Natalee Holloway: How Can EquuSearch Help?

Recently another blog posted that Texas EquuSearch, who I have been critical of in the past, was returning to Aruba in the search for Natalee Holloway. If an email I received tonight is genuine, and it appears that it is - there is another frustrated Mother who EquuSearch apparently feels they don't need to answer to before leaving the states, again.

Here are the contents of her email:

I am the mother of a 17 year old that went fishing on 4-9-05, with 2 other men none of the bodies have been recovered. When we had our first meeting with the US Coast Guard, all these other people were there, I later I came to find out that they were with Gulf Coast Recovery Center, but Texas EquuSearch and Recovery Team was in the back ground, they popped their heads out when the Media was around, well I can tell you that they exploited my son, took money from everyone, then went to Aruba, and stopped looking for our child, the picture is on the web, but you cannot pull them up/ they claim they have no affiliations with Gulf Coast Search and Recovery Center ???

I have flyers that have everyone's name on it. a few weeks after all of this, some lady called my house ( I have it on caller ID) they wanted to know, what I wanted them to do, (wrong thing to ask me) I told them!!!!!! then the lady said that I was ungrateful, that when I really got mad !!!!!!more words. I'm just glad to know that there are other people that have no respect for that group. But it has hurt us, we can not get anyone to help in looking for our son. I have reported this to Texas Dept.of Public Safety, they have turn it over to the FBI? If you need more please feel free to call on my family.

It appears the website linking both Texas Equusearch and Gulf Coast Recovery to this case was taken down. But it didn't get past Google's cache system.

Please call the Gulf Coast Recovery Center - Randy Faulkner at (281) 229-9172. Or Call Texas EquuSearch at 281-309-9500 or Toll-free (877) 270-9500. Fax: 281-534-6719 TES Case # 05443

Here is a link to a poster from the Texas Department of Public Safety. If anyone can help the family in Texas, I would encourage them to do so. And if Texas EquuSearch did take the money and run on this family for a more high-profile case, I hope they rot in hell.

Comments

[ADS]

Absolutely disgusting but you know, it doesn't surprise me a bit. This group and it's founder are nothing but a bunch of media whores just like Beth Twitty. Supposedly, according to sources in Ocilla, Georgia, TES is supposed to be assisting with the search of Tara Grinstead, the teacher missing from that area. I wonder if that will even take place. At this point, I think the Grinstead family would probably be better off trying to locate another group to assist in their search for Tara.

[sprite]

I woudl have to here more about this before I assume it is true. You never know anymore what people will say.

[woebegone]

no media...no TES. Isnt the first time such an incident has occured.

[Observer*]

And if Texas EquuSearch did take ........by Dan

Posted by: ADS | Nov 21, 2005 9:51:41 PM
Absolutely disgusting but you know, it doesn't...

Hang on a minute... better check it out before you ruin a reputable group of people. By starting a post this way...it's bound to go bad before it ever get's authenticated. Be fair! If it concerns you that much to make a post, be kind and rewind! Check it out first!

Suzan

[Dan]

You never know anymore what people will say.

True, but we are talking about a Mother with a missing child, yes?

[Dan]

Check it out first!

I didnt just toss it up - I have the email from the Mother - the cached poster, now pulled from the web. ES can answer themselves, if they wish.

[Observer*]

I would go further to find out, just exactly who she gave money to....and for what (before I assumed it to be true). I see it was sometime ago, perhaps they searched all they could- I don't know. I don't have the answer's, but your post leads me to ask more (seek answers). I really was not meaning you Dan, as you wrote the word "if".
It was the poster right after you who took it and ran...(Ads)

[questioner]

Dan,
Do you think you can become involved by putting the information about her missing child on this blog. I am sure that a lot of important people peek in here and seeing the information may get someone of importance to do something.
This sounds so sad. I feel so bad for this mother.
Thanks,

[Dan]

Do you think you can become involved by putting the information about her missing child on this blog.

I did - there are two links to the information in my post.

[nelson]

Now some people wants to hear the other side of the story, why never wanted to hear the other side of the story of Aruba?. It hasn't been told yet since all you can hear is boycott, corruption and cover-up. Whenever its towards Beth side then immediatly its a lie, trying to smear the good name of some holy people.

[Observer*]

Name: Austin Jay Childs
Case Number: M0506013
Case Type: Catastrophe
Last Seen in: Freeport (Brazoria County)
Last Seen on: 4/9/2005
Height: 5' 09"
Weight: 170 lbs.
Age Missing: 17
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown
Date of Birth: 7/27/1987
Race: White
Sex: Male
State Missing From: Texas
Country Missing From: USA
Circumstances: Austin has a scar on his right shoulder. He was last seen wearing a brown leather jacket, blue jeans, flip flop sandals, and a white shell choker necklace. Austin was seen leaving on a fishing trip with John Zimmerman and Scott Keller. Their boat was found capsized in the Gulf of Mexico.
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/mpch/mpdetails.asp?id='M6/22/20051:32:46PM'
Suzan

[Observer*]

Posted April 13th 2005 at:
http://www.angelsmissing.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=4173

Students at Dobie High School held a well-attended a candlelight vigil Tuesday night for a former classmate who's still missing in the Gulf.

U.S. COAST GUARD

A Coast Guard chopper spotted an overturned boat with a hole in the bottom.

"We need him. We need him very bad," said friend Carol Zeiber.

"Austin was very nice. He was like a brother to me. He would take me everywhere. He's really strong and he's not gonna give up and he's gonna come back," said youngster Matthew Mikes.

The U.S. Coast Guard continued Wednesday, searching for 17-year-old Austin Childs, two other men and their dog.

Their boat overturned Sunday during a fishing trip near Freeport. The Coast Guard gave 11 News video of the overturned boat, found just hours after the group didn't return home as planned.

So far, there have been no new discoveries.

The Coast Guard found three life jackets, but friends say there were six on board. Monday, crews found a life-jacket that may have belonged to one of the passengers.

Austin Childs, 17; Scott Keller, 41, John Zimmerman, 51, and a yellow Labrador Retriever were on board the recreational boat when it overturned.

A Coast Guard chopper spotted an overturned boat with a hole in the bottom. Childs, along with other friends, was part of a group known as the Rat Pack at Dobie High School. He and his friends were active in auto shop and FAA activities.

"He showed the Pasadena Livestock Show in October and he got like 8th in his class with his hog," says fellow student Brianna Faulkner.

"It's hard. It's how you treat people. Don't take them for granted, 'cause you never know when they're gonna be gone," says student Brittley Wiggins.

Zimmerman is believed to be the boat's owner. The three men were on a weekend fishing trip near Freeportwhen they disappeared.

A Coast Guard helicopter spotted the overturned boat which appeared to have a hole in the bottom. Investigators believe it hit something, causing it to capsize in 70-degree water.

"Well we believe... that the water temperature is high enough where if they did get thrown into the water or they did fall overboard that the water temperature would not expose them to hypothermia too quickly," said Scott Parkhurst with the U.S. Coast Guard. "So we believe if they are in the water, there would be a likelihood that they'd survive. However, that doesn't account for injuries or anything like that."

Austin Childs is described as an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish and hunt. Childs' parents say he attended Dobie High School before beginning home schooling. He remained in touch with friends and was still popular at the high school.

Former classmates describe him as an avid outdoorsman.

His friends' mothers gathered and spoke about their children. "Fish, four-wheeling, motorcycles, hunting. If it was outside, that's what they all did together," says family friend Tammi Zieber.

The mothers, who have banded together to look out for their adopted son, are asking boaters who might have been in the vicinity at any time during the weekend, to notify the Coast Guard if they saw them at any time, in any location. They remind boaters that there would have been an unusual sight on an offshore fishing boat -- a dog.

"He's a really nice person if you get to know him," said Brittley Wiggins, a Dobie senior. "He always talked about going fishing and hunting and he raises animals."

Childs' parents say Austin loved to fish. He called them Friday night to say he was going fishing with friends and would be back Saturday. That was the last time they heard from him.

"It's hard. It's how you treat people," said Wiggins. "You learn -- don't take them for granted because you never know when they're going to be gone."

http://www.khou.com/news/local/galveston/s....1c9b2273e.html

[Bigfish]

TIMMMY!

[truthbetold]

this is so incredibly sad...most likely all 3 are dead now and of course because of beth having to have the spotlight on her and dealing only with people who are the same, nobody was looking for these three men.......no, natalee is not less important than them but she is not more important either and I think in the end we will all find that so much time and energy was wasted while other truly missing people suffered and so did their families and got no attention from the press or anyone because it was all about beth beth beth and her lies.......

[Observer*]

truthbetold

The Coast Guard found three life jackets, but friends say there were six on board. Monday, crews found a life-jacket that may have belonged to one of the passengers.

The Coast guard as well as other State and private agencies, did an active and thorough search.
The ocean is a difficult place to search, but I don't believe other missing person's took away from this search.

Yes, it is a sad fact some cases get more media attention then other's.
=(
Just a curious observation on my part. But, I see (read) more people attracted to the thought of corruption or picking on side lines then on some of these cases that are mentioned on here (and on the web)..., then I do attention on the actual Missing.
As an example, there have been thousands of post's on here about BHT (pro or con). Compared to the interest of other actual Missing Person's cases.
This interest (on here)in a way shows you how negative spin media, is more attractive then...an actual missing persons case in most circumstances.
I would be pleased as heck, if you all would turn your attention to "missing people" and see how you could help with positive actions or words, instead of the negative attacks which go nowhere.
JMO Suzan

If you want to help with cold cases, or even current ones, there are a number of ways of going about it. You "can" make a difference.

[Kcarter]

I am with Texas Equusearch and we have no association with Randy Faulkner and/or Gulf Coast Rescue. We received no money or donations from any of the families, but were informed that Randy did.

Sgt Steve Reed w/the Harris Co Sheriff's office is a friend of the family and asked for our help. It is our understanding that Randy Faulkner didn't or wasn't able to perform what he offered.

We searched for 8-9 days utilizing helicopters, airplanes, and boats covering the coast from Orange, TX to the south of Angleton, TX.

There were no TV media interviews done by Texas Equusearch. Tim met with Austin's father and the Zimmerman family and helped them file a missing persons report in Angleton and to submit their DNA to the Texas Missing Persons DNA Database; Tim has never met Austin's mother.

Our Raven 44 helicopter costs $650 per hour to run and many hours were used; not one offer of a donation was given.

We contacted every owner of all abandoned oil field rigs to send cruise boats to check their rigs in case one of the victims swam to one. We're deeply saddened and sorry for all families involved that we could not locate their beloved family members.

We challenge the writer of the "email" to produce a canceled check or any other proof that Texas Equusearch received money for this search.

We are very offended by the email and article and request a retraction.

[Observer*]

Posted by: Kcarter | Nov 22, 2005 12:17:58 AM

I respectfully second that request for retraction.

Suzan

[Sue]

This young man went missing well over a month before Natalee.. Also he went missing in teh Ocean Off the Gulf coast.. I just dont see where
Natalee's case has anything to do with this missing young man..TES didnt come into the search for Natalee until a month or so into her missing.. So I dont know how this woman can say TES took her money and ran to Aruba..Obviously the coast guard gave up after no such luck of finding a body.. If the coast guard thought there was any hope they would have kept searching. As far as Water searches go in Aruba the only reason TES is searching there is the police said to search there

[jkatl]

We are very offended by the email and article and request a retraction.

Posted by: Kcarter | Nov 22, 2005 12:17:58 AM

Dan, what say you?

[Observer*]

Check it out first!

I didnt just toss it up - I have the email from the Mother - the cached poster, now pulled from the web. ES can answer themselves, if they wish.

Posted by: Dan | Nov 21, 2005 10:07:07 PM

I would go further to find out, just exactly who she gave money to....and for what (before I assumed it to be true). I see it was sometime ago, perhaps they searched all they could- I don't know. I don't have the answer's, but your post leads me to ask more (seek answers). I really was not meaning you Dan, as you wrote the word "if".
It was the poster right after you who took it and ran...(Ads)

Posted by: Observer* | Nov 21, 2005 10:17:23 PM

Okay! They wish!!!!
I know your busy Dan, so I checked it out for you, and your "if" seems to be a "Not".

Thank you in advance for doing the right thing.
Suzan

[George]

http://rjames.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-122.html http://rjames.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-137.html http://rjames.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-346.html

[Enough_of_the_B.S.]

no media...no TES. Isnt the first time such an incident has occured.

Posted by: woebegone | Nov 21, 2005 10:04:06 PM
-------------------------
Great line woebegone! That turtle-killing, self-serving phony baloney needs to be audited, watched and possibly stopped from these scams. Is there no one attatched to this lying twitty family that has any credibility, or no criminal record, and racket going on?

[Enough_of_the_B.S.]

http://rjames.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-122.html http://rjames.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-137.html http://rjames.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-346.html

Posted by: George | Nov 22, 2005 2:34:14 AM

Unbelievable. This guy is crazier than that nutcase, Joe Mama., who threatened all of Aruba, and to have three young men gang-raped to death, even though the mother goes on television and says she doesn't know if Natalee is dead or alive, and thinks she recognized her voice in October. How much more sickening can this spectacle get?

[George]

Is there no one attatched to this lying twitty family that has any credibility, or no criminal record, and racket going on?

Posted by: Enough_of_the_B.S. | Nov 22, 2005 2:35:32 AM

We can't know that for sure, but in five months of research I haven't found any. One of most scurpulous among those may be Fred Golba - a fugitive from child support in Massachusets.

[a..incanada]

TES abandoned the search for this boy to plan for Aruba? Who is paying TES? Apparently Beth has been asked to pay and she refused. The money coming in goes to her and Jug as trustees. No taxes, and not responsible to the people for expenditures! What are they planning? Some time ago a poster from the Birmingham area had written that Beth and Jug couldn't afford to jetset with the neighbours, well, it seems they soon will be able to, after scamming the people for funds, but NOT seven years, right? What a corrupt bunch of swindlers. Everything comped in Aruba for millions of dollars, and they call a boycott? Who is insane here? Look at the people she surrounds herself with! All of the same CLOTH! The students still can't get their stories straight either. Beth knows where Natalee is!

[a..incanada]

TES abandoned the search for this boy to plan for Aruba? Who is paying TES? Apparently Beth has been asked to pay and she refused. The money coming in goes to her and Jug as trustees. No taxes, and not responsible to the people for expenditures! What are they planning? Some time ago a poster from the Birmingham area had written that Beth and Jug couldn't afford to jetset with the neighbours, well, it seems they soon will be able to, after scamming the people for funds, but NOT seven years, right? What a corrupt bunch of swindlers. Everything comped in Aruba for millions of dollars, and they call a boycott? Who is insane here? Look at the people she surrounds herself with! All of the same CLOTH! The students still can't get their stories straight either. Beth knows where Natalee is!

[lovaruba]

FOR MONTHS I AM SAYING THAT TEXAS SEARCH ARE A BUNCH OF WHITE TRAILER SCAM,I REPEAT AGAIN THAT THE ONLY INTEREST ON ARUBA WAS ALCOHOL,FREE FOOD
AND LODGING AND LOOKING FOR COLOMBIAN PROSTITUTES.
I SAW THEM WORKING??!!! IN TANKTOPS AND RUBBER SLIPPERS ,WITH EQUIPMENT THAT ONLY USED BY KIDS WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING AT THE BEACH.THE ONLY THING
MILLER DID WAS ASKING FOR DONATIONS.ON TV HE WAS
TELLING HOW FANTASTIC HE WAS ,ALL THE TIME DOING BLA ,BLA, BLA ,FOR ME AN OTHER PIECE OF SHIT WHO WANTS ON NATIONAL TV.

LOVARUBA

[berry]

Equusearch was controversial, if nothing else. I'm not sure what to believe.

[Lucille]

Once again, Dan, the wannabe reporter, posts something without authenticating it first. I find it so amusing that he so vehemently criticizes MSM for doing the exact same thing that he does. You owe TES an apology, big time.

[xp]

You owe TES an apology, big time.
Posted by: Lucille | Nov 22, 2005 10:01:34 AM

Lucille,I think you owe big time the innocent Arubian people and the rest of Americans an apology.

[maria]

Once again, Dan, the wannabe reporter, posts something without authenticating it first. I find it so amusing that he so vehemently criticizes MSM for doing the exact same thing that he does. You owe TES an apology, big time.

Posted by: Lucille | Nov 22, 2005 10:01:34 AM

Lucille''your rigth given news without checking out if its true is shamefull, so Dan should apologize and allso the media who is covering the holloway case, lots of unfounded inuendo is just aired on cable, and nobody complaints about that.

[Observer*]

Yes, Maria, but hooray! for technology! As we are able to right and write the wrongs on here...a public forum. I may add, cable news, local news, newspapers etc. do give innuendo's. But, they also print retractions. It is only fair, if we read something: that we can change misinformation on the matter by displaying the truth. Do you like to read innuendo's? or would you rather it be corrected if possible? We can not go on cable television and voice our opinion. You and I Maria, have a responsiblity as readers to each other, to pass on corrected information especially if it concerns (in this case) a non profit group who give their time, and risk their lives to help other's. They (TES) should be commended and given the chance to correct 'Incorrect' information about them posted on here for all to read. And TES in a past post stepped up to the slanderous comment, and they did it with dignity. Again... I type that I second that the article be removed, and or retracted - or corrected. Maria, if someone posted incorrect information about you on here, and I knew different..I would do the same. And yes, people do complain about what is aired on cable t.v.... Unlike cable t.v. we are able to be involved on a personal level. So, I throw in my flag...and cry foul! And believe it or not, there are legal ramifications to posting slanderous information on a public blog, or message board.

[Key West]

can't we just all get along?
We are all on the same quest.
where is Natalee?
She is just a nice young girl.
Please can we love that fact,and stop picking everyone's lives apart?

[Observer*]

Amen to that!

[Cheryl Benskin]

On Oct 25, 2006, my husband was hunting in Colorado, a blizzard hit, and he never returned. I had never heard of Texas Equusearch, but a friend of ours had, called them, and they called in a contact with drone planes, plus they helped fly us back home. Never once has this organization asked us for money. My husband's story was aired on our local channels several times, and when Tim Miller was interviewed, I never once heard him asking for donations, even though I think he should...they need money to keep their organization going. They will be going back in the spring to resume the search for my husband. Texas Equusearch has conducted more than 400 searches and has safely returned more than 300 missing children, teens and adults to their families. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, have credited Equusearch with having perhaps the highest 'find rate' (about 70% - with nearly 85% of these found alive) of any search and rescue organization in our nation. Check out their web-site. I am sick of what some of you have said, comments, etc. when you have absolutely no personal knowledge of Tim Miller or this organization.