DaniceDay

Happy Birthday Danice

2008-05-06T01:24:21Z

Danice would have been 26 years old today. I still have a little sister. I just wish I could know her and often wonder what she might be like now. We think of her every day...still. The only thing that constantly changes is the calendar and the amount of days she has been gone. Happy Birthday Danice!

The Case Will be Solved

2008-01-08T01:27:59Z

by Larry J. Bourret
My granddaughter was Danice Day, who has been missing for six years now. We miss her very much. After several weeks had gone by I knew she was dead. We still hope this will eventually be solved. We appreciate the work Sheriff Norton and his staff have devoted to this.
For anyone who hasn't suffered through this you are very fortunate. You really don't have any idea how sad it is.

Some Good News

2008-01-03T20:52:36Z

by Jacqui Flint
Each year becomes a struggle for something new to say. I want to say something really heartfelt and full of emotion, but after six years, I am at a loss for words. It seems all my emotions regarding my sister have been stated in the myriad of previous posts. The anger, frustration, guilt, and sadness have yet to cease, but maybe they are not as evident as they were in 2002. I have become inured to the fact that Danice is really not coming back.
There are still little thoughts that maybe she is still alive, but the reality usually takes over before I can even catch a glimpse of her image in my mind. As I have said before, she is still stuck at 19. The same image everyone else sees when they look at this site, is the image I see more often than any other.
It is usually about this time of year, January 9th, when I start to look back and realize that I have been selfish in my own life. Since I went through a rough 2007, I didn't take the time to think that things can always get worse. Well, maybe I thought it a few times, but it didn't help me stop pitying myself.
That is human nature.
Sometimes I fear that this anniversary will become much like Valentine's Day or Christmas. We will only stop to think about Danice on a specific day of the year, when we should be thinking of her all the time. We should learn a lesson from the positive light she brought to situations. We should celebrate her life ad her children rather than thinking about how sad we are she is gone. Most importantly, we should be happy that the person whom we think took Danice away from us is not free to celebrate anything this year. Although he is not in jail for the biggest crime he committed, it is abundantly clear that he is a criminal and the the truth will be brought to light eventually. It may not be here, in the sixth year, but eventually.
For all the blame and bitter feelings I sometimes express about this case, I do have faith that there is still work being done. The person we think (know) took my little sister has been put in jail for awhile. Albeit, he is not in jail for what we suspect he did to Danice, at least he is paying for something.

Thanks to Everyone

2007-11-16T19:40:23Z

by Jacqui Flint
Thank you to everyone who has recently commented on this site. I am sorry I have not been keeping up so well. I do appreciate everyone who sends their thoughts our way. Some good news to report: Victor is now in prison. Unfortunately, he is not there for the crime we think he committed. He is in prison for various other crimes such as burglary and selling drugs. We can only hope that one day he will feel some remorse and the truth will come to light.
Thanks again for all your support. I will keep everyone updated if there is anything new to report.
Keeping writing your comments.

Missing People-The Media

2007-08-16T17:56:31Z

I read an interesting article today. Of course, I was just browsing and it was one of those icons that I usually don't click on. It was an article about missing people and how the media picks and chooses what kind of missing people they consider "important" to cover. It is not only a racial issue, but it is a class issue. This has been known about Danice's case for a long time. When she was first assumed missing, my family contacted many media outlets only to be ignored or given a "we can't cover this story at this time" type of attitude. It seems we aren't the only family who has had trouble getting their story covered as the article says. The media excels at covering missing people who fit the qualities they deem important. As I have stated many times before, everyone who has experienced this kind of incident feels pain. Whatever the class or race of a missing person, the pain is tangable. The only difference in many of these cases is that if one is of a lower class or different race, the media does not feel it fits their idea of newsworthy. It is a sad statement on society, but it illustrates what we have been experiencing for a long time. I have pasted the article below if anyone is interested in reading it:

]]> Missing People Face Disparity in Media Coverage
By Michele Chan Santos; Special to MSN.com
If you are kidnapped or missing, it helps to be the right race, age, social class and gender. Otherwise, don't expect the media to cover your story.

"Sex sells, kidnapping sells, but not every kidnapping is equal," says Roy Peter Clark, vice president and senior scholar at the Poynter Institute, a training center for journalists in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Kelly Bennett, a case manager for the National Center for Missing Adults, agrees. "Unless it's a pretty girl ages 20 to 35, the media exposure is just not there," she says. The most highly profiled missing persons cases in recent years have fit into this category: Chandra Levy, Laci Peterson, Jessie Marie Davis. All of these women were also white.

What about Stepha Henry, a 22-year-old black woman who disappeared while on vacation in Florida in May?

Her case has gotten some media attention, but her face and story haven't received the same relentless level of coverage as those of other missing young women.

"It's very disheartening because it sends a message that we are not valued as much as white citizens are," says Georgia Goslee, the attorney for Stepha's mother, Sylvia.

Also see: Faces of the missing from the National Center for Missing Adults online database

A Tale of Two Missing Women

Stepha Henry, who lives in New York, went with her sister to visit their aunt in Miami. On Monday, May 28, Henry told her aunt she was going to Club Peppers, a nightclub in Fort Lauderdale.

According to news reports, a man picked up Henry in a dark-colored four-door Acura Integra. Video taken at the club that night shows Henry there. But no one has seen her since. The car hasn't been located.

The man who drove Henry to the club says the car isn't his. Police think the car may hold clues to her disappearance. At 4:13 a.m. on May 29, someone checked the voice mail on her cell phone. Her MySpace page was last updated on May 24, five days before she was reported missing.

Henry is an honors graduate of John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York." She has a very bubbly personality," Goslee says." She is an aspiring attorney planning to take the LSAT. She's a beautiful young girl in the prime of her life."

Henry's case, however, has not been taken up by the media with the same fervor as that of Jessie Marie Davis — a 26-year-old pregnant white woman who disappeared from her Canton, Ohio, home in mid-June — about two weeks after Henry was reported missing. Media coverage of Davis' disappearance was nonstop. TV stations nationwide, as well as newspapers and magazines, followed the case closely. Thousands of people volunteered to search for her.

The disparity in exposure for the two cases is evident on the Web, too. A Live.com news search on Davis returns almost 20 times the results of a search on Henry.

There even seems to be a difference in reward money. The FBI offered $10,000 for information on Davis. Currently, there is a $6,000 reward for information to help find Henry, but that sum came from donations. Henry's family contributed $4,000; Crime Stoppers offered $1,000; and another $1,000 was donated by a family friend.

Davis' body was found June 23. Her boyfriend, former police officer Bobby Cutts Jr., 30, has been charged with her murder and the murder of her unborn child. But the media juggernaut didn't give up on her story: At a memorial service for her, news helicopters hovered overhead.

The Missing vs. Celebrities

Meanwhile, Henry is still missing. And at one point, her case was overshadowed by celebrity news. A little more than a week after Henry disappeared, Miami Herald police reporter David Ovalle was scheduled to talk about the case on MSNBC-TV.

Ovalle says his interview was canceled because of breaking news about socialite Paris Hilton."I think the people I write about are important. I take my job seriously," he says. "I know people watch that stuff [celebrity news]. But you have a responsibility as a serious news-gathering organization, with all the things going on in the world, with all the tragedies there are; our priorities are a little skewed."

Jeremy Gaines, vice president of communications for MSNBC, explains why the June 8 interview was canceled: "Just like many days in the news business, we had breaking news on that particular day which forced us to cancel this segment. We covered the [Stepha Henry] story extensively on the following day."

Goslee remains thankful for any coverage of Henry. When asked about the cancellation, she says, "They made up for that." She and Stepha Henry's mother were later interviewed by MSNBC, she says.

Race, Social Class and Media Coverage

Why does Stepha Henry get less coverage than Jessie Davis?

"The answer is pure unconscious racism," says the Poynter Institute's Clark. "But it's not just race. It's also social class and gender."

And the difference in media attention does not go unnoticed.

"There is a huge disparity between black missing women and white missing women when it comes to coverage," Goslee says. "If Stepha could receive half the coverage of the other white girls who are missing, they might find her."

People of every race and age disappear. But missing minorities, men and the elderly simply don't generate as much media interest.

"We need the media's help in reporting all these missing people," says Kelly Bennett, the case manager for the National Center for Missing Adults. "We need media attention on all of the cases out there to solve the families' anguish. Families need that resolution."

Missing Men Ignored

Overall, more men seem to be reported missing than women, according to information gathered from the FBI's National Crime Information Center database.

For 2006, 173,903 missing persons records were entered for adults (21 and older) into the FBI's National Crime Information Center database; 99,736 were men, and 74,167 were women. However, FBI spokeswoman Connie Marsteller refused to draw conclusions from the data, saying because police departments and county sheriff's offices are not required to report missing adults, the information is not complete.
Why do the media — and their audiences — care less about missing men than women? Clark thinks it's because there's a public perception that men can take care of themselves (even though a lot of the missing men might have been victims of foul play).

If a missing person is white, female, young, attractive and has an upper-middle-class background, media coverage of her case will be far more thorough than coverage of missing men, minorities or the elderly, Clark says.

"This taps in to a sort of ancient fairy-tale mentality: the kidnapped princess, the damsel in distress."

The Missing No One Cares About

Still, not every young, white, pretty woman who goes missing gets the 24-hour cable-news treatment.

"It's as much about class as it is about race," says Ovalle, the Miami Herald reporter. "I have a stack of cases of missing white girls on my desk that nobody cares about" because they were doing drugs or working as prostitutes, he says.

Having a shady background takes a missing person off the media-coverage map because "it pulls them out from the underpinnings of class," Clark says. "Class is not just economic status but a set of behaviors. Someone who is courteous, who went to college" is someone viewers and readers can identify with.

Tragedy Parodied

Sensational stories of kidnapped white women are so prevalent they have been parodied.

A Wikipedia entry calls it Missing White Woman Syndrome or Missing Pretty Girl Syndrome. The Daily Show published the satirical "America: The Book," which contained a formula for receiving good coverage. This formula equates amount of media time with cuteness, skin color and the media savvy of the grieving parents. But for the families and friends of the missing, there is no humor to be found while searching for a loved one.

Hundreds of volunteers have turned out to help, but thus far there is no new information on Stepha Henry's whereabouts, Goslee says.

As the weeks pass, Sylvia Henry's emotional condition "is getting bad," Goslee says.

The sweeps of the water with sonar equipment and the searches using cadaver dogs have been grim tasks that, so far, have yielded no results.

Stepha Henry's family, Goslee says, "has to come to grips with what may be the unthinkable reality."

If you have information related to Henry's disappearance, call 1-800-CRIME-TV, the America's Most Wanted Hotline. You can also submit information online, at http://www.amw.com/report_tip/report_tip_special_case.cfm?id=45754 or at the Crime Stoppers site.

Keeping Her Memory Alive?

2007-05-08T11:35:30Z

By Julie Flint
I am writing to say Happy Birthday in memory to my loving sister and her daughter, whom unfortunately I have not seen since she was only several months old and seems to only get more and more awkward and more unlikely as time goes by. I can only be slightly comforted by the fact that her two children are inevitably much like their mother and that can't be avoided by any upbringing or lack of presence. I can also only imagine how Danice would feel to know that her immediate family has no involvement in her children's lives, and that not only are her children missing out on the love of their mother, but the memories that her family has to share about her, and in some sense keeping her alive to them through stories and recollections. I feel as though the loss greatly surmounts her, and carries over to all three of them plus much of the family that love them all so dearly. So on this day I will be loving my little sister who loved so many people so well and also sending out love to her children who I pray will someday get to confront the horrible reality that their mother did not abandon them. Both realities would be for a child. I wish Kaylee and Danice a Happy Birthday on this day which will always connect them. I love you both.

Happy Birthday...Again!

2007-05-07T23:50:19Z

By Jacqui Flint
It is easy to remember the date...May 8th. I always used to look forward to it because it was spring and it was Danice's birthday. For some reason, when we were younger, I really liked celebrating her birthday with her. Unfortunately, this day is just another reminder of how long we have been without Danice. I feel like a broken record, but I keep thinking time will heal the wounds. So far, time is just passing, very quickly, and the wounds are still wide open.
I suppose it is important to remember that her daughter celebrates her birthday on the same day and that is very special. Hopefully, at some point, she will know our family and be part of our lives. We all feel the same about her son.
All I can say again, is Happy Birthday Danice! I love you very much!

Danice's Case Will Be Solved

2007-03-06T21:46:15Z

By Larry Bourret
I am Danice's grandad. When we think of Danice we think of the fun she was. When she was 8 or 9 we took her, her twin cousins who were 7 or 8 and another cousin who was 11 or 12 camping in the mountains west of Laramie. Did they have fun and bring enjoyment to us!!!!!!!!!!
Eventually this will be solved and someone, or perhaps more than one someone, will be brought to justice. One of her cousins, who is a policeman now, says if the someone, or perhaps more than one someone, does, or do not get what they deserve while alive, the Lord will certainly repay them at their death.
She was just a little girl who loved her family. We loved her very much.

Thank You

2007-01-23T01:46:11Z

By Jacqui Flint
I just checked some of the new comments from various people. Some knew Danice, some just knew of the case. As always, all your comments and prayers are very much appreciated. Thank you for keeping up with the case and always being concerned. I have to agree with Joe Block (see comment below) that if the circumstances were different, there would have always been more media coverage. The media's ability to pick and choose what they deem the more important cases still baffles me, but perhaps it always will.
We still have hope and wish there was some new news to report.
Thanks again to all of you who wrote comments.

Lack of Press Coverage Still a Disappointment

2007-01-23T01:43:50Z

By Joe Block
I used to live in Monte Vista and was dissapointed by the job that law enforcement does there. They are self serving and not very interested in Justice. I found that out through personal experiences.I am more dissapointed in the national press though, If a rich coed dissappears from a Tropical Island, the press flocks there to enjoy the assignment, but a young girl like Danice goes unnoticed because it is not a fun place for reporters to go visit. I wrote to all the big networks and told them they should help bring Danice's case justice but they are not interested in justice, only glamour and fame for themselves. All the networks should be ashamed and feel partly responsible for the failure to end this case. This case could be solved as most of know who is responsible for her dissappearance and the press should step in and pressure the law enforcement community. Joe Block, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

Think About It

2007-01-09T22:41:06Z

by Doretta Hunter
Do you think about how many people woke this morning remembering Danice? Do you think about how many people woke this day with a broken heart because their beautiful Danice was taken from them? Do you think about how many people have probably forgotten this case? Do you think about how someone took a young girls life and the law has let him go? Well, it is time to THINK ABOUT IT! IT is time to get him. I believe there are people that know who did this. It has been 5 years too long. It is time for these people to pay for what they did. The puzzle is coming together!

Hootie May

2007-01-06T23:25:08Z

By Jonene Day

I, too, am thinking about the five years since I last hugged Danice. I have to cry a little bit every day and some days lots more. My heart aches and I am really starting to believe that her case will never be solved. She has been forgotten by law enforcement, but not by her family. I love you, Hootie May.

Resolutions

2007-01-03T02:44:19Z

by Jacqui Flint
The new year has begun and the holiday celebrations are over. Everyone tries to remember to change the year when they write down the date. People make their resolutions and it is all very cliche. "I will lose weight this year, I will take better care of myself, and I will learn something new." The resolutions seem to last for about a month and then people settle back into the old habits they tried desperately to change.
I stopped making resolutions a long time ago and just set small goals for myself when I feel like there is something really important I need to work on. I wish I had the same control with Danice's case. The post holiday blues hit most people in the beginning of January. It hits my family and me especially hard. I still remember that day, five years ago when I received an email from my cousin asking if I knew about Danice. It was already three days after she had been missing. I never thought I would be saying the term "five years ago," and my sister in the same sentence. Nor did I think I would still be updating a website up in her honor. I can't help wishing I weren't because that might mean she had been found.
There is not a holiday that goes by when my family does not think about her. Christmas 2001 was the last time we saw her and thought she was really happy. We did not know what she was hiding. The holidays are not always a time of celebration for everyone in my family, especially my mother. I am fairly sure her father does not feel much like celebrating either. The loss is always felt, even if not always talked about.
The change in my life since Danice disappeared is not evident every day (that is not to say, I don't think about her all the time). I did not see her every day. The change is more subtle in the little events or feelings I have now. I cry more easily and perhaps feel more empathy towards people. I try to understand people better and enjoy days that don't always seem to be going the right way. I try not to take everything so seriously because I know there are much bigger issues at hand. Although, ask my friends and they might say differently.
I can only hope that someday, my writing about Danice will change. Perhaps there will be talk of the case and how the detectives finally found the person or persons responsible for her disappearance. Perhaps we will all feel justified. That would be a nice resolution for everyone.

People Still Care

2006-11-16T01:58:42Z

It has been a long time since I have written anything on the website. I apologize. Today, I checked for new comments and noticed that one of Danice's old friends had added a comment. In case, you don't know how to work the website yet, I am posting this comment so it shows up on the front page. It is truly appreciated. It makes one realize how many people Danice touched and she probably didn't even know it. It also reminds us just how special she really was. Here is the letter from one of her friends, Derek:

I remember Danice very well, we were friends in junior high and high school. We lived about a block from each other for several years. She was always so much fun, energetic, and hilarious. Danice helped me through a lot of hard times in my life. We even went to a dance together ages ago, the first dance I ever went to, and I was thrilled that she said yes to going with me. We were friends for years and lost contact when we both moved away from Laramie.
I found this web-site for Danice a few years ago. I was looking online to see if I could find contact info for a few old friends, and I was stunned when I found Danice's name and saw her picture.
I've wanted to write for a long time to express to Danice's family how much I hope and pray for a resolution to all this, no matter how long it takes. I have felt like I wanted to say something, anything, to let anyone who cares know that Danice was a very great person, a great friend, and part of many happy memories for me and many other people that went to school with her or were her friends. We all miss her and hope that whoever is responsible for this heinous tragedy pays for it dearly. Danice believed in Karma, at least when I knew her, and I hope that whoever is responsible gets what is coming to them.

I also hope that Danice's family or anyone who reads this is comforted, even just for a second, by knowing what a sweet, kind, and unforgettable person Danice was to so many who knew her. Thanks Danice!
And thank you for maintaining the web-site.

Danice Will Have Her Day

2006-05-08T11:10:48Z

by Dorretta Hunter

Danice’s day is May 8. Her 24th birthday. It is also her daughter’s birthday. Mothers and daughters by nature always have a special bond, but to share a birthday is a double blessing. But, this baby girl cannot celebrate her birthday with her mother. Why.. because…
Somewhere gone is a mother of two beautiful children
Somewhere gone is the only child of a grieving father
Somewhere gone is the youngest daughter of a heart broken mother
Somewhere gone is the little sister of two hurting big sisters
Somewhere gone is a granddaughter of loving grandparents
Somewhere gone is a niece, cousin, and aunt of many family members
Somewhere gone is a friend of many friends

Her life was taken from all of us before her time. She was too young, she wasn’t sick; she didn’t want to leave her loved ones. She still has no peace. Why.. because..
Somewhere living is a person that took her away
Somewhere living is a person that still has his life
Somewhere living is a person that still has his family
Somewhere living is a family that helped take her away
Somewhere living is officials that are corrupt and helped hide the truth
Somewhere living is a town full of people that know these people and didn’t cry
Out for JUSTICE FOR DANICE

Danice will have her day. These people DID NOT commit the perfect crime. They were seen. They cannot hide. Let’s all remember our beautiful Danice and her children and family in our prayers. She will have peace one day and our family will have closure. Justice will be served on Danice’s Day!

God Bless you all,
Dorretta Hunter
Danice’s aunt