National Tour Visits West Virginia to Revive Missing Persons Cases

Advocates Are Traveling Cross-Country in the 5^th Annual “On the Road to Remember” Tour

 

Wilmington, NC – For the fifth year, volunteers from the North Carolina-based CUE Center for Missing Persons will set out on another cross country tour to raise awareness of missing children and adults. The team is scheduled to make appearances throughout West Virginia in August; distributing a trail of DVD’s, press kits and valuable information concerning 110 missing persons and 6 unsolved homicide cases. Some West Virginia cases are included in this year’s tour and they will be highlighted at the groups pre planned rally stops that will include participation from law enforcement agencies, advocates - organizations, families of the missing and local and state officials.

 

“After so many years, missing persons and homicide cases fade from the public’s radar, but for the families and friends left behind, the nightmare continues — every minute of every day,” said CUE Founder, Monica Caison, who is leading the caravan of volunteers”. “We make this trip each year to assure no case fades from memory and to support the families who remain searching for a resolution. They need our help and the community’s help to bring forth information.”

 

The 2008 tour, On the Road to Remember will depart from Wilmington, NC on August 21st, and will end more than 5, 299 miles later returning the volunteers to their home state North Carolina, on September 2nd. Hundreds of volunteers will take part in various legs of the tour, which will include thirty rally stops, traveling thru seventeen states in an effort to promote a public awareness.

 

 

West Virginia – RALLY STOPS

 

• Family of Missing - Melanie Metheny

Moose Club 2805 Kanawha Blvd. E. Charleston, West VA. 25311

August 22^nd at 11:15 am

 

• Family of Missing – Jason Scott Adkins

Ritter Park (corner) 13^th Avenue and 10^th Street Huntington, West Virginia

August 22^nd at 9:00 am

 

National Tour - Quick Facts

• Rally Stops – 30
• States Traveling Through - 17
• Cases Missing Featured – 110
• Case Homicide Featured - 6
• Miles Traveled Total – 5,299

 

 

National Tour Purpose and Inspiration

      The annual tour was created to generate new interest in cold cases of missing people across our nation. The inspiration came in 2004 from the case of North Carolina college student Leah Roberts, who had gone on a cross-country trip of self-exploration. Her wrecked and abandoned vehicle was found, but Leah is still missing. Leah’s case went cold and interest faded until CUE volunteers set out on a grueling 14-day trip to retrace her route and inform the media of all those who were missing in the path of the tour. In the years to follow, it only seemed right to keep hope alive after families across the country voiced the need for more help and supported the tour.

 

National Tour Objective

The national road tour, called “On the Road to Remember,” is an awareness campaign that focuses on missing persons cases that have gone cold or have not received appropriate media coverage on the local level – much less the national level.. The tour, which travels through many states annually, provides that attention.

 

In all cases of missing people, it is vital to inform the public of the missing person’s circumstances quickly and to disseminate that information to the media and the public. In most cases where details are released immediately to the public through an organized campaign, the public brings forth information that aids in the investigation and or the location of the victim. The media plays a significant role in getting the word out on the behalf of the missing person and should be recognized as a vital resource to any investigation.

 

Interest in many of the cases we have featured in previous tours has been renewed. The media has learned about local cases they were unaware of; case investigations have been renewed, and searches conducted. Information has resulted in new leads in some cases, and has even helped identify an unknown decedent. And finally, some of the missing have been found, which is the main reason we conduct the tour every year, despite the toll it takes on our all-volunteer staff.

 

It is the belief of the CUE Center for Missing Persons that all investigations, the public, volunteers and the media should work in collaboration on cases involving missing children and adults; until this happens, there will continue to be cases of the missing labeled “cold” or “inactive.”

 

About CUE

Founded in 1994, the non-profit CUE Center, based in Wilmington, N.C., provides support, services and search efforts to families of the missing. To date, CUE has assisted more than 8,200 families in need. CUE is entirely supported by donations and active volunteers.

 

About Monica Caison

Exposed to families suffering a missing person three times before the age of 25, Monica Caison decided take action. In 1994, she founded the CUE Center for Missing Persons, which provides assistance for those who have lost a loved one, utilizing media contacts, conducting extensive searches, and going to any length necessary to locate missing persons, regardless of their age, race, sex or socio-economic background. CUE picks up where law enforcement leaves off.

Mrs. Caison has received numerous local, state and national awards for her volunteerism and tireless spirit. As a fulltime volunteer, Mrs. Caison is driven to help restore the faith in humanity that family members inevitably lose knowing that someone, somewhere, knows what happened to their missing loved one.

 

For a complete tour schedule visit CUE’s website and click on the Road Tour button; www.ncmissingpersons.org , e-mail cuecenter@aol.com