People are terrified by the thought of sexual offenders. Primarily due to the ghastly deeds these criminals might commit, and partially because there is no easy way to identify a potential offender. It may seem like the type of predator who would willingly abuse another human being, especially a child, should have an obvious “look”, but the truth is even scarier. You can’t tell what another person is capable of doing just by looking.

Oprah interviewed four men who sexually abused children. She held a frank discussion with them in which she tried to understand why and how they perpetrated such destructive crimes. Her interview was direct, brutally honest and horrifying. In the end, Oprah created a list of four things everyone should know about child molesters:

Child molesters usually know their victims
It is a nightmare scenario for parents: a stranger grabs their child and drives to an unknown destination. We’ve all seen stories like this on the nightly news, and wonder what can be done to keep children safe. While this is a serious concern that must be addressed, an even greater possibility exists that a potential abuser already knows your kids.

Adults who watch over or educate children. A friend you’ve known for years. Even a relative. An untold number of families have been devastated by a sexual offender who was thought of as a trusted friend or loved one. The men Oprah interviewed were close to their victims long before the abuse began.

Child molesters watch for vulnerable children
Sexual predators seek out easy targets to victimize. They watch for children who are angry at their parents, unhappy with their home lives and in need of a strong adult presence. Once they find a susceptible child, the predators move in and attempt to establish a bond of trust and mutual respect. This bond allows them to take advantage of a child who doesn’t know how to react to the sexual abuse.

Child molesters manipulate their victims
The sexual offenders who spoke to Oprah confessed that they used techniques to convince their victims that the molestation was a pleasant experience, or that the children were to blame for any inappropriate behavior. They claimed to spend a long time “grooming” their victims by slowly establishing a rapport while eliminating all personal and physical boundaries. All their time and efforts were designed to give them complete control over a helpless individual.

There is hope
Oprah’s interview takes viewers through a whirlwind of emotions – from disgust and anger to disbelief and shock. Her final goal, however, was to let people know there are ways to protect your children.

First and foremost, watch your children closely. Give them the time, love and attention they need so they do not look for these qualities elsewhere. Next, keep a close eye on anyone who spends time with your children.

According to a Psychotherapist who participated in the interviews, parents should watch for tell-tale signs of potential child molesters. Some of the common indicators are seen in an adult who: spends more time with kids than other adults; regularly shares personal information with children; frequently buys gifts for young kids; or habitually tickles or wrestles with young people. In general, be wary of any adult who pays an unusual amount of attention to your children.

Another important lesson for parents is to take warnings from your children seriously. One sexual offender said that his victim told her parents about the abuse she was enduring, but he was able to convince them he was innocent. He stated that parents should believe stories of abuse, and that children “don’t lie about that stuff.”

A final method parents can use to protect their children is to stay informed about sexual offenders who live near their home, school or work. Adults can order a Sex Offender Report, which lists offenders living in any city or zip code in the United States. The report displays essential information such as an offender’s name, address, physical description and details about their crime.

Parents who are concerned about someone who spends time with their children can also order a Criminal Records Report to see if the person has any offenses on file. A potential child molester may have a criminal history that you need to know about, because when it comes to your children there is no such thing as being too cautious.

Oprah’s two-hour conversation with the child molesters is available online. Watch it to learn more about the thought process and practices of convicted sexual offenders; take every precaution possible to keep your family safe and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.

Read more about “What should be done with sexual offenders”

Read more about “New laws for California sex offenders”

Choosing A Costume

Half the fun of Halloween is dressing up, and kids can be very opinionated about what or whom they want to be. Parents often go through a lot of trouble to put these costumes together, but safety should always be one of the key components.
When you’re shopping for a costume, check the label to see if it is fire retardant. Your kids may be running past jack-o-lanterns with candles inside, so fire safety is essential. If the costume includes a mask, make sure your child can see through it clearly. You may have to expand the eyeholes yourself, but the mask must provide a clear line of vision.

Another consideration is how well others will be able to see your child’s costume at night. Many costumes come in darker colors, so it’s a good idea to add reflective tape so they will stand out to motorists. If the costume includes a prop like a toy sword or axe, make sure it is soft, flexible and not too large for your child.

Prepare For The Big Night
Before anyone sets out to collect goodies, decide which blocks you will visit. Once you determine your route, you can take a few extra precautions such as checking for registered sex offenders in the area, or running a background check on any address along your path.

It gets dark early in October, so trick-or-treaters should always have at least one good flashlight to help them see where they are going, and to help others see them. Don’t forget to load it with fresh batteries. Someone in the group should also carry a cell phone at all times, in case of an emergency.

Trick Or Treat!
An adult or older kid should always accompany young children when they go out on Halloween evening. It’s also a good idea to give each child a piece of paper with their name and your phone number, so a responsible adult will be able to contact you if your child gets separated from the group.

Street safety is essential on Halloween, so the chaperone should get everyone together and make sure the road is completely safe before anyone crosses. It’s best to keep everyone on the sidewalk for most of the journey, but now and then you will have to cross a street to get to more houses. Speaking of those houses, remind your children that it is never okay to enter a stranger’s home, and if an adult they don’t know tries to convince them to come inside the best thing to do is run away.

The Sweet, Sweet Aftermath
As soon as the trick-or-treating is over, kids will want to dive into their goody bags, but a responsible adult needs to look through the candy first. Give the kids some of your own candy to tide them over, but check out the snacks and make sure every treat is individually wrapped. If anything looks like it may have been tampered with, don’t take a risk, throw it away. Adults should also make sure younger kids don’t have hard candies that could be a choking hazard.

One final child safety tip is to explain to your children that Halloween is the only time when it is acceptable to take treats from people they don’t know. Compare the night to other annual holidays, and be clear that it is not usually okay to accept anything from a stranger.

Have a safe and thrilling Halloween, and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders People Search blog.

Somer Thompson was a bright 7-year-old who attended elementary school in Orange Park, Florida. On Monday, October 19 she was walking home with her sister and some friends when the conversation turned to an argument that Somer had with another girl that morning. This upset Somer, and she ran off on her own. Her sister saw her disappear into a distant crowd. It was the last time she saw Somer alive.

The search for Somer Thompson received national media attention. An Amber Alert was set up immediately and law enforcement officials labored desperately to find the young girl. Missing child posters that prominently featured Somer’s smiling face were placed on every available surface between the Thompson home and the school. America held its breath as we waited to hear what had happened.

On Wednesday, October 21, police officers discovered the body of a young girl in a Georgia landfill near the Florida border. She was first identified based on a birthmark and her clothing, then later confirmed using dental records. They had found Somer Thompson.

Florida Sheriff Rick Beseler made the most difficult call of his life and notified Somer’s parents, Samuel and Diena Thompson, that their daughter had been murdered. The Thompson’s were devastated to have their deepest fear confirmed; their beautiful baby girl had been violently taken away from them.

Following this tragic news another intensive search began. FBI agents started working with police officers to find the person who committed this heinous crime. Florida officers immediately searched for registered sex offenders within a five-mile radius of the school Somer attended, but so far they have no suspects. Their search will continue in earnest until the murderer is found.

Although the Thompson family is overwhelmed by their loss, they remain dedicated to finding the predator responsible for this appalling deed. Somer’s mother told the world, “I want you to know that I will not sleep until this person is found. I hope they get you and I hope they make you pay for a long, long time.” Somer’s father boldly stated, “Gold help the sons of bitches who hurt my daughter. They better find them.”

Our hearts go out to the entire Thompson family. They have received an incredible outpouring of support from their community. On Thursday, October 22, people from all over the area walked to the Thompson’s home to hold a candlelight vigil. The group sang songs, dropped off hundreds of gifts and let the grieving family know that people care about them and the horrible ordeal they are suffering through. They are not alone.

Investigators believe that they will be able to track the killer down. The search is on, the net is being thrown out and as we all watch we can only hope and pray that the guilty party will be found quickly. Somer was last seen in a busy residential area, and there is optimism that someone may have seen something that might be useful. If you have any information that could help, please call the Sheriff’s Tip Hotline at (877) 227-6911.

At PeopleFinders we are dedicated to helping you find the information you need to make informed decisions and keep your family safe. Sign up for our Free Sex Offender Alert Program here, and thank you for reading the people search blog.

The fact that Jennifer survived this ordeal is amazing, and her attempt to bring closure to the case is inspiring. Jennifer has been working with a division of the FBI called the Child Abduction Rapid Deployment Team (CARDT) to try and find the man who assaulted her so long ago.

Jennifer’s assailant left a few articles of clothing at the scene of the crime, but DNA testing was inconclusive at the time. There have been many technological advances since then, and members of the CARDT were able to run new tests on evidence that was locked away for many years. They found a match.

DNA samples pointed to a man named Dennis Earl Bradford. He was previously arrested for a sexual assault case in Arkansas from 1997, and found guilty of kidnapping a 35-year-old woman, sexually assaulting her and then cutting her throat. The crime was an exact match of what happened to Jennifer Schuett.

As investigators began to dig deeper, they made a startling discovery. After Jennifer was attacked she helped a sketch artist create a picture of the man who kidnapped her. That picture had a striking resemblance to Dennis Bradford’s driver’s license photo. Jennifer had also written several notes to the police about her assault – and those notes mentioned that her abductor referred to himself as Dennis.

Dennis Bradford lives in Arkansas, but in 1990 he lived in Dickinson, Texas. His home was only about a mile away from the apartment building where Jennifer was abducted. The FBI finally had a break in the case after nearly 2 decades of silence.

On Tuesday, October 13, 2009, Dennis Earl Bradford was arrested while on his way to work in Little Rock, Arkansas. Local authorities worked with an FBI agent and a detective from Dickinson to capture the suspect and book him at a nearby facility. Bradford will be charged with attempted murder, and he is expected to be extradited to face a trial in Texas. If he is found guilty, Bradford could be sentenced to life in prison.

Jennifer Schuett may finally have closure on this painful chapter in her life.  Her assailant has gone free for almost 20 years and most people believed he would never be caught, but now the alleged perpetrator is behind bars. Jennifer boasts that she should not be thought of as a victim, but as victorious.

Thanks to the persistence of Jennifer Schuett, members of the CARDT and modern technology, a man who brutally attacked a young girl may finally be brought to justice. At PeopleFinders.com we’re grateful for tools that help protect us and identify known criminals. You never know what type of person may be living in your neighborhood, but our Sexual Offender Search can help you find out. Use it to learn if there are registered sex offenders near your family.

Jennifer deserves respect and admiration for her bravery and persistence. We can all breathe a sigh of relief at the thought that the man who raped and left her for dead has finally been captured. Stay safe out there, and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders.com People Search blog.

For more current Sex Offender News, read the harrowing tale of Jaycee Dugard here.

It’s a sad fact, but crime is on the rise all over the United States. When times are tough economically, criminal activity generally increases. So how do you protect your home, property and family members? One of the best things you can do is work with your neighbors to prevent crime.

The Neighborhood Watch Program was established by the National Sheriffs’ Association in 1972 to help citizens protect themselves and each other from criminals. Since then the program has grown and become very well respected, but the success of any neighborhood watch depends entirely on the effort that people put into it. With a little time and patience, it’s easy to create a beneficial watch group.  Here’s how you can get started:

Step 1: Talk to your neighbors and generate interest. Explain how you can all work together to prevent crime and keep people safe. Set a date for a meeting to discuss establishing a crime watch group, and invite everyone to attend and participate.

Step 2: Contact the local police and let them know you are forming a neighborhood watch. Law enforcement offers are in favor of these crime prevention programs, because they help keep the entire community safe. They will usually have tips, suggestions and advice on how you can get started and build your group. In most cases a representative from the police station will be willing to come speak at your meeting and answer questions.

Step 3: Hold your first meeting and give everyone time to mingle and get to know each other. Consider starting with a potluck or providing refreshments to encourage people to socialize. Get started on time, and make sure everyone has a chance to voice his or her opinion and concerns, but try to keep the meeting short and on topic. Pick a crime watch block captain who will help organize the group and be a direct contact person with the police.

Step 4: Ask the members of your neighborhood watch to exchange contact information. Trade phone numbers to start a telephone tree and share email addresses so everyone can stay connected. Make sure the people in your group understand they have a commitment to watch out for each other and report suspicious activity. For example, if someone sees a stranger driving up and down the block or watching a particular house, they should notify the neighbors. It’s important to keep everyone aware of a potential problem, but always call the police to report an actual burglary or any other type of crime.

Step 5: Make sure that people know your group exists; talk to an officer about setting up crime watch street signs on your block. This shows criminals that the people in your area are looking out for lawbreakers. Criminals prefer easy opportunities where they won’t be seen by anyone, so if they know you’re watching they will be likely to move on.

Working together is a great way to prevent crime in your community. You can also help determine how safe your neighborhood is by searching for registered sex offenders who live near you, or finding out if any convicted criminals are close by. Stay safe; take care of each other, and thank you for reading the PeopleFinders.com People Search blog.

Kindergarten plays an important part in the development of a young child. Not only do kids learn basic scholastic skills, they are also taught positive social lessons such as sharing, working with others and cooperation. It’s a great time for young people to grow intellectually, emotionally and personally, and there are several things parents can do to help their children prepare.

If you have a child who will be attending Kindergarten this year, give them a head start by teaching them all the letters of the alphabet. You’ve probably started doing this already, but it’s important to make sure they recognize every letter, and the difference between upper and lower cases. You can do this by writing the letters in order and showing them how to form each one, or find help online with sites like Bembo’s Zoo.

It’s also important to teach your kids about numbers before their first day of Kindergarten. Explain the different numbers, and give actual examples of their values. You could point out that they have 2 feet, show them that they have 5 fingers on each hand and help them count to 10 using their toes. Many experts suggest creating simple math games that you can play with your kids. To get some great ideas on how to do this, visit Coolmath.com.

Before you send your children off to Kindergarten, visit the school yourself and talk to the faculty members. Meet the people who will be teaching your kids, and ask what will be expected of them. You can bring your kids with you to show them around the school and make them more comfortable about being at the facility. Show them where their classroom will be, and guide them to other key areas such as the playground, bathrooms and cafeteria. Be positive about the experience and help your kids get excited about going to Kindergarten, meeting people and learning new things.

Another important aspect of preparing for Kindergarten is being certain that your children are safe. You may want to look online and find out if there are any Registered Sex Offenders living near the school, and you can run Background Checks on the teachers, principal or anyone else your children will be spending time with. Talk to your young ones about the importance of staying away from strangers, and tell them that if they ever feel threatened by an adult or fellow student, they should run away and find a trusted teacher for help.

Kindergarten is a major event in the lives of young people … and their parents. If you have children who are about to begin their educational journey, take time to get them ready for Kindergarten this August. It will help them, and you. Thank-you for reading the PeopleFinders.com People Search blog.

PeopleFinders is a highly trusted People Search site that helps you find anyone, anywhere and gives you access to more than 40 years worth of public records. That means we can dig deep and find most any piece of public information you’re looking for. People who are searching for lost connections usually have many questions, and when they visit us online we are able to provide the answers…

Can I find someone when all I have is an old phone number? Yes, with more than 4 decades of public records available, we can help. Use our Reverse Phone Lookup to enter any number and we’ll search through billions of files to put together a complete phone history of the person you’re looking for. You’ll get a list of every phone number associated with that person, including the most recent.

Is it possible to find people using an outdated address? Even if the person you’re looking for has moved several times over the years, you can find them today with an Address Search. Once you find them, you can also request their Email address or other information to help you reconnect.

How can I learn more about someone’s past? Since we have billions of historical records at our fingertips we can put together the most Comprehensive Background Check on anyone. Our background report shows you aliases, bankruptcies, tax liens and other hidden secrets from the past. We can also show you where to find all the profiles, blogs and other personal details people post online with a Social Networks Search.

Do you have ways to help keep my family safe? With so much historical data available we can give you important information that will help protect you and your family. We’ll tell you if someone you are doing business or socializing with has a Criminal Record, and if so, why. You can also learn if there are any registered sex offenders living near your home, work or school. PeopleFinders.com has the facts you need to help you make informed decisions.

There are many websites that provide basic information about people and public records, but at PeopleFinders.com our massive collection of historical data will give you the big picture about anyone. You can look deep into someone’s past, find people anywhere in the United States and have all of your questions answered in one place. It’s like having your own private investigator!

Thank you for reading the PeopleFinders.com People Search blog.