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Why kidnapped children don't run

Written by Segololo from the blog Oprah Reviews on 05 Sep 2007
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Sick! Sick! Sick! How many parents watched the show and sobbed for their missing children? How many parents sleep without knowing where their children are? What is the plight of abducted children when they are found? 

Todd in 1974
Todd in 1974

Oprah’s guest, Todd , a man that had been abducted when he was 13 years old in 1974; for 18 months sodomised and abused and forced to live in fear. He was on the show to tell us why abducted children seldom run away from their captors even when a chance arises. I watched; my heart aching, as I am a mother to a wonderful 21 month old boy. What am I gonna have to do to ensure my child is not a statistic? Is it really necessary to go thru so much? What has happened to purely wonderful safe childhood? 

Todd
Todd retalling his ordeal

Todd explained in detail how it all; the abduction, the torture, the “over a 100” sodomising, the luring of other kids, the drugging of the kool-aid, the beatings, the rescue, the calls home, the fear – happened. This man had been abducted when some of us where not even a concept – over 30 years ago - and he can still recall each and every moment. He can still detail everything – it seems burnt into his mind and conscious. I wondered if any punishment by the law is sufficient for the molesters. Nothing seems enough to me; except horrendous torture. For me the punishment is for the molester to be beaten and tortured for a lengthy period of time; even if it is for his entire life. I am really angry.

The children are judged by society. People make the assumption that it is easy for the child to up and leave, tell someone or alert people. Society assumes the child could have escaped. Why do people judge the kids? They did nothing wrong! It is not the child’s choice to leave home and be molested! The molesters make the children believe that it is the child’s fault that this is happening to them. The molester forces the child to stay. The molester does things to prove that the parents are not looking for the child anymore. They make the child believe that they were chosen for s specific reason; that you brought it onto yourself.

Like Oprah says the children are seduced! The children feel they are a part of it; they are made to believe that it is okay. The molesters “groom” the children. They win the children’s confidence then betray them in the worst possible way. Why? Why? Why?
What is in the mind of these sick people? The children blame themselves! That is what the children have to live with for their entire lives 

Ed Smart
Ed Smart

ED smart, Elizabeth Smart’s father – Elizabeth was abducted in her own home; in her room! She was just 14 years old; and she was rescued 9 months later just a “couple of miles” from her home. She has been rescued for 4 years now, is in college; but still awaiting trial. Where is the justice? The father maintains she is fine but I am just heartsore at what happened to her. Hasn’t she has suffered enough? Why drag the case for so long? She deserves to put this behind her; and see her abductors (they looked scary!) behind bars for life. How do you move on? How do you survive the nightmares? The tortures? How? It is unconceivable how you wake up each day and not feel like the world is not a safe place?

The hardest thing is having to explain to your children that you lived through a kidnapping and molestation! Todd has been married 26 years and has grown children. He never told anyone what happened to him but it was important to tell his children when they could understand. How do you not live in fear that it could happen to your child? He explained it in detail to the children when they were 6 and 7. I could not imagine the pain he had to endure just telling his children how cruel the world is. 

Bill Oreilly
Bill O'reilly

What can parents do to ensure their children are never abducted? Another Talk show host, Bill O’reilly came on the Oprah show via Satellite with more horror news and injustices – too harrowing to recount and I am too drained by the information. He insisted that the parents have to make the children believe that the father will be there to protect them. Most children grow up in single mom houses so I hope you condition your children to know that you will always be there for them. I am really in support of the tracker unit for children.

I went to bed with a headache.



9 Comments

sweetie my baby
05 Sep 2007 06:11

yeah, this one was a killer - i actually switched channels when i realised what it was all about, because it was just too heartbreaking - the guy had such a sadness about him, it killed me. and the kidnapper looked so brutal and scary, bathong! poor child. poor man. this world, mara....

belz
05 Sep 2007 06:15

thanks for the pics on the side Sego, she looked very beautiful in 1971. This show was too hectic for me, i just cried nje, tht Todd guy, tht is some serious stuff.

NTWANA
05 Sep 2007 06:51

Very touching blog Segololo this world is full of barbarians my 14 years old niece was brutally raped & killed by 5 barbarians still in full school uniform so programes like dat i don't watch cos they bring back sad memories 2 me & my family more ova i'm de 1 who went & identified her,she was de only child of my sista we r still mourning it happenned dis year on de 2nd of Feb. What makes matters worse is those barbarians r not yet sentenced attending de court everytym & b told REMIND its like rubbing salt on old wounds. I so wish they cud bring back the DEATH SENTECE.

Toxic
05 Sep 2007 07:20

Can't thank you enough for these recaps..i can never catch the repeats cause of the immense tiredness in my body post-10pm!

I am however glad I missed this episode cause it does sound too draining and i'm sure i'd have cried as well. Love the b n w pics on the right. Can u all c the bags under Oprah's eyes in the 1954 pic?

Segololo
05 Sep 2007 07:23

NTWANA: My sincere condolences... And I fully support you and the anger and pain you feel

My aunt was killed in the Shareworld drama. We found her limp; naked, raped and decapitated body in Hillbrow. We still do not know even now what happened to her and who did it.She left behind 2 daughters. Ok, let me get out of here because the kind of things that happen just saddens me. Why so much evil?

Spy
05 Sep 2007 07:48

Is it me or is that Bill O'reilly on the money!  That  man is on a serious mission to change America and how they look at certain matters!  I am sickened and disgusted by the fact that the laws are not the same in each state.  They have to change this.  I dont have children yet but I have a nephew and a niece.  The whole show just got to me.  That Todd guy is certainly not over it.  Its eating him everyday - everyday he has to live with that - that evil man!  I cant even imagine.  Bill is right the whole crime is evil - to get a 6months sentence is INSANE! They should get life without parole!  Why is everyone sitting back and doing nothing about this is beyond me!!!!!  

People - its time we really pray - if the world is turning into such an evil place! These molesters actually have websites on how to go about it.  What next???!!!!!!! Pray people, pray!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KeleFabulous
05 Sep 2007 08:18

thanks for the recap Segololo but i'm kinda glad i missed this particular show.  it's a tough world out htere and u can't really do enough and when u do it becomes too much. if it were possible my baby would stay indoors all day everyday until 21 yrs and only come out with me! but this is impossible because u have to let them grow and become independent and i guess the best is to just teach them survival and prevention skills as soon as possible!

on the other hand, lots of parents out htere are just careless when it comes to ensuring their children's safety. last night i was driving thru protea and this was around 6...it's still dark at this time of night and i was seeing children as young as 2 playing in the streets with no adult around! next thing the child is gone and they blame "them" when they themselves were too careless! nx! people like that make me sick!

Zhico
05 Sep 2007 08:36

Sana thanx for the recap...this is scary..i have a 1 yr old son and am a single parent. How do we protect our children when we hv to work and they have to attend school....and Kele u are rite my dear it is so impossible to watch and be with ur child 24/7...
We all just need to be careful as this happens everywhere...everytime...
@Ntwana & Sego I'm sorry to you guys bt learn to be strong for the whole of ur families

Enid Blyton
05 Sep 2007 09:11

Hectic stuff this...what really cut me up was the enormous amount of pain that was etched on that man's face...even as he told the story he became the victim all ova again.Made me feel like protecting him and cuddling him like i do my own kids..


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