Memories of Evelyn Miller

This blog is dedicated to the memory of our granddaughter, Evelyn Celeste Miller. Evey went missing July 1st and her body was recovered July 6th from the Cedar River near Floyd, Iowa. This venue will help celebrate the wonder that she was and also post up-to-date information on the wait for justice. If you have any information about the crime please contact the Floyd County Sheriff's Office at 1-641-228-1821 or e-mail me directly.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Letter to Marilyn Dettmer Floyd County Attorney

Due to the lack of information from and an apparent refusal to reply to repeated phone calls to the Office of the Floyd County Attorney, Marilyn Dettmer, we have sent her this letter this morning via the Floyd County Internet link.

"We would like for the DHS reports concerning Evelyn Miller to be unsealed unless you can justify the need for them being sealed. It is our opinion, that if the exact details and nature of each incident and follow-up actions had been reported to Andy, that our family could have taken action to have prevented this tragedy.

We have not been able to get any response to repeated calls and e-mails (your e-mail is bouncing).

The only justifiable reason for the full DHS file not being released is if there is a person of interest or possible suspect involved in the reports, in which case, the particular portions of the case could be withheld."

Thank you, Richard and Linda Christie

Saturday, August 27, 2005

What kind of people we are dealing with

Here is an article about where things stand as of today. Interestingly, the two local papers have not published anything about this yet!
Des Moines Register

Monday, August 22, 2005

Happy Birthday Evey

Yes, it has been a long time waiting for any real information about our granddaughters murder and the person or people who committed it.

After weeks of shock, hope, sorrow, sleeplessness, fear depression and grief our family has been left in a state of melancholy that I have never known before.

It is ony our faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ that has sustained us and has promised us hope for the future. We know that although the news dwindles and fewer people care, that the news that we are waiting for will eventually come.

We pray that someone out there will add that bit of information that the authorities need to complete their investigation and proceed towards an arrest and conviction.

We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide those investigators to do the right things, to ask the right questions and get the answers that they need to reach a just conclusion for Evey.

We also pray that this never happens to another child. That those contemplating any such crime check their passions and not proceed down the wrong path.

Evey was a wonderful child. We know that she is in the arms of the Lord and we will welcome the day when we can again be with her for eternity.

Thanks for following Evey. God bless you all and Happy Birthday Evey.

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Saturday, August 20, 2005

Thanks for Following Me

Recap of All News concerning Evelyn Miller. News links have been combined here with my comments where there were any. Original posts were left in their original position. I hope that this news recap can generate more interest and leads in Evey's yet unsolved case. Thanks for being here.

Link to Des Moines Register Stories by date. The following are in general stories from The Mason City Globe Gazette.

8/19/2005 Celebration of Evey's Life
Evey’s Birthday is this coming Monday,  August 22.

8/9/2005 Why they left Grandmother’s House
It has been over a month since this case began. We believe that the County Attorney is doing her very best to resolve and prosecute this case. The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation and FBI and local LE have been working very hard on this case.
I would just like to have some reassurance that things are moving forward. What do you think?
Globe Gazette Editorial

8/08/2005The sister of Noel Miller's fiancé thinks the couple's lifestyle was a factor in the girl's disappearance. Casey's sister says it all

Brandi could not have said it better. I still have some questions.

The article stated, "Records show Charles City police and Floyd County sheriffs deputies have had dozens of contacts with the couple over the past four years. Several calls were for domestic violence; the couple also phoned in disturbances by friends and relatives, and reported they'd been the victim of thefts.

"How come DHS did not receive the information about the police and sheriff's calls? Isn't there a law or regulation requiring that the DHS (and non-custodial parent) be informed when police or another law enforcement agency has been called to the residence of a child under their care? If there is not it should be on the next legislative agenda. This would strengthen both the power of DHS and the non-custodial parent to promptly remove children in danger from an unfit home, no matter how "loving" it is.

Tragically, our family was not informed of the full extent of the danger that Evey was in.

Please consider this petition   We do not as yet know if Evelyn was murdered by a sexual predator but it is a definite possibility.   Please download and sign this petition to strengthen our national laws to help protect every child in America. The petition is located under the downloads section of:
http://www.nationalchildamendment.com/.  
You may make copies to be distributed among your friends, co-workers and church if you wish.

08/05/2005Evelyn's mother lashes out at handling of case
Family Lets Frustration Show
Still No Answers - Mother Frustrated
IMPORTANT! Suspect Confirmed by County Attorney
8/4/2005 Little known about investigation
8/2/2005 DHS won't make Evelyn Miller report public now
7/29/2005 Authorities continue investigation into killing
7/21/2005 Sex offender registry check was "standard"
Cityview Online-Read all about DHS
7/17/2005 Editorial: Pain won't go away soon
7/14/2005 Visitation offers a poignant view of a child's life
Foundation offers $5,000 reward in Evelyn Miller case
Evelyn Miller laid to rest
7/13/2005 Reward offered for information in Evelyn Miller case  
7/12/2005 Officials say missing girl was slain
Vilsack to review files in case
7/09/2005 Authorities continue search for clues in child's death
Suspicion angers men who say they just tried to help
7/8/2005 Family struggles with the death of ‘smart, happy' girl
Hunting for clues
Two men last to see Evelyn Miller frustrated by allegations
7/7/2005 Evelyn Miller's body found in Cedar River  
Cedar River evidence search under way in girl's death
No arrests made in Evelyn Miller death; body found in river
Specific criteria determine if an Amber Alert can be issued
7/6/2005 Red Cross, Salvation Army tend to search volunteers
Volunteers fan out for a fifth day of searching
Family takes time to thank searchers
Evelyn Miller's parents express determination to remain strong
7/6/2005 Warrant served at home of early morning visitors
Evelyn's parents determined to find little girl
Video: mother of missing girl Please watch especially between 1:24 and 1:40. Do the three past tense references mean anything?
North Iowans show concern (Globe Gazette Editorial)
7/4/2005 Family pleads for help finding girl
Search expands for missing girl
7/3/2005 Stepmom believes Evelyn was abducted
No trace found of missing girl
Search for missing Floyd child suspended until 8 a.m. Monday
7/2/2005 Rural Floyd 5-year-old is missing  
Massive search for missing 5-year-old Floyd girl continues  
7/1/2005 Evelyn is Missing

This is the beginning of the story of the loss of Evelyn. I have attempted to post the best links to her story that I could find. I hope that in reading them that you can make sense of something that makes no sense to me. Thanks to the media for covering Evey's case.          

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Being Tough! Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Create a "Safety" Page for Your Family "Internet ICE"

Do this now before you need it.

An idea that could save someone's life.

Set up a blog or web page for your family.

The purpose is to have a place where search engines can find it during an emergency and where you can (if needed) post information about your missing child or other event. Do not pre-post any information before you need it to avoid stalkers and spam!

Why? It takes weeks before your page is searchable on the Internet - time that you don't have in an emergency. Think of it like a fire extinguisher for your kitchen. The time to have it is before the fire.

If it is ever needed, you simply post the information that you want the public to have to your page. Then have the larger missing children's pages and blogs link to your page. Then others will be able to find it via Internet search engines. A blog is best because it is coded so that anonymous tips can be received.

It does not need to be fancy. It does need to have metatags in the HTML code. It does need to be submitted to Google and Yahoo to make it searchable.

The metatags should have the names of every one of your extended family listed by firstname lastname, firstname middle initial lastname, nickname lastname each separated by commas, do not repeat any item between commas more than 3 times or some engines will ignore your tag file and its searchability.

Instructions for doing such a page will be linked to shortly and this article modified to make things easier for you to do.

If anyone has great links for the novice to set up such a page - let me know
Please leave your comments here.


Monday, August 01, 2005

Thank You All

Thanks to all who have comforted us with their comments on the Legacy site, sent cards, visited us personally, made contributions to Evelyn’s Memorial funds or family, sent flowers or gifts of food or service, attended her memorial services or visitation, said prayers for Evelyn and her family, worked for her rescue, volunteered in any way, worked on (or are working) on her case, wrote or added helpful and insightful comments in various media, assisted the family in their needs, employers who covered missed wages and allowed time off, friends and relative who traveled thousands of miles to be with us or allowed us to use their homes and anyone who has kept in touch over the Internet and our local and extended church family.

Your help in sharing this burden has helped us in our grief and recovery. You will never know how much your help has meant to us and the rest of Evelyn’s extended family.

- Richard and Linda Christie

Evelyn  Posted by Picasa