Brittany Phillips Murder

DNA AT ARREST-EDUCATE YOURSELF FIRST BEFORE YOU DECIDE

2012-02-19T14:53:00.017-06:00

DNA AT
ARREST
LOWERS THE NUMBER OF COLD/UNSOLVED CRIMES
LOWERS THE NUMBER OF REPEAT OFFENDERS
LOWERS POLICE DEPARTMENT COSTS.
MOST IMPORTANTLY
DNA
AT AREST LOWERS
NUMBER OF VIOLENT CRIMES
IT SAVES LIVES!

25 STATES HAVE PASSED SOME FORM OF DNA AT ARREST LAWS
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,
Colorado, Illinois, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South
Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont

*_BI is State’s Bureau of Investigation*

(please pardon the need for more editing/wanted this to be online when media stories occured)
STATE // YEAR OF LAW PASSAGE// NUMBER OF HITS// REPORTED BY
1) Tennessee 2007 115 HITS TBI
2) New Mexico 2007 160 HITS

3) Maryland 2011 (Dec) 174 HITS
4) Virginia 2003 483HITS DFS
5) Ohio 2011 (July) 132 HITS OBI

*DNA taken the 1st time someone is arrested for a Felony Offense allows their DNA to be in a database. Then, if and only if, they leave DNA at their next crime scene, we can identify the guilty party relatively quickly.With violent offenders, this stops them at a low number of victims.

* DNA taken at conviction and then put into the DNA database is more about solving old crimes rather than stopping new ones. Violent offenders, when finally convicted, and their DNA is put into a national database are matched to multiple cold and unsolved crimes from 5-20 years in the past, where that DNA sat years without a match and the vioent offender kept on doing violence. THESE CRIMES COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF DNA HAD BEEN TAKEN THE FIRST TIME THEY WERE ARRESTED.

The DNA Profile: YOUR PHYSICAL DNA IS NOT SENT TO THE NATIONAL DATABASE

A FORM WITH CODED NUMBERS IS SENT TO CODIS THE NATIONAL DATABASE--NOT YOUR HYSICAL DNA

JUST LIKE THE EXAMPLE BELOW----
Lab XYZ
0012152 (case number)
06,09,11,12,10,10,22,24,9.3,10,08,09, (2 lines represent loci/factors specific to your DNA)
14,14,15,17,17,22,25,12,12,9,10,09,13
kzzz-The Analyst’s initials

The DNA profile is uploaded into CODIS, our national DNA database, without even a
name attached to it, only a case ID number, the lab’s name, and the analyst’s initials.

IT IS NOT YOUR TOTAL DNA SAMPLE THAT IS USED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
Regions of DNA that are used for forensic analysis are usually not genes, but rather are located in those parts of the chromosomes without known functions, or if part of a gene, not in the part that produces a detectable effect (MEANING IT DOES NOT INCLUDE DNA LOCI THAT WOULD SAY YOU ARE PRONE TO DISEASES OR MENTAL ILLNESS OR EVEN TALL, SHORT, ETC- This was a primary reason for this choice has been to protect individual privacy.)(This means that these sections of the DNA do not carry the genetic codes. When a match occurs between an offender and DNA evidence collected from a crime, the law enforcement agency is notified and then, with a judge’s order, another DNA sample is taken from the identified suspect to verify the match. It is a big piece of the puzzle that can set law enforcement on the right track.
Law enforcement now has to build their case and find other evidence and witnesses. They have to determine if the suspect was even in the area of the crime. The suspect is still innocent, until proven guilty. Only a jury determines “guilty” Keep in mind that less than 6 % of our population is ever arrested for a felony. A DNA profile only identifies the suspect. People can change their
names, their appearance, even their sex. Their DNA is unique and does not change.

**Criminals tend to be repeat offenders, but don’t always get convicted, having their DNA
at Arrest increases the chances of conviction. Each conviction prevents and average of 7 to 8 future crimes.
* Kristine Crouch, Indiana CODIS Administrator of the Indiana State Police-- biological
crime scene evidence uploaded to CODIS leads to 40% of those searches yield a matching suspect. DNA at Arrest would increase the number of "Known Persons" in a DNA database thus increaseing matches National Institute of Justice to five communities (Los Angeles, Topeka, Denver, Phoenix and California's Orange County) to study the effectiveness of DNA forensics in
the investigation of property crimes. The project called The DNA Field Experiment: Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Use of DNA in the Investigation of High-Volume Crimes highlighted the importance of testing the DNA profile found at burglary scene because one burglar often commits many burglaries before being caught. A summary of the study can be found at Burglars Go Bust: The DNA Field Experiment

In November 2005, with NIJ funding, the Denver Burglary Project was started. Two years
into the project, nearly 100 prolific burglars were caught and convicted. As a result of the 100 convictions, the burglary rate in Denver dropped 26%

4TH AMENDMENT RIGHTS ARE NOT VIOLATED!!

**August 26, 2004, the appellate court overturned the lower court and ruled that the DNA Collection Act does not violate the Fourth Amendment. The court's opinion included: "The DNA
profile thus serves the purpose of increasing the efficiency and accuracy in identifying individuals within a certain class of convicted criminals. The purpose is akin to that of a fingerprint". State v. Raines 857 A.2d 19, 33 (Md. 2004).

PLEASE READ ALL THESE COURT CASES. LEARN WHY COURTS HAVE DECIDED THAT …..
DNA AT ARREST IS NOT A VIOLATION OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT!!!
COURT CASES
(1)In the case U.S. v. Pool, the court decided the federal law that requires DNA to be taken from individuals charged with a federal felony didn’t violate defendant Jerry Pool’s constitutional rights. Pool was required to give a sample after being charged with possession of child pornography. Rep. Jay Neal, R-LaFayette, who sponsored the House bill that was used in place of
McKoon’s bill, said his legislation makes it easier for those who were arrested to get their records expunged if their charges are dropped or they are acquitted. U.S. Appeals Court: OK to check DNA of those arrested. A closely divided 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has found that the collection of DNA samples from people arrested -- but not yet convicted -- of crimes is constitutional. The appeals court rejected U.S. District Judge David S. Cercone's 2009 order finding that law enforcement could not collect DNA from Ruben Mitchell, who faces a federal charge of attempting to possess and distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine. Judge Cercone had found that requiring pre-trial detainees to submit DNA samples, which is done under the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act of 2000, violates the 4th Amendment's search and seizure rules.
In an 8-6 ruling, the circuit judges found that people who are arrested have "a diminished
expectation of privacy in their identities." Outweighing their privacy, they found, is the importance to law enforcement of correctly identifying people who are charged with crimes, determining their criminal history, potentially linking them to unsolved crimes and promptly ruling out involvement in a crime in cases in which the DNA does not match that found at the scene. "In sum, under the totality of the circumstances, given arrestees' and pretrial detainees' diminished expectations of privacy in their identities and the Government's legitimate interests in the collection of DNA from these individuals, we conclude that such collection is reasonable and
does not violate the Fourth Amendment," Judge Fuentes wrote.
(2) Anderson v. Com, Virginia
Supreme Court, No. 062051, 9/14/07, the collection of DNA from an arrestee did not violate the Fourth Amendment and the statute authorizing this collection is constitutional. Anderson.PDF FOR
(3) In the Matter of the Welfare of: C.T.L., Minnesota Court of Appeals, A06-874, File No.
J4-05-52203, 10/10/06, the Minnesota DNA arrestee statute violates the Fourth Amendment. C.T.L..PDF AGAINST
(4)United States v. Pool,09-015-EJG-GGH, Eastern District of California, May 27, 2009, the
court upheld the constitutionality of DNA sample collection from all those arrested upon probable cause for the commission of a federal felony finding that after a judicial or grand jury determination of probable cause has been made for felony criminal charges against a defendant, no Fourth Amendment or other Constitutional violation is caused by a requirement that the defendant undergo a mouth swab or blood test for the purposes of DNA analysis to be used for criminal law enforcement identification purposes. Pool.PDF affirmed in US v. Pool 9th Circuit CA No. 09-10303 9/14/10 Pool 9th C CA.pdf FOR
(5)US v. Mitchell, US Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, No. 09-4718, July 25, 2011, the court upheld
the constitutionality of DNA sample collection from those arrested upon probable cause for the commission of a federal felony finding that arrestees have a diminished expectation of privacy in their identities, and DNA collection from arrestees serves important law enforcement interests, therefore such collection is reasonable and does not violate the Fourth Amendment. Mitchell.PDF FOR
(6)Haskell v. Brown, US District Court for the Northern District of California, C 09-04779CRB, 12/23/09, the court denied a motion to enjoin the enforcement of the California arrestee statute finding that the plaintiff was not likely to succeed in establishing that the statue violated the Fourth Amendment or Fourteenth Amendment. Haskell.pdf FOR
(7)U.S. v. Thomas, US District Court of Western District of New York, 10-CR-6172CJS,
2/14/11, the court found that the defendant’s status as an indicted person does not materially affect the analysis of the privacy right at stake in the collection of a DNA sample. The court ruled that the only privacy interest implicated by the Federal DNA Act is identity and the government’s interest in accurate and rapid identifications outweighs the defendant’s privacy interest in the collection and analysis of a DNA sample. Thomas.pdf FOR
(8)People v. Buza, California Court of Appeals, First District, A125542, 8/4/11, the court concluded that the California DNA Act, to the extent it requires felony arrestees to submit a DNA sample for law enforcement analysis and inclusion in the state and federal DNA databases, without independent suspicion, a warrant or even a judicial or grand jury determination of probable cause, unreasonably intrudes on such arrestees‘ expectation of privacy and is invalid under the Fourth Amendment. Buza.PDF FOR
(9)Coffey v. Superior Court, California CA Div. 5, No. A108693, 5/24/05 (A defendant convicted,
on a felony complaint, of an offense punishable as either a felony or misdemeanor may be compelled to give a DNA sample, and is not entitled to have information deleted from the state's DNA bank if the offense is eventually determined to be a misdemeanor.) coffey.PDF FOR
U.S. v. Kraklio, U.S. Court of Appeals, 8th CIRCUIT, No. 06-1369, 6/27/06, No Fourth
Amendment violation in the required DNA sampling of individuals on probation, parole or supervised release following federal criminal convictions. US v. Kraklio.pdf FOR
(10)U.S. v. Conley, U.S.Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit. No. 05-5900 7/7/06, (an order of the
district court requiring defendant to submit to blood sampling for DNA pursuant to 42 U.S.C. section 14135a, which was imposed as part of her sentence pursuant to a guilty plea to bank fraud, is affirmed over claims that: 1) the collection of her DNA violated the Fourth Amendment, as a search required some individualized suspicion of wrongdoing; 2) the DNA testing did not meet the requirements of the "special needs" doctrine; and 3) the search failed the "totality of the circumstances" test). U.S. v. Conley.PDF FOR
(11)Banks v. U.S., U.S. Court of Appeals, 10th Circuit. No. No. 06-5068 6/18/07, (the court
applied the totality-of-circumstances test in upholding the Federal DNA database statute). Banks et al v. US.PDF FOR
(12)U.S. v. Lujan, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, No. 02-30237, Oct. 2, 2007, the court
upheld the DNA Analysis Backlog Elimination Act 42 U.S.C. §§14135-14135e rejecting claims it violated the 4th Amendment, the Ex Post Facto Clause, that is was an unconstitutional bill of
attainder, and contravened the separation of powers. Lujan.PDF FOR
(13)U.S. v. Kriesel, U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, No. 06-30110, 11/29/07, the court
upheld the “Justice for All Act” of 2004 which amended 42 U.S.C. §§14135-14135e rejecting claims it violated the 4th Amendment. Kriesel.PDF FOR
(14)U.S. v. Amerson, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, Nos. 05-1423 and 05-1063, 4/4/07,
the court upheld the constitutionality of “Justice for All Act” of
2004 rejecting the claim that it violates the 4th Amendment Amerson.pdf FOR
(15)In the Matter of the Welfare of: C.T.L., Minnesota Court of Appeals, A06-874, File No.
J4-05-52203, 10/10/06, the Minnesota DNA arrestee statute violates the Fourth Amendment. C.T.L..PDF AGAINST
(16)Anderson v. Com, Virginia Supreme Court, No. 062051, 9/14/07, the collection of DNA from an arrestee did not violate the Fourth Amendment and the statute authorizing this collection is constitutional. Anderson.PDF FOR
(17)Good v. Superior Court of Humbolt County, California Court of Appeals, 1st District, Division
1, A117317, 1/16/08, requiring registering sex offenders to give a DNA sample for the database regardless of the date of their offense was constitutional. Good.PDF FOR
(18)R. v. Rodgers, Supreme Court of Canada, 2006 SCC 15, [2006] 1 S.C.R. 554 SCC 15, the court
upheld a Criminal Code provision and the 1998 DNA Identification Act[iii], allowing for retroactive DNA sampling of prisoners without notice. The court found that these offenders identity have become a matter of state interest and they have lost any reasonable expectation of privacy in their identifying information derived from DNA sampling in the same way as they have lost any expectation ofprivacy in their fingerprints, photograph or any other identifying
measure. Rodgers.PDF FOR
(19)Kaemmerling, v. Lappin and Mukasey, US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit, No. 07-5065, 12/30/08, the collection of DNA from a convicted felon for database purposes does not violate the ReligiousFreedom Restoration Act or the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution. Kaemmerling.pdf Kaemmerling, v. Lappin andMukasey, US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, No. 07-5065, 12/30/08, the collection of DNA from a convicted felon for database purposes does not violate the Religious Freedom
Restoration Act or the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution. Kaemmerling.pdf FOR

For more information on arrestee DNA database sampling see:

1. DNA Saves http://www.katieslaw.org/video.html
2. Chicago’s Study on Preventable Crimes - requiring DNA for Felony arrests can solve and prevent violent crimes. Waiting for conviction can cost lives, Study by the City of Chicago, 2005 Chicago Preventable Crimes-Final.pdf Arrestee law Chicago Study.wmv

3. Maryland Study on Preventable Crimes - Requiring DNA for qualifying arrests in the proposed legislation can solve and prevent violent crimes. Study by the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System, the Baltimore County Police Department and the Maryland State Police, 2008. MarylandDNAarresteestudy.pdf
4. Washington State Preventable Crime Study 2008. WA Preventable Crime.pdf
5. The FBI Rules for Arrestee and Detainee DNA Collection, Federal Register,
Vol. 73, No. 76, 4/18/08. the FBI final rule on arrestee and detainee
testing.pdf
6.Denver’s Study on Preventable Crimes - Requiring DNA for felony arrests can solve and prevent violent crimes. Waiting for conviction can cost lives and allows sexual predators to continue to rape victims, Study by the Denver District Attorney’s Office 2009. Denver's Preventable Crimes Study.pdf
7. Why Arrestee DNA Legislation Can Save Indianan Taxpayers Over $50 Million
Per Year, Siegel and Narveson, January 2009. Indiana Arrestee Legislation - Jan 13 2009.pdf
8. The Constitutionality of DNA Sampling on Arrest, DH Kaye 2000,

http://homepages.law.asu.edu/~kayed/pubs/genlaw/01-CJLPP-arrest.htm
9.DNA Saves: More states are finding collecting DNA upon arrest saves
lives, money and time, by Ronnie Garrett, Officer.com, February 2009
issue, http://www.officer.com/print/Law-Enforcement-Technology/DNA-saves/1$45826
10. Denver Katie’s Law News Story – McGee arrest - Channel 7 News 11/2/11

Argument For Taking DNA From Arrestees Criminals tend to be repeat offenders and numerous studies that have documented that the
taking of arrestee's DNA helps to reduce and avoid crime, especially homicides and rapes. For example, in a recent Indiana Study each conviction of an offender prevented an average of seven to eight future crimes. And according to an article published in the Michigan Law Review in 1991 (Vol. 89, 1991), "Bright Lines, Dark Deeds: Counting Convictions Under the Armed Career Criminal Act," by James E. Hooper, 70% of American crime is committed by just 6% of its criminals.
Virginia's Arrestee's Experience
On January 1, 2003, the state of Virginia was the first state to collect DNA from people who were arrested for certain violent and sex crimes. This law was passed under the condition that if the person arrested was later found to be innocent or if the charges were dropped, the arrestees' DNA
profile would automatically be destroyed and removed from Virginia DNA Database. The arrestee law has proven to be beneficial in catching repeat offenders. Between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2009, a total of 559 hits to the Arrestee Database have been obtained. Eighty-nine of the hits were associated with sexual assault cases.
The Maryland Study
A study in Maryland, was performed in support of two bills, HB 370 and SB 211, to allow DNA to be taken from arrestees. The study was designed to examine the results of collecting DNA from felons arrested for crimes of violence and burglaries. The Maryland Study assessed the
criminal histories of three offenders and found that if DNA samples had been
required upon arrest, twenty crimes could have been prevented. These two bills were subsequently passed and as of January 1, 2009 DNA is being taken from arrestees.
The Denver Study
The Denver District Attorney's Office conducted a study that analyzed the criminal activities of five offenders. The analysis demonstrated that previously undetected crimes could have been prevented and/or solved had these offenders provided DNA upon their first arrest. The study concluded that the following crimes could have been prevented if DNA had been taken from just
these five arrestees: 3 Murders*18 Sexual Assaults*1 Attempted Sexual Assault*7 Kidnappings*4 Robberies*3 Felony Assault*11 Burglaries

On May 21st, 2009, Colorado's Katie's Law, SB 09-241, was signed into law by Governor Ritter. (To learn more about this law please click on State Representative Scott Tipton's website.)
The Chicago Study 2005, the city of Chicago, performed a study on the criminal
activities of eight repeat offenders over a 12-year period who were identified as being responsible for 60 violent crimes including 53 murders and rapes. By examining their criminal history it was concluded that these crimes could have been prevented if DNA had been treated as "the fingerprint of the 21st century." In each case, the offender had committed unsolved violent crimes
that could have been solved immediately through a DNA match. However, the taking of DNA for sex crimes or sexual assaults, at the time of the offense, was not required at arrest and the following preventable crimes occurred: 22 murders – victims ranging from 24 to 44 years of age
30 rapes – victims ranging from 15 to 65 years of age, Attempted rapes, Aggravated
kidnapping. These eight repeat offenders in Chicago accumulated a total of 21 felony arrests before finally being identified in violent crimes. Only seven of the prior felony arrests were for violent crimes – the remaining two-thirds were for non-violent felonies. However, in May 2009, even after this report was published, the Illinois legislature defeated a bill that would have mandated DNA collection from arrestees.
Washington
State – The Serial Rapist Example: On January 17, 2005, legislators introduced two bills (HB 1135 and SB 5165) to allow law enforcement to collect a DNA sample from people arrested for felonies. After hearing testimony against this legislation from the criminal defense bar and the American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU), the Washington State Legislature chose not to pass this public safety measure. In reaction to this, a study was published, "The Washington State Preventable
Crime Study", which focused on the criminal activities of one serial rapist whose crimes could have been prevented had these two bills been passed. During the summer and fall of 2005, a serial rapist named Anthony Casper Dias was able to go on a crime spree before he was identified and
arrested. On July 31, 2005, Dias was arrested for felony hit-and-run. No DNA was taken because there was no law that required it. Dias posted bond and was released from custody pending trial. One month later, on August 31, he raped a 19 year-old woman in her bedroom. DNA was collected from this rape, but the perpetrator could not be identified because there was no matching DNA in the DNA database. Dias continued with his crime spree that summer and raped a total of eight women and girls. He was finally arrested on November 8th, 2005, one day after raping two girls, aged 13 and 15, in their home. In September 2008, Dias was convicted of 20 felony counts and was sentenced to 227 years in prison. If authorities had been able to take Dias'
DNA after the hit-and-run in July 2005 it is very likely that most if not all of the subsequent rapes would not have occurred. In February 2009, a new House Bill, HB 1382, was introduced in
Washington to take DNA samples from persons arrested for felonies and other serious crimes.

The Indiana Study
In January 2009, a detailed study was published by Jay Siegel, Ph.D., Department Chair, Forensic and Investigative Science Analytical and Forensic Chemistry, IUPUI, and Susan D. Narveson, former Chief of the Investigative and Forensic Sciences Division of NIJ's Office of Science and
Technology, now Chief Operating Officer at Strand Analytical Laboratories, entitled "Why Arrestee DNA Legislation can save Indiana Taxpayers over $50 Million per Year."
This study found that collecting DNA from arrestees would significantly reduce the financial burden on taxpayers. It would also make Indiana a "safer society" and more attractive for businesses and people to move there. In January 2009, before adopting the DNA Arrestee law, Senate Bill 24, a Senate Judiciary Committee, listened to a representative from Strand Analytical Laboratories explain that it could "save Indiana almost $20 million a year in law enforcement and
judicial costs owing to the number of crimes being prevented, if the law is passed."
According to the study, criminals tend to be repeat offenders and each conviction prevents
and average of 7 to 8 future crimes, yielding a potential fiscal benefit of over $13,000 per conviction. By comparing arrestee's DNA to the DNA database of unknown assailants (biological evidence found at crime scenes) a hit may occur. Such a hit can help solve a crime and by doing so also become a crime prevention tool.

According to Kristine Crouch, Indiana CODIS Administrator of the Indiana State Police, when
biological crime scene evidence is uploaded to CODIS in search of potential leads,
40% of those searches yield a matching suspect. Increasing the number of "Known Persons" in a DNA database with DNA of arrestees will increase the number of crime-scene evidence
matches.

Conclusion Taking the DNA of arrestees can protect countless
innocent people by catching and convicting criminals early in their criminal
careers. In addition, it can save law enforcement and the justice system an
enormous amount of money and resources. If thousands of crimes can be avoided by
swabbing the cheek of those who are arrested, what is more important – the
right of an individual not to give DNA or the right of a society not to be
victimized? After all, law enforcement has been taking fingerprints from
arrestees for decades. Admittedly, DNA can provide more information than a
fingerprint, but if the appropriate protections are in place (i.e. purging the
database where arrestees are found innocent or where charges are dismissed)
this approach can provide law enforcement and the judicial system with a
powerful forensic tool to help protect society.

2012-01-08T18:04:00.002-06:00

6-7 years ago son after Brittany's murder, I would have never believed that I could say these words I will say now. "Because of and in spite of Brittany's murder, I have experienced some of the most unbelievable gifts from people across the US. My expereinces with some of these people are experiences many may never share"

Two events this week brought home that I am trully lucky in a different kind of way.

Of course I would never choose to have a daughter that has been murdered but..... this morn at the Tulsa hotel I stay at, an older couple anad I were talking politics, kids, current laws etc. They were retired police officers....so of course I discussed my daughter. Out of the blue before they left, the woman comes up to me and gives me a $100 check. People rarely do this and I am always awed by it. This month has been so hard financially that something like that gives me hope. And they give me hope because they are also trying to change our laws!!!!!! I can never repay them!!

Prior to this, at the beginning of the week, I learned through someone's posting about a site called rewardstv and crimepay. I wrote the director/creator of it, Max Cannon , just to see how one gets posted on his site. Within a day he tells me he will post our story, needs pictures and will take some of the reward fund he has had donated and connect it to Brittany's murder. He also has links on linkedin, facebook and a number of other facebook pages.

I am forever in debt of these people and others!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.rewardstv.net/oklahoma-states/6000-murder-reward-4/

Above is Brittany's link

below are the other feeds

http://www.rewardstv.net/
www.twitter.com/rewardstv
www.linkedin.com/in/crimepays
www.facebook.com/crimerewards
www.facebook.com/crimespay
www.facebook.com/localmugshots
www.facebook.com/rewardstv

CALL FOR BRITTANY

2012-01-02T13:50:00.016-06:00

Decided to stay over in Nashville--with heavy winds and possible snow--my car will float all over the road.

PLEASE HELP

This gives me one more day for a story here in Nashville and also to see if National gets interested. Nashville has been in the forefront of changing many DNA laws, making the process more efficient and pushing for victim's rights. That being said, I am asking, pleading for anyone, everyone who has a minute, to send an email, fax something, call any of the national news, say "do you know about the mom who has travelled 54000 mile over last 4 years trying to help find her daughter's killer and change laws to save other parents from such horror?" May describe how I am cutting this one short because of funds because they have all been self funded. National, when interested seems to be only when I am on the road. I can provide emails I have and phone numbers. You can also do a search on the web. All I have is today and 10 hrs on road tomorrow. If you ever have asked what can I do, do this. Please. It doesn't cost anything but a few moments. therapoet@aol.com

2011-12-31T09:20:00.003-06:00

To all parents, loved ones of those viciously, inhumanely taken from physical parts of our lives, I pray for ongoing strength in this New Year. I hope you hear, if you haven't yet, the chorus they sing together for us; beside us, above us as we take the steps we do each day. I hope you feel them dancing with us, making us stronger.

Life is but a momentary touch
found when taking a chance,
chanced steps through love’s
door that births lifelong dances.
We dance the back and forth
of gift and loss, of pain and joy
done to an opus of exuberant choruses.
And even if, within a moment’s notice the music stops,
dark fear is short lived that dances will end.
We soon dance stronger and longer
to ethereal music begun,
because of that time together.
12/31/30 MZ
With gratitude for all the kindness shared, with hope for continued strength..... Maggie Zingman Mother of Brittany Phillips 10-4-85 to 10-4-04

Will 9th CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER BE LAST?

2011-12-27T20:57:00.003-06:00

Ah well...no responses from NYC/national media/nor from anyone who, (from my suggestions), followed up my national queries with their emails nor ideas about other media. If I didn't ask, I would never know if someone might know something. Guess will head home late wed or early Thursday. Someone said try sleeping in Wal-Mart parking lot. Could work for not having money and exposure. Although proud ...that I have done most of the 9 CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER- TOURS on my own funds (35-$45000) with my single limited income that goes to bills, crises like water heaters and broken cars and a little to son, by not eating out, nor going to movies, doing only what is free, travelling is just caravans no vacations, at the same time there is an ache in my heart that I can’t afford things or can’t raise interest in others helping raise funds for things like profilers, cards to be handed out in prison, reward funds, all which would help solve Brit’s murder. Sadly many of the unsolved murders are about lower andlower middle income families who justy don’t have resources or time to add to their investigation. I guess that is why I designed Brittany’s Bridge, trying to gather as many of the unsolved homicides as I can and get people to share the compiled and hopefully growing lists with their own PDS. Please keep spreading the word. I would really appreciate it if anyone wants to explain toe if any of these ideas are offensive or come across wrong

Please don't forget to spread the word about Brittany's Bridge. I am seeking out unsolved homicide survivor families and friends to contact me with whatever information they can share on their case. This will begin the foundation of a national network of all of these cases. Initially, in small numbers, we will exchange our stories with each other and share other unsolved homicides with the local P...D. I will create the MAster list. All you will be asked to do, is give the list to your detective or local PD. If you don't have anyone to give it to or feel uncomfortable, I will create a connection. I have walked into many PD's across the US and had conversations with their sargents etc. Just think if the group gets large enough, think of the network of information that will be shared. You won't need a CARAVAN to get the word out. Please share with all friends and contacts on your email, on your website, etc. I can be contacted at therapoet@aol.com or you can call at 9186292317

Dateline, 48 hours, The First 48, all always do such great investigative shows. Please anyone who agrees, write them about the need beyond the important jobs issues, the missing and abducted, the across the ocean murders, please do a story about all the unsolved homicides that dot our nation that I have heard about on my 53000+ mile mission of CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER. Visit facebook.com//mom.missing.brittany and brittanyphillipsmurder.net

9TH CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER-PART ONE

2011-12-21T01:11:00.001-06:00

The Ninth CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER-PART ONE has begun. Memphis was unbelievable. Bofta Yiman, the Fox reporter and her photog spent a few hours with me. They aired our story at 5 and 9 that night and the morning show intro'd and aired it in different ways at least 4 times. People in the community let me know they saw it and were moved. Moved hopefully to look at the DNA at Arrest laws and rape laws and statutes.
Why is it that every time we finally catch a killer of a young woman, his DNA matches backwards over 10-15 years and multiple victims (I have many case examples of this). This often occurs for a few reasons. We find that these predators have been arrested but rapists often aren't convicted because the defense lawyers still, even in the modern world, develop some doubt with juries that somehow the victim's behaviors contributed to it. Yet rape has been proven to be a violent act that only uses the sexual act as a tool of violence.And judges and lawmakers can have these unsupported beliefs. Thus they don't even get convicted and are free to rape again and if their state doesn't take DNA at arrest, there is no record, no way to match his DNA to the crimes. It remains unidentified. And if they get convicted many judges will give them minimal sentences so they are often let out before their DNA even gets up into the system.

Have a story with Knoxville tomorrow and then a story in the afternoon in Roanoke!!!. Then to NYC. If anyone knows media there it is a hard nut to crack!!

WEAVING THROUGH WALLS-THE HEALING FROM LOSS

2011-10-22T17:59:00.001-05:00

THIS IS THE FIRST OF AT LEAST 8 POSTS

Along with myself, a small group has started discussing an Art Show//Seminar event in early December to benefit both Brittany's Bridge and the CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER tours. Not only do we want all forms of art from survivors of violence/murder/crimes and anyone else who has a compassion towards lessening the suffering from such crimes, but we will also be having presentations on issues surrounding the occurrence of violence, especially towards women.

We are looking for donated art or art that the artist is willing to give 50% of sale to the event. People have already talked to us about paintings, sketches, sculpture, found art, poems surrounded by art.

There will be more notices regarding the event but this is an initial request for art. Funds raised by this event will be focused on providing support for materials and travel for Brittany's Bridge. Still in its infancy, Brittany's Bridge evolved from my own personal experience both as a survivor and talking to thousands of families who have survived homicides and abductions of family members. This intervention type of organization is designed to both help survivor families and friends navigate the unfamiliar path of a homicide and/or abduction investigation, whether short or long term and to also train 1st responders to the events of homicides and abductions as to what (even when done out of kindness)can do harm to these surviving members.

Most know the CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER tours(visit brittanyphillipsmurder.net) Read on this blog about the CARAVAN tours. 8 have been completed. Each time they have been done on my own funds; 2nd loan on a car, saving pennies! but each time I return home it cuts into my paychecks for the next 2-3 months. We haven't solved her murder and all states need to change to DNA at arrest so I can't stop. Hopefully money raised from this event can help fund more CARAVAN TO CATCH A KILLER tours. I have done this mostly on my own for 4 years and I can't find funds to do again in March at this point.

I will, hopefully with some others, present on a few topics such as "why victims respond in different ways", "Will my traumatic experience always haunt me" and any other issues requested here. Along with being a mother of a homicide victim, I am a traum survivot myself and have been a trauma therapist for about 30 years.

WE ALSO ARE LOOKING FOR A VENUE FOR THE ART SHOW--I.E. A BUILDING

KHQ News Story - Spokane, Washington

2011-07-31T13:33:00.001-05:00

The ever growing stories fill my heart. God, I want to do this full time. Being able to, w/Brittany's help, create a little niche in people's hearts so seeds of change may grow. this is what I feel I am meant to do, need to do. Alex gave us a gift w/this story. I am forever grateful to him, to all reporters on all CARAVANs. We have truly compassionate "artists" across the US.

Read the full story here: http://www.khq.com/story/15180292/cara

Message from Maggie

2011-07-28T14:49:00.001-05:00

Drove thru 3 mountain ranges wednesday, from Billings, Montana, to Missoula. Each time I'd climb upwards, I'd hit a curved path, it arched me into a vista of endless mountains before going down. The imposing horizon opened sadness. W/each journey down mountains,tears fell...she'd love this.

This is what I try 2 share w/cities, not to feel sorry for me--to bring home this could happen to you if DNA/rape laws don't change.

Caravan to Catch a Killer Stops in Casper

2011-07-26T14:59:00.001-05:00

Caravan to Catch a Killer Stops in Casper
by Taylor Viydo, tviydo@k2tv.com
Tulsa, Oklahoma woman is driving across the country hoping to make waves as she goes along, and this weekend she stopped in Casper.

.......you know a story is good when it makes me cry

Read the full story here - http://www.k2tv.com/news.php?id=681

New Caravan Car Wrap

2011-07-21T15:02:00.001-05:00

It appears this is a rough cut or hsn't been shown yet but it is a great pic of the car and also it talks about Fellers and Midwest wraps donating the WRAP!!!!