Patty Wetterling

Listening to their take on the story was really important for me and my advocacy work. It's like, I'm fighting for that world that they deserve.

Listening to their take on the story was really important for me and my advocacy work. It's like, I'm fighting for that world that they deserve.

It did. It became a... a personal battle between the bad guy. Like I refuse to let him take anything else. You can't have the world that Jacob knew. I will fight for that till forever. You know, do I lighten up on my activities now that I'm old? Yeah.

It did. It became a... a personal battle between the bad guy. Like I refuse to let him take anything else. You can't have the world that Jacob knew. I will fight for that till forever. You know, do I lighten up on my activities now that I'm old? Yeah.

But I still, I love believing in the world where kids can dream and go after their dreams and have the support system and the tools that they need to build a healthy, happy life.

But I still, I love believing in the world where kids can dream and go after their dreams and have the support system and the tools that they need to build a healthy, happy life.

which is just... But there's some clarifiers. Often, well, the highest category is a runaway child, and they are at very high risk, especially in today's world, of being exploited. Somebody offering them shelter for favors or food. And that's part of giving kids empowerment and knowing how to find resources that are healthier and not fall for those tricks and lures.

which is just... But there's some clarifiers. Often, well, the highest category is a runaway child, and they are at very high risk, especially in today's world, of being exploited. Somebody offering them shelter for favors or food. And that's part of giving kids empowerment and knowing how to find resources that are healthier and not fall for those tricks and lures.

Most kids are not abducted at gunpoint like Jacob was. Most are tricked or lured into a dangerous situation. And I think many of those are preventable. Watch who's watching your children. If my one daughter had a coach who would call the girls and ask about their clothing. And it got really one of those trust your gut, there was something not right about this.

Most kids are not abducted at gunpoint like Jacob was. Most are tricked or lured into a dangerous situation. And I think many of those are preventable. Watch who's watching your children. If my one daughter had a coach who would call the girls and ask about their clothing. And it got really one of those trust your gut, there was something not right about this.

And so we had discussions about, you know, because I can't be with, you know, our, my daughters all the time. So what should they do when something happens and having adults that they can talk to, and it's not always the parent that kids can go to, but Trusted adults. I used to tell my kids, talk to your Uncle Russ. My brother is a hoot. He's funny. He's approachable.

And so we had discussions about, you know, because I can't be with, you know, our, my daughters all the time. So what should they do when something happens and having adults that they can talk to, and it's not always the parent that kids can go to, but Trusted adults. I used to tell my kids, talk to your Uncle Russ. My brother is a hoot. He's funny. He's approachable.

They could talk to him about anything. And so, you know, giving your kids that empowerment. And then of those, you know, the runaway kids, you know, they come home. It's a big challenge for law enforcement because some kids run many times a year. So those numbers capture repeat runners as well. So the number of abduction, stereotypical abduction is about 1% of all of that. It's the smallest piece.

They could talk to him about anything. And so, you know, giving your kids that empowerment. And then of those, you know, the runaway kids, you know, they come home. It's a big challenge for law enforcement because some kids run many times a year. So those numbers capture repeat runners as well. So the number of abduction, stereotypical abduction is about 1% of all of that. It's the smallest piece.

But the thing is, it's the one that has the greatest amount of fear. So we have to watch, you know, about stats and numbers and collecting numbers. Yeah. They've been inflated over time, and then they kind of come back to reality. And I think of stereotypical kidnapping, those have not changed over time. It's pretty much the same each year.

But the thing is, it's the one that has the greatest amount of fear. So we have to watch, you know, about stats and numbers and collecting numbers. Yeah. They've been inflated over time, and then they kind of come back to reality. And I think of stereotypical kidnapping, those have not changed over time. It's pretty much the same each year.

I'd say it's under 100 that are stereotypical kidnapping every year. But the number of kids exploited, especially with the Internet and the social media... games online, that number is exponential. We have to really be careful about that world that we're introducing our children to at really young ages.

I'd say it's under 100 that are stereotypical kidnapping every year. But the number of kids exploited, especially with the Internet and the social media... games online, that number is exponential. We have to really be careful about that world that we're introducing our children to at really young ages.

But they're also very harmful because you're snatching a child from everything they know, from their pets, their dogs, their friends, their school, their toys, their clothes, you know, and putting them in another world. And it's really traumatic for these kids. Yeah. There was an organization, I'm not sure if they're still active, called Take Root because they're uprooted literally.

But they're also very harmful because you're snatching a child from everything they know, from their pets, their dogs, their friends, their school, their toys, their clothes, you know, and putting them in another world. And it's really traumatic for these kids. Yeah. There was an organization, I'm not sure if they're still active, called Take Root because they're uprooted literally.