Ben Stanford, 17... [body found]Nov 5, 2007

[Pauli]

Local Teen Missing; Car Found In Georgia


WVTM-TV
updated 7:45 p.m. CT, Wed., Nov. 7, 2007

Law enforcement in Alabama and Georgia are searching for Ben Stanford, 17, last seen Monday morning near I-20 in Lincoln.


According to family members, Ben weighs 140 pounds and has brown hair and green eyes, and was last seen about 7:30 a.m. Nov. 5.


He was driving a silver 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee at the time, and the family says they know he bought gas before getting on the interstate Monday.


The vehicle may have been seen in Villa Rica, Ga. Ben is the son of Bill and Lynne Stanford, and the grandson of state Sen. Jim Preuitt (D-Talladega).


Bill Stanford said he could not confirm any other information Tuesday evening. Law enforcement in Lincoln and Villa Rica also could not provide any further information.


"We'll know more in the morning," Bill Stanford said Tuesday night.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21672653/

[Pauli]

Ala. Senator's Grandson Missing


Ben Stanford

ANNISTON, Ala. (AP) -- Law enforcement in Alabama and Georgia are searching for the 17-year-old grandson of an Alabama state senator.

Officials say Ben Stanford of Anniston has not been seen since Monday morning. He's the grandson of state Senator Jim Preuitt of Talladega.

Family members say Stanford was driving a 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee and they know he bought gas Monday morning near Interstate 20 in Lincoln.

Stanford is described at 140 pounds with brown hair and green eyes.

Preuitt says he's praying that his grandson is safe.

http://www.11alive.com/news/article_...storyid=106090

[Pauli]

Search continues for Lincoln teen

By Chris Norwood
11-08-2007
Ben Stanford The search for 17-year-old Lincoln resident Ben Stanford continued Tuesday, with little new information Wednesday.

Stanford, a senior at The Donoho School in Anniston, was last seen Monday in Anniston, according to a Missing Child Media Alert issued Tuesday night by the Alabama Department of Public Safety.


Stanford weighs approximately 140 pounds and has brown hair and green eyes. The media alert says he was last seen wearing rust-colored Carhartt jeans and a long-sleeved, fleece, dark gray and purple shirt with a white Polo ball cap. He was driving a silver 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee.


Anyone with information on Stanford’s whereabouts should contact the Alabama Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-228-7688 or the Lincoln Police Department at 205-763-7777.


The vehicle was discovered, abandoned, by Georgia State Troopers in the emergency lane of I-20 East Monday, and was later recovered by the Carroll County, Ga., Sheriff’s Department.


Talladega County District Attorney Steve Giddens, whose office is leading the search for Stanford, confirmed Tuesday that the vehicle had been impounded and was being processed Wednesday evening.


“The search of the vehicle is still not complete,” Giddens said. “It did not appear to have been wrecked, and was still operable. My understanding is that it was recovered Monday, but we didn’t know about it until yesterday (Tuesday).”


Giddens said a purchase had been made on Stanford’s credit card Monday at a Chevron station near the I-20 on-ramp in Lincoln, but he could not confirm who had actually made the purchase. Investigators were in the process of reviewing surveillance video from the gas station Wednesday evening.


“It’s still under investigation right now, but we are still hopeful of a positive outcome,” Giddens said.


Although Stanford was initially reported missing to the Lincoln Police Department, investigator Matt Hill said they deferred to Giddens and the ABI, declining to comment on the case Wednesday afternoon.


Carroll County, Ga., Sheriff Terry Langley told The Times-Georgian Wednesday the vehicle had been discovered by Georgia Highway Patrol just before 2 p.m. Monday on I-20 near the Villa Rica exit. The vehicle was unlocked, the passenger side door was open and there were no keys inside.


Langley said the vehicle had not been reported missing when it was first recovered, but later came up after being entered into the National Criminal Information Center database.


Carroll County deputies searched the general area where the vehicle was recovered and checked with area businesses that have video surveillance cameras, but found no signs of the driver.


Some evidence from the car was collected and processed.


ABI public information officer Martha Earnhardt said Wednesday the agency would be “assisting the DA’s Office and the Lincoln Police Department in any way that might be helpful in a missing persons case.”


She said Stanford did not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert, which requires evidence of abduction, a description of the abductor and a description of the abductor’s vehicle.


Earnhardt said the ABI had offered its assistance late Tuesday night, and has provided assistance since.


“We were assessing other ways we could be helpful, and we determined, as a result of the investigative process, that entering him on the list of Missing Children on our Web site would be helpful,” she said.


The subsequently issued alert flyer can be viewed at http://community.dps.alabama.gov./wf...b-f5e017567fa6.
Meanwhile, the Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce has been circulating Stanford’s picture and description to area businesses and other chambers of commerce, and Stanford’s classmates at Donoho held a prayer service around the school’s flagpole Wednesday morning.


Stanford is the son of Bill and Lynne Stanford, and the grandson of state Sen. Jim Preuitt, D-Talladega.



http://www.dailyhome.com/news/2007/d...-7k07u5549.htm

[Pauli]

Reward offered as 2-state search continues for missing Lincoln teen

By Chris Norwood
11-09-2007

As the search for missing Donoho School senior Ben Stanford continued into its fourth day Thursday, some new information became available, but the 17-year-old Lincoln resident had still not been found.

ERA King Real Estate, where his mother, Lynne Stanford, works, has announced a $20,000 reward for valid information “leading to Ben’s safe return,” according to a mass e-mail that went out Thursday evening.


According to Talladega County District Attorney Steve Giddens, who is heading up the multi-agency investigation, Stanford was last seen Monday between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. in Anniston. He had spent the night at a friend’s house Sunday night, and was believed headed to school in a 2007 silver Jeep Grand Cherokee at that time. He apparently never made it to school.


Someone used Stanford’s credit card to purchase gas at the Texaco station on Alabama 77 North, near the entrance to I-20, at approximately 9 a.m. Monday, Giddens said.


It had been previously reported that the card was used at the Chevron station next door, but Giddens said this was not correct.


Investigators were in the process of reviewing the video surveillance tape from the Texaco station Thursday evening.


There has been no further activity on the card since Monday.
The vehicle was found by Georgia State Troopers just before 2 p.m.


Monday in the emergency lane of I-20 East near Villa Rica, Ga., about 75 miles from Lincoln. The keys were not in the vehicle, the doors were unlocked, and the passenger side door was left open, according to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department. The Jeep did not immediately come up as missing.


When Carroll County Sheriff’s deputies impounded the vehicle and entered it into the National Criminal Information Center database, however, it did come up missing, and law enforcement in Alabama was notified.


A search of the area was conducted on foot and by air, and surveillance video from nearby businesses was reviewed in Georgia, but yielded nothing.
“Obviously, the investigation is still ongoing, and there was a lot of work done today,” Giddens said Thursday.


A Missing Child Media Alert was issued by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation Wednesday evening. Stanford is described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen wearing rust-colored Carhartt jeans and a gray and purple, long-sleeved fleece shirt, with a white baseball cap.


Students and faculty at Donoho held a special prayer assembly Wednesday morning around the flagpole for their missing classmate, and the Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce has been e-mailing his picture to area businesses and other chambers of commerce in the area. Billboards displaying Stanford’s likeness have gone up in the Birmingham area, as well.


As of Thursday, the search was beginning to gain national attention, including a segment with Greta Van Sustren on the Fox News Network Thursday night and a bulletin on the “America’s Most Wanted” Web site.


Ben Stanford is the son of Bill and Lynne Stanford and the grandson of Sen. Jim Preuitt, D-Talladega.


“It’s been a very long wait, but we have a lot of hope, and I know a lot of prayers have gone out for Ben and our family,” Preuitt said Thursday.


“We’re grateful for that, and for all the friends that have come by and calling and offering to help however they can. We’re also thankful to the media for their interest and for still respecting our privacy. We still don’t know all the findings from the investigation, but from what I understand there’s not any evidence of foul play, and we’re grateful for that, too. We just want Ben back.”


Anyone with information on Ben Stanford’s whereabouts should contact the ABI at 1-800-843-5678 or call the Lincoln Police Department at 205-763-7777.



http://www.dailyhome.com/news/2007/d...-7k08v3327.htm

[Pauli]

MISSING...PLEASE HELP!

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS FLYER

http://www.eraking.com/index.php?page_id=330

[Pauli]

Family waits in hope of finding missing son

By Antrenise Cole
11-11-2007
With no new information on Saturday, the sixth day, in the for search missing 17-old-year Ben Stanford, his family is continuing to pray for his safe return.

“I have not been notified of any leads,” said state Sen. Jim Preuitt, Stanford’s grandfather. “I know the law enforcement officials are doing everything they possibility can. We hope everything works out, and he gets home safe. All of us have had death in the family, especially people my age, but nothing has ever been as tragic as this. We’re just hoping and praying for his safe return. We want our Ben back.”


Preuitt said the family is thankful for the love and support they’ve gotten from others.


“People have just reached out,” he said. “Friends have reached out and showed kindness. The family certainly appreciates the media coverage of Ben.”


A prayer vigil for Stanford and his family will be held today from noon until midnight in the family chapel at the home of William Killough, located at 570 Lovely Lane in Sylacauga. If Stanford is found before the prayer vigil, it will be cancelled. For any questions concerning this event, Killough can be reached at 256-245-4868.


Stanford is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes.


The Donoho School senior was last seen Monday between 7:30 and 7:45 a.m. in Anniston. He was wearing rust-colored Carhartt jeans and a gray and purple, long-sleeved fleece shirt, with a white baseball cap.


According to Talladega County District Attorney Steve Giddens, who is heading up the multi-agency investigation, someone used Stanford’s credit card to purchase gas at the Texaco station on Alabama 77 North, near the entrance to I-20, at approximately 9 a.m. on Nov. 5. Since, there has been no further activity on the card.


Stanford’s vehicle, a 2007 silver Jeep Grand Cherokee, was found Monday just before 2 p.m. by Georgia State Troopers about 75 miles from Lincoln near Villa Rica, Ga. According to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, the vehicle was in the emergency lane of I-20 East. Its doors were unlocked and the passenger side door was left open. The keys were not in the vehicle.


A Missing Child Media Alert was issued Wednesday by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation. In Birmingham, billboards are up displaying Stanford’s likeness. A bulletin is on the “America’s Most Wanted” Web site, as well.


Also, a Web site, www.benstanford.com, is up for people to post information concerning the whereabouts of Stanford. It states that “all information given will be confidential and greatly appreciated.”
A $20,000 reward has been offered for valid information “leading to Ben’s safe return.”


Ben Stanford is the son of Bill and Lynne Stanford.


Anyone with information on Ben’s whereabouts should contact the ABI at 1-800-843-5678 or call the Lincoln Police Department at 205-763-7777.


Directions to prayer vigil: From US 280 in Sylacauga turn onto Coaling Road at Pinecrest School. Go three miles and turn left onto Lovely Lane. Follow the private drive through a gate to the chapel. On US 280, markers stating “PRAYER” will give directions.



http://www.dailyhome.com/news/2007/d...-7k10w0350.htm

[Pauli]

Alabama Senator: No Leads to Grandson's Disappearance


TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) -- State Sen. Jim Preuitt said his family is grateful for the support they've received in the search for his 17-year-old grandson, Benjamin Stanford, who was reported missing Nov. 5 from Anniston where he is a senior at The Donoho School.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21740511

[Pauli]

State senator: no leads to grandson's disappearance

Posted by News Staff November 11, 2007 12:53 PM

TALLADEGA (AP) -- State Sen. Jim Preuitt said his family is grateful for the support they've received in the search for his 17-year-old grandson, Benjamin Stanford, who was reported missing Nov. 5 from Anniston where he is a senior at The Donoho School.


Police later found the teen's 2007 silver Jeep Grand Cherokee some 75 miles away near Villa Rica, Ga.


"I have not been notified of any leads," said Preuitt, D-Talladega. "I know the law enforcement officials are doing everything they possibility can. We hope everything works out, and he gets home safe."
He added: "All of us have had death in the family, especially people my age, but nothing has ever been as tragic as this. We're just hoping and praying for his safe return. We want our Ben back."


Preuitt said the family is thankful for the love and support they've gotten from others. Bill and Lynne Stanford are the teen's parents.


A prayer vigil for the teen and his family was being held Sunday in the family chapel at the home of William Killough in Sylacauga.


The missing teen is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 140 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes.

When last seen, he was wearing rust-colored Carhartt jeans and a gray and purple, long-sleeved fleece shirt, with a white baseball cap.


Talladega County District Attorney Steve Giddens, who is heading up the multi-agency investigation, said someone used Stanford's credit card to purchase gas at the Texaco station on Alabama 77 North, near the entrance to I-20, at approximately 9 a.m. on Nov. 5. Since then, there has been no further activity on the card.


In Georgia, the Carroll County Sheriff's Department said Stanford's vehicle was found in the emergency lane of I-20 East. Its doors were unlocked and the passenger side door was left open. The keys were not in the vehicle.


A Missing Child Media Alert was issued Wednesday by the Alabama Bureau of Investigation. In Birmingham, billboards are up displaying Stanford's likeness. A bulletin also is on the "America's Most Wanted" Web site.


A Web site, www.benstanford.com, is available for people to post information about Stanford. It states that "all information given will be confidential and greatly appreciated."

A $20,000 reward has been offered by the teen's family for valid information leading to his safe return.


Information from The Daily Home - http://www.dailyhome.com

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2007/11/...s_to_gran.html

[Pauli]

Equusearch Joins Search for Ben Stanford
A national search and rescue team is now joining the search for missing Talladega County teen Ben Stanford. Equusearch founder Tim Miller flew to Alabama Monday to help search for Stanford, who is the grandson of Alabama state senator Jim Preuitt. Ben Stanford's mom and dad picked Miller up at the airport and drove him directly to to Villa Rica, Georgia, where Stanford's car was found abandoned last week. An aerial search was also conducted. Miller and his team also helped in the search for missing Mountain Brook teenager Natalee Holloway last year. Her mother, Beth Holloway, contact the family Sunday to offer her help.



http://www.myfoxal.com/myfox/pages/N...Y&pageId=3.2.1

[Pauli]

FBI joins search for missing Lincoln teen

By Chris Norwood
11-13-2007
As the search for Donoho School senior Ben Stanford entered its second week, there was little new information available, but the search continues to grow.

Talladega County District Attorney Steve Giddens confirmed Monday the FBI has joined in the hunt for Stanford, 17, of Lincoln, who was last seen in Anniston the morning of Nov. 5. Giddens’ office, the Lincoln Police Department, the Talladega County Sheriff’s Department, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation, and state and local officials in Carroll County, Ga., are also involved in the investigation.


Stanford was last seen at about 7:45 p.m. in Anniston Nov. 5. He had spent the night with a friend the night before, Giddens said.


When he was last seen, he was apparently heading for school in a silver 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee. He was wearing a white Polo cap, rust colored Carhartt jeans, a purple shirt and a long-sleeved gray fleece, according to a flyer being widely circulated.


Stanford is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing about 140 pounds. He has green eyes and short, brown hair.


Stanford’s credit card was used to buy gas at a Texaco Station in Lincoln, which is west of Anniston, at about 9 a.m. Nov. 5. Giddens said the video surveillance tape, which was in black and white, showed a Grand Cherokee matching the description of Stanford’s vehicle, but the driver was never visible. The tape has been sent to the state forensics lab in Montgomery for enhancement.


The Jeep was recovered near the Villa Rica, Ga., exit of I-20 by Georgia State Troopers at about 2 p.m. Nov. 5. The keys were not in the vehicle, the doors were unlocked and the passenger side door was open.


While there were no obvious indications of foul play in the vehicle, it was still being examined for forensic evidence Friday. The state labs were closed Monday for the observance of Veterans Day.


The state Department of Public Safety issued a Missing Child Alert Wednesday, and ERA King Real Estate, where Stanford’s mother, Lynne, works, has posted a $20,000 reward for information leading to his safe return.


The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has posted information on Stanford, listing him as an “Endangered Runaway.” A spokeswoman for the center could not comment on this specific designation other than to say that all information posted comes either from law enforcement or the guardian of the missing child.


Giddens said he did not know what the criteria for listing someone as a runaway was, but said that information did not come from his office.
Although to date there is no evidence that a crime has been committed, Giddens said his office got involved in the search early on because of the forensic computer labs recently established through the state District Attorneys Association.


“We’re willing to help anybody that asks us,” he said. “We have the technology to do things like track cell phone transmissions and credit card purchases that some law enforcement agencies normally would not have access to,” he said.


Stanford has not shown any financial activity since the morning of Nov. 4, however.


Giddens declined to comment on whether or not Stanford’s home had been searched. “We have a lot of different people running different aspects of the search,” he said. “I couldn’t comment on some of those specifics. But we are still getting calls every day, and we’re continuing to look into all of them. We’re still doing everything we can.”


In addition to the various public agencies involved, some private groups are also joining in the search.


Equisearch of Dickinson, Texas, will be searching the area around the Villa Rica exit on foot, horseback and four-wheelers today starting about 8:30 a.m. Volunteers 18 years and older with a valid identification are being sought for the search.


According to administrative assistant Cheryl Lawless, Equisearch is a non-profit search and rescue organization established in 2001 by Tim Miller. Miller’s daughter was murdered in 1984, but it was 17 months before her body was recovered, Lawless said.


The organization was most recently involved in the search of Stacy Peterson in Illinois, Lawless said. Although that search was not ultimately successful, Lawless said the organization does have a strong track record, including more than 300 missing persons returned home safely and 73 bodies recovered.


“We never approach the family, we wait to be contacted by them or by law enforcement,” Lawless said. In this case, Stanford’s mother was the one making the call, she added.


Parties wishing to assist in the search should meet at the McDonald’s on exit 23 of I-20 near Villa Rica.


“We’re here to help families get closure,” Lawless said. “That’s important.”
Locally, Sharon Smith of Big Wade’s Bail Bonds has posted Stanford’s picture on her Myspace page, and is encouraging other Myspace users to substitute Stanford’s picture for their own on their individual pages.


The search has also garnered national news coverage on Fox News, and in various newspapers all over the country. Stanford’s classmates at Donoho held a special prayer assembly for him last week, and a day of public prayer was held in Sylacauga Sunday.


Digital billboards bearing Stanford’s likeness have been reported in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, and countless billboards in the Talladega area encourage passersby to pray for his safe return.


Anyone with information on Ben Stanford’s whereabouts should contact the ABI at 1-800-843-5678 or call the Lincoln Police Department at 205-763-7777.



http://www.dailyhome.com/news/2007/d...-7k12v3453.htm