he said.
12:32 p.m. update

Six-year-old Adji Desir remains missing. Collier County Sheriff’s officers continue searching for the boy since he disappeared Saturday night from his home at Farm Workers Village off State Road 29 in Immokalee.

“Today we’re continuing the ground search,” Collier County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Karie Partington said.

“It’s being done on foot, by ATV, horses and dogs.”

About 150 law enforcement officers from various jurisdictions are aiding in the search.

The search area has expanded about four square miles from Sunday’s search of four square miles.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office also is putting together a flier with Adji’s face and information in English, Spanish and Creole to be distributed throughout the community.

Partington said it was unusual for the boy to wander off.

“We want to find him alive,” Partington said.

Anyone with information is urged to call the sheriff’s office at 793-9300 or 1-800 Crimestoppers.
From this morning's editions of The News-Press

More than 150 Southwest Florida law enforcement officers searched all day Sunday and into this morning for a 6-year-old Immokalee boy missing since Saturday night.

Adji Desir, 6, was last seen leaving his home in Farm Workers Village about 7:15 p.m. Saturday, Collier County deputies said.

Collier County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Michelle Batten said her agency scaled back the search at nightfall Sunday. Batten said her agency would search in smaller groups through the night before the full search resumes this morning.

Batten, who said searchers planned to use a helicopter equipped with infrared radar to look for the boy Sunday night, said, "At 8 a.m., we're going to expand the search to include additional areas."

Batten declined to identify the expanded search area due to intelligence reasons.

Adji's parents said he was watching television in his bedroom Saturday evening when he told his parents he was going outside to play with friends. When they went to check on him a few minutes later, he was gone.

Deputies said Adji is about 3 feet tall and 45 pounds with short black hair and dark eyes.

The family said he might be wearing a blue shirt with yellow stripes, blue shorts with a pink stripe down the side and black-and-gray sneakers.

The Collier sheriff's office said Adji has a developmental disability and functions on a 2-year-old level.

"He has limited vocabulary," Batten said. "He knows his name but he's unable to say it. He shakes his head, yes or no. He understands Creole but he doesn't speak it.

"Due to the disability, he might hide from searchers. He would know he was lost but he might not approach somebody and ask for help," Batten said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff's Office at 239-793-9300.

sarahhod

01-13-2009, 08:10 AM

After two days, no sign of missing boy

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=24909&z=3

Originally posted on: Monday, January 12, 2009 by NBC2 News
Last updated on: 1/12/2009 11:22:47 PM

IMMOKALEE: It has been two days since six-year-old Adji Desir went missing and deputies say there is still no sign of him. The Collier County Sheriff's Office suspended Monday's ground search at dusk, but a helicopter with an infrared device was still searching after nightfall.

Desir has been missing since Saturday evening when his relatives reported him missing.

Monday afternoon, Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk issued a plea for all available citizens to help find Desir.

The sheriff asked volunteers to go door to door handing out fliers and is asking all residents to check their property for Desir.

Deputies will also be back at Immokalee Community Park at 321 North First Street giving out fliers on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon. Again, volunteers should bring ID.

Monday morning, 150 deputies from around south Florida joined the search for Desir.

He was last seen Saturday evening when he went outside to play with friends in Immokalee's Farmworker's Village.

His grandmother went to check on him and couldn't find him.

Children who were outside with Desir when he went missing says they just noticed at one point that he was gone.

Investigators say the boy is developmentally disabled and functions on a two-year-old level.

He has a very limited vocabulary - he knows his name, but cannot speak it. Desir also understands Creole, but cannot speak it.

Deputies from Lee, Charlotte, Glades, Hendry and Miami-Dade counties joined the search Monday.

Collier deputies have expanded the search area from four miles to eight miles. On Monday, the search is only being conducted by ground because of visibility issues.

They'll also follow up on a handful of tips they've received from the public. Deputies are hoping for more tips to come in because one of the lead detectives in the search for the missing boy appeared on CNN Monday night, on Nancy Grace's show between 8:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Adji Desir's description:
3 feet tall
45 pounds,
Black hair
Brown eyes.
Blue and yellow T-shirt
Blue and yellow shorts

If you have any information about Adji Desir call CCSO at 239-774-4434.

packy

01-13-2009, 09:47 AM

Nancy Grace had his case on her show. Transcripts here. After the Caylee discussion.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0901/12/ng.01.html

dojewo

01-13-2009, 09:55 AM

I saw this on NG last night, I sure hope little Adji is found safe.

Amusedtdth

01-13-2009, 10:29 AM

What a sad situation. I pray this little boy is found quickly, its been too long.

Roamer

01-13-2009, 10:31 AM

I am praying for his safe return. So young to be out there and afraid.

sarahhod

01-13-2009, 11:07 AM

Search for missing boy continues

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=24953&z=3

Originally posted on: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 by Kevin Ozebek
Last updated on: 1/13/2009 8:31:12 AM

IMMOKALEE: Searchers will hunt for missing six-year-old Adji Desir for a third day, and deputies say they haven't given up hope.

Deputies are exploring two possibilities: That he wandered off or that he was abducted.

They say there is no evidence that any family members abducted the boy.

They've also called in a panther expert. Investigators say there were panthers in the area around the time the boy vanished, but panther droppings in the area do not indicate the boy was attacked.

Swamp buggies will be a big part of Tuesday's search, allowing searchers to go into tough terrain and elevating them - giving them a better view of the area.

Ave Maria University is helping house some of the out-of-area volunteers.

Deputies are also asking all area residents to check around their home in any place they think a six-year-old could possibly hide - garbage cans, dog houses, ditches, etc.

The sheriff's office is again asking the public for help in the search. If you would like to volunteer, show up at the Immokalee Community Park between 10 a.m. and noon today. Make sure you bring you ID.

Volunteers will get a stack of fliers featuring Adji's photo to hand out door to door. The information is in English, Spanish and Creole.

About 150 deputies and officers combed the area Monday looking for any sign of the missing boy.

Late Saturday and Sunday, the search area was about four square miles. Monday's search area doubled to eight square miles.

Adji's story is also getting national attention. Last night Tom Smith with Collier County Sheriff's Office was a guest on CNN's Nancy Grace show.

foxfarmboxers

01-13-2009, 11:57 AM

My thoughts and prayers are going out for Adji and his family.

annalyzer

01-13-2009, 03:35 PM

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/12/sheriffs-office-discuss-missing-child-case-cnn-ton/?partner=RSS

SHOW TRANSCRIPTION: Sheriff's Office discusses missing child case on CNN Monday night
By Naples Daily News staff report
Originally published 5:39 p.m., Monday, January 12, 2009
Updated 1:19 p.m., Monday, January 12, 2009

Adji Desir

Search for 6-year-old missing in Immokalee
About 150 law enforcement officers are in the Farm Worker Village looking for 6-year-old Adji Desir who went missing Saturday.

News of the missing boy in Immokalee reached a national audience Monday night.

Lt. Tom Smith, one of the lead Collier County Sheriff's Office investigators in the search for 6-year-old Adji Desir, was a featured guest on Nancy Grace's live show on CNN at 8:45 p.m.

The following are excerpts from the live broadcast:

GRACE: Well put, gentlemen.

Quickly, I want to talk about the 6-year-old missing boy. Take a listen.

TigressPen

01-13-2009, 03:59 PM

I was hoping when I saw the new post that it'd show where Adji had been located. I pray he is found soon. Bless him, he is so young and has to be hungry and tired.

sarahhod

01-13-2009, 04:02 PM

Developmentally Disabled Fla. Boy Adji Desir Disappears

http://www.amw.com/missing_children/case.cfm?id=62497

Overview
Police say Adji Desir, a developmentally disabled child who went missing on January 11, 2009, may attempt to hide from those trying to find him.

The Collier County, Fla. Sheriff's Office and more than 100 officers from nearby agencies are desperately searching for Adji Desir, a 6-year-old boy who was last seen Saturday night.

Police say Adji was at his grandmother’s home for the day while his mother was working. The boy's grandmother lives in Farm Workers Village in Immokalee, Fla.

Adji was last seen around 5:15 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2009. Investigator Maria Butrico with the Collier County Sheriff's Office told AMW that Adji went outside to play with some friends, and at some point, he disappeared.

Search crews have been canvassing the area since Saturday night. A billboard with Adji's photo and description is scheduled to go up on the corner of Main and First Streets in downtown Immokalee.

Police are hoping that Adji just wandered off and is lost, but they have to look into the possibility that the child was abducted. Police have not found any evidence to indicate that there was any foul play.

Adji was last seen wearing a blue shirt with thin yellow stripes, blue shorts with pink flamingos going down the sides, and gray and black sneakers.

Police say it's important to note that Adji is developmentally disabled and only speaks about five words. He may also try to hide from searchers.

If you've seen missing child Adji Desir, call our hotline at 1-800-CRIME-TV right now.

awakening2lite

01-13-2009, 06:30 PM

EXCERPT ~ America's Most Wanted

http://media.amw.com/multimedia/fileRepository/db/472/194/Desir_Adji_content.2large.jpg
Florida Town Searches For Missing Boy (http://www.amw.com/missing_children/brief.cfm?id=62497) 01/13/2009

Adji Desir, a 6-year-old developmentally disabled Florida boy, has been missing since Saturday, Jan. 11, 2009. Police need your help to bring him home to his family.
>>The Full Story (http://www.amw.com/missing_children/case.cfm?id=62497)

http://www.amw.com/

http://www.amw.com/images/title_physical_description.gif
Sex Male
http://www.amw.com/images/divider_green.gif Age Now 6 http://www.amw.com/images/divider_green.gif Height 3' 0" http://www.amw.com/images/divider_green.gif Weight 45 lbs http://www.amw.com/images/divider_green.gif Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair) Black
http://www.amw.com/images/divider_green.gif Eyes (Color and Correction) Brown
http://www.amw.com/images/divider_green.gif Other Physical Characteristics Police say Adji is developmentally disabled. He only speaks about 5 words. He may hide from searchers
http://www.amw.com/images/tab_mc_traits.gif
Smiles a lot

texanne

01-13-2009, 07:16 PM

OMG, this is bad. Not a good area for a child to be wandering in. I can imagine that his family is going crazy with fear. I hope there are plenty of volunteers looking. Have they contacted search groups?

Faith

01-13-2009, 07:19 PM

I just heard on HLN there is nothing new and this baby hasn't been found. I am just heartbroken.

My prayers are that Adji is safe and will be found soon.

Please God, please guide someone to Adji.

Roamer

01-13-2009, 07:58 PM

I just heard on HLN there is nothing new and this baby hasn't been found. I am just heartbroken.

My prayers are that Adji is safe and will be found soon.

Please God, please guide someone to Adji.

Amen.

StickyBeak

01-13-2009, 08:49 PM

I was hoping for a good outcome tonight, been away from computer most of day.

Grim possibilities. That Rt. 29 is just so close to his GM home, always bad news on that highway. Pray and Pray for his safe return. LE searching trash, etc.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=24953&z=3

The Local News Paper Ft. Myers
http://www.news-press.com/article/20090113/NEWS01/901130364/1075&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

Faith

01-13-2009, 11:52 PM

I heard they were looking at all the sex offenders in the area. I lit a candle for sweet little Adji.

annalyzer

01-13-2009, 11:56 PM

I heard they were looking at all the sex offenders in the area. I lit a candle for sweet little Adji.

I heard that too Faith. This has brought back memories of Christopher Barrios. I pray this boy is found safe and soon.

annalyzer

01-14-2009, 05:05 AM

http://www.winknews.com/news/local/37408699.html?corder=reverse

UPDATE: Search for missing boy continues
By WINK News

Story Created: Jan 11, 2009 at 9:12 AM EST

Story Updated: Jan 13, 2009 at 6:37 PM EST

UPDATE: TUESDAY 1/13/09 6PM
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - The Collier County Sheriff's Office announced they would not be using their infrared camera helicopter on Tuesday night.

Tomorrow (Wednesday) the search will be scaled back from 150 officers to 100 officers.

sarahhod

01-14-2009, 06:48 AM

VIDEO/AUDIO/PHOTOS: Critical third day passes with no sign of missing Immokalee 6-year-old

By Naples Daily News staff report
Originally published 8:20 p.m., Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Updated 9:21 p.m., Tuesday, January 13, 2009

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/13/critical-third-day-passes-no-sign-missing-immokale/

NAPLES — When a child goes missing, the first 72 hours are the most crucial.

“If you can find them in three days it’s a blessing,” said Carol Kirchdorfer, with the Collier County office of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. “Once it goes on past that, the child has most probably left the area.”

The search for 6-year-old Adji Desir, who was staying with his grandmother at her Farm Worker Village home in Immokalee when he disappeared Saturday, reached the critical 72-hour mark Tuesday.

Still, there was no sign of the developmentally disabled boy, who police say has the mental capacity of a 2-year-old.

Perhaps the biggest development in the case came when the Sheriff’s Office told Adji’s immediate family members that they are not being looked at as suspects in the boy’s disappearance. It is not clear if any family members could face neglect charges.

Though Adji is still considered a missing person, the Sheriff’s Office reported Tuesday that it is conducting parallel investigations to explore the possibility of abduction.

“As the search continues, for the last 72 hours there has been an equal balance in the investigation between the case being a wandering off disappearance versus an abduction,” sheriff’s Lt. Tom Smith said on CNN. “However, as we start to conclude our complex ground searches, and we’re getting closer and closer to eliminating the fact that he might be in the immediate area, then the balance tends to tilt a little farther to someone being responsible for removing him from the village.

“So that’s the cause for us kind of reducing the number of search people, our ATVs and things, and then focusing more on searching exterior roads and roads coming in and out of the community and other areas.”

Despite Adji being missing four days, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Michelle Batten said investigators are still hopeful that he will be found alive.

She said the Sheriff’s Office is relying on local and national media to get out the word of his disappearance.

“It’s not that uncommon for a child to survive for a long time,” she said. “This boy is young, he’s resilient, his body is small. He might be able to survive for a long time.”

The roughly 185 volunteers who turned out to help authorities were also undeterred by the circumstance.

By 11 a.m. more than 100 volunteers visited Immokalee Community Park and got an area to cover. The volunteers passed out fliers, knocked on doors and spoke with residents.

Authorities said the town had been fully covered by noon, but late comers still were able to help by passing out fliers at intersections and local businesses.

Collier County Lt. Michael Dolan said the volunteers gave law enforcement the necessary manpower to do the job.

“We’re able to cover the entire community of Immokalee door to door,” Dolan said. “That’s how important the volunteers are.”

Additional fliers were handed out to local schools and some were given to bus drivers to hand out to kids as they were dropped off at home.

That way, some of the homes will be double covered, Dolan said.

Volunteers arrived from all over Southwest Florida, including Cape Coral residents Jamie and Jean Harrell.

“We saw it on the news,” said Jean Harrell, 39, as she waited for an area assignment with her husband Jamie, 40. “We’re retired and we thought, ‘Why not? Anything to help out.’”

The boy spent most of Saturday with his grandmother Jesula Thebaud, 55, who lives in the community a few blocks away from Adji’s parents house. Thebaud said Adji came in and out of her house several times, playing with neighborhood friends and eating lunch with her.

It wasn’t until his stepfather, Antal Elant, 41, arrived to pick up Adji around 5 p.m. Saturday, that the family realized he was missing.

Adji is described as 3 feet tall, 45 pounds, with short black hair and dark eyes, is developmentally disabled. He understands Creole, his family’s dialect, but is nonverbal.

News of the continuing search made its way through the town.

At the H&R Block office off Lake Trafford Road, as well as several surrounding businesses, the flier with Adji’s picture and information was pasted on the window — extras sat on a counter ready to be passed out.

H&R Block employee France Vidaurri said the missing boy has been on the minds of everyone in the community.

Vidaurri, who lived in Farm Worker Village for many years, said she didn’t understand why there wasn’t more information available about Adji’s last known location.

“I just think that there are so many houses so close by, someone has to have seen something,” said Vidaurri, 34.

At the Caribbean Star Food Supermarket and Beauty Supply store off E. Delaware Avenue in southeast Immokalee, Janine Antwan, 45, agreed with Vidaurri.

“How does a child like that disappear,” Antwan said in Spanish, adding that she went to Farm Worker Village to pick up some fliers herself. “How can people not know what happened to him. Poor child.”

Meanwhile, a little further up at the Ce Bien Haitian Bakery on First Street South, Fleurilia Senatus said all the little shop’s customers know Adji hasn’t been found.

“All the people are worried about him,” said Senatus, 47, who has lived in Immokalee for eight years. “They want to find him,”

More than 150 law enforcement officers from agencies around the state continued to look for the boy, as the search area was expanded to a 12-mile radius on Tuesday.

Though the focus of the search has shifted to the outskirts of Immokalee, Batten said there is still some searching going on in Farm Worker Village as well. Tuesday’s weather was foggy, rainy and cool, but Batten said it hasn’t affected the search.

“Obviously cold and rain can cause some challenges,” Batten said. “Thankfully, all of the things that rain or the elements may affect, like evidence ... those sorts of issues and areas have already been covered.

“We feel we have covered all the ground here. We’re not going to lose (bloodhound) scents. We’re not going to lose evidence.”

The search will resume today, though with fewer participants.

About 100 law enforcement agents will search the area and no official volunteer effort was scheduled, authorities said.

sarahhod

01-14-2009, 06:49 AM

Adji Desir's family turns to prayer
By Tami Osborne, WINK News

Story Created: Jan 14, 2009 at 12:34 AM EST

Story Updated: Jan 14, 2009 at 12:36 AM EST

http://www.winknews.com/news/local/37552454.html

IMMOKALEE, Fla. - Its the fourth night 6-year-old Adji Desir has been missing from home.

As hundreds of deputies and volunteers search for the little boy, his family is turning to prayer.

Adji's mother and grandmother joined friends and family Tuesday evening inside the home at Farm Worker's Village, where Adji was last seen Saturday night.

Even though four days of searching have turned up no signs of the little boy, his mother believes he is alive out there somewhere.

"He's okay. I believe that," Maria Nadia says.

She says she is very thankful for all of the support she's received from the community in the search for her only son. Right now, she says its prayers she needs the most.

"I need everybody to pray for me, for my family, for Adji. Just give Adji back," Nadia says.

Friends of the family say they believe God knows where Adji is and will help him find his way home.

"Nothing's impossible to God. God knows where he is now and we believe God will, we can get Adji back," Pastor Andre Mezirus says.

The Collier Sheriff's office has searched a 12 mile radius in the Immokalee area with no signs of Adji.

On Wednesday, they plan to evaluate their search so far, and decide what direction to move in next.

Roamer

01-14-2009, 07:14 AM

I'm praying right along with his family.

sarahhod

01-14-2009, 09:32 AM

Running out of places to look for Adji
Cold a concern in search for missing boy

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=24990&z=3

Originally posted on: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 by Kevin Ozebek
Last updated on: 1/14/2009 6:53:07 AM

IMMOKALEE: The search for six-year-old Adji Desir will be scaled back somewhat today, according to deputies.

About 100 deputies will look for the Immokalee boy, who vanished Saturday, instead of the 150 who have been involved the past few days.

They'll also stop using bloodhounds in the hunt. The sheriff's office helicopter will be in the air.

Most open areas have already been searched, so the duel investigation - covering possibilities Adji wandered off or that he was abducted - have shifted a bit more to the possibility someone took him.

Deputies are going door to door in the area, getting the names of the people in each home and interviewing them, according to Lt. Tom Smith of the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff issued a call for volunteers to help in the search Monday and Tuesday, but there is no request for volunteers today - though anyone who shows up won't be turned away.

Deputies are sill asking people to check around their property, in trash bins, ditches, etc. to see if the boy, who is developmentally disabled, could be hiding there.

The sheriff's office mobile command center at Farm Workers Village will remain in place until at least Saturday.

And searchers are dealing with a different weather concern this morning - cold.

For the past two days, rescuers have dealt with fog that hampered the use of aircraft as they looked for the boy.

Despite the lower temperatures, deputies say Adji could still be fending for himself.

dojewo

01-14-2009, 09:35 AM

Praying that little Adji is found soon

TigressPen

01-14-2009, 10:19 AM

I am losing hope that little Adji is still with us. I pray they find him today and that he is safe.

Aubrey

01-14-2009, 10:22 AM

UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 1/14/09 7AM

Investigators are now concentrating more on the possibility 6 year-old Adji Desir was abducted. Investigators say they have thoroughly searched open areas near the boy's home where he could have wandered in to. Law enforcement officers are searching for a fifth day in Immokalee. They will expand the search area especially along SR 29.

Link:http://www.winknews.com/news/local/37408699.html

packy

01-14-2009, 10:31 AM

I was hoping to hear he had been found. Prayers for him to be found safe.

sarahhod

01-14-2009, 10:45 AM

Investigators not ruling out abduction in case of missing Immokalee boy

http://www.news-press.com/article/20090114/NEWS01/90114015/1075

The Collier County Sheriff's Office is still searching today for Adji Desir, an Immokalee boy who has been missing since Saturday.

The sheriff's office has confirmed there is a parallel investigation in place, which focuses on the possibility the 6-year-old boy is simply missing and on the possibility he was abducted.

Today marks the fifth day of the search for Desir, who was last seen outside his grandmother's home Saturday night.

Faith

01-14-2009, 10:54 AM

I was hoping to hear he had been found. Prayers for him to be found safe.

Me too, Packy.

Prayers For Adji :1222423:

Grande

01-14-2009, 11:10 AM

My heart aches for this little guy and his family. Not in a million years would I allow my 6 yr. old (7 yrs. old now!) to wander off without my supervision. Regardless, I feel for the whole community and wish I could be there to help.

Amusedtdth

01-14-2009, 11:20 AM

I pray he's found soon. 5 days is too long in the elements w/no food. Lord keep him safe and bring him home.

LiveLaughLuv

01-14-2009, 04:07 PM

UPDATE: Was Adji abducted?
By WINK News

Story Created: Jan 11, 2009 at 9:12 AM EST

Story Updated: Jan 14, 2009 at 12:36 PM EST

UPDATE: WEDNESDAY 1/14/09 7AM
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - Investigators are now concentrating more on the possibility 6-year-old Adji Desir was abducted. Investigators say they have thoroughly searched open areas near the boy's home where he could have wandered in to. Law enforcement officers are searching for a fifth day in Immokalee. They will expand the search area especially along SR 29.
http://www.winknews.com/news/local/37408699.html

LiveLaughLuv

01-14-2009, 04:11 PM

Jan. 14, 2009 Six-Year-Old Missing in Florida From Staff & Wire Services

More than 150 police officers combed through the early-morning dense fog of Southwest Florida Tuesday, searching for a 6-year-old, developmentally disabled boy who went missing over the weekend.

Adji Desir Authorities say that Adji Desir has the mind of a 2-year-old and speaks only Creole. He knows his name but cannot speak very well, they say. Adji is 3-feet tall and 45 pounds, has short black hair and dark eyes.

The disappearance of Desir from Immokalee (Fla.) Farm Worker Village has rocked the community. Generally, children play outside with nary a thought about them being abducted, the Naples News reports. That has changed.

“I won’t let them out now,” Village resident Wendy Salas, 20, told the newspaper. Fellow resident Nadaish “Nana” Dore, 26, agreed. “Nothing like this has ever happened,” said Dore.

“There’s something going on here. This is a good community.” Collier County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Michelle Batten said, “If he’s out in the woods, hopefully he’s curled up somewhere, keeping warm. We’re going to find him. From what we’ve been told, he’s not a kid who runs away. We don’t have any reports of him ever straying before.”
http://www.bet.com/NR/exeres/C25C41F4-9C2B-4A3C-A31B-8A1D16A54800.htm??Referrer=%7B0471DDF0-D0D8-48A8-9E30-ADD40CBE0269%7D

This is looking more and more like an abduction. This is what is referred to as a Village, it's Farm Worker Village, so anyone who is there must live there. If someone strange was there someone must have seem them.

I do hope they speak with the children he was out playing with. Someone has this child....

Roamer

01-14-2009, 04:14 PM

I also hope they're checking all registered sex offenders that could be in the area. Of course, we all know they don't always register their new addresses.

Amusedtdth

01-14-2009, 04:37 PM

I also hope they're checking all registered sex offenders that could be in the area. Of course, we all know they don't always register their new addresses.

Yes Roamer they have, See Pauli's post #11

Roamer

01-14-2009, 04:52 PM

Sorry I missed that one, Musey. Thanks. I'm really glad to hear that they were way ahead of me.

awakening2lite

01-14-2009, 05:47 PM

Faith

01-14-2009, 06:24 PM

I pray they find Adji. Someone had to see something.

StickyBeak

01-14-2009, 09:57 PM

I am trying to keep only good thoughts, the LE has certainly gone beyond reproach in the search for Adji. This area is rural but bad things are creeping into my mind.
I hope and pray a higher power will protect him and bring him somewhere safe and secure. I swear I can't take anymore neglect

sarahhod

01-15-2009, 06:34 AM

Still no sign of Immokalee boy
Search goes on, despite fourth day without a solid lead to Adji’s whereabouts

By ELYSA BATISTA (Contact)
Originally published 9:20 p.m., Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Updated 9:29 p.m., Wednesday, January 14, 2009

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/14/still-no-sign-immokalee-boy/

NAPLES — The vultures looked on as investigators combed through 15 to 20 truckloads of trash at the Immokalee Landfill.

That’s where the search for clues into 6-year-old Adji Desir’s disappearance continued late Wednesday, with 10 members of the North Naples Fire Control and Rescue District looking through the refuse.

Adji went missing Saturday from his grandmother’s home at Farm Worker Village home in Immokalee.

But by Wednesday, there was still was no sign of the developmentally disabled boy, who police say has the mental capacity of a 2-year-old.

Regardless, more than 100 law enforcement officials were briefed during an 8:30 a.m. meeting at the Collier County Sheriff’s command center in Farm Worker Village.

Among those being briefed were the Naples’ Community Emergency Response Team and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Team Adam.

Named after Adam Walsh, the abducted and murdered son of the center’s co-founders John and Revé Walsh, Team Adam is an on-site response and support system that provides investigative and technical assistance to law enforcement agencies in cases of child abduction and serious child sexual victimization. Its members are retired law-enforcement professionals with years of investigative experience at the federal, state, and local level.

In an interview, Team Adam member Andy Vita said the team’s consultants are also trained to assist the victim’s family with obtaining appropriate family advocacy and personal assistance during a crisis.

“There’s 65 of us around the country and normally we get deployed to a region close to home,” said Vita, who is based out of Tampa.

In an afternoon press conference, Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk gave an update to the search for 6-year-old Adji Desir.

During the briefing, Rambosk reconfirmed that Adji’s family had been cleared of suspicion, as was his biological father who lives in Haiti.

Rambosk also put to rest the idea that Adji possibly was killed by a Florida panther or other wild animal, and said searchers didn’t find any evidence to support that theory.

When asked whether or not the family was here illegally, Rambosk said it has not been put into the equation. He added that it hadn’t even crossed his mind and that the focus must remain on finding the missing boy.

Collier Sheriff’s officials also discussed the search’s progress from Saturday to Wednesday and the possible expansion into other local communities.

Rambosk said that even as the days have gone by, the agents are very upbeat, very determined and very committed to finding Adji.

When asked whether or not the department was focusing more toward an abduction investigation, Rambosk said they were not leaning either way and that the parallel investigations — missing child and abduction — would continue.

“We think that’s the only prudent thing to do, because we don’t want to miss anything,” Rambosk said after the press conference. “I think everybody understands that we have to look at both directions at the same time.”

For their part, some Farm Worker Village residents have continued to lean toward the theory that Adji was taken.

“There were so many kids out there, why just him,” said long-time resident Phyllis Byrd, 41, in an interview Wednesday. “It had to be someone that knew him, in order to get him.”

Byrd’s friend Emma Clark, 48, agreed with that conclusion and said there was no other logical explanation for Adji going missing.

In an interview, Collier Sheriff’s Lt. Tom Smith said the search for Adji would continue, but that the department would be shifting resources to better conduct both investigations.

“As we’ve begun eliminating the surrounding areas, almost 12 square miles where he may have walked off to, you know obviously we need to start to look at that someone may have taken him,” said Smith.

Smith added that neighboring law enforcement agencies continue to offer help.

As the massive search for Adji continued, the community began chipping in reward money to help find the little boy.

The Collier County Housing Authority, in connection with Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, offered an additional $2,500 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Adji. This reward money was in addition to the Crime Stoppers reward money of $1,000.

“There is tremendous concern for Adji’s health, safety and welfare, and we’re pleading with the community for any information on his whereabouts,” said Trish Routte, coordinator of Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers. “We’re hoping someone will have seen him in the hours and days since Saturday evening, and will be able to provide any small piece of information that will lead to his return.”

Later in the day, Del Ackerman, the owner of Del’s 24-Hour Store in East Naples, confirmed that he was also offering a $3,000 reward to anyone who returns Adji to his family alive.

“I think he’s alive,” Ackerman said. “I think somebody is just playing games.”

Ackerman, 72, who lost his 46-year-old daughter Tanya in 2007 after a long battle with hydrocephaly and spina bifida, said he regularly donates to funds benefiting children.

“There is more to the world than money,” Ackerman said. “I want to help somebody find this baby.”

- - -

The following is a timeline of the events over the past several days in the search for Adji:

Saturday

5 p.m. — Family members realize 6-year-old Adji Desir is missing from his grandmother’s Farm Worker Village home at 814 Grace St., Immokalee. Adji was wearing blue shorts and a blue T-shirt with yellow stripes when he disappeared.

7 p.m. — Family members call Collier County Sheriff’s Office after a 2-hour search.

7:42 p.m. — Deputies respond, begin searching Farm Worker Village and surrounding woods with bloodhounds, ATVs, on horseback, and in a helicopter. The first neighborhood canvass is conducted.

Sunday

8 a.m. — Command post implemented in Farm Worker Village. Lt. Thomas B. Smith named incident commander. More than 150 officers conduct ground search within a quarter mile of Farm Worker Village.

4 p.m. — Adji’s mother, grandmother and stepfather speak to media.

6 p.m. — Search reined in for the night. Sheriff’s Office’s helicopter continues search using infrared technology.

Monday

8 a.m. — Search expanded to 4-square mile perimeter, assisted by hundreds of law enforcement officers from across South Florida.

2 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Community volunteers begin canvassing Immokalee, handing out fliers with Adji’s photo, which are printed in English, Spanish and Creole.

6 p.m. — Search again reined in for the night. Seminole Police helicopter continues search from the sky.

8:45 p.m. — Case makes national news when Lt. Smith appears on Nancy Grace program on CNN Headline News.

Tuesday

8 a.m. — Search perimeter expands to 12 miles.

10 a.m. - Noon — Community volunteers again called out to pass out fliers door-to-door.

3 p.m. — Collier County Sheriff’s Office clears family members as suspects in Adji’s disappearance, including his biological father, who remains in Haiti.

8:45 p.m. — Smith appears again on CNN, says investigation is pointing more towards “someone being responsible for removing (Adji) from the village.”

Wednesday

8 a.m. — Search perimeter remains at 12 miles. Investigators conduct a comprehensive neighborhood canvass, contacting every resident in Farm Worker Village.

2 p.m. — Collier Sheriff Kevin Rambosk addresses media, presenting an overview of steps taken to date.

4 p.m. — Investigators begin combing through all the garbage collected over the week in Immokalee.

5 p.m. — Local businessman Del Ackerman offers $3,000 reward for Adji’s safe return, in addition to $2,500 offered by Collier County Housing Authority and $1,000 offered by Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers.

- - -

Staff writers Ryan Mills and Leslie Williams contributed to this report.

sarahhod

01-15-2009, 06:35 AM

Del's 24-Hour Store owner offers reward for return of missing boy

Daily News staff
5:22 p.m., Wednesday, January 14, 2009

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/14/del-s-24-hour-store-owner-offers-reward-return-mis/

Del Ackerman, the owner of Del's 24-Hour Store in East Naples, confirmed today that he is offering a $3,000 reward to anyone who returns 6-year-old Adji Desir to his family alive.

Adji disappeared on Saturday from outside his grandmother's Farmworker Village home in Immokalee.

"I think he’s alive," Ackerman said. "I think somebody is just playing games."

Ackerman, 72, who lost his 46-year-old daughter Tanya in 2007 after a long battle with hydrocephaly and spina bifida, said he regularly donates to funds benefiting children.

"There is more to the world than money," Ackerman said. "I want to help somebody find this baby."

sarahhod

01-15-2009, 06:36 AM

Reward money increased in search for missing boy
POSTED: January 14, 2009

http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/502249.html

As the search for 6-year-old Adji Desir continues, the community is pulling its resources together to help find the little boy who's been missing from Immokalee since Saturday evening.

The Collier County Housing Authority, in connection with Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, is offering an additional $2,500 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Adji. This reward money is in addition to the Crime Stoppers reward money of up to $1,000.

Adji has been missing from the Farm Workers Village in Immokalee since 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10. At this point, it is believed that Adji wandered away on his own, however Sheriff's Office investigators are exploring other possibilities and all options. A wide-scale search is still under way, involving members from several South Florida law enforcement agencies, as well as many civilian and emergency service volunteers from throughout our community.

Adji was last seen at the Farm Workers Village in Immokalee wearing a blue shirt with thin yellow stripes, blue shorts with flamingos down the sides and black and grey sneakers.

The Collier County Housing Authority administers the Farm Workers Village, and its staff continues to hope for Adji's safe return.

Anyone who has seen Adji is asked to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for a cash reward of up to $3,500. Tips can also be made online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org. The public is asked to remember that all callers are completely anonymous - no one will ever ask for a caller's name or identification - just information on where Adji has been seen.

sarahhod

01-15-2009, 06:38 AM

Running out of places to look for Adji

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28652932/

updated 3:12 p.m. ET Jan. 14, 2009

IMMOKALEE: The search for six-year-old Adji Desir was scaled back somewhat today, and the sheriff plans to address the case at 2 p.m. today.

Also, Crime Stoppers announced the reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Adji has grown to $3,500.

About 100 deputies are looking for the Immokalee boy, who vanished Saturday, instead of the 150 who have been involved the past few days.

They'll also stop using bloodhounds in the hunt. The sheriff's office helicopter will be in the air.

Most open areas have already been searched, so the dual investigation - covering possibilities Adji wandered off or that he was abducted - have shifted a bit more to the possibility someone took him.

Deputies are going door to door in the area, getting the names of the people in each home and interviewing them, according to Lt. Tom Smith of the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

The sheriff issued a call for volunteers to help in the search Monday and Tuesday, but there is no request for volunteers today - though anyone who shows up won't be turned away.

Deputies are sill asking people to check around their property, in trash bins, ditches, etc. to see if the boy, who is developmentally disabled, could be hiding there.

The sheriff's office mobile command center at Farm Workers Village will remain in place until at least Saturday.

And searchers are dealing with a different weather concern - cold.

For the past two days, rescuers have dealt with fog that hampered the use of aircraft as they looked for the boy.

Despite the lower temperatures, deputies say Adji could still be fending for himself.

A group of former homicide and cold case investigators, called Team Adam, showed up to assist in the search Wednesday. The group regularly works with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children when a child is missing.

Anyone who has seen Adji is asked to call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-780- TIPS (8477). All callers will remain anonymous and will be eligible for the reward of up to $3,500.

sarahhod

01-15-2009, 09:20 AM

Amber Alert criteria yet to be met in missing Immokalee boy case

news-press.com • January 15, 2009

http://www.news-press.com/article/20090115/NEWS01/90115008/1075

The search for 6-year-old Adji Desir continues today.

Investigators are still considering the possibilities that Desir either wandered off or was abducted.

An Amber Alert has not been issued in the case since Adji’s disappearance didn’t fit certain requirements.

In order for there to be an Amber Alert issued, there has to be evidence he was abducted, which has not yet occurred.

Also, no one witnessed an abduction, so there is still the possibility Adji wandered off.

sarahhod

01-15-2009, 09:23 AM

Was Adji abducted?

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=25023&z=3

Originally posted on: Thursday, January 15, 2009 by Kevin Ozebek
Last updated on: 1/15/2009 7:30:58 AM

IMMOKALEE: After an extensive search that covered miles around the home of six-year-old Adji Desir, deputies are turning more to the possibility the boy was abducted.

The FBI is deploying its CARD - Child Abduction Rapid Deployment - team Thursday.

While some agencies are pulling back on the search, deputies say there will still be about 150 involved in the search Thursday - thanks to groups like CARD now getting involved.

An Amber Alert was not issued in the case, because Adji's disappearance didn't fit the requirements.

In order of an alert to be issued there has to be very clear evidence the child was abducted, a suspect vehicle description, etc.

Since none of the children playing with him saw anything suspicious, there was - and still is - the possibility Adji just wandered off.

Wednesday, investigators combed through the trash that has been collected in Farm Workers Village since Adji disappeared.

They also got help from a group of former homicide and cold case investigators known as "Team Adam," who assisted in the search.

Deputies have been going door-to-door in Farm Workers Village, but they found no sign of Adji.

Until Adji is found, the sheriff's office is asking everyone to double check around their homes on a daily basis.

If you have any information on where Adji is call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.

The reward for information leading to his whereabouts is now more than $6,000.

sarahhod

01-15-2009, 09:24 AM

TIMELINE: The Search for Adji

By Naples Daily News staff report
7:26 a.m., Thursday, January 15, 2009

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/15/timeline-search-adji/

The following is a timeline of the events over the past several days in the search for Adji Desir in Immokalee.

Saturday

• 5 p.m. — Family members realize 6-year-old Adji Desir is missing from his grandmother’s Farm Worker Village home at 814 Grace St., Immokalee. Adji was wearing blue shorts and a blue T-shirt with yellow stripes when he disappeared.

• 7 p.m. — Family members call Collier County Sheriff’s Office after a 2-hour search.

• 7:42 p.m. — Deputies respond, begin searching Farm Worker Village and surrounding woods with bloodhounds, ATVs, on horseback, and in a helicopter. The first neighborhood canvass is conducted.

Sunday

• 8 a.m. — Command post implemented in Farm Worker Village. Lt. Thomas B. Smith named incident commander. More than 150 officers conduct ground search within a quarter mile of Farm Worker Village.

• 4 p.m. — Adji’s mother, grandmother and stepfather speak to media.

• 6 p.m. — Search reined in for the night. Sheriff’s Office’s helicopter continues search using infrared technology.

Monday

• 8 a.m. — Search expanded to 4-square mile perimeter, assisted by hundreds of law enforcement officers from across South Florida.

• 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Community volunteers begin canvassing Immokalee, handing out fliers with Adji’s photo, which are printed in English, Spanish and Creole.

• 6 p.m. — Search again reined in for the night. Seminole Police helicopter continues search from the sky.

• 8:45 p.m. — Case makes national news when Lt. Smith appears on Nancy Grace program on CNN Headline News.

Tuesday

• 8 a.m. — Search perimeter expands to 12 miles.

• 10 a.m. - Noon — Community volunteers again called out to pass out fliers door-to-door.

• 3 p.m. — Collier County Sheriff’s Office clears family members as suspects in Adji’s disappearance, including his biological father, who remains in Haiti.

• 8:45 p.m. — Smith appears again on CNN, says investigation is pointing more towards “someone being responsible for removing (Adji) from the village.”

Wednesday

• 8 a.m. — Search perimeter remains at 12 miles. Investigators conduct a comprehensive neighborhood canvass, contacting every resident in Farm Worker Village.

• 2 p.m. — Collier Sheriff Kevin Rambosk addresses media, presenting an overview of steps taken to date.

• 4 p.m. — Investigators begin combing through all the garbage collected over the week in Immokalee.

• 5 p.m. — Local businessman Del Ackerman offers $3,000 reward for Adji’s safe return, in addition to $2,500 offered by Collier County Housing Authority and $1,000 offered by Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers.

___

Anyone with information about Adji is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at (239) 793-9300.

MrzEzell

01-15-2009, 10:35 AM

I am so happy that so many are helping to find this boy. I pray that there is a happy end to this story.

dojewo

01-15-2009, 10:38 AM

I was hoping for good news this morning about Adji, my prayers are for a safe return.

packy

01-15-2009, 10:43 AM

Hope everyone who may have seen him that day has been talked to with hope that someone saw something they don't even realize may be a clue. Keeping prayers up for him to be found safe.

TigressPen

01-15-2009, 10:56 AM

Since Adji doesn't speak much and has a mind of a 2-year-old, he'd likely not struggle or yell out if someone grabbed him. Adji's missing is just heartbreaking and I pray he is found soon.

awakening2lite

01-15-2009, 04:01 PM

Was Adji abducted?

Originally posted on: Thursday, January 15, 2009 by Kevin Ozebek
Last updated on: 1/15/2009 11:03:20 AM

IMMOKALEE: After an extensive search that covered miles around the home of six-year-old Adji Desir, deputies are turning more to the possibility the boy was abducted.
The FBI is deploying its CARD - Child Abduction Rapid Deployment - team Thursday.
While some agencies are pulling back on the search, deputies say there will still be about 150 involved in the search Thursday - thanks to groups like CARD now getting involved.
The FBI also has its Behavioral Analysis team looking at everything that happened Saturday when Adji disappeared. They will look at things like where everyone was and what they were doing.
The search area up until now has covered the 12 square miles surrounding Farm Workers Village. Thursday the search area will stretch an additional four square miles.
The case will also be featured on America's Most Wanted Saturday evening. It is already posted on their website.
The case was also covered on Nancy Grace's CNN show Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.
An Amber Alert was not issued in the case, because Adji's disappearance didn't fit the requirements.
In order of an alert to be issued there has to be very clear evidence the child was abducted, a suspect vehicle description, etc.
Since none of the children playing with him saw anything suspicious, there was - and still is - the possibility Adji just wandered off.
Wednesday, investigators combed through the trash that has been collected in Farm Workers Village since Adji disappeared.
They also got help from a group of former homicide and cold case investigators known as "Team Adam," who assisted in the search.
Deputies have been going door-to-door in Farm Workers Village, but they found no sign of Adji.
Until Adji is found, the sheriff's office is asking everyone to double check around their homes on a daily basis.

If you have any information on where Adji is call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS. The reward for information leading to his whereabouts is now more than $6,000.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=25023&z=3

Roamer

01-15-2009, 05:11 PM

I'm very glad to hear they have such professionals looking for him now.

Some Florida nights can be very cold, and I'm not thinking this little guy can survive on his own for long.

Faith

01-16-2009, 02:24 AM

VIDEO/AUDIO/PHOTOS: ‘We will always search for Adji’

Authorities promise to find missing Immokalee boy, no matter how long it takes

By ELYSA BATISTA (Contact)
Originally published 9:21 p.m., Thursday, January 15, 2009
Updated 9:31 p.m., Thursday, January 15, 2009

NAPLES — The soft and sometimes unsteady voice spoke of an unimaginable despair.

“I feel like my life is almost over,” said Adji Desir’s mother, Marie Neida, 36, in Creole during a press conference Thursday.

Six-year-old Adji went missing Saturday from his grandmother’s home at Farm Worker Village in Immokalee.

And on Thursday, there was still no sign of the developmentally disabled boy, who police say has the mental capacity of a 2-year-old.

With help from Collier County Sheriff’s Office translator Nymphgamey Oboute, Adji’s mother and stepfather gave an update on their family’s status and how they’re all holding up.

“I see that the community is doing a good job because they are helping us find Adji,” said the boy’s stepfather, Antal Elant, 41, in Creole. “The police officers are not sleeping, they’re doing a good service. That’s why I have hope that they will find Adji.”

Elant said faith continues to give the family strength.

“We have a God in heaven who is helping us search for him too,” said Elant. “We are not going to lose faith, because we know we are going to find him.”

Neida agreed.

“God will give him back to me,” Neida said. “I think he will come home.”

Adji’s disappearance has taken a toll on the family, Elant said.

Especially on Neida — this is the longest she’s ever been apart from her only child.

“She can’t even sleep. Every time she tries to lie down she remembers Adji and she gets up,” said Elant.

The family is also dealing with the stream of calls from extended family and friends asking for updates.

Both Elant and Neida said they were grateful for the outpouring of support.

“I want to tell everyone thank you,” said Neida. “Because I see that everyone is my family in this country.”

Law enforcement officials will continue to look for Adji today.

“As of yesterday, we had gone 12 square miles and we’re expanding another 4 square miles in all directions today,” said Collier County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Karie Partington during a press conference.

Adji’s story will air on America’s Most Wanted on Saturday, Partington said.

Though Sheriff’s Office officials believe the number of agents would be slightly scaled back, roughly 300 law enforcement officials — 100 of which are Collier County deputies — are expected to continue the search Friday, with boats and airboats joining the effort, Partington said.

“The search for Adji has been just phenomenal,” said incident commander Lt. Tom Smith, in an interview Thursday. “We started off with 80 officers or so the first night. It jumped to 150 the next of couple of nights and yesterday we had over 300 officers here searching. And today it was nearly the same.”

Sheriff’s officials said more than 40 law enforcement and emergency response agencies have given their time and manpower.

“We’ve been tremendously lucky,” said Smith.

Concerning the expanded search, which included Immokalee’s Lake Trafford, Smith said the lake’s shoreline had been on the investigators’ radar.

“It is a location that if you are going to search this community for a missing person or a missing child, that would be someplace that you would have to cover as a natural progression of the investigation,” said Smith.

In addition to law enforcement from Collier County, Lee County, Orange County and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission using boats and airboats, the Tampa Search and Rescue Team brought down an amphibious vehicle with underwater sonar and cameras to help scan the lake.

Smith also confirmed that investigators had cleared through the 15 to 20 truckloads of trash that had been set aside to search for any clues that might lead to Adji.

“They went through probably 60 tons of trash at the transfer station,” said Smith. “That refuse has been cleared and it has been disposed of.”

Meanwhile, the state Department of Children and Families has become involved in the case.

“We’ve been working with the Sheriff’s Office since the beginning,” said DCF spokeswoman Erin Gillespie, adding that the agency has had no prior involvement with any of Adji’s family members.

“Right now, law enforcement has the lead on the whole case,” she said. “Depending on the outcome, we could be more involved. We’re just waiting and hoping for the best. It’s a sad case.”

Partington said the cost of the search is impossible to calculate at this point.

By law, all the law enforcement officers who participated in the search had to be on the clock, she said.

The FBI has been assisting with the search since it started but the Sheriff’s Office is the lead agency on the case, Partington said.

The Sheriff’s Office does plan for emergencies, but searches of this magnitude are difficult to plan for.

“It’s like a 100-year storm,” Partington said. “It’s just something you have to cope with. We do have money, but this is an extraordinary event.”

Asked how the agents keep the morale up, when so many people question if Adji is still alive, Smith said that it comes with the job.

“You always train for the things that you don’t want to happen. We didn’t want this to happen, but we’re trained for it, we’re prepared for it ... we know what our mission is — our mission is to bring Adji home and we intend to do so,” Smith said. “Whether or not we bring him home immediately, a few days later, a month later or a year later, we are going to finish this case.”

Smith said people have asked how long it would take for the Sheriff’s Office to make Adji’s case a “cold case.”

He said that wouldn’t happen.

“Cold case is a TV term, this case will always be an open case,” said Smith. “We will always search for Adji.”

Staff writers Ryan Mills and Aisling Swift contributed to this report.

- - -

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is asking for volunteers to help in the search for 6-year-old Adji Desir. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, citizen volunteers are asked to go to Immokalee Community Park, 321 N. 1st St.

Volunteers will be asked to distribute the fliers with Adji’s information in their own communities or locations of their choice.

Representatives familiar with Collier, Lee and Hendry counties will be on hand to suggest possible locations and offer assistance. Maps of all three counties will be on display. Volunteers are asked to bring identification.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/15/we-will-always-search-adji/

Faith

01-16-2009, 02:25 AM

FBI, John Walsh join search for 6-year-old Adji of Immokalee

The News-Press staff • January 16, 2009

A 17-person FBI Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team is tracking down leads in the search for 6-year-old Adji Desir of Immokalee.

Quantcast

Local, state and federal officials continue investigating the possibility the boy - missing since Saturday - was abducted.

On Thursday, the number of officers searching for Adji doubled to 300 and the search area in all directions expanded an additional 4 square miles to 16.

"It includes a lot of citrus groves and fields," said Karie Partington, Collier County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.

Adji was last seen at around 5:30 p.m. Saturday leaving his grandmother's house at Farm Workers Village in Immokalee to go outside and play.

The case will be featured on "America's Most Wanted" on Fox at 9 p.m. Saturday.

On Wednesday night, investigators looked through trash that had been collected from different parts of Immokalee on Monday. Partington couldn't confirm or deny whether investigators found any evidence in the trash.

Partington said the boy's mother and stepfather are devastated, but hopeful. "They said, 'If somebody has Adji, we hope they're feeding him and taking care of him,'" Partington said. "They have great faith that he'll be found."

The reward for information leading to the boy's whereabouts is up to $11,500. The Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation in Modesto, Calif., is offering $5,000; the Collier County Housing Authority, which administers Farm Workers Village $2,500; Dell's Food Store in Immokalee $3,000; and Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers $1,000. Crime Stoppers also has set up a Bank of America account where people can donate reward money anonymously.

Anyone with information should call 800-780-TIPS (8477) to remain anonymous, or the Collier sheriff's office at 239-793-9300.

http://news-press.com/article/20090116/NEWS01/901160401

Faith

01-16-2009, 02:29 AM

TIMELINE: The Search for Adji

By Naples Daily News staff report
7:26 a.m., Thursday, January 15, 2009

The following is a timeline of the events over the past several days in the search for Adji Desir in Immokalee.

Saturday

• 5 p.m. — Family members realize 6-year-old Adji Desir is missing from his grandmother’s Farm Worker Village home at 814 Grace St., Immokalee. Adji was wearing blue shorts and a blue T-shirt with yellow stripes when he disappeared.

• 7 p.m. — Family members call Collier County Sheriff’s Office after a 2-hour search.

• 7:42 p.m. — Deputies respond, begin searching Farm Worker Village and surrounding woods with bloodhounds, ATVs, on horseback, and in a helicopter. The first neighborhood canvass is conducted.

Sunday

• 8 a.m. — Command post implemented in Farm Worker Village. Lt. Thomas B. Smith named incident commander. More than 150 officers conduct ground search within a quarter mile of Farm Worker Village.

• 4 p.m. — Adji’s mother, grandmother and stepfather speak to media.

• 6 p.m. — Search reined in for the night. Sheriff’s Office’s helicopter continues search using infrared technology.

Monday

• 8 a.m. — Search expanded to 4-square mile perimeter, assisted by hundreds of law enforcement officers from across South Florida.

• 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. — Community volunteers begin canvassing Immokalee, handing out fliers with Adji’s photo, which are printed in English, Spanish and Creole.

• 6 p.m. — Search again reined in for the night. Seminole Police helicopter continues search from the sky.

• 8:45 p.m. — Case makes national news when Lt. Smith appears on Nancy Grace program on CNN Headline News.

Tuesday

• 8 a.m. — Search perimeter expands to 12 miles.

• 10 a.m. - Noon — Community volunteers again called out to pass out fliers door-to-door.

• 3 p.m. — Collier County Sheriff’s Office clears family members as suspects in Adji’s disappearance, including his biological father, who remains in Haiti.

• 8:45 p.m. — Smith appears again on CNN, says investigation is pointing more towards “someone being responsible for removing (Adji) from the village.”

Wednesday

• 8 a.m. — Search perimeter remains at 12 miles. Investigators conduct a comprehensive neighborhood canvass, contacting every resident in Farm Worker Village.

• 2 p.m. — Collier Sheriff Kevin Rambosk addresses media, presenting an overview of steps taken to date.

• 4 p.m. — Investigators begin combing through all the garbage collected over the week in Immokalee.

• 5 p.m. — Local businessman Del Ackerman offers $3,000 reward for Adji’s safe return, in addition to $2,500 offered by Collier County Housing Authority and $1,000 offered by Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers.

___

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/15/timeline-search-adji/

Faith

01-16-2009, 02:34 AM

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/videothumbs/2009/01/13/Picture_1_t176.jpg
Hundreds of Volunteers gather in Immokalee to further the search.

Day 5: Search for Adji Desir continues
http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/14/090113NS-da-SearchAdji854_t600.JPG

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/14/090113NS-da-SearchAdji859_t600.JPG

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/14/090113NS-da-SearchAdji867_t600.JPG

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/14/090113NS-da-SearchAdji863_t600.JPG

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/14/090113NS-da-SearchAdji861_t600.JPG

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/14/090113NS-da-SearchAdji868_t600.JPG

http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2009/jan/14/day-5-search-adji-desir-continues/62545/

Thank God for all the searchers. I pray they find this baby soon. :innocent0001:

sarahhod

01-16-2009, 04:33 AM

Brings tears to the eyes and a lump in the throat seeing the pictures of LE and all the searchers out looking for Adji. They all look so determined to suceed.

I wish they could find him safe hiding somewhere.

Thanks for the pics Faith.

sarahhod

01-16-2009, 04:42 AM

Volunteers needed in search for Adji

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=25045&z=3

Originally posted on: Thursday, January 15, 2009 by Ryan Hughes
Last updated on: 1/15/2009 11:21:04 PM

COLLIER COUNTY: Collier County deputies are once again asking for volunteer help in the search for six-year-old Adji Desir.

On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., people will be at Immokalee Community Park, handing out fliers to volunteers.

Officials say volunteers will be asked to distribute those fliers in their own communities or any location they choose to.

Representatives familiar with Collier, Lee and Hendry counties will be on hand to suggest possible locations and offer assistance.

Deputies say volunteers must bring identification to take part.

Deputies have been searching for Adji since Saturday evening when his relatives reported him missing after he went outside to play in Farm Worker Village in Immokalee and then disappeared.

And they have no plans to stop looking.

"We will always look for Adji. We will always have an investigator on it and we will always look for him," said Lieutenant Tom Smith of the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

When we asked Smith if he thought this could become a cold case he said, "We all pray not. I think the dedication here is phenomenal. Everyone wants to find Adji."

Thursday, the website codeamber.org has picked up Adji's story. The website is viewable by millions of concerned people through more than 280,000 partner websites.

Adji's mother, Marie Neida, knows every little bit helps.

"I want to tell everyone thank you and bring Adji home," she said. "I would give him hugs, I would kiss him, I would say I love you, I would put my hands in his hair and I would say thank you Jesus."

The reward for any information that leads to finding Adji now stands at $11,000.

If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, you're asked to call the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

TigressPen

01-16-2009, 08:55 AM

I believe Adji was abducted. If not, they would've found him by now. Too many searches looking in every peephole and under anything they see that can be crawled under for them not to have found him by now.

I pray this baby is safe and that a lead sends LE to his whereabouts soon.

TigressPen

01-16-2009, 10:12 AM

Florida has a codeamber alert for Adji now. I hope his face is flashed all over and someone remembers seeing him.

http://codeamber.org/

Grande

01-16-2009, 10:27 AM

Volunteers asked to hand out fliers today in missing Immokalee boy case

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is inviting volunteers to aid in the search for Immokalee 6-year-old Adji Desir.

Desir has been missing since Saturday evening, when he was reported missing after going outside to play in Farm Worker Village in Immokalee.

Representatives from the Collier County Sheriff’s Office will be at Immokalee Community Park at 321 N. 1st St. from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. to hand out fliers to volunteers.

The sheriff’s office asks these volunteers to hand out the fliers in their own communities or locations of their choice.

The will be representatives on hand to help suggest locations and offer assistance to volunteers.

Volunteers are required to bring identification.

http://www.news-press.com/article/20090116/NEWS01/90116004/1002

Claycat

01-16-2009, 10:37 AM

Poor little boy! I pray he is able to come home alive!

sarahhod

01-16-2009, 01:56 PM

Additional reward fund set up for information on missing boy
POSTED: January 16, 2009

http://www.cape-coral-daily-breeze.com/page/content.detail/id/502324.html?nav=5011

In response to the outpouring of public assistance in the search for missing Immokalee boy Adji Desir, Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is setting up a separate account where residents can donate towards a reward for information leading to Adji's whereabouts.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the reward account, which is being established exclusively for information in this case, may donate funds through Crime Stoppers. All funds received will be placed in a separate account and paid to any anonymous tipster who provides information that ultimately leads investigators to Adji. These funds will be in addition to the

$1,000 reward being offered through Crime Stoppers.

Residents or businesses wishing to contribute to the reward account have two options. They may either mail checks directly to Crime Stoppers at PO Box 1829, Fort Myers, FL 33912, or drop them off at the Collier County Sheriff's Office, located at the Government Center on Airport Road and US 41 in Naples. Contributors who want their donation to be anonymous should send funds in the form of a cashier's check, rather than a personal check.

All checks should be made payable to Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, and

should be clearly marked that they are for the Adji Desir reward fund. Donations will be deposited into this separate reward account and held for a period of one year, to be paid for information which plays a significant role in the resolution of this case, as determined by investigators. Specific amounts for rewards to multiple informants will be determined by a vote of the Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers Board of Directors. All funds sent to Crime Stoppers for this purpose should be considered as a donation to Crime Stoppers and are non-refundable. Should this case be resolved in a way that results in no reward money being paid to an informant, the money may then be used as determined by the Crime Stoppers Board of Directors for other unsolved cases.

Crime Stoppers continues to remind the public that any information on Adji's whereabouts is critically needed. Even the smallest piece of information could be helpful - from anyone who has spotted the young boy at any point since last Saturday, Jan. 10, at 5:30 p.m.

The Crime Stoppers hotline is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Tips can also be made anonymously online at www.swflcrimestoppers.or

Source: Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers

sarahhod

01-16-2009, 01:58 PM

Because of an outpouring of public assistance searching for 6-year-old Adji Desir of Immokalee, Crime Stoppers set up an account where people can donate towards a reward for information leading to him. Adji has been missing since Jan. 10 when he said he was going outside to play.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the reward account, which is being established exclusively for information in this case, may donate funds through Crime Stoppers. All funds will be placed in a separate account and paid to any anonymous tipster who provides information that ultimately leads investigators to Adji. These funds will be in addition to the $1,000 reward being offered through Crime Stoppers.

From 2-4 p.m. today, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office will be at Immokalee Community Park handing out fliers, Volunteers will also be out from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday handing out fliers in search of the boy. The sheriff’s office wants people to give out these fliers in their neighborhoods in help to search for the youth.

Residents who want to contribute have two options. They may either mail checks to Crime Stoppers at PO Box 1829, Fort Myers, FL 33912, or drop them off at the Collier County Sheriff's Office, located at the Government Center on Airport Road and U.S. 41 in Naples.

Contributors who want their donation to be anonymous should send funds as a cashier's check, rather than a personal check. All checks should be made payable to Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, and should be clearly marked that they are for the Adji Desir reward fund. Donations will be deposited into this separate reward account and held for one year, to be paid for information which plays a significant role in the resolution of this case, as determined by investigators.

Specific amounts for rewards to multiple informants will be determined by a vote of the Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers Board of Directors. Funds are non-refundable.

Tips can also be made anonymously online at www.swflcrimestoppers.org .

http://www.sunnewspapers.net/articles/llnews.aspx?articleID=11331&bnpg=0

annalyzer

01-16-2009, 08:20 PM

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=25071&z=3

Reward fund set up for Adji search

Originally posted on: Friday, January 16, 2009 by NBC2 News
Last updated on: 1/16/2009 11:10:34 AM

IMMOKALEE: Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is setting up a separate account where residents can donate towards a reward for information leading to Adji Desir’s whereabouts.

All funds received will be placed in a separate account and paid to any anonymous tipster who provides information that ultimately leads investigators to Adji.

The funds will be in addition to the $1,000 reward being offered through Crime Stoppers.

Anyone wishing to contribute to the reward account, which is being established exclusively for information in this case, may donate funds through Crime Stoppers.

Residents or businesses wishing to contribute to the reward account:

Mail checks to:
Crime Stoppers
PO Box 1829
Fort Myers, FL, 33912,

Drop donations at the Collier County Sheriff's Office - on Airport Road and US 41 in Naples.
Contributors who want their donation to be anonymous should send funds in the form of a cashier's check, rather than a personal check.

All checks should be made payable to Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, and should be clearly marked that they are for the Adji Desir reward fund.

Crime Stoppers continues to remind the public that any information on Adji's whereabouts is critically needed.

For information on the additional reward account, contact Trish Routte, Crime Stoppers Coordinator, at 239-477-140

Faith

01-17-2009, 09:51 AM

Neighbors believe Adji Desir was kidnapped
By Tami Osborne, WINK News

Story Created: Jan 17, 2009 at 12:29 AM EST

Story Updated: Jan 17, 2009 at 12:58 AM EST
IMMOKALEE, Fla. - One week after Adji Desir disappeared from outside of his grandmother's home at Farm Worker's Village, neighbors are keeping a close eye on their children.

Friday night, both children and adults in the area say they believe Adji was abducted.

"I think someone took him," Abigail Olvera says.

Her younger sister was one of the last people to see Adji. She was playing with him outside with several other kids before he disappeared.

She says Adji walked down the street, and that was the last time she saw him.

These girls say Adji's disappearance has shaken the entire community and changed the way parents watch their kids.

"I'm always with my mom," Jasmine Machado says.

"Parents are keeping their kids inside of the house, not outside," Olvera adds.
Even though its been nearly a week with no signs of Adji, Friday night, his parents said they still believe he is okay.

http://www.winknews.com/news/local/37753139.html

annalyzer

01-17-2009, 03:42 PM

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/18501766/detail.html

Help Sought In Search For Missing Boy, 6

Child Disappeared From Migrant Farm Worker Village

POSTED: Saturday, January 17, 2009

IMMOKALEE, Fla. -- A southwest Florida sheriff's office is seeking volunteers to help find a 6-year-old boy who's been missing for a week.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office said Adji Desir disappeared from a migrant farm worker village in Immokalee Jan. 10 after he went outside to play. The sheriff's office is asking for volunteers to come to an Immokalee park Saturday to pick up fliers they can distribute in their own communities.

Hundreds of volunteers searched this week for the boy, who authorities said is developmentally disabled and has the mental capacity of a 2-year-old. The FBI has assigned special agents to help with the investigation.

Immokalee is southeast of Fort Myers.

sarahhod

01-17-2009, 04:00 PM

New initiatives launched Saturday in search for missing 6-year-old Immokalee boy

By TRACY X. MIGUEL (Contact)
Originally published 11:41 a.m., Saturday, January 17, 2009
Updated 11:41 a.m., Saturday, January 17, 2009

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/17/new-initiatives-launched-saturday-search-missing-6/

IMMOKALEE — A combination of residents and law enforcement officers are sweeping Immokalee on Saturday in search of missing 6-year-old Adji Desir.

The search on Saturday took a new direction with the help of local, state and national partners, Collier County Sheriff Kevin Rambosk said during a morning press conference at the Immokalee Community Park.

Efforts include the U.S. Postal Service and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) distributing 50,000 fliers on Saturday with information about Adji to residents in Lehigh Acres, LaBelle, Immokalee, and elsewhere in eastern Collier County, Hendry and Lee counties.

Other partners include NCMEC’s Team Adam personal and Louisiana-based Web code Amber Alert, which can be downloaded to personal Web sites or desktops as a news feed ticker that displays active amber alerts on the Web page.

“We are hoping that today’s search will be significant,” Collier County Lt. Tom Smith said at the morning press conference.

A new group of 250 deputies searched a three-quarter mile radius of Adji’s home.

Smith said officials also would be looking at sex offenders throughout Southwest Florida.

Community residents joined in the search Saturday by picking up fliers at the park and distributing them.

sarahhod

01-17-2009, 04:01 PM

Massive push to find Adji

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=25097&z=3

Originally posted on: Saturday, January 17, 2009 by NBC2 News
Last updated on: 1/17/2009 12:43:56 PM

IMMOKALEE: Saturday could bring the largest number of officers the ground search for missing 6 year-old Adji Desir.

Exactly one week since the boy was last seen playing in Immokalee's Farm Worker Village, the Collier County Sheriff's Office has called in officers from throughout the state for another day of searching.

"Today is an exceptional sweep. We've brought in probably 250 or so law enforcement officers, ATVs, swamp buggies, horses and a myraid of other technical equipment to search again a three mile radius," said Collier County Lt. Tom Smith.

Many of the officers are new to the search. Smith said he hopes they will help ensure "no stone is left unturned."

This expanded effort comes as deputies prepare to end their ground search for Adji, and move their command post from Farm Worker Village to the sheriff's office's Immokalee sub station.

There deputies will rely more heavily on databases like sex offender registries and past case records to continue their investigation.

Also on Saturday deputies asked volunteers to visit Immokalee Community Park to pick up missing child fliers, in hopes they will be distributed throughout the state.

Southwest Floridians will also receive information about Adji's disappearance in their mailboxes.

The US Postal service is mailing 50,000 fliers to households in the region as part of the national "Deliver Me Home" program for missing children.

The reward for information is growing. The FBI announced Friday a $10,000 reward in addition to the $23,000 reward being offered locally.

If you'd like to help get the word out about Adji you can stop by Immokalee Community Park before 2pm Saturday to pick up fliers, or print them out on your own computer by visiting the Collier County website www.colliersheriff.org.

foxfarmboxers

01-17-2009, 04:14 PM

I pray the searchers are successful today~! Please bring Adji home.

Faith

01-17-2009, 06:25 PM

Case of missing Immokalee boy on 'America's Most Wanted' tonight

By Naples Daily News staff report
Originally published 4:33 p.m., Saturday, January 17, 2009
Updated 4:33 p.m., Saturday, January 17, 2009

IMMOKALEE — Missing Immokalee 6-year-old Adji Desir will be featured on the television program “America’s Most Wanted” tonight.

The show hosted by John Walsh will have a segment on the search for Adji, a mentally handicapped child.

He has been missing for one week as of today.

“America’s Most Wanted” airs at 9 p.m. on the FOX network, which is Channel 4 for Comcast customers in Southwest Florida.
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/17/case-missing-immokalee-boy-americas-most-wanted-to/

katfish

01-17-2009, 08:31 PM

Does AMW featuring Adji's disappearance signal a shift in theory to abduction?
Praying for this little guy!

sarahhod

01-18-2009, 05:08 AM

Mother prays for boy's return

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28711308/

WBBH-TV
updated 10:12 p.m. ET Jan. 17, 2009

IMMOKALEE: A grieving mother set the tone for day eight in the search for 6-year-old Adji Desir.

"I'm crying every day. I don't ever sleep," said Maria Nadia said on Saturday.

In a morning press conference searchers reassured they're doing all they can to end her pain.

"Today is an exceptional sweep. We've brought in probably 250 or so law enforcement officers, ATVs, swamp buggies, horses and other technical equipment," said Lt. Tom Smith with CCSO.

Saturday could be one of the final days of the ground search they pull out all the stops and pull in what could turn into promising leads.

"Today we've got several more leads on additional information which we've passed onto investigators. We've also found some items in the woods of interest to us," said Sgt. R.C. Brown with CCSO.

Search teams assure us they leave no question unasked and no attic unchecked.

"We're basically going back to every location we've been to with fresh personnel and renewed interest," said Sgt Brown

Volunteers also renew the efforts by picking up fliers hoping to blanket the state with Adji's image.

They're going to go to Ft Lauderdale to Miami to Homestead all to find Maria Nadia’s only child.

"I remember when I couldn't have a child, and I put my hands in the air. I said God I wanted a child and you gave me a child," said Nadia.

If you'd like to help get the word out about Adji you can print flyers out on your own computer by visiting the Collier County website www.colliersheriff.org.

sarahhod

01-18-2009, 05:10 AM

Massive push to find Adji

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28707017/

WBBH-TV
updated 10:12 p.m. ET Jan. 17, 2009

IMMOKALEE: Saturday could bring the largest number of officers the ground search for missing 6 year-old Adji Desir.

Exactly one week since the boy was last seen playing in Immokalee's Farm Worker Village, the Collier County Sheriff's Office has called in officers from throughout the state for another day of searching.

"Today is an exceptional sweep. We've brought in probably 250 or so law enforcement officers, ATVs, swamp buggies, horses and a myraid of other technical equipment to search again a three mile radius," said Collier County Lt. Tom Smith.

Many of the officers are new to the search. Smith said he hopes they will help ensure "no stone is left unturned."

This expanded effort comes as deputies prepare to end their ground search for Adji, and move their command post from Farm Worker Village to the sheriff's office's Immokalee sub station.

There deputies will rely more heavily on databases like sex offender registries and past case records to continue their investigation.

Also on Saturday deputies asked volunteers to visit Immokalee Community Park to pick up missing child fliers, in hopes they will be distributed throughout the state.

Southwest Floridians will also receive information about Adji's disappearance in their mailboxes.

The US Postal service is mailing 50,000 fliers to households in the region as part of the national "Deliver Me Home" program for missing children.

The reward for information is growing. The FBI announced Friday a $10,000 reward in addition to the $23,000 reward being offered locally.

If you'd like to help get the word out about Adji you can stop by Immokalee Community Park before 2pm Saturday to pick up fliers, or print them out on your own computer by visiting the Collier County website www.colliersheriff.org.

sarahhod

01-18-2009, 06:07 AM

http://tampa.fbi.gov/pressrel/2009/desir011609.htm

Contact: Special Agent Dave Couvertier ♦ Media Representative ♦ 813/253-1033
5525 West Gray Street Tampa, Florida 33609

For Immediate Release

January 16, 2009

FBI AND LOCAL COMMUNITY OFFER REWARD FOR MISSING SIX YEAR OLD

Immokalee, Florida – The FBI is contributing $10,000.00 to the reward being offered for information leading to the recovery of six year old Adji Desir. Collier County Sheriff’s Office and Crime Stoppers of Southwest Florida have raised $13,000.00 to date, bringing the total reward amount to $23,000.00.

The FBI, at the request of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, has assigned special agents to assist with the ongoing investigation, deployed the FBI Child Abduction Rapid Deployment (CARD) Team, several behavioral analysis experts, polygraph support, victim witness assistance resources, and has placed the Tampa FBI Field Office Evidence Recovery Team on standby.

Anyone with information regarding this matter should contact the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 1-239-793-9300 or the Tampa FBI office at 1-866-838-1153 (toll free).

Adji Desir was last seen playing outside of his house in Immokalee, Florida, on January 10, 2009. He was last seen wearing a blue and yellow t-shirt, blue and yellow shorts, and black and gray sneakers. Adji’s description and photograph provided below:

Adji is mentally handicapped and functions at a two year old level – with very limited vocabulary.

DOB: Oct 15, 2002
Missing: Jan 10, 2009
Age Now: 6
Sex: Male
Race: Black
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown
Height: 3'0" (91 cm)
Weight: 45 lbs (20 kg)

The FBI and the Collier County Sheriff’s Office are asking for the public’s assistance with this search.

sarahhod

01-18-2009, 06:08 AM

http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/desir_a.htm

http://i41.tinypic.com/63sknb.jpghttp://i44.tinypic.com/2zxtp9c.jpg
January 10, 2009
Immokalee, Florida
ADJI DESIR

DESCRIPTION

Date of Birth:October 15, 2002
Place of Birth: Naples, Florida
Sex: Male
Hair: Black
Height 3'0"
Eyes: Brown
Weight: 45 pounds
Race: Black (Haitian descent)

THE DETAILS

Adji Desir has been missing from outside his grandmother's residence in Immokalee, Florida, since Saturday, January 10, 2009, at approximately 5:30 p.m.. Adji reportedly went outside to play with neighborhood kids after dinner. He was reported missing a little while later and his whereabouts remain unknown.
REMARKS

Adji was last seen wearing a blue and yellow t-shirt, blue and yellow shorts, and black and gray sneakers. He is mentally handicapped and functions at a two-year-old level. He has very limited vocabulary and is non-verbal.

REWARD

The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Adji Desir.

Individuals with information concerning this case should take no action themselves, but instead immediately contact the Collier County, Florida Sheriff's Office at 1-239-793-9300, the FBI's toll-free hotline at 1-866-838-1153, or the nearest FBI Office or local law enforcement agency. For any possible sighting outside the United States, contact the nearest United States Embassy or Consulate.

sarahhod

01-18-2009, 07:45 AM

50,000 fliers distributed for missing 6-year-old

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/florida/AP/story/859446.html

The Associated Press

IMMOKALEE, Fla. -- Over 50,000 fliers have been distributed in the hopes of finding a missing 6-year-old Florida boy.

The U.S. Postal Service and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children gave out the fliers Saturday with information about Adji Desir (AHD-gee De-ZEER).

The Collier County Sheriff's Office said the boy disappeared from a migrant farm worker village in Immokalee in southwest Florida Jan. 10. A group of 250 deputies searched a three-quarter mile radius of Adji's home on Saturday.

Lt. Tom Smith said officials would also look at sex offenders in the area.

Authorities say the boy is developmentally disabled and has the mental capacity of a 2-year-old. The FBI has assigned special agents to help.

Immokalee is southeast of Fort Myers.

sarahhod

01-18-2009, 12:10 PM

Village where child disappeared is haven for close-knit, legal residents

By ELYSA BATISTA (Contact)
Originally published 5:34 p.m., Saturday, January 17, 2009
Updated 5:34 p.m., Saturday, January 17, 2009

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/17/village-where-child-disappeared-haven-close-knit-l/

IMMOKALEE — It’s a community that’s been at the center of national media reports since 6-year-old Adji Desir went missing last weekend in Farm Worker Village in Immokalee.

But what is Farm Worker Village?

To outsiders it’s just government-subsidized housing.

Yet to the community’s residents, it’s home and a safe haven.

“It’s a neighborhood,” said Jean Blanchard, 42, a resident of the village for eight years. “It’s a community.”

Opened in 1974 as farm labor housing, Farm Worker Village has grown from the 150 original units in the first phase of construction to 641 units spread through five phases. The last homes were built in 2001.

And no, the village isn’t a hotbed for illegal immigrants.

Renters at Farm Worker Village, which is operated by the Collier County Housing Authority in Immokalee, must be citizens or permanent residents. Legal temporary guest workers aren’t allowed to live there.

And that helps strengthen the feeling of community. That feeling was evident one day late last week as kids played along Chadwick Circle in the village.

Among them were Blanchard’s three boys, Junior, 11; Ernesto, 9; and Ted, 4.

The youngest arrived from Haiti on Monday with Blanchard’s wife, Marie, 40, after years of going through the legal immigration process.

Blanchard’s relief and happiness were evident as he described what a normal weekday would be like for his kids.

Homework will get done right after school, he said, and only after the work is done can they have some fun.

“My wife does not play,” Blanchard said with a grin.

Through the eight years he’s lived in the U.S., all in Collier County, Blanchard said the connection felt by residents has remained the same in Immokalee and at the village.

“I don’t think I want to go anywhere else,” Blanchard said.

Blanchard’s next-door neighbor, Camilo Martinez, moved in five months ago with his family.

The move was like coming home, said Martinez, 37.

Born in Naples, and raised in Immokalee, Martinez said the moment he got his driver license he’d drive over to the village to visit friends and family.

He agreed with Blanchard in saying that the “neighborhood feeling” has not changed.

“We all know all our neighbors,” Martinez said.

Both said Adji’s disappearance has shaken the community and that it’s not a reflection of how the community has been all these years.

“This has never happened,” Martinez said of security for village residents.

But like other areas of Collier County, Farm Worker Village has changed in recent years.

Esmeralda Serrata, the Collier County Housing Authority’s executive director, said the village has undergone changes during the past 8 to 10 years.

“The biggest change we’ve seen is the demographics of our population,” said Serrata, who has been with the agency for 20 years. “Now we serve a larger percentage of Haitian Creole families.”

When it opened nearly 35 years ago, the majority of the population living in the housing was of Hispanic origin, which included Mexicans, Guatemalans, Hondurans, Puerto Ricans and others.

What hasn’t changed, however, is the bond the residents feel.

Serrata said the village has maintained a sense of family as it has grown— something the development shares with Immokalee.

“There is a sense of community,” said Serrata, who smiled as she called the village close-knit. “They all live here, they all live close by and they know that they have to live together.”

And many former village residents still maintain ties to their old stomping grounds.

“A lot of families have transitioned and have gone on to home ownership,” Serrata said. “But there’s always some connection to the people that lived here.”

In the morning, it’s not uncommon to spot village residents giving each other a ride to work or into town ... it’s just what they do.

Another typical sight occurs when Village Oaks Elementary starts and ends its school day across the road from the village.

Throngs of neighborhood kids make their way to and from the school, slightly somber in the morning and more laughingly in the afternoon.

Overall, Serrata said, there’s a common feeling of respect and humbleness among the village residents.

It’s something else that makes the community stand out, she said.

“There’s a sense of appreciation,” Serrata said, adding that many of the village’s residents have come from difficult situations in their native lands, including the political and economic turmoil in Haiti. “They’re just thankful. What’s important to us is not necessarily important to them.”

Barbara Mainster, executive director of the Redlands Christian Migrant Association, said the professional make-up of the village’s population also has changed.

“It has changed in that there are more seasonal farm workers there instead of migrant workers,” Mainster said in an interview Friday. “There’s a lot of packing house workers.”

The association has two separate day-care centers in the community, the first of which opened in 1975, Mainster said.

“They’re hard-working families,” Mainster said. “It’s really a neighborhood community, that’s why this has been so shocking.”

Serrata echoed that sentiment and added that a lot of the village’s families never before had to worry about their children’s safety.

That changed when news of Adji’s disappearance spread through the development.

As of week’s end, the search for Adji continued.

“Everyone is fearful,” Serrata said.

But through it all, Serrata said the residents have come together to help the authorities try to find one of their own.

“It’s a member of the community,” Serrata said. “It’s personal to them.”

sarahhod

01-18-2009, 02:53 PM

Ground search for Adji ends

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=25115&z=3

Originally posted on: Sunday, January 18, 2009 by NBC2 News
Last updated on: 1/18/2009 12:04:58 PM

IMMOKALEE: The week-long search for a missing Immokalee boy is entering a new phase.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office is ending its ground search for 6-year-old Adji Desir.

At 1:00 p.m. Sunday, deputies say they will break down the mobile command unit set up in Immokalee's Farm Worker Village since Adji was last seen there January 10.

"The search is not over. It's just changing its method of operation. We've searched the ground now. We need to search information," says CCSO Lt. Tom Smith.

A task force with officers from the sheriff's office, FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement will take over the investigation into Adji's disappearance, following up on sightings and tips from the public.

Fliers and media coverage, including air time on America's Most Wanted and Nancy Grace, have generated more than 200 tips.

None of the information turned into significant leads for investigators.

Authorities still don't know if Adji was abducted or just wandered off while playing outdoors.

The reward for information that leads to Adji's return is $33,000.

If you'd like to help get the word out about Adji you can print out flyer on your own computer by visiting the Collier County website www.colliersheriff.org.

packy

01-18-2009, 03:01 PM

He may be with someone and can't communicate who he is or where he is from. I'm hoping that he can still be found.

foxfarmboxers

01-18-2009, 04:03 PM

Lord....I pray, PLEASE keep this baby safe~!

StickyBeak

01-18-2009, 08:03 PM

I hope and pray he is found safetly and soon. I hope this is not another case of illegals not paying their "coyotes" for helping with entry into the US. Last year a little tiny baby was abducted, both parents illegal. I don't believe the baby was every recovered. Not sure if parents deported, but all the locals donated money to help the parents survive and ICE kinda left them alone. This is so strange, no one seeing this little guy. Hope he has a guardian angel on his shoulder and is found alive.

TigressPen

01-19-2009, 10:27 AM

He may be with someone and can't communicate who he is or where he is from. I'm hoping that he can still be found.

This is true but as much media this case has I can't imagine how that person, if he/she is from that area wouldn't have heard of him.

sarahhod

01-19-2009, 01:25 PM

Missing Immokalee boy investigation changes focus

news-press.com • January 19, 2009

http://www.news-press.com/article/20090119/NEWS01/90119004/1075

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office ended the ground search for 6-year-old Adji Desir on Sunday.

The Immokalee boy has been missing since Jan. 10.

The focus of the investigation will now be on tips the sheriff’s office and other agencies receive about the missing boy.

People with any information about Desir are encouraged to contact Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 800-780-TIPS (8477) or the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239-793-9300. Tips can also be made anonymously online at swflcrimestoppers.org.

sarahhod

01-19-2009, 03:45 PM

Ground search called off for missing Florida boy Adji Desir
January 19, 1:04 PM

http://www.examiner.com/x-1168-Crime-Examiner~y2009m1d19-Ground-search-called-off-for-missing-Florida-boy-Adji-Desir
by Cindy Adams, Crime Examiner

On Saturday, Authorities called off the ground search for Adji Desir, 6. He disappeared on Jan. 10 when he was playing in his grandmother's yard in the Farm Workers Village in Immokalee, Florida. Instead, the Collier County Sheriff's Office indicates they will continue their search through tips.

Adji is 3 feet tall and weighs about 45 pounds, with short black hair and dark eyes. He is developmentally disabled and functions on the level of a 2-year-old. Adji knows and understands his name, but cannot speak it. Adji also understands Creole. Authorities believe he might be hiding from them out of fear.

Adji's grandmother had been watching him all day while his mother worked. He was last seen at about 5:15 p.m. on Jan. 11 when he went outside to play with friends.

Because authorities do not believe Adji was abducted and may have just wandered off, no Amber Alert was issued.

Since Adji's disappearance, over 1,500 people have searched Immokalee and distributed more than 50,000 flyers with the help of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Adji was wearing a blue shirt with yellow stripes, blue shorts with pink flamingos on the side, and black and gray sneakers.

Nancy Grace's show has been credited with garnering national attention for Adji’s story as she has done with others, such as Caylee Anthony and Trenton Duckett.

If you have seen Adji Desir or have any information surrounding his disappearance, please call 1-800-780-TIPS (8477) or the Sheriff's Office at (239) 793-9300.

sarahhod

01-20-2009, 06:03 AM

Reward Offered for Missing Florida Boy
Tuesday January 20, 2009

http://crime.about.com/b/2009/01/20/reward-offered-for-missing-florida-boy.htm

A $10,000 reward has been offered and the FBI has entered the case of a 3-year-old Florida boy who has been missing since January 10. Adji Desir disappeared from outside his grandmother's house in Farmworker's Village in Immokalee while playing with other neighborhood children.

A massive search by up to 150 law enforcement officers using dogs and helicopters has not turned up any clues.

The two-year-old is described as developmentally disabled. He is nonverbal. He understands Creole, but cannot speak it. Authorities are concerned that he would not be able to call out to searchers for help.

Adji was last seen wearing a blue and yellow t-shirt, blue and yellow shorts, and black and gray sneakers.

The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Adji Desir. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Collier County, Florida Sheriff's Office at 1-239-793-9300, the FBI's toll-free hotline at 1-866-838-1153, or the nearest FBI Office or local law enforcement agency.

sarahhod

01-20-2009, 06:08 AM

More leads come in as 6-year-old’s disappearance remains a mystery

By TRACY X. MIGUEL (Contact)
Originally published 6:38 p.m., Monday, January 19, 2009
Updated 6:38 p.m., Monday, January 19, 2009

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/19/more-leads-come-6-year-olds-disappearance-remains-/

IMMOKALEE — Investigators for the Collier County Sheriff’s Office continued Monday to follow up on leads in the search for a missing Immokalee 6-year-old boy.

Adji Desir, who has been described as developmentally disabled with the mind of a 2-year-old, disappeared on Saturday, Jan. 10, from outside his grandmother’s Farm Worker Village home at 814 Grace St.

Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Karie Partington said investigators are following up on all the leads.

She said there had been additional leads called in, yet the exact number was unknown Monday.

In the week since the child’s disappearance, about 30 state, federal and local agencies and more than 1,500 people combed Immokalee’s 8 square miles and beyond.

The ground search for the boy was called off as of Sunday and the investigation will continue through tips.

There is a $23,500 Crime Stoppers award and a $10,000 reward from the FBI being offered for information that leads to Adji’s return.

Adji fliers with a photograph and description in English, Spanish and Creole are available for print at the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Web site at www.colliersheriff.org.

The Sheriff’s Office is asking for help in the search by printing copies of the flier and posting them in various communities.

Video's at Link:-

sarahhod

01-20-2009, 06:09 AM

Adji's disappearance leaving parents scared
By WINK News

Story Created: Jan 19, 2009 at 5:24 PM EST

Story Updated: Jan 19, 2009 at 5:36 PM EST

http://www.winknews.com/news/local/37841079.html

IMMOKALEE, Fla. - Ten days and there is still no sign of six-year-old Adji Desir. A ground search was called off on Sunday after investigators said they searched everywhere they possibly could.

The focus is now turning toward a task force effort. Lt. Tom Smith told WINK News on Sunday night, "We're gonna start looking at old case files and old persons of interest, things like that to try to get some leads."

For the last week, the Immokalee Farmworkers Village was at the center of massive search for Adji. On Monday though, it was quiet. Playgrounds that used to be full of children and streets where they would play baseball, soccer, and football were empty.

"Everybody that has kids, they keep them at home," said Adji's step-father Antal Elant, "Adji is still lost...they don't let children outside."

Parents in the village tell WINK News, until they know what happened to Adji, they are not letting their children go far from home.

"They need to keep an eye on their kids, not let them out or if they're going to go out, they need to stay outside with them or it could be their kid next," said Prisma Zarate, "You can't trust anybody no more."

Even detectives told us, the Farmworkers Village is not your typical neighborhood. People know their neighbors and tend to know what's going on with everyone else.

It's what makes Adji's disappearance that much more bizarre. No one seemed to see anything. A child playing with Adji the night he vanished told WINK News she saw him walking away down a nearby street.

Adji's parents are still not losing hope he will come home to them.

"Right now, I feel empty," explained Elant, "I always think in the morning that some detective can come and show me a picture and say 'yes, they found Adji'. So, every night I dream about that."

Detectives remain focused on two theories, whether Adji wandered off or was abducted. The FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement are assisting in the investigation.

National attention on Adji's story is generating more leads. The Collier County Sheriff's Office says several tips were called in after the story aired on America's Most Wanted Saturday night.

The reward for Adji's safe return is now $33,000. Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff's Office or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).

TigressPen

01-20-2009, 08:49 AM

This just brings tears to my eyes. And now they have called off the ground searches for Adji. :( When they do that, media begins to lose interest unless LE keeps it alive in their minds. I pray this precious little boy is found.

dojewo

01-20-2009, 09:18 AM

Praying that Adji is found today:1222423:

Pandabear

01-20-2009, 10:00 AM

I was hoping to read that Adji had been found this morning. I pray he is safe and will be back home with his family soon.

packy

01-20-2009, 10:48 AM

Hope the tips from the AMW airing will be of some help.

Grande

01-20-2009, 12:52 PM

Wendy Salas, 20 – Village Resident
Nadaish “Nana” Dore, 26 - Village Resident
Kethly Bechat, 36 - Village Resident
Antal Elant, 41 – Adji’s Stepfather
Marie Nadia, 36 – Adji’s Mother
Jesula Thebaud, 55 – Adji’s Grandmother
Luckner Neida, 30 – Adji’s Uncle
Eva Ramirez, 34 – Village Resident / Volunteer
Joshua Alponte, 32 – Eva Ramirez’ SO / Volunteer
Delfina Vasquez, 60 – Village Resident
Patricia Belizaire – Family Friend
Phyllis Byrd, 41 – Village Resident
Abigail Olvera – Younger sister was one of the last ppl to see Adji
Jean Blanchard, 42 – Village Resident
Marie Blanchard, 40 – Village Resident
Camilo Martinez, 37 – Village Resident
Prisma Zarate

These are the people that have been quoted in the various media reports to date FWIW. Some interesting characters based on public records checks IMO.

Grande

01-20-2009, 01:27 PM

http://i44.tinypic.com/an22jo.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/11rajnr.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/jp8rjl.jpg

sarahhod

01-20-2009, 01:32 PM

Grande

01-20-2009, 02:32 PM

Thanks Grande,

Are public record checks free or do you need to pay for this service. TIA

Howdy Sarah. You can access them gratis via the Collier County, FL clerk's office.

Grande

01-20-2009, 02:59 PM

This cat lives within the FWV only blocks from Adji's grandmother's place and essentially right next to Village Oaks Elementary where Adji and the FWV children attend;

http://i41.tinypic.com/eree8l.jpg

Conviction date: 11/17/1998
LEWD LASCIVIOUS CHILD U/16; F.S. 800.04 (PRINCIPAL)
Offender's age at conviction: 41

Physical Characteristics
Gender: Male Race:White
Hair:Black Eye:Brown
Height:5'10, Weight:160 lbs
DOB: 01/30/1957 Age: 51

annalyzer

01-20-2009, 03:07 PM

http://waynebrownministries.com/b2evolution/blogs/index.php/amber/?blog=15

http://www.codeamber.org/images/desirfl.jpg

CANS Alert Issued for 6 Year Old Florida Boy

by WayneBrownMinistries

Code Amber News Service (CANS) issued this Missing Endangered person Alert after the boy, who is developmentally delayed, went missing from his home in Immokalee, Florida on Saturday, January 10. Various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are involved in the search. Rewards in excess of $11,000 are available for information leading to the boy’s recovery. He is Haitian, he is non verbal, he understands creole, but can not speak it, he usually only nods his head yes and no. He only knows about five words in English. He thinks and acts in an age range of 1 1/2 to 2 years old.

Adji Desir is a 6 year old Black male, 3′ and approximately 45 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue and yellow t-shirt, blue shorts with flamingos going down the sides and black and gray sneakers.

There are no suspects in this case at this time.

There is no suspect vehicle at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239-793-9300 or dial 911.

awakening2lite

01-20-2009, 05:18 PM

awakening2lite

01-20-2009, 05:30 PM

EXCERPT ~ MSNBC 10 hours ago

A task force with officers from the sheriff's office, FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement will take over the investigation into Adji's disappearance, following up on sightings and tips from the public.

EXCERPT

The reward for information that leads to Adji's return is $33,000. If you'd like to help get the word out about Adji you can print out flyer on your own computer by visiting the Collier County website www.colliersheriff.org (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/www.colliersheriff.org).

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28719384/

Here's a better link to the Sheriff's site:

http://www.colliersheriff.org/Index.aspx?page=1922

Faith

01-20-2009, 11:05 PM

My prayers Adji is found soon.

Harmony

01-20-2009, 11:31 PM

I am very concerned about this precious little cutie. I pray he is found safe and unharmed.

foxfarmboxers

01-20-2009, 11:35 PM

I thought they had already "searched" the houses around where this child had gone missing....several days ago....(maybe I was mistaken)

"Dear Lord, I pray that you keep Adji safe in your hands"

sarahhod

01-21-2009, 04:26 AM

Howdy Sarah. You can access them gratis via the Collier County, FL clerk's office.

Thanks for the reply Grande.

I shall have a look.:howdy:

sarahhod

01-22-2009, 06:22 AM

Abducting a child a profile in cowardice

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/21/brent-batten-abducting-child-profile-cowardice/

By BRENT BATTEN (Contact)
4:55 p.m., Wednesday, January 21, 2009

If this were TV, we’d have a profile.

We could reasonably assume whoever took Adji Desir lived in a certain place, came from a particular background, worked in a specific field.

But this isn’t TV.

So we know next to nothing about who took Adji, assuming he was taken at all.

The Sheriff’s Office continues to look at the dual possibilities that he either wandered off or that someone carried him off.

But after a ground search involving trained tracking dogs and hundreds of people covered eight square miles in and around Immokalee, it becomes increasingly improbable the 6-year-old with the mental capacity of a 2-year-old managed to end up in some unreachable spot on his own.

Sheriff’s spokeswoman Karie Partington says family members aren’t under suspicion in the disappearance.

That leads inexorably toward the conclusion that Adji was taken by a stranger. And that in turn leads to the sad realization that the case is unlikely to have anything approaching a happy ending.

Mark Safarik is a retired FBI agent who served with the bureau’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, the profilers depicted in the movie “Silence of the Lambs” and the TV show “Criminal Minds.” He is now one of the principals of Forensic Behavioral Services International, a security firm based in Fredericksburg, Va.

Based on a summary of the known facts in Adji’s case, Safarik said there doesn’t appear to be enough information for investigators to put together a profile of a perpetrator.

Adji disappeared from outside his grandmother’s home in Farm Workers Village on Jan. 10. It had been about 30 minutes since she last saw him.

No witness has come forward, leaving investigators with little to go on. “You don’t even have a crime scene,” Safarik said, outlining the obstacles detectives face.

Safarik isn’t quick to embrace the concept of stranger abduction. “True stranger abductions, those are pretty rare, even though people think they’re not,” he said. But the use of dogs in the search reduces the chance that the boy ended up in a well, a pond or in some other place where human searchers wouldn’t find him, he acknowledged.

While immediate family members have been cleared of suspicion, Safarik says detectives should, and probably will, look at extended family and connections for a possible motive behind the disappearance.

The case of Baby Bryan in 2006 in Fort Myers comes to mind. The month-old baby was taken from his mother at knifepoint, apparently by strangers. A theory developed later held that the boy was taken because his parents owed money to smugglers who had brought them into the U.S. The case remains unsolved. Initially, sheriff’s deputies said the immigration status of Adji’s parents was not part of their investigation. On Wednesday, Partington, asked if family issues might be a factor in Adji’s disappearance, said, “Nothing is leading us in that direction.”

Abduction by a total stranger is a long shot, largely because of the short time window in which Adji disappeared, Safarik said. Assuming it is the case though, the outlook is grim. “If it is a stranger abduction, it’s really bad for the kid. The statistics are not good,” Safarik said.

In the majority of stranger abductions, the child is killed within three hours of the abduction. More than 90 percent are killed within 24 hours, he said.

Little can be known about the perpetrator without witnesses or a crime scene, Safarik said.

He most likely had fantasized about taking a child previously and may have even done it. He had some reason to be in the area, either living there, working there or having occasion to travel through there. “He’s not saying, ‘Let me just drive around in places I don’t know and look for a child.”’

He acted on strong impulse.

“It’s risky, taking a child. He doesn’t know he won’t be witnessed. He recognizes it’s risky and disregards the risk.”

If custody issues aren’t in play and if there’s no demand for ransom, chances are the boy was a victim of sexual assault. Children as old as 6 aren’t taken by someone who wants to raise them as their own, as infants sometimes are, Safarik said. Adji’s developmental disability probably didn’t make him more of a target, as just about any 6-year-old would be highly vulnerable and a low risk for resistance or escape.

Rewards offered for Adji’s safe return total more than $30,000 but Safarik says rewards rarely work in cases of child abduction.

The sheriff’s investigation is now focused on following up on tips from the public. “Any searches (from now on) would be targeted based on leads,” Partington said.

“He didn’t just vanish into thin air. There’s some explanation,” Safarik said.

emmeblu

01-23-2009, 03:03 AM

sarahhod

01-23-2009, 06:15 AM

Editorial: Amber Alert rules too strict

Editorial • January 23, 2009

Saturday will mark two weeks since 6-year-old Adji Desir went outside to play, never to return.

Since leaving his grandmother's house at Farm Workers Village in Immokalee on Jan. 10, Adji has been the subject of a massive search, involving hundreds of law enforcement officers and volunteers. The case has been featured on CNN's "Nancy Grace" and Fox's "America's Most Wanted," and has drawn the attention of about 30 state, federal and local agencies.
Considering the amount of publicity, perhaps an Amber Alert - or even a Missing Child Alert - wouldn't have made a difference. Perhaps he'd still be missing anyway.
But why not utilize every available measure that might aid the search?
The Collier County Sheriff's Office hasn't enacted an Amber Alert because there's no clear sign of abduction, one of five mandatory criteria. The others are: the child must be under 18 years of age; the investigation must conclude the child's life is in danger; there must be a detailed description of the child and/or abductor; and the activation must be recommended by the local law enforcement agency.
Amber Alerts go out through the Emergency Alert System, including electronic message signs on the highway and lottery machines, as well as through text and e-mail alerts. But to gain such widespread prominence, a case "has to meet the five criteria," said Kristen Perezluha, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
The requirements need to be loosened.
Waiting for evidence of foul play defeats the purpose - returning kids home safely. If Adji did simply wander off, he's in danger nonetheless.
Perezluha said Missing Child Alerts, which aren't carried on the EAS, exist for cases that need to be publicized but don't meet the Amber Alert criteria. Collier County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Michelle Batten said her department hasn't issued a Missing Child Alert because Adji's case received such wide exposure in local, state and national media. "We felt like the word definitely got out," Batten said.
Probably so. But every possible measure should be exhausted in these cases. There's no harm in spreading the word as far and wide as possible.

http://www.news-press.com/article/20090123/OPINION/901230374/1015

Grande

01-23-2009, 03:05 PM

on Friday, 01.23.09
FBI adds $10,000 to reward for missing 6-year-old
BY JAY WEAVER
jweaver@MiamiHerald.com

The FBI is contributing $10,000 to the reward being offered for information leading to the recovery of a missing 6-year-old boy who might be in the Miami area, authorities said Friday.

Adji Desir was last seen Jan. 10 playing outside his house in Immokalee. He was wearing a blue-and-yellow T-shirt, blue-and-yellow shorts and black-and-gray sneakers.

Adji is mentally disabled and functions at a 2-year-old level, with very limited vocabulary.

The Collier County Sheriff's Office and Crime Stoppers of Southwest Florida have offered $13,000, bringing the total reward amount to $23,000.

The FBI has assigned agents to assist with the investigation and deployed the FBI Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team, several behavioral analysis experts, polygraph support and victim witness assistance resources.

Anyone with information regarding this matter should contact the Collier County Sheriff's Office at 1-239-793-9300, the Tampa FBI office at 1-866-838-1153 (toll free) or the Miami FBI office at 305-944-9101.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/869338.html

Amusedtdth

01-23-2009, 04:15 PM

This is so sad.....I was really hoping he'd have been found by now. :000a1:

Grande

01-23-2009, 04:20 PM

This is so sad.....I was really hoping he'd have been found by now. :000a1:

It certainly is Amused.

I hope we all get the closure we seek here soon. I think about this little guy everyday.

annalyzer

01-23-2009, 09:08 PM

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/23/adji-search-investigation-continues-after-two-week/

Adji search, investigation continues after two weeks

7:57 p.m., Friday, January 23, 2009

The ground search may have been called off, but authorities continue to gather tips about the disappearance of 6-year-old Adji Desir and track down leads in Immokalee and across Florida.

Sgt. Ken Becker of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office’s Special Crimes Bureau said he is working with four full-time sheriff’s detectives, a criminal research analyst, and an agent from each the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI on the case. Lt. Thomas Smith, who headed up the ground search, is also involved, Becker said.

Investigators have received more than 300 tips since Adji disappeared from outside his grandmother’s home Jan. 10. Even so, authorities still lack a solid lead that indicates if he simply walked off and got lost, or if he was taken against his will. The task force continues to investigate both possibilities.

“There are so many unanswered questions and so many possibilities, we don’t have a clear direction on which we should be following,” Becker said. “So we’re following a number of possibilities.”

Investigators have interviewed and searched the homes of 16 of the more than 20 sex offenders in the Immokalee area, Becker said. The others are either in jail or investigators confirmed they weren’t in the area at the time Adji disappeared, he said.

Officials in Lee and Hendry counties are also checking on nearby sex offenders.

Becker confirmed that for a time the task force was keeping a close eye on one particular resident, whose identity has not been released.

“I think that that’s probably at a point where it doesn’t look like he’s a person of interest,” Becker said. “I wouldn’t say we’ve totally cleared him out, but it doesn’t look like he’s responsible for the disappearance of Adji.”

Becker said the task force has been entering all the information that has been gathered in the last two weeks into a database.

According to Florida Gulf Coast University Professor David Thomas, whose area of expertise includes criminal psychological and victimology, Adji’s disappearance would be taking a heavy toll on his family.

“In regards to the family there is a certain degree of trauma that they will experience,” said Thomas in a written statement. “The psychological symptoms could range from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder to high levels of anxiety along with grief.”

Thomas said the grief and anxiety come from the fact that Adji is missing and there is an uncertainty regarding his well being.

“It is very similar to those who experience the loss of a loved one. The problem here is that it is limbo because there is hope that he’s well and on the other hand there is fear that Adji may be seriously injured, sick, or suffering from exposure,” Thomas said.

“In either case the family’s feelings will vacillate from one extreme to the other. The greater feeling in all of this is that they will be second guessing themselves and possibly blaming themselves for something that they may have had no control over.”

To address some of those issues, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Team Adam has continued to help local authorities and the family, said Maribel Slabaugh, program manager for the Center’s Collier County office.

Named after Adam Walsh, the abducted and murdered son of the center’s co-founders John and Revé Walsh, Team Adam is an on-site response and support system that provides investigative and technical assistance to law enforcement agencies in cases of child abduction and serious child sexual victimization. Its members are retired law-enforcement professionals with years of investigative experience at the federal, state, and local levels.

The other big problem facing authorities is keeping Adji’s disappearance relevant to residents as time goes on, said Slabaugh, adding that keeping the community involved with the case is important to help find the missing boy.

“We don’t want people to forget that we are still looking for the child,” Slabaugh said. “We want to keep the community alert and spread the word.”

In an interview Friday, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children president and CEO Ernie Allen agreed with Slabaugh.

“The hardest part is keeping the case alive,” he said.

Becker said investigators need information from the community to help them find Adji, who has been described as developmentally disabled. Anyone with information is asked to call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at (239) 774-4434 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).

There is a $23,500 Crime Stoppers reward and a $10,000 reward from the FBI for information leading to Adji’s return.

“I’m always optimistic,” Becker said.

For more information about the search for Adji Desir, visit the Collier County Sheriff’s Web site at www.colliersheriff.org or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children site www.missingkids.com.

sarahhod

01-24-2009, 04:33 AM

http://m1.2mdn.net/viewad/817-grey.gif (http://ad.doubleclick.net/click;h=v8/37bf/0/0/%2a/q;44306;0-0;0;32521272;31-1/1;0/0/0;;%7Eokv=;ptype=s;slug=sfl-bn-0123-disappeared;rg=ur;ref=googlecouk;pos=s;sz=1x1;tile =2;at=Police;at=Tampa;at=FBI;at=Crime%20Law%20and% 20Justice;at=Florida;at=Police%20Investigations;%7 Eaopt=2/0/ff/1;%7Esscs=%3f) http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/trb.sunsentinel/news/local/breakingnews;ptype=s;slug=sfl-bn-0123-disappeared;rg=ur;ref=googlecouk;pos=s;sz=1x1;tile =2;at=Police;at=Tampa;at=FBI;at=Crime%20Law%20and% 20Justice;at=Florida;at=Police%20Investigations;or d=9797892? (http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/trb.sunsentinel/news/local/breakingnews;ptype=s;slug=sfl-bn-0123-disappeared;rg=ur;ref=googlecouk;pos=s;sz=1x1;tile =2;at=Police;at=Tampa;at=FBI;at=Crime%20Law%20and% 20Justice;at=Florida;at=Police%20Investigations;or d=9797892?)
FBI seeks public's help to find 6-year-old boy

By Juan Ortega |South Florida Sun-Sentinel3:03 PM EST, January 23, 2009
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/media/photo/2009-01/44675224.jpg

Adji Desir, 6, disappeared earlier this month from a migrant farm worker village in Immokalee Jan. 10.

Authorities today announced they are seeking South Floridians' help to find a 6-year-old southwest Florida boy who has disappeared.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/topic/crime-law-justice/crimes/fbi-ORGOV000008.topic) said today that someone in South Florida may have information about Adji Desir, who disappeared from a migrant farm worker village in Immokalee Jan. 10 after he went outside to play.

The boy is Haitian and lived in an area with a large Haitian population, similar to how South Florida has a large number of Haitians.

FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said there is no one who has told investigators he is in South Florida. But Orihuela said authorities want to "cover all bases" and are asking whether any local resident knows of the boy's wherebouts.
Hundreds of volunteers have searched for the boy, who authorities say is developmentally disabled and has the mental capacity of a 2-year-old. The FBI has assigned special agents to help with the investigation.

A $23,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the boy's recovery.

Anyone with information about the case can call the Collier County Sheriff's Office at 1-239-793-9300, the Tampa FBI office at 1-866-838-1153 or the Miami FBI office at 305-944-9101.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-bn-0123-disappeared,0,3601384.story

foxfarmboxers

01-24-2009, 10:36 PM

Dear Lord, Please keep Adji, safe in your arms.

annalyzer

01-25-2009, 02:08 PM

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/slf-bn-0125-missingboy,0,5699711.story

Police seek help in finding 6-year-old boy

12:45 PM EST, January 25, 2009

Two weeks after a 6-year-old boy disappeared from a community of Haitian migrant farm workers, authorities said today they need the public's help to find him because "he could be anywhere," a sheriff's office said.

Adji Desir, of Immokalee, has the mental capacity of child under 2 and a very limited vocabulary, Collier County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Karie Partington said. He went outside his home to play on Jan. 10 and has not been seen since, she said.

The boy's family notified officials that day. Detectives in the missing persons section could not use the Amber Alert system for Adji because the facts of his disappearance did not meet the criteria for the statewide child abduction-notification system.

"There has to be clear evidence of an abduction having taken place," Partington said. "Nobody saw anything."

She called the disappearance "highly unusual," saying it is the longest in recent memory that a child has been missing in the county.

That's why the agency reached out to others this weekend, including the FBI and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement on Florida's east coast.

"They just wanted help down here, since there's a large Haitian population down here," FBI spokeswoman Judy Orihuela said this morning.

So far, Partington said, about 1,000 people from 30 different agencies and the local community have searched 216-square-miles for the boy.

Now, Partington said, the public can make the difference if they print out fliers of the boy and post them in neighborhoods around the state. The flier is in English, Creole and Spanish, and is available for download at www.colliersheriff.org.

"He could be anywhere," Partington said. "So if people on the east coast could print out a flier and post it, it would help. You never know who's going to see it, or where they'll see it."

Adji is black and Haitian, with short black hair and dark eyes, 3 feet tall, 45 pounds. When last seen, he wore a blue shirt with thin yellow stripes, blue shorts with flamingos on the side, and black-and-grey sneakers.

A $23,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his recovery. Anyone with information is asked to contact Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at 1-800-780-8477, or the Miami FBI office at 305-944-9101.

awakening2lite

01-26-2009, 09:41 PM

This is so sad

Investigators relying on public leads to find Adji

Originally posted on: Saturday, January 24, 2009 by NBC2 News
Last updated on: 1/24/2009 7:12:28 PM

IMMOKALEE: It has now been two weeks since Adji Desir went missing in Immokalee.
The search to find the missing six-year-old boy is taking a step backwards.

Collier deputies fear people in Immokalee may know something about Adji but are too fearful of law enforcement to say anything.

This weekend there's a new push to get more information and it centers on Haitian Houses of Worship.

Investigators are asking church leaders to persuade their parishioners to offer any information they may have.

So far Collier County deputies say they are relying on leads from the public for their investigation.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=25309&z=3

Faith

01-27-2009, 01:10 AM

Leads Sought Into Disappearance Of Haitian Boy

MIAMI, FL, Tues. Jan. 27, 2009:

It`s been over two weeks since little Adji Desir disappeared and Florida law enforcement officials are no closer to finding the Haitian boy.

Now Collier deputies say they are offering a $23,000 reward for the recovery of the 6-year-old, who went missing on Jan. 10th from the community of Haitian migrant farm workers in Immokalee.

Deputies are hoping a push for information through community outreach efforts in local Haitian churches will provide them with some answers.

Collier County deputies say they are relying on leads from the public for their investigation into his disappearance. Adji`s relatives reported him missing after he went outside to play in Farm Worker Village in Immokalee and then disappeared.

So far, nearly 1,000 people from 30 agencies and Adji`s community have searched 216-square-miles for the boy.

He is black, has short black hair and dark eyes and stands about 3-feet tall and weighs 45 pounds. He is also developmentally disabled. When last seen, he was wearing a blue shirt with thin yellow stripes, blue shorts with flamingos on the sides and gray-and-black sneakers. Anyone with information is urged to call 1-800-780-8477.

http://www.caribbeanworldnews.com/middle_top_news_detail.php?mid=2010

annalyzer

01-28-2009, 01:49 AM

http://www.arcamax.com/newsheadlines/s-485246-318883

Reward offered for missing Florida boy

01/26/2009

IMMOKALEE, Fla. (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida are offering a $23,000 reward for the recovery of a 6-year-old boy who disappeared from his community of Haitian migrant farm workers.

Adji Desir of Immokalee has not been seen since he went outside to play Jan. 10, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Monday, noting the boy has a limited vocabulary and the mental capacity of a child less than 2 years of age.

His family reported him missing that day and, so far, nearly 1,000 people from 30 agencies and his community have searched 216-square-miles for the boy, said Karie Partington, a spokeswoman for the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

Because there is no clear evidence the boy was kidnapped, authorities could not use the Amber Alert system for the statewide notification of a missing child, Partington said.

The boy is black, Haitian, and has short black hair and dark eyes. He stands about 3-feet tall and weighs 45 pounds. When last seen, he was wearing a blue shirt with thin yellow stripes, blue shorts with flamingos on the sides and gray-and-black sneakers.

LiveLaughLuv

01-28-2009, 12:02 PM

This doesn't look good for Adji, he's missing too long...I fear the outcome.

dojewo

01-28-2009, 12:11 PM

This doesn't look good for Adji, he's missing too long...I fear the outcome.
I was thinking the same LLL, this is way to long for a child with disabilities. I'm praying that something will be heard soon.

TigressPen

01-28-2009, 03:22 PM

I found the information about this case, and some opinions of it, very interesting.

http://www.briansprediction.com

http://briansprediction.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2221

http://www.briansprediction.com/MISSING/publicr/adjidesircase648.htm

sarahhod

01-29-2009, 07:12 AM

New push to find missing 6-year-old

By WINK News

Story Created: Jan 28, 2009 at 6:20 PM EST
Story Updated: Jan 28, 2009 at 7:42 PM EST

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. - Collier County Sheriff's investigators say they've received 240 tips in the case a missing Immokalee boy.

They are still waiting for that one phone call that will help bring 6-year-old Adji Desir home.

They're encouraging anyone with information, no matter how minuscule, to call in.

"Please don't dismiss anything that you may think you know because we would rather go on a hunch than not be able to follow up on it at all," said Trish Routte with Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers.

Adji was last seen on the night of January 10th, playing outside with other kids in the Immokalee Farmworker Village.

Even after a massive week long ground search and a task force effort that continues today, there is still no sign of the little boy.

Routte said, "We're begging people for information at this point. We want the safe return of this little guy."

A new push to find the little boy is coming in the form of fliers.

Crime Stoppers will start releasing new fliers within the next few days with Adji's picture and the updated reward for his safe return, which is now $33,500.

Collier County Sheriff's investigators tell WINK News the fliers will be posted across Southwest Florida and in Haitian communities in Fort Lauderdale and Miami.

It's still not known whether Adji simply walked off or was abducted.

A task force of investigators from the Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, even the FBI is working every day on Adji's case, but they need help.

"We need to know where he is at," said Routte, "We're at a point of desperation."

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.

http://www.winknews.com/news/local/38564277.html

Klbachmeier

02-03-2009, 11:13 AM

I too have a disable 6 year old little girl with the development of a 2- year old.

My heart goes out to the family during this most difficult time and I pray for Adji's safe return.

Roamer

02-03-2009, 11:17 AM

Thank you and welcome to our forum.

Grande

02-03-2009, 03:36 PM

The search for Adji Desir continues
February 3, 1:04 PM
by Cindy Adams, Crime Examiner

It has been over 3 weeks since Adji Desir disappeared on Jan 10. Although the ground search for Adji was called off on Jan. 17, there has been a new push to find him and the reward for his safe return has been increased to $33,500.

Authorities are encouraging anyone with any type of information to call the tip line. Trish Routte of Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers said, "Please don't dismiss anything that you may think you know because we would rather go on a hunch than not be able to follow up on it at all."

Since Adji's disappearance, the Collier County Sheriff's Office has received 240 tips.

Some of the family's neighbors believe that Adji may have been kidnapped. Abigail Olvera's younger sister was playing outside with Adji and several other children before he went missing. "I think someone took him," said Olvera. She indicated the last time they saw Adji he was walking down the street.

The sheriff's office indicates they will continue their search through tips; therefore, they are relying on the public to lead them in the right direction.

Adji is 3 feet tall and weighs about 45 pounds, with short black hair and dark eyes. He is developmentally disabled and functions on the level of a 2-year-old. Adji knows and understands his name, but cannot speak it. Adji also understands Creole.

Please call 1-800-780-TIPS (8477) or the sheriff's office at (239) 793-9300 if you have any type of information regarding the case.

http://www.examiner.com/x-1168-Crime-Examiner~y2009m2d3-The-search-for-Adji-Desir-continues

annalyzer

02-05-2009, 07:07 PM

http://www.news-press.com/article/20090205/NEWS01/90205074/1075

Investigation continues on missing Immokalee boy

by christina cepero • ccepero@news-press.com • February 5, 2009

An eight-person task force in Immokalee continues to look for a 6-year-old boy who went missing a month ago this Saturday.

Adji Desir disappeared the evening of Jan. 10 from his grandmother’s home at Farm Workers Village off State Road 29 in Immokalee.

Collier County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers and FBI agents make up the full-time task force.

It is equally weighing the possibilities he got lost or was abducted.

“We don’t have any evidence pointing one way or another, so until we do, we’re going to continue with our parallel investigations,” sheriff’s office spokeswoman Michelle Batten said.

The ground search ended Jan. 18.

The boy, who is of Haitian descent, functions on the level of a 2-year-old because of a developmental disability. He doesn’t speak and only understands Creole.

The sheriff’s office has circulated posters with Adji’s picture in English, Spanish and Creole.

The FBI Tampa field office, which oversees Southwest Florida, recently updated its “Wanted by FBI” to include the poster of Adji in Spanish.

“The Creole one is not a poster yet. It’s being worked on,” special agent Dave Couvertier said.

The FBI Miami office has also circulated the poster to media there.

“We’re looking for assistance in their local area because there’s a large Haitian population there,” Couvertier said.

“We’re hoping that somebody will be abe to come forward and provide that missing piece of this major puzzle.”

The FBI has also made public service announcements about the case on national television shows.

He said that someone with information who is concerned about his criminal history or immigration status could relay it to a third party they trust such as a chaplain or doctor.

“Even if they think it’s insignificant, we would like to decide that because sometimes that little bit of information has a tremendous impact on our overall investigative efforts,” he said.

The reward for information leading to the whereabouts of the boy is $33,500, including $10,000 from the FBI.

The rest is being offered through Southwest Florida Crimestoppers and includes donations from The Carole Sund/Carrington Memorial Reward Foundation in Modesto, Calif.; the Collier County Housing Authority, which administers Farm Workers Village; Dell’s Food Store in Immokalee; and two families.
“We’re still getting calls, not as many as right after he went missing, but I think it’s a good sign that people are still keeping their eyes open. No one’s forgotten about him,” Crimestoppers coordinator Trish Routte said.

“That’s life-changing kind of reward money.

“We’re just hoping that ... someone, most likely in the Immokalee area, will just pick up the phone and make that phone call that will help us find Adji.”

The 3-foot-tall boy was last seen wearing a blue and yellow T-shirt, blue and yellow shorts, and black and gray sneakers.

Anyone with any information is asked to leave tips with Crimestoppers anonymously at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477), the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 793-9300 or the FBI’s toll-free hotline at 1-866-838-1153.

Faith

02-09-2009, 10:33 PM

A month later, missing Immokalee 6-year-old not forgotten

By ELYSA BATISTA (Contact)
Originally published 6:29 p.m., Monday, February 9, 2009
Updated 6:29 p.m., Monday, February 9, 2009

NAPLES — Life goes on in Immokalee.

But as time passes by, Collier County Housing Authority executive director Esmeralda Serrata said she fears people might forget about Adji Desir.

“That’s been my concern,” she said. “This child is still missing. There is still hope that he is out there.”

The disappearance of 6-year-old Adji from his grandmother’s Farm Worker Village home in Immokalee on Jan. 10 shook the small community.

And although the ground search was called off, authorities continue to investigate.

“We are still following up on leads and do have some tasks that we are getting done ourselves,” said Collier County Sgt. Ken Becker. “It’s still an active investigation.”

According to Becker, the search for Adji has spread through both of South Florida’s coasts with detectives heading to the east coast Monday to deliver additional posters to law enforcement agencies.

Becker said the search has concentrated in Southwest and South Florida because of the strong Haitian community presence.

Time however, has affected the pace of the investigation.

“Unfortunately the number of leads have slowed down,” said Becker.

The family however is holding on, he said.

“They’re dealing with the situation as best as can be expected,” said Becker. “It’s a very difficult situation for them.”

Maribel Slabaugh, program manager for the Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Collier County office, said many people in the community are still asking for fliers.

“We encourage people to take a good number so they can distribute them,” said Slabaugh. “Anything they hear, or know, or recall, they need to immediately contact the Sheriff’s office and give that information.”

For their part, the community has continued to keep close contact with the Sheriff’s office regarding the situation, said Serrata.

She added that the Housing Authority has also kept in contact with Adji’s family.

Residents are also being more vigilant, admitted Serrata.

“Prior to the Sheriff’s Office pulling out, we had a community meeting with all of our residents,” Serrata said. “We tried to impart to the residents, at that time, that they need to pay extra attention to their children.”

The caution has led to kids not being let out at night unsupervised.

“They need to be extra careful,” said Serrata. “Not to ignite fear, but in these uncertain times it’s very important that we be watchful.”

It’s something that resident Amparo Diaz, 35, said she keeps in mind.

“I don’t let them go out anymore,” said Diaz, 35, while doing laundry Monday.

The mother of four said that before Adji went missing, she used to let her youngest son walk to Village Oaks Elementary alone.

“Now I walk with him,” said Diaz. “To be safer.”

Through it all, she said she could only imagine the grief Adji’s mother is going through.

“I pray to God that he is alright,” said Diaz, whose kids knew Adji from when they played in the community’s park. “When a child is ripped from the mother, the mother suffers.”

Four year resident Horcene Louise, 30, said some things have remained the same in Farm Worker Village, but that people are being more careful.

“We’re watching the kids,” he said adding that the neighbors are making an effort to look out for each other.

Louise said that it was especially true of the village’s Haitian community.

“The community is like a family,” said Louise, while working on a grey sedan on Grace Court.

It’s the community, Becker said, that in the end would make the difference in this case.

“We just ask that everybody keep an eye out,” said Becker. “Please don’t hesitate to come forward. We are going to need the community to help us.”

For more information about the search for Adji Desir visit the Collier County Sheriff’s Web site at www.colliersheriff.org (http://www.colliersheriff.org) or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Kids site www.missingkids.com (http://www.missingkids.com).

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/02/09/AdjiDesirPoster_t220.JPG

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/13/090112NS-DesirAdji_t176.jpg
Adji Desir has been missing from Immokalee since Saturday evening, Jan. 10, 2009.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Help edit map and add your suggestions to the search for Adji Desir (http://www.naplesnews.com/thesearchforadji/)
INTERACTIVE TIMELINE: Timeline of events of the search for Adji Desir (http://www.naplesnews.com/adjitimeline/)
VIDEO: RAW VIDEO: Officials search water for Adji (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/raw-video-officials-search-water-adji/)
VIDEO: Interview with Adji Desir's parents (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/interview-adji-desirs-parents/)
VIDEO: CCSO gives update about Adji search (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/ccso-speaks-about-search-adji-desir-1-15-2009/)
VIDEO: CCSO's morning update on Adji (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/ccsos-morning-update-adji/)
VIDEO: CCSO Search Update: Adji Desir (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/ccsos-adji-desir-search-update-1-13-2009/)
VIDEO: Search for Adji Desir Continues (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/search-adji-desir/)
PHOTO GALLERY: Day 6: Officials search waters of Lake Traffor (http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2009/jan/16/day-6-officials-search-waters-lake-trafford-adji-d/)
PHOTO GALLERY: Day 4: Search for Adji Desir continues (http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2009/jan/13/search-six-year-old-adji-desir-continues-1-13-09/)
PHOTO GALLERY: Day 3: Search for Adji Desir continues (http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2009/jan/12/day-3-search-adji-desir-continues/)
PHOTO GALLERY: Day 2: Search for 6-year-old Adji Desir (http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2009/jan/11/search-continues-6-year-old-immokalee/)
AUDIO: Kevin Rambosk gives update about missing child (.mp3) (http://web.naplesnews.com/media/audio/2009/01/rambosch01-14-09.mp3)
AUDIO: Jamie Mosbach with the Collier County Sheriff's Office gives an update on the search for Adji Desir (.mp3) (http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/static/jamie_mosbach_01-14-09_0930.mp3)
AUDIO: Lt. Smith with the Collier County Sheriff's Office on the search for Adji Desir (.mp3) (http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/static/smith_01-14-09_940.mp3)
AUDIO: Karie Partington talks about how people can help distribute flyers (.wma) (http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/static/Carrie_update_11-12-09_1_pm.WMA)
AUDIO: Karie Partington talks about expanding search area (.wma) (http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/static/Carrie_update_11-12-09_noon.WMA)
AUDIO: Kevin Rambosk holds press conference about missing child (.wma) (http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/static/Rambosk_press_conference_01-12-09.WMA)
DOCUMENT: Read transcript of Daily News editor discussing Adji’s disappearance on CNN Tuesday night (http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/13/daily-news-editor-discuss-adjis-disappearance-cnn-/)
DOCUMENT: Read transcript of Collier Sheriff's Office discussing missing child case on CNN Monday night (http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/static/SHOW_TRANSCRIPTION.pdf)
POLL: Do you have an identification kit for your child? (http://www.naplesnews.com/polls/2009/jan/child-idkit/)
STORIES: Read stories about the search for 6-year-old Adji Desir (http://www.naplesnews.com/search/?q=%22Adji%20Desir%22&t=news&f=stories&s=stories_ellington&p=1&sortby=date)
COMPLETE COVERAGE: Special section about the search for Adji Desir (http://www.naplesnews.com/news/adjidesir/)

RELATED STORIES

Ground search for Adji called off (http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/18/ground-search-adji-called/)
VIDEO/AUDIO/PHOTOS: ‘We will always search for Adji’ (http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/15/we-will-always-search-adji/)
VIDEO/AUDIO/PHOTOS: Adji's mother: 'I feel like my life is almost over' (http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/14/still-no-sign-immokalee-boy/)
Volunteers fan out across Immokalee to search for missing boy (http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/12/volunteers-fan-out-across-immokalee-search-missing/)
SHOW TRANSCRIPTION: Sheriff's Office discusses missing child case on CNN Monday night (http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/12/sheriffs-office-discuss-missing-child-case-cnn-ton/)

http://web.naplesnews.com/static/images/npdn/nav/related_link.gifRelated Links

Link to Interactive Map: The Search for Adji (http://www.naplesnews.com/thesearchforadji/)
Link to The Search for Adji: Interactive Timeline (http://www.naplesnews.com/adjitimeline/)
The Search for Adji Desir: Special Section (http://www.naplesnews.com/adjidesir)

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/feb/09/month-later-missing-immokalee-6-year-old-not-forgo/

dojewo

02-09-2009, 11:03 PM

Still praying to hear something about Adji

TigressPen

02-10-2009, 08:01 PM

Still praying to hear something about Adji

Me too, Doj. My heart breaks thinking this child was abducted and what some evil minds can do to a child. Praying he is safe.

emmeblu

02-11-2009, 11:07 PM

I am still trying to figure out why a 6 y/o with the mind of a 2 y/o was allowed to play outside unsupervised! He is such a cute little fellow.
The longer he is missing, the scarier it gets.

Prayers he is still found safe.

sarahhod

02-13-2009, 07:43 AM

Instant Editorial: Two missing kids, two different responses

deron snyder • dsnyder@news-press.com • February 12, 2009

When 6-year-old Adji Desir went missing last month in Immokalee, the Collier County Sheriff’s Office said it didn’t enact an Amber Alert because there was no clear indication he was abducted.
When 5-year-old Haleigh Cumming went missing early Tuesday morning in Satsuma, the Putnam County Sheriff’s office issued an Amber Alert, though it was unclear what happened.“We’re currently working both angles — did she wander off, we’re working it that way with the searches,” said Lt. Johnny Greenwood. “And investigators are doing interviews in case it is an abduction.”
Fact: Haleigh is a little blonde girl.
Fact: Adji is a little Haitian boy.
The difference in responses makes you wonder.

http://www.news-press.com/article/20.../90212035/1075 (http://www.news-press.com/article/20090212/OPINION/90212035/1075)

Roamer

02-13-2009, 07:47 AM

It certainly makes me wonder.

Why isn't this little boy headline news???

LiveLaughLuv

02-13-2009, 08:17 AM

Adjir was all over the news, NG even shows him. I don't know why it's slowed down and I'd think it's up to the parents to keep harping on the media to keep this in the news.

I don't, no, I hate the references made.

annalyzer

02-13-2009, 08:52 AM

He got way more media attention than most missing kids.
Look at this thread.

TigressPen

02-13-2009, 09:45 AM

He got way more media attention than most missing kids.
Look at this thread.

I agree. He did get a lot of media attention. When he first went missing I wished they had called an immediate amber alert because of his disability. But it was a case where it was thought by all concerend that he'd simply wandered off at first too.

The family and LE in Immokalee need to keep him in the news.

Roamer

02-13-2009, 09:47 AM

OK. I retract my statement. :INhouseReading04:

Amusedtdth

02-13-2009, 09:54 AM

Parents, relatives, friends, media, everyone needs to keep this little angel out there in the publics eyes. I can't stand the way some get more attention than others, they all deserve equal attention and when one is physically/mentally challenged even more so. Still praying Adji is found soon. For the life of me I can't understand how this happened and my heart bleeds for the family.
Lord, please watch over Adji wherever he is until he's brought home.

sarahhod

02-20-2009, 07:22 AM

Search for Adji: Six weeks later

By WINK News

Story Created: Feb 19, 2009 at 5:32 PM EST
Story Updated: Feb 19, 2009 at 7:19 PM EST

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, Fla.- The Collier County Sheriff's Office says a film crew from "America's Most Wanted " will be in Immokalee Friday morning to focus on the search for missing six-year-old Adji Desir.

He vanished from the Immokalee Farmworkers Village about six weeks ago while playing outside with other children.

Investigators working his case have not given up hope. Every day there are at least four Collier County investigators focusing only on the search, but they've almost exhausted every lead.

Once again, they are asking tipsters to come forward.

"For a little kid playing out front, that's not an unusual thing, but for a little kid to all the sudden disappear and no body sees anything...I don't buy that for a minute," said Trish Routte, with Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers.

Lt. Tom Smith with the Collier County Sheriff's Office tells WINK News they are currently interviewing every sex offender and predator in Collier, Lee, Hendry and Glades counties. That alone is about 1,000 interviews.

The investigation is still focusing on two theories: whether Adji simply walked off or was abducted. Ground search efforts have resulted in no clues, however investigators have not been able to exhaust the abduction theory.

Crime Stoppers of Southwest Florida is reminding people, there is still a $33,500 reward for information leading to Adji.

"I think there's a very high likelihood that the people who did see something or did see something suspicious, maybe they're afraid to come forward because they're not here legally. Honestly in this case, we don't care if the tipster is here legally or not. We don't care who they are, we just care about what they know," explained Routte.

Tips are anonymous and no matter who it is, the tipster with the information leading investigators to Adji will get the money. All they have to do is call Crime Stopper at 1-800-780-TIPS.

The "America's Most Wanted" episode featuring Adji is expected to air next Saturday night.

Adji was last seen on Saturday, January 10th at 5:30pm. He is three feet tall, weighing 45 pounds. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt with thin yellow stripes, blue shorts with flamingos going down the sides, and black and grey sneakers. He is developmentally delayed.

http://www.winknews.com/news/local/39871642.html

Roamer

02-20-2009, 07:27 AM

It's been so long. :1187603408.CR.Mothe

LiveLaughLuv

02-20-2009, 07:50 AM

Lt. Tom Smith with the Collier County Sheriff's Office tells WINK News they are currently interviewing every sex offender and predator in Collier, Lee, Hendry and Glades counties. That alone is about 1,000 interviews.

Damn, there are so many SO near this area. Why haven't LE checked this already.

This child is missing for so long. :1187603408.CR.Mothe

Pandabear

02-20-2009, 10:10 AM

I pray that Adji is found soon and that he is safe.

Grande

02-20-2009, 10:21 AM

I pray that Adji is found soon and that he is safe.

Me too Panda!

PolkaDot

02-20-2009, 12:06 PM

I so want this lilttle guy to be found. It's been a lonnnnng time...too long. :frown:

TigressPen

02-20-2009, 01:10 PM

Damn, there are so many SO near this area. Why haven't LE checked this already.

This child is missing for so long. :1187603408.CR.Mothe

I question that also. Adji needs to brought home.

Grande

02-20-2009, 02:36 PM

Adji's disappearance on AMW again

IMMOKALEE: The search for missing 6-year-old Adji Desir will be profiled on America's Most Wanted a week from now.

Desir has been missing from the Immokalee area since January 11th.

Deputies, other law enforcement and volunteers conducted several full-scale searches of the area, but found no sign of the missing boy.

A crew from Americas Most Wanted spent three hours Friday talking to investigators and Desir's family.

The story is expected to run February 28th as part of an 8-minute piece about missing children across the country.

Desir will be among the five or six kids profiled.

The missing boy's case was also featured on AMW on January 17th.

Investigators have followed more than 300 leads, but still have no suspect or evidence in the case.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=26260&z=3

Faith

02-21-2009, 12:04 AM

Last updated on: 2/20/2009 6:26:02 PM

Video

2.com/Video/RSSplayer.shtml?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=3470303

IMMOKALEE: The search for missing 6-year-old Adji Desir will be profiled on America's Most Wanted a week from now.

Desir has been missing from the Immokalee area since January 11th.

"Having this national exposure is what we've been working for," said Lieutenant Tom Smith of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. "This is a big deal for us and the investigation."

Deputies, other law enforcement and volunteers conducted several full-scale searches of the area, but found no sign of the missing boy.

A crew from Americas Most Wanted spent three hours Friday talking to investigators and Desir's family.

The story is expected to run February 28th as part of an 8-minute piece about missing children across the country.

Desir will be among the five or six kids profiled.

The missing boy's case was also featured on AMW on January 17th.

"The department has done everything they can and they came to us saying, ‘Look, we need more tips and maybe he has left Collier County,’" said Cindy Anderson, a producer with America’s Most Wanted.

Family members of the six-year-old say they hope the show can help bring an end to their sleepless nights.

"The people know something, but they don't want to talk. I don't know why," said Adji’s stepfather Antal Elant.

It will be the first major mention of Adji on America's Most Wanted. But investigators say aren't surprised by the somewhat limited national exposure because they simply don't have any evidence or suspects.

"In some of these other national cases, there are little tidbits that have a little more interest," said Smith.

Investigators have followed more than 300 leads, but still have no suspect or evidence in the case. But they are not giving up. A task force is still based in Immokalee and deputies are working the case every day.

"It won’t become a cold case. We will always work this case," said Smith.

Still, they hope the national spotlight turns up the one lead that will lead them to Adji.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=26260&z=3

Faith

02-21-2009, 12:10 AM

Adji's story gaining more national attention

By Nicole Papageorge, WINK News

Story Created: Feb 20, 2009 at 6:44 PM EST

Story Updated: Feb 20, 2009 at 9:13 PM EST

IMMOKALEE, Fla. - The case of missing 6-year-old Adji Desir is getting more national exposure. On Friday, a crew from 'America's Most Wanted' filmed at Farm Worker Village.

"National exposure is huge in any case especially missing kids," says America's Most Wanted producer Cindy Anderson. "If it's an abduction they usually leave the area."

The crew retraced Adji's steps, talked with his family and with investigators.

"Typically national exposure on a case is generated by uniqueness," says Lt. Tom Smith from the Collier County Sheriff's Office. "Really, this is a child standing on a street corner who flat disappeared."

The Sheriff's Office has set up a task force at their Immokalee substation consisting of detectives, F.B.I. agents and agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

"On a daily basis we're exploring a lot of different leads but basically we've exhausted the majority of leads with any significance," says Lt. Smith.

That's where 'America's Most Wanted' comes in.

"This is a great opportunity for the community to watch the show and give us some information if they know anything," says Lt. Smith.

Adji's family says they're in constant grief and hopes someone will help.

"Today is one month and 10 days," says Adji's Step-father Antal Enent. "His mom don't sleep and his family is always crying."

But, maybe national attention will bring the happy ending everyone is hoping for.

The story about Adji will air February 28th during a segment about missing children around the nation.

http://www.winknews.com/news/local/39999072.html

foxfarmboxers

02-21-2009, 12:18 AM

My thoughts and prayers continue for sweet little Adji and his family.

sarahhod

02-21-2009, 07:57 AM

America's Most Wanted to profile missing Immokalee boy

Originally published 5:45 p.m., Friday, February 20, 2009
Updated 5:45 p.m., Friday, February 20, 2009
http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/13/090112NS-DesirAdji_t220.jpg (http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/2009/jan/13/89732/) Adji Dsir

SEARCH FOR ADJI DESIR

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/13/090112NS-DesirAdji_t176.jpg
Adji Desir has been missing from Immokalee since Saturday evening, Jan. 10, 2009.

The case of Adji Desir, the Immokalee boy who vanished from his grandmother’s Farm Worker Village home on Jan. 10, is slated to get some much-needed national attention.
On Friday a crew from America’s Most Wanted made the rounds in Immokalee, talking with the family of the developmentally disabled six-year-old and Collier County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Tom Smith of the Special Crimes Bureau for a segment scheduled to air on Feb. 28.
Adji’s disappearance was initially profiled on the show on Jan. 17.
“We take a local story and make it national,” said America’s Most Wanted producer Cindy Anderson. “We’re just hopeful that this little boy can be found. My heart goes out to that mother and grandmother.”
But the follow-up visit by America’s Most Wanted also sparked rumors that the multi-agency task force searching for Adji would be disbanded in two weeks.
According to Collier County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Kristy Lester, that story was not true.
“The task force is not being disbanded at this time,” Lester said.
Headed by the Collier County Sheriff’s office, the multi-agency task force includes agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Department of Children and Families (DCF).
“We are going to continue to follow whatever leads come our way,” said Lester.
According to Sheriff’s officials, although the ground search for Adji was called off a few weeks ago, the investigation into his disappearance continued and spread through both of South Florida’s coasts soon after he went missing.
However, as is the case with most missing children’s cases, the search has to expand.
“Getting the information out on a wide scale, be it state, nationally or globally is critical,” said Special agent Dave Couvertier, spokesman for the FBI’s Tampa field office, which covers Collier County. “We’ve had situations like that, where we’ve recovered children in other parts of the United States and even other countries.”
Couvertier said the involvement of nonprofit groups and shows like America’s Most Wanted helps immensely.
“All we want is the information,” said Couvertier. “All we want to do, is bring Adji home.”
Anderson said she hopes that someone will see the segment and call in the tip that breaks the case wide open.
“You never know who is watching,” said Anderson adding that depending on the case, the show gets thousands of tips following a broadcast. “All we need is one good tip to find this boy.”
A $23,000 Crime Stoppers reward, a $10,000 FBI reward and $5,500 community collected reward are being offered for information leading to the whereabouts of Adji.
Anyone with information about Adji’s whereabouts can call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at 239-793-9300, or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).
For more information about the search for Adji Desir visit the Collier County Sheriff’s Web site at www.colliersheriff.org (http://www.colliersheriff.org) or visit the America’s Most Wanted’s Web site at www.amw.com (http://www.amw.com).

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/feb/20/americas-most-wanted-profile-missing-immokalee-boy/

sarahhod

02-21-2009, 07:58 AM

Adji's story gaining more national attention

By Nicole Papageorge, WINK News

Story Created: Feb 20, 2009 at 6:44 PM EST
Story Updated: Feb 20, 2009 at 9:13 PM EST

IMMOKALEE, Fla. - The case of missing 6-year-old Adji Desir is getting more national exposure. On Friday, a crew from 'America's Most Wanted' filmed at Farm Worker Village.

"National exposure is huge in any case especially missing kids," says America's Most Wanted producer Cindy Anderson. "If it's an abduction they usually leave the area."

The crew retraced Adji's steps, talked with his family and with investigators.

"Typically national exposure on a case is generated by uniqueness," says Lt. Tom Smith from the Collier County Sheriff's Office. "Really, this is a child standing on a street corner who flat disappeared."

The Sheriff's Office has set up a task force at their Immokalee substation consisting of detectives, F.B.I. agents and agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

"On a daily basis we're exploring a lot of different leads but basically we've exhausted the majority of leads with any significance," says Lt. Smith.

That's where 'America's Most Wanted' comes in.

"This is a great opportunity for the community to watch the show and give us some information if they know anything," says Lt. Smith.

Adji's family says they're in constant grief and hopes someone will help.

"Today is one month and 10 days," says Adji's Step-father Antal Enent. "His mom don't sleep and his family is always crying."

But, maybe national attention will bring the happy ending everyone is hoping for.

The story about Adji will air February 28th during a segment about missing children around the nation.

http://www.winknews.com/news/local/39999072.html

Faith

02-22-2009, 02:00 PM

Thinking of this precious child today. :1222423:

Amusedtdth

02-25-2009, 10:27 AM

Hoping today is the day Adji is found safe.

nanabillie

02-28-2009, 03:50 AM

This little fellow just stays with me. Just as a few others. He just looks so innocent, and a little afraid. The picture of his grandmother just breaks my heart, too. I pray they find this little one soon.

Roamer

02-28-2009, 08:11 AM

I'm very scared for this little boy. :frown:

TigressPen

02-28-2009, 09:30 AM

I pray the AMW show brings new leads to this case. How terrific it would be for Adji to be located because someone watched the show and remembered seeing him and where.

LiveLaughLuv

02-28-2009, 10:32 AM

I too continue to pray for Adji's safe return to his family. Children do not just simply vanish....what a heartache to live this day after day, not knowing where this precious child is.

Hoping for AMW's episode to bring in some new leads for Adji, he needs to be found and brought back home.....:1187603408.CR.Mothe

Faith

02-28-2009, 08:08 PM

Prayers for precious Adji :1222423:

I can't imagine a family going thru this. God please hold them close. :innocent0001:

packy

02-28-2009, 08:21 PM

The AMW segment may bring new clues, and if someone has him they will do the right thing and bring him back. My prayers for Adji's safe return.

Faith

02-28-2009, 10:15 PM

AMW is talking about Adji now. I hope this will bring him home safe.

packy

03-04-2009, 09:53 PM

I was hoping the reward would bring some news about Adji soon.

Aubrey

03-04-2009, 10:04 PM

On Nancy Grace they're saying that since AMW segment that new leads/tips are coming in. They think Adji was snatched within a 15 minute window.

I pray this sweet little boy is found.

LiveLaughLuv

03-05-2009, 02:33 PM

On Nancy Grace they're saying that since AMW segment that new leads/tips are coming in. They think Adji was snatched within a 15 minute window.

I pray this sweet little boy is found.

Oh I hope so.

Now we have two childen who seemed to have just vanished into thin air...

Faith

03-17-2009, 01:08 AM

Thinking of Adji :1222423:

Harmony

03-17-2009, 01:42 AM

Thinking of Adji :1222423:

I am too.... this case haunts me. :sad0119:

Roamer

03-23-2009, 06:52 AM

I'm very disappointed that this case has fallen out of the news. This little guy needs to be brought home. :frown:

LiveLaughLuv

03-23-2009, 07:59 AM

I agree Roamer. I don't know why this family isn't making a fuss.

Where did this child go?

Children do not just vanish.

Where is Adji!

Battnt

03-24-2009, 12:15 AM

I looked all over today, and couldnt find any kind of update at all for Adji...It just breaks my heart...:cray:

:1222423:

Battnt

03-25-2009, 01:33 PM

I emailed Nancy Grace today to see if she would give a Adji a few minutes on her show, since she has featured him before...It cant hurt to try...

Keeping little Adji, and his family in my prayers...:innocent0001:

Roamer

03-25-2009, 01:36 PM

Great idea, Batty. Even though I don't like her, she has lots of viewers.

Battnt

03-25-2009, 01:44 PM

If these darn news stations would put one missing person each day on their shows, they could sure reach a lot of people...Just give a few minutes, ya know?...:missing:

Pauli

03-25-2009, 01:47 PM

packy

03-25-2009, 02:21 PM

Hope she does, Batt. Good idea to try again and keep his story out there. Can't seem to find any updates about his case, so sad.

Battnt

03-25-2009, 02:32 PM

I know a week or so ago Missing Without A Trace had Adji on... They usually do a 30 sec or so add featuring one missing person a week... It wouldn't hurt NG and JVM to do the same thing every night.. one person for a 30 second add..

It sure wouldnt Pauli!...We all know here how much 30 seconds could mean to a missing person...

Hope she does, Batt. Good idea to try again and keep his story out there. Can't seem to find any updates about his case, so sad.

I looked too and couldnt find anything Packy...:sad0119:

Claycat

03-25-2009, 09:32 PM

More coverage is needed for ALL the missing! Definitely!

Faith

03-28-2009, 07:55 PM

Yes they do CC, it's very said how the nightly shows can talk about one child for the hour.

sarahhod

03-29-2009, 01:28 PM

New search for Adji

By WINK News

Story Created: Mar 29, 2009 at 11:58 AM EDT
Story Updated: Mar 29, 2009 at 11:58 AM EDT

IMMOKALEE, Fla. - WINK News has learned the Collier County Sheriff's Office conducted a new search for missing six year old Adji Desir.

On Saturday Sheriff's Deputies did a low-key search in areas of Immokalee for the missing child.

Adji was last seen on January 10th leaving his home to go outside and play. The boy has not been seen since.

http://www.winknews.com/news/local/42080142.html

sunstar

03-29-2009, 02:30 PM

Yes they do CC, it's very said how the nightly shows can talk about one child for the hour.

I too wish NG would talk more about Adji, instead of repeating so much of the same information over & over about "another case" which has now been solved. I've been thinking about him and it's now going on almost 3 months since he went missing. I really believe if his case had gotten more attention there's a chance he'd be found by now. :1187603408.CR.Mothe I'm happy to read though that LE hasn't given up!

Faith

03-30-2009, 05:44 PM

Claycat

03-30-2009, 08:18 PM

emmeblu

03-30-2009, 09:09 PM

I'm glad to know they are still searching.

I wish the popularity of a case didn't depend on the missing person being a little blond girl. I wish all children were equally valued by the media, no matter the color or the gender.

(And I was a little blond girl.)

I Totally Agree Claycat.

Adji Desir

http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh57/hummer1253/BearWthPnkFlwrsPraying4U1.gif

sunstar

03-30-2009, 10:23 PM

I'm glad to know they are still searching.

I wish the popularity of a case didn't depend on the missing person being a little blond girl. I wish all children were equally valued by the media, no matter the color or the gender.

(And I was a little blond girl.)

I so agree, Claycat! :girl_sad: It seems Nancy Grace does try to cover other cases, but not as indepth if they don't look like Caylee or Haleigh.

Faith

03-31-2009, 12:10 PM

Praying for Adji. http://helpfindthemissing.org/forum/images/smilies/1222423.gif

5boxersmom

04-01-2009, 02:45 PM

I think of Adji and search for news of him everyday. :1222423:

para-dice

04-02-2009, 07:45 PM

I so agree, Claycat! :girl_sad: It seems Nancy Grace does try to cover other cases, but not as indepth if they don't look like Caylee or Haleigh.

The family of Caylee and Haleigh being screwballs keeps their cases out there. It's like if missing kids with normal families go missing, nothing happens but a blurb.

packy

04-02-2009, 08:00 PM

Welcome, Para-dice.

It does seem that way. Adji is hardly mentioned. And we look for updates and hardly find a thing.

What is a low-key search?

emmeblu

04-02-2009, 08:18 PM

I did another search earlier today on Adji and can find nothing new.
What gives with that?
I sure hope that LE is still working this case!
Wonder why they do not feel the need to keep the public updated? All they (LE) have to do is put a notice in the paper to say, no updates and no new leads. Let them plea for the help of the public, anything but keep the child's picture in the forefront. Does not make sense to me.

:1222423:Adji, where are you?

Amusedtdth

04-03-2009, 03:21 PM

I can't believe this precious little boy is still out there somewhere. God be with him and his family.

sarahhod

04-04-2009, 05:38 PM

Three months later, the question remains: What happened to Adji?

By ELYSA BATISTA (http://www.naplesnews.com/staff/elysa_batista/) (Contact (http://www.naplesnews.com/staff/elysa_batista/contact/))
Originally published 1:39 p.m., Saturday, April 4, 2009
Updated 1:39 p.m., Saturday, April 4, 2009

SEARCH FOR ADJI DESIR

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/13/090112NS-DesirAdji_t176.jpg
Adji Desir has been missing from Immokalee since Saturday evening, Jan. 10, 2009.

INTERACTIVE MAP: Help edit map and add your suggestions to the search for Adji Desir (http://www.naplesnews.com/thesearchforadji/)
INTERACTIVE TIMELINE: Timeline of events of the search for Adji Desir (http://www.naplesnews.com/adjitimeline/)
VIDEO: RAW VIDEO: Officials search water for Adji (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/raw-video-officials-search-water-adji/)
VIDEO: Interview with Adji Desir's parents (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/interview-adji-desirs-parents/)
VIDEO: CCSO gives update about Adji search (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/ccso-speaks-about-search-adji-desir-1-15-2009/)
VIDEO: CCSO's morning update on Adji (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/ccsos-morning-update-adji/)
VIDEO: CCSO Search Update: Adji Desir (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/ccsos-adji-desir-search-update-1-13-2009/)
VIDEO: Search for Adji Desir Continues (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/search-adji-desir/)
PHOTO GALLERY: Day 6: Officials search waters of Lake Traffor (http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2009/jan/16/day-6-officials-search-waters-lake-trafford-adji-d/)
PHOTO GALLERY: Day 4: Search for Adji Desir continues (http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2009/jan/13/search-six-year-old-adji-desir-continues-1-13-09/)
PHOTO GALLERY: Day 3: Search for Adji Desir continues (http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2009/jan/12/day-3-search-adji-desir-continues/)
PHOTO GALLERY: Day 2: Search for 6-year-old Adji Desir (http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2009/jan/11/search-continues-6-year-old-immokalee/)
AUDIO: Kevin Rambosk gives update about missing child (.mp3) (http://web.naplesnews.com/media/audio/2009/01/rambosch01-14-09.mp3)
AUDIO: Jamie Mosbach with the Collier County Sheriff's Office gives an update on the search for Adji Desir (.mp3) (http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/static/jamie_mosbach_01-14-09_0930.mp3)
AUDIO: Lt. Smith with the Collier County Sheriff's Office on the search for Adji Desir (.mp3) (http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/static/smith_01-14-09_940.mp3)
AUDIO: Karie Partington talks about how people can help distribute flyers (.wma) (http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/static/Carrie_update_11-12-09_1_pm.WMA)
AUDIO: Karie Partington talks about expanding search area (.wma) (http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/static/Carrie_update_11-12-09_noon.WMA)
AUDIO: Kevin Rambosk holds press conference about missing child (.wma) (http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/static/Rambosk_press_conference_01-12-09.WMA)
DOCUMENT: Read transcript of Daily News editor discussing Adji’s disappearance on CNN Tuesday night (http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/jan/13/daily-news-editor-discuss-adjis-disappearance-cnn-/)
DOCUMENT: Read transcript of Collier Sheriff's Office discussing missing child case on CNN Monday night (http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/static/SHOW_TRANSCRIPTION.pdf)
POLL: Do you have an identification kit for your child? (http://www.naplesnews.com/polls/2009/jan/child-idkit/)
STORIES: Read stories about the search for 6-year-old Adji Desir (http://www.naplesnews.com/search/?q=%22Adji%20Desir%22&t=news&f=stories&s=stories_ellington&p=1&sortby=date)
COMPLETE COVERAGE: Special section about the search for Adji Desir (http://www.naplesnews.com/news/adjidesir/)

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/02/20/090220NS-Adjiupdate_t220.jpg (http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/2009/feb/20/94037/) Marie Nadia, Adji's mother, speaks to the crew from "America's Most Wanted."

Photo Gallery

Day 3: Search for Adji Desir continues

A search continued Monday, Jan. 12, 2009 in Immokalee for missing six-year-old Adji Desir. Desir has been missing since Saturday evening.
http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/12/090112NS-da-KIDMISS835__t176.jpg (http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2009/jan/12/day-3-search-adji-desir-continues/62457)

Photo Gallery

Day 4: Search for Adji Desir continues

Hundreds of volunteers continue to distribute thousands of fliers as area emergency workers expanded their search Tuesday, Jan. 13, to an eight mile radius for six-year-old Adji Desir. Desir disappeared from his Farm Worker Village home on Saturday night.
http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/13/SearchAdji003_t176.JPG (http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2009/jan/13/search-six-year-old-adji-desir-continues-1-13-09/62435)

Related Documents

Lt. Smith with the Collier County Sheriff's Office on the search for Adji Desir (.mp3) (http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/static/smith_01-14-09_940.mp3)

Video

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/videothumbs/2009/01/16/interview_adji_desirs_parents_1_t176.jpg (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/interview-adji-desirs-parents)
Adji Desir's mother Marie Neida and his stepfather Antal Elant talk to the media about the search for their missing 6-year-old son. Watch » (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/interview-adji-desirs-parents)

http://web.naplesnews.com/static/images/npdn/nav/related_link.gifRelated Links

Link to Interactive Map: The Search for Adji (http://www.naplesnews.com/thesearchforadji/)
Link to The Search for Adji: Interactive Timeline (http://www.naplesnews.com/adjitimeline/)
The Search for Adji Desir: Special Section (http://www.naplesnews.com/adjidesir)

IMMOKALEE — For Marie Neida, the horror of her son going missing continues to dominate every facet of her life.
“I pray to God for my son to come back home,” Neida said Friday.
It’s been about three months since 6-year-old Adji Desir disappeared from outside his grandmother’s house at Farm Workers Village in Immokalee.
Since then, Neida and her family members have tried to continue with their daily lives, while passing out fliers with her son’s information and keeping in touch with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office for updates on the case.
“My family is so-so,” Neida, 36, said in a sad voice. “I’m so-so.”
The situation has taken an emotional and psychological toll on the family, but especially on Neida and Adji’s grandmother, Jesula Thebaud, 55, said Neida’s husband, Antal Elant, 42.
“They don’t sleep at night,” Elant said. “Nobody sleeps.”
Elant said the family prays daily for the safe return of Adji.
“We pray to God for Adji every night,” Elant said. “Everybody wants Adji to come back home.”
As for the outpouring of support from community members, Elant and Neida said they are grateful for everyone’s efforts.
Elant said that above all else, people should keep looking for his stepson.
“I don’t want anyone to give up,” Elant said. “We need help very much.”
Although 12 weeks have gone by, hope that the mentally disabled boy could be found remains in the community.
“It’s good to know that the fliers are still out there and that people are still looking for him,” said Sgt. Ken Becker with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office Special Crimes Bureau.
Even three months later, local and statewide businesses have kept the missing-child fliers with Adji’s information posted.
“I am glad to see that,” Becker said.
Becker admitted that after the initial rush of tips back in January, the flow of information has slowed down a bit.
However, that doesn’t mean that the multi-agency task force has stopped working the case. The task force is headed by the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and includes agents from the FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).
“Over the last 12 weeks, we have done a number of follow-up investigations,” Becker said.
The department received between 400 and 500 tips related to the disappearance of the developmentally disabled 6-year-old.
And it’s community tipsters that could ultimately make the difference, he said.
“A case like this is going to depend on somebody that has seen something or has information that will help us find Adji,” Becker said. “If you’ve got any information, no matter how small, contact us so we can follow up. It could be a key component to solve this case.”
He added that on a case like Adji’s, because time has passed, the tips aren’t concentrated in Collier County anymore.
That’s where help from the FBI, FDLE and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children comes in, Becker said.
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children president Ernie Allen agreed.
“Time dramatically expands the boundaries,” Allen said.
It’s one of the reasons the center has been adamant about getting Adji’s story to national media, he said.
“We’re trying to use media to keep awareness big,” Allen said. “So we can generate the new leads we need to break this case loose.”
He said Adji’s information also had been sent to law enforcement agencies around the world.
“Obviously the primary focus initially was the rapid response, the search and rescue,” Allen said.
At this point, Allen said the investigation had changed and become a more traditional criminal investigation.
“Now our focus is to keep the level of awareness of Adji as high as possible, so we can generate leads,” Allen said. “Somebody out there knows what happened to Adji.”
Allen said one of the key messages that the group wants to send is that, just because it has been three months, it doesn’t mean the world can forget.
“Adji is still out there,” Allen said.
As for whoever has her son, Neida has a simple request — take care of Adji and return him safely home.
“I want my son back,” she said. “If someone sees Adji, call the police right away.”
A $23,500 Crime Stoppers reward, a $10,000 FBI reward and $5,500 community-collected reward are being offered for information leading to the whereabouts of Adji.
* * * * *
Anyone with information about Adji’s whereabouts can call the Collier County Sheriff’s Office at (239) 793-9300, or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477).
* * * * *
For more information about the search for Adji Desir visit the Collier County Sheriff’s Web site at www.colliersheriff.org (http://www.colliersheriff.org) or visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s Web site at www.missingkids.com (http://www.missingkids.com).

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/apr/04/three-months-later-question-remains-what-happened-/

Roamer

04-04-2009, 06:00 PM

It's so hard to believe this little boy still hasn't been found. :1187603408.CR.Mothe

LiveLaughLuv

04-04-2009, 06:15 PM

I know Roamer, sad. :cray:

I fear this child is will join those like Trenton Duckett or Madeline McCann and others who have never been found.

It really saddens my heart that another human being can be so cruel and just take a child from the family he loves and who love them. I just can't understand the malignent, diabolical thinking of a predator.

For Adji :1222423:

sunstar

04-05-2009, 09:48 PM

The family of Caylee and Haleigh being screwballs keeps their cases out there. It's like if missing kids with normal families go missing, nothing happens but a blurb.

Welcome! I really think it's time for her to move on from Caylee's case now and focus more on children like Adji who hardly have anything in the news about them. It's the media who can keep people aware Adji is still missing! :1187603408.CR.Mothe

Faith

04-06-2009, 10:01 AM

Praying for Adji today. :1222423:

Battnt

04-07-2009, 12:01 PM

Praying for Adji today. :1222423:

Adding my prayers to yours Faith....:1222423:

emmeblu

04-07-2009, 05:42 PM

Faith

04-07-2009, 11:45 PM

I put Adji on my google alerts and it boggles my mind that no updates ever come in. If I get a notice, it is coming from a message board where posters are discussing this case but not from local news. :frown:

It is so sad when some children like little Adji just fall in the cracks.

Where is the 24/7 cable channel that runs pictures and stories of the missing?
I've never understood why with TV technology this feature is not available.

Prayers that Adji will be found.:1222423:

He's on mine too and --nothing, no news at all. :1187603408.CR.Mothe

NG could give this baby 5 minutes, just 5 minutes may jog someone's memory.

Faith

04-13-2009, 06:48 PM

Despite being stabbed in the eye, retring Collier Lt. didn't lose sight on career

By RYAN MILLS (Contact)
Originally published 5:22 p.m., Monday, April 13, 2009
Updated 5:22 p.m., Monday, April 13, 2009

The deputies drew their weapons and aimed up at a tree.

It was Oct. 3, 1977, Tom Smith’s first day as a Collier County sheriff’s deputy, and he was dispatched to a fatal car wreck near the intersection of U.S. 41 East and County Road 92, near Goodland.

Standing at the intersection his colleagues and a Florida Highway Patrol trooper spotted a spider in a tree.

“The trooper and deputies started shooting at the spider in the tree to see who could shoot the spider out of the tree,” he recalled. “It was just a totally different world.”

For more than 31 years Smith, has been part of that world, growing with the Sheriff’s Office and helping it develop from a small-town police force where deputies shot at spiders in trees for fun, to the thoroughly modern and nationally-recognized law enforcement agency it is today.

During his three decade career, Smith became an expert in missing children cases, chasing kidnapped children around the globe. In January he served as the incident commander in the search for 6-year-old Adji Desir, who disappeared in Immokalee.

On March 31, Smith hung up the old holster for the last time, retiring after 31 years and six months.

“I just felt I’m at the right age to still be valuable and do something different,” said Smith, 55.

Smith’s law enforcement career began in 1972 when he skipped out of the college plans his parents had arranged. Instead, Smith, who is from New York, joined the U.S. Air Force on the guarantee that he could be a military police officer.

After his military service was over, Smith joined the Sebring Police Department for a year before heading south to Collier County. He was hired the day he applied.

“I thought I was a hot shot,” Smith said. “I made $12,000 in my first year here, which was more than the chief of police in the department I just left.”

In 1981, after four years on the road, Smith was promoted to work with the agency’s Criminal Investigations Division. But the promotion almost didn’t happened.

On an evening that June, Smith was returning from work and a trip to the gym when he noticed the dome light of his roommate’s car was on. As he approached the car with his gun in his waistband, he saw someone inside attempting to hot-wire the vehicle.

“As soon as I said ‘Sheriff’s Office, show me your hands,’ he kicked the door,” Smith said. “The door popped open and it knocked me off the ground. He grabbed my shirt and it was bang, bang and I was down.”

The 17-year-old car burglar stabbed Smith in the face with a knife. The blade entered on the left side of his nose, punctured his right eye socket and severed the optic nerve, leaving him blind in that eye.

Smith was offered a settlement and medical retirement, but what he really wanted was to continue his career. At the time, Smith said, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement required that officers have 20-20 vision in both eyes.

Then-Sheriff Aubrey Rogers fought to have the rule changed, and it was, Smith said.

To this day Smith carries a newspaper clipping in his wallet with the headline “Welcome Back, Deputy Smith.” He was the first Collier deputy awarded the Purple Heart and the agency’s Meritorious Service Ribbon.

“He is a tough guy, but he doesn’t come over that way,” said former Undersheriff Bob Burhans, 83, who was Smith’s mentor. “He’s very calm. I kind of hesitate to use the word ‘smooth,’ but he’s not a rough character in any respect.”

The teen was sentenced to five years in prison, though Smith has never checked on his whereabouts.

“I had to make a decision,” he said. “My decision was, I was going to make something of my career and let that go.”

When Smith joined the Criminal Investigations Division, he didn’t feel that missing persons cases and crimes against women and children were getting enough attention. He made them his specialty.

For about a decade Smith specialized in tracking down missing children, traveling the county and sometimes internationally.

In Ontario, he introduced a young boy to the mother he didn’t know existed.

In the 1986, a group of men kidnapped 9-year-old Amanda Mueller from the Community School of Naples and held her for a $1.5 million ransom. Smith’s team found her alive days later buried in a cardboard box in a patch of woods south of Davis Boulevard.

“I’ve had some cases that have been cool as all heck,” Smith said.

Smith became a nationally-recognized expert on missing children cases, and was part of a team that created an investigators guide on the subject for the Department of Justice.

After his election in 1988, then-Sheriff Don Hunter promoted Smith to lieutenant of the Bureau of Forensics and Technical Services, where he served for two years. He then served two years as the lieutenant of the Vice and Narcotics Bureau and 10 years as the agency’s strategic planner before returning to the Criminal Investigations Division where he finished his career overseeing the Special Crimes Bureau.

“I respected his work, and believe he served the people of Collier County in an excellent fashion,” Hunter said. “He can be very proud of his career, and his sons should be very proud of their father’s accomplishments.”

Smith does not plan to remain idle in his retirement, frittering away his days.

He plans to continue working with the Collier County Children’s Advocacy Center, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and with his own consulting firm. Smith, who started the Sheriff’s Office’s honor guard in the late 1970s and has been the agency’s “official unofficial” historian for years, is also starting a Collier County Sheriff’s Office Alumni Association.

“He’ll do well in anything he does,” Burhans said. “He’d be great in a medium-sized agency as the chief.”

Smith said he’s confident that the Sheriff’s Office is heading in the right direction under Sheriff Kevin Rambosk. However, leaving his colleagues behind was difficult.

“I’ve been beaten. I’ve been stabbed. I’ve been shot at,” Smith said, “and your co-workers are there for you every minute.”

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/apr/13/despite-being-stabbed-eye-retring-collier-sheriffs/

gabby

04-13-2009, 07:53 PM

I put Adji on my google alerts and it boggles my mind that no updates ever come in. If I get a notice, it is coming from a message board where posters are discussing this case but not from local news. :frown:

It is so sad when some children like little Adji just fall in the cracks.

Where is the 24/7 cable channel that runs pictures and stories of the missing?
I've never understood why with TV technology this feature is not available.

Prayers that Adji will be found.:1222423:

Me too! There are plenty of informercials/paid programming.......I wish a philanthropist would pay for some programming and make missing people's stories visible for people who may not always get the information. JMO

Reality tv and crime shows seem to be abundant. I've often wondered why no one formats one of those type of shows to help find missing people. IMO

Jute

04-14-2009, 04:45 AM

Adji's disappearance is one of the saddest I've ever heard of. What has happened to this sweet, vulnerable little boy? :1187603408.CR.Mothe

Faith

04-15-2009, 03:08 PM

Nationally known psychic to search for missing 6-year-old Adji

By ELYSA BATISTA (Contact)
Originally published 1:09 p.m., Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Updated 2:03 p.m., Wednesday, April 15, 2009

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/01/13/090112NS-DesirAdji_t176.jpg

A nationally known psychic is heading to Southwest Florida to do her part in the search for Adji Desir.

Psychic Gale St. John is slated to arrive in Immokalee tonight and will start searching Thursday for 6-year-old Adji, who has been missing since Jan. 10.

In an interview today, St. John said she would be arriving at Orlando International Airport this afternoon and then drive down to Immokalee.

"Everything is taken care of," said St. John before catching her flight to Florida. "We got a place to stay. I will be in tonight around 9 p.m."

However St. John, who is traveling with her daughter Tamara, said she has not reached out to Adji’s family.

"We don’t seek out the family to bother them," she said, adding that she respects the family’s privacy, but that they should feel free to contact her.

St. John has appeared on Geraldo Rivera's 'At Large', Larry King Live, CNN's 'Nancy Grace' and Psychic Detectives, (Court TV ). St. John claimed to have located Caylee Anthony's body months before authorities did.

St. John will remain in Immokalee through Sunday, when she is scheduled to travel to the Satsuma area to search for 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings, who has been missing since Feb. 10.

She will also be Twittering through the whole experience.

St. John will remain in Satsuma through April 23, 2009, before heading back to her home in Ohio.

In a written statement, Debra Brink said St. John would conduct a ‘blind-drive’ for each case. In essence, a ‘blind drive’ is when St. John starts driving from the last point where a person was seen and uses her gift to lead her in the right direction. Once the drive is done, she will do a thorough physical search of each area.

For more information on the search visit www.naplesnews.com.

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2009/apr/15/nationally-known-psychic-search-adji/

Faith

04-15-2009, 03:09 PM

At least this is bringing Adji some media time.

Harmony

04-16-2009, 01:51 AM

The article about Gale St. John mentions she will be twittering about her search. Would we be able to read it? I am not familiar with how twitter works.

Faith

04-16-2009, 02:05 AM

The article about Gale St. John mentions she will be twittering about her search. Would we be able to read it? I am not familiar with how twitter works.

HFTM has twitter so yeah, we can follow her. http://twitter.com/galestjohn

The only thing she has posted is: She's live now: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/missing-persons-on-the-psychic-view

We are http://twitter.com/HFTMissing

Harmony

04-16-2009, 11:24 AM

HFTM has twitter so yeah, we can follow her. http://twitter.com/galestjohn

The only thing she has posted is: She's live now: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/missing-persons-on-the-psychic-view

We are http://twitter.com/HFTMissing

Thank you!! :friends3:

Faith

04-16-2009, 05:07 PM

Gail is there now. Different Twitter account.

http://twitter.com/psychicgale

Battnt

04-16-2009, 07:01 PM

This is GREAT news!...At least someone's searching!...

FWIW, I emailed all the major news stations asking them to please give Adji, and other missing kids just 30 seconds of air time...It probably wont help, but figured it sure couldnt hurt...

Praying for you to be found Adji...:1222423:

Faith

04-16-2009, 09:33 PM

sarahhod

04-17-2009, 06:27 AM

Originally posted on: Thursday, April 16, 2009 by Adam Freeman
Last updated on: 4/16/2009 6:25:01 PM

Psychic searching for missing boy

COLLIER COUNTY: The search for a missing Immokalee boy gets help from an unlikely source - a person who claims to use psychic powers to find missing people.
Gale St. John says she’s helped track down dozens of people over her 30 year career. Now, she will use her mind to try solving this mystery.
"I’m not here for the media. I’m not here to create a circus. I’m here to find Adji," she said
The nationally-known psychic will spend four days in Immokalee, looking for Adji Desir - the 6-year-old boy who hasn’t been seen since January.
"The only thing I’ll ever guarantee to anyone is that I will come out here, I will do my best," St. John said.
Armed with only her daughter and a rental car, St. John says she follows people’s vibrations to locate where they last were.
"Like a tracking dog. Does it stop right here? Do I lose him? Is that because a car picked him up?" she explained.
St. John’s approach includes two things.
First, she goes on a "blind drive." She says that is where she starts where Adji was last seen, gets in the car, and then uses her abilities to lead her in the right direction.
The second part will be a ground search in Farmworker Village.
"I will follow whatever feelings I get. If I’m willing to say it might be there, or something is there, I’m willing to go in and look," St. John said.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is in contact with St. John about her visit.
"At this point, we absolutely will listen to everyone and we’ll sort out the information we get. There’s nothing we won’t do to further this case," said Sheriff Kevin Rambosk.
By Sunday, St. John hopes to give investigators an area to focus on.
"I’m not asking them to believe anything we say. I’m just asking them to check," she said.
She says she's just hoping her psychic skills will help end the search.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=28405&z=3

sarahhod

04-17-2009, 06:28 AM

This is simply wonderful news.

Faith

04-17-2009, 11:56 AM

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll116/helpfindthemissing/HFTM/adjiandhaleigh.jpg

Some videos here

http://blip.tv/file/1994854

Faith

04-17-2009, 12:00 PM

http://www.findadji.com/

http://psychicgalestjohn.com/

Faith

04-17-2009, 12:02 PM

This isn't updated but here are the forum links.

http://www.briansprediction.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=219

Battnt

04-17-2009, 12:13 PM

God bless Gayle...I will be sayin lots of prayers that she find Adji and Haleigh...:innocent0001::innocent0001:

Faith

04-17-2009, 02:01 PM

At the very least Adji is getting media attention. Very little but still.

Faith

04-18-2009, 09:18 AM

Sorry for no updates. But sending video and pics to @briansdreams for broadcast tonight.about 14 hours ago from mobile web

http://twitter.com/psychicgale

Faith

04-18-2009, 09:28 AM

4/18/09

psychicgaleOn our way back to Immok. Sorry no broadcast last night. Will update tonight though1 minute ago from mobile web

Faith

04-18-2009, 10:19 AM

Searching for Adji

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/04/16/090416NS-GK-ADJISEARCH164_t600.jpg
Psychic Gale St. John, left, does a blind drive through Farm Workers Village in Immokalee on April 16, 2009. St. John says a blind drive is to get a sense of the area and find locations that have a possible connection with a missing child. St. John is responding to emails she received asking her help to find Adji Desir, a six year old that went missing from his home in Farm Workers Village more than three months ago. Greg Kahn/Staff

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/04/16/090416NS-GK-ADJISEARCH154_t600.jpg
Psychic Gale St. John searches the brush behind an empty home in Farm Workers Village during her blind drive in Immokalee on April 16, 2009. St. John says a blind drive doesn't involve maps or directions, but it's about feeling. St. John is responding to emails she received asking her help to find Adji Desir, a six-year-old that went missing from his home in Farm Workers Village more than three months ago. Greg Kahn/Staff

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/04/16/090416NS-GK-ADJISEARCH149_t600.jpg
Psychic Gale St. John, left, walks around behind empty homes in Farm Workers Village during her blind drive in Immokalee on April 16, 2009. St. John says a blind drive doesn't involve maps or directions, but it's about feeling. St. John is responding to emails she received asking her help to find Adji Desir, a six-year-old that went missing from his home in Farm Workers Village more than three months ago. Greg Kahn/Staff

Faith

04-18-2009, 10:21 AM

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/04/16/090416NS-GK-ADJISEARCH141_t600.jpg
Psychic Gale St. John, left, peers into the brush behind an empty home in Farm Workers Village during her blind drive in Immokalee on April 16, 2009. St. John says a blind drive doesn't involve maps or directions, but it's about feeling. St. John is responding to emails she received asking her help to find Adji Desir, a six-year-old that went missing from his home in Farm Workers Village more than three months ago. Greg Kahn/Staff

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/04/16/090416NS-GK-ADJISEARCH130_t600.jpg
Psychic Gale St. John, left, peers into a window of an empty home in Farm Workers Village during her blind drive in Immokalee on April 16, 2009. St. John says a blind drive doesn't involve maps or directions, but it's about feeling. St. John is responding to emails she received asking her help to find Adji Desir, a six-year-old that went missing from his home in Farm Workers Village more than three months ago. Greg Kahn/Staff

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/04/16/090416NS-GK-ADJISEARCH121_t600.jpg
Psychic Gale St. John, red car, does a blind drive through Farm Workers Village in Immokalee on April 16, 2009. St. John says a blind drive is to get a sense of the area and find locations that have a possible connection with a missing child. St. John is responding to emails she received asking her help to find Adji Desir, a six year old that went missing from his home in Farm Workers Village more than three months ago. Greg Kahn/Staff

Faith

04-18-2009, 10:22 AM

http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/photos/2009/04/16/090416NS-GK-ADJISEARCH088_t600.jpg
Psychic Gale St. John, left, talks with daughter Tamra, right, about their plans during a blind drive through Farm Workers Village in Immokalee on April 16, 2009. St. John is responding to emails she received asking her help to find Adji Desir, a six-year-old that went missing from his home in Farm Workers Village more than three months ago. Greg Kahn/Staff

http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2009/apr/16/searching-adji/68377/

Faith

04-18-2009, 10:23 AM

Originally posted on: Thursday, April 16, 2009 by Adam Freeman
Last updated on: 4/16/2009 6:25:01 PM

Psychic searching for missing boy

COLLIER COUNTY: The search for a missing Immokalee boy gets help from an unlikely source - a person who claims to use psychic powers to find missing people.

Gale St. John says she’s helped track down dozens of people over her 30 year career. Now, she will use her mind to try solving this mystery.

"I’m not here for the media. I’m not here to create a circus. I’m here to find Adji," she said

The nationally-known psychic will spend four days in Immokalee, looking for Adji Desir - the 6-year-old boy who hasn’t been seen since January.

"The only thing I’ll ever guarantee to anyone is that I will come out here, I will do my best," St. John said.

Armed with only her daughter and a rental car, St. John says she follows people’s vibrations to locate where they last were.

"Like a tracking dog. Does it stop right here? Do I lose him? Is that because a car picked him up?" she explained.

St. John’s approach includes two things.

First, she goes on a "blind drive." She says that is where she starts where Adji was last seen, gets in the car, and then uses her abilities to lead her in the right direction.

The second part will be a ground search in Farmworker Village.

"I will follow whatever feelings I get. If I’m willing to say it might be there, or something is there, I’m willing to go in and look," St. John said.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office is in contact with St. John about her visit.

"At this point, we absolutely will listen to everyone and we’ll sort out the information we get. There’s nothing we won’t do to further this case," said Sheriff Kevin Rambosk.

By Sunday, St. John hopes to give investigators an area to focus on.

"I’m not asking them to believe anything we say. I’m just asking them to check," she said.

She says she's just hoping her psychic skills will help end the search.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=28405&z=3

Faith

04-18-2009, 10:24 AM

Related Articles Investigators search new area for Adji (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=27599&z=3)
Sunday, March 29, 2009Adji on 'Most Wanted' (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=26542&z=3)
Friday, February 27, 2009Adji's disappearance on AMW (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=26260&z=3)
Friday, February 20, 2009Search for Adji continues (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=25759&z=3)
Friday, February 06, 2009Investigators relying on public leads to find Adji (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=25309&z=3)
Saturday, January 24, 2009Religious leaders help search for Adji (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=25299&z=3)
Friday, January 23, 2009Ground search for Adji ends (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=25115&z=3)
Sunday, January 18, 2009Ground search for Adji ends (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=25103&z=3)
Saturday, January 17, 2009Massive push to find Adji (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=25097&z=3)
Saturday, January 17, 2009Reward for info leading to Adji up to $33,000 (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=25023&z=3)
Thursday, January 15, 2009Reward fund set up for Adji search (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=25071&z=3)
Friday, January 16, 2009Volunteers needed in search for Adji (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=25045&z=3)
Thursday, January 15, 2009Adji's mom speaks for the first time (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=24990&z=3)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009Cold a concern in search for missing boy (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=24953&z=3)
Tuesday, January 13, 2009After two days, no sign of missing boy (http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/article.asp?articleid=24909&z=3)
Monday, January 12, 2009

Faith

04-18-2009, 10:26 AM

http://web.naplesnews.com/media/images/2009/adjidesir/adji_lead.jpg

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/adji-desir/

sarahhod

04-18-2009, 07:16 PM

Psychic believes missing Adji may still be in Immokalee area

By TRACY X. MIGUEL (http://www.naplesnews.com/staff/tracy_x_miguel/) (Contact (http://www.naplesnews.com/staff/tracy_x_miguel/contact/))
Originally published 5:38 p.m., Saturday, April 18, 2009
Updated 5:38 p.m., Saturday, April 18, 2009

Nationally known psychic Gale St. John began her search Thursday for Adji Desir, a 6-year-old boy who went missing in Immokalee on January 10, 2009.
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http://ms2.naplesnews.com/npdn/content/img/vthumbs/2009/04/16/090416NS-GK-ADJISEARCH149_t176.png (http://www.naplesnews.com/photos/galleries/2009/apr/16/searching-adji/68371) Psychic searches Immokalee for Adji Watch » (http://www.naplesnews.com/videos/detail/psychic-searches-immokalee-adji)

IMMOKALEE — A nationally known psychic continued her search Saturday for a missing Immokalee boy, suggesting at one point that he still may be in the Immokalee area.
Gale St. John continued to search for 6-year-old Adji Desir, who has been missing from his home in Farm Workers Village since Jan. 10.
“It’s not only about being psychic always, it’s about properly searching the area,” St. John said Saturday.
On day three of her search, St. John, along with her daughter, Tamra, and a Naples volunteer physically searched a wooded area behind the Immokalee housing complex.
“This is just too large for three people to do,” she said. “We want to be so sure that we have covered every square inch of this village.”
She suggested that the area be divided into grid sections and searched again.
“I’m not feeling anything that alerts me to him actually leaving in a state of panic ... which leads me to believe that he may very well be in this area still,” St. John said.
St. John visited the housing complex Thursday and Friday to do what she calls a “blind drive,” to get a sense of the area and find locations that have a possible connection with where Adji was last seen.
She said it led her to the child’s grandmother’s house, a playground and to Buffalo Court, a street on the north side of Farm Workers Village.
St. John said the area of Buffalo Court behind the fence and homes needs to be looked at further, as does a wooded area near Grace Court.
While searching for the missing child, St. John said she got a sense of false security behind Buffalo Court.
She said it was dangerous in the grove area, including alligators, yet she said she wasn’t speculating an actual danger occurred for Adji.
St. John noted that a Collier County Sheriff’s Office search dog had also last tracked Adji at that location, which she said she didn’t know before contacting the investigator.
On Friday afternoon, Collier County sheriff’s officials said if they had a comment about the psychic’s conclusion it would be released Monday.
Earlier this week, the Sheriff’s Office contacted St. John and hadn’t heard from her since, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Kristi Lester said Friday.
Lester said what most likely would happen was that once St. John had come and gone, one of the investigators would contact her to see if further tips could be generated.
St. John will continue searching for Adji in Immokalee through today, when she is scheduled to travel to the Satsuma area of Florida to search for 5-year-old Haleigh Cummings, who has been missing since Feb. 10.
While there, St. John plans to ask volunteers to visit Immokalee and help search for Adji.
St. John said she could do a better search if she had her cadaver dog, but the dog was back home in Ohio.
She would ask volunteers to bring their search dogs.
“It’s a lot of area to cover and I’m sure hoping that someone takes the initiative to go and relook at this area,” St. John said.

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