Missing Sarah & Jacob -16 Translations
Even with good records, trying to assimilate the chaotic events of the next 10 days (until Catherine was transferred to a Mental Health Facility) is a challenge.
I will say that we accepted SO many offers to help. Starting on that Sunday, September 14th, (moving past 48 hours after Catherine was apprehended) the pace was nonstop. A few main events:
Facebook FindSarahFindJacob Site
One of Troy’s friends created a Facebook Page for Sarah and Jacob. It became a place where people would also post potential sightings and suggestions on where to search, and an overall constant focus on getting the word out. I posted daily photos of Sarah and Jacob for about a year. It was likely a blessing someone else took over as it allowed me to focus on other aspects of the search.
FindJacobFindSarah Website:
A very kind family/community/church friend texted me that he and his wife were there to help. I knew him from work in health IT, and also was aware that he had a company that hosted websites, so asked if he could pull one up for Sarah and Jacob. I recall walking from my kitchen to a quieter place — in my living room — and waited while he found a domain name that fit: “FindSarahFindJacob” as the Facebook profile.
He immediately secured the domain name, brought up a website, added an anonymous tip line, added photos of all three, and managed volunteer coordination emails for searches. We kept the tip line active for over a year and the website for at least 5 years. He went on to help in even more critical ways later on.
Maryland’s Missing: The leader of “Maryland Missing” showed up at my house to discuss ways that her group could help. I recall having a house with multiple people working on different aspects of the search. I remember her waiting patiently as I spoke with someone else and then saying she would return later.
I felt bad that we didn’t get to speak but she returned later and would prove to be of immeasurable help with guidance on so many aspects of how we could search. One of the most profound ways she helped was getting one of the flyers translated into different languages. We live in one of the most diverse multicultural areas in the country, so over the course of a few weeks, she sent me flyers translated into 16 different languages, I was in awe.
Spanish Speaking-tip line: She also helped have discussions with some of the Hispanic communities in our area. There were those from this peaceful community, who volunteered to translate, to act as an intermediary, if we needed one, and who later purchased a “trap phone” that was used as a Spanish-speaking tip line. The number was shared on flyers and ads — the voice mail message was in both English and Spanish, and was monitored 24/7, hosted and funded by this group of volunteers.
From then on, the tips and observations began to surface.
