 A Search DeniedRealizing the value of the Internet, the access to millions of people throughout the United States, VerHage set out to get Shannon's story on the net. It meant endless hours of learning the concept. the lingo, the ins and outs of a web page in a world VerHage was not familiar with. Maybe someone out there can remember seeing a beautiful, blonde, blue-eyed baby girl materialize at a time that coincided with Shannon's disappearance or would recognize her picture or the age progression photo. 
 The net had no boundaries, no limits," says VerHage, "Except one...The law." Shannon's mother, Rachel Timmerman, was murdered by the abductor, leaving Shannon without a legal guardian. A court order showing legal guardianship is required by law to list a child with an agency developed to locate missing children. The twist? In order to get a court order naming guardianship, Shannon would have to be produced in court. In VerHage's words. "No child, no court order. Wouldn't' a reasonable person, or agency, realize that the first priority should be locating the child? When she is found and safe would be the time to let the legal system decide who would get custody," laments VerHage. "Of course that's just my opinion. I could be wrong." Since developing a web page for Shannon, VerHage has been turned down time and time again by the very agencies funded to help her. "There is absolutely nothing we can do for you," is what VerHage heard for the Polly Klass Foundation. "No" is what she has heard from Child Find of America and the Missing Children's Help Center, as well as from the National Missing Children Locate Center. Although rejected at first, Child Search has agreed to put Shannon on their Internet site, but only temporarily. " Get the court order, " she was told. One agency, Help the Kids, has lent a helping hand. Founder, Deatra Eichinger, has agreed to list Shannon without the court order. www.helpthekidsinc.com/shannon.html But she too feels the pressure, the law is the same in every state. No child, no custody, "I have checked with multiple attorneys throughout the country on this issue. All of them have said that since the child (Shannon) is not in the physical custody of either parent and cannot be produced in court, there is nothing any attorney can do." states Eichinger. Eichinger originated Help the Kids when her 9 year old daughter was abducted. Exposure on the net helped to locate her daughter within 24 hours when a motel clerk, just after looking at the missing child notice on the Internet, checked in a man and a little girl. He called police to inform them that the little girl looked similar to the one he had just seen on the net. VerHage will continue her search, continue her work on getting Shannon listed on the web. "When I first heard the responses from these agencies, I made up my mind that I would do it myself," states VerHage. "But it goes so slow. When people see my page on Shannon, they often email me to tell me that they have sent the page on to everyone they know. If everyone in Rockford would do the same, that would go a long way in speeding up the process. If anyone has their own web page, they can link to Help the Kids or to this web site. Anyone interested in dedicating a page on their site to Shannon, please contact Kim VerHage at [email protected]
Copy write 1999 The Rockford Squire
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HOMEUsed with permission If you have any information, Contact: Michigan State Police at: (231)652-1662 The FBI at: (616)456-5489 The Silent Observer at: (616)774-2345 |