Saturday, June 26, 2010

Beth Bentley - Day 34


Beth Bentley, 41, went missing on May 23, 2010.

Why hasn't there been a press conference in Woodstock? Wouldn't you think that the Woodstock Police Department and Scott Bentley would have conducted several press conferences by now?

Beth was reported missing to the Woodstock Police Department on Monday, May 24, as of 10:48PM, according to the second missing-person press release of WPD. Not the first.

When was the first press release delivered to the press? On its preparation date of May 27?

On May 30 Chicago Tribune "Breaking News" carried a story that "friends and relatives" were asking the public's help, not that the Woodstock P.D. had announced that she was missing.

On or about June 9 the Woodstock PD finally put the May 27 press release on its website but buried the second press release behind a tab that most internet users would believe held only older news. That June 9 press release has since been moved to the WPD first page of press releases.

But still there has been no organized, ongoing public appeal for information that might lead to finding Beth. CrimeStoppers announced a $2,000 reward, which has since increased to $5,000.

The 6:08PM train story has pretty much been blown off the tracks. Speculation is rampant. Beth's Facebook "missing" page has 6,626 followers. A few followers from out-of-town are hard chargers and anxious to see less talk, more walk.

Even the fundraiser that has been announced will not be until July 16. Where is the sense of urgency about finding her?

Those who were with her in Mt. Vernon need to be under the microscope until every grain of truth about the week-end comes out.

What law enforcement agency is really in charge? Woodstock PD? Mt. Vernon PD? Jefferson County SO? Illinois State Police? If WPD is the lead investigatory LE agency, how do you manage a missing-person case from 330 miles away?

The fundraiser ought to happen right now, so money can be raised for a private investigator and an organized public effort of search parties in Mt. Vernon. A PayPal link could be placed on the http://www.bethismissing.com/ website (which has gone stale), with assurance that any money donated would be publicly accounted for and used for searching for Beth. If 6,000 people donated $2, it would be a good start.

3 comments:

John Lovaas said...

Mr. Philpott-

You ask:

"...What law enforcement agency is really in charge? Woodstock PD? Mt. Vernon PD? Jefferson County SO? Illinois State Police?..."

From the June 2 Mt. Vernon Register-Star:

"...according to X Mendenall.

“...We saw information on our Facebook page, and contacted the Woodstock Police,” (Mt. Vernon Police Chief Chris) Mendenall said. “We contacted the investigator in Woodstock, and the Illinois State Police are now heading the investigation in this area.”Mendenall said...”

and from a June 3 ABC-7 report:

"...Woodstock police are working with several different law enforcement agencies on this case, including the Centralia Police Department, the Amtrak police, and Illinois State Police..."

Another Lawyer said...

I am going to go out on a limb here, but I would guess that the family has not stirred up the press in an attempt not to scare Beth away.

While many in the "if you call this media" would like answers yesterday ... I am not sure the family shares that sense of urgency.

Who's interests are served if there is a media blitz and all of "information is aired?" That would be all of the bloggers, and commenters.

If Beth is out there, she has been exposed to some very demeaning comments posed as conjecture or "sleuthing."

Does this make it more difficult for Beth to return ... I think it does--so I understand the family's position.

Of course, someone who needs to know everything, all the time, and which rules should be applied now to what and when... might be a little irritated.

Gus said...

Another Lawyer, you make good points. If there were any information that Beth was alive and good health, and just off on her own and not in danger, then much of the pushing for action would stop.

In the absence of any information of that type, it seems to me that the urgency should stay high to do everything possible to find her.