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The Search for Rachel, a father's journal

Sunday, August 1, 2004

Another psychic came by the house this afternoon. He was driving around the area and wanted to ask me a few questions. He has already been in touch with the Sheriff's Office.

I received e-mails from two people yesterday. One person's niece was murdered two years ago; the other person has a missing son. It helps for us to communicate with each other.

Monday, August 2

Mark Hacking was arrested today for the murder of his wife Lori. Lori has been missing over two weeks, and it looks like Mark is finally telling police where he put Lori's body. My thoughts and prayers go out to Lori's family and friends.

It's probably just a matter of time before Lori Hacking's body is found, but there are many other missing people like Rachel Cooke who are still out there. We need to find every single one of them!

Tuesday, August 3

It was announced today that Mark Hacking confessed to murdering his wife Lori while she slept. The confession was made five days after she disappeared. Blood was found in their apartment, car, and on the mattress Mark put in a dumpster.

I mailed some information to the National Center for Missing Adults today. A videotape of my Dallas seminar at the Crime Victim Conference and some notes for my victim impact statement were in the package.

Wednesday, August 4

I have all of the brochures ready to hand out at the two back- to-school children's health fairs. The Austin Health Fair will be at the Parque Zaragosa Recreation Center, 2608 Gonzales St. The Williamson County Health Fair will be at the new Round Rock Sports Complex near Highway 620 and Parmer Lane. Both fairs are from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 7.

Thursday, August 5

I drove by the new Round Rock ISD Sports Complex today. It's actually on Parmer Lane about a mile north of Highway 620. Rachel Alert Network will have a canopy and table set up to hand out safety information and other things.

The first Rachel Alert Network cookbooks have made it to Europe! People in Finland, Norway, and the United Kingdom have received their orders. I'm still expecting at least one cookbook order from Australia and possibly other orders from New Zealand and South Africa.

Friday, August 6, Saturday, August 7, and Sunday, August 8

Rachel Alert Network had a table at both the Williamson County and East Austin back-to-school events. The attendance at the Round Rock event was disappointing, but the Austin event had hundreds of people in attendance. Almost every kid attending the East Austin event got a free school backpack. Most of the kids were from low-income families, and I bet the backpacks were really needed.

It's too bad the Williamson County event didn't have many people. It had two helicopters, two fire department ladder trucks, EMS vehicles, and several other public service units. Williamson County Deputy John Richler was there with his search dog Duco. Deputy Richler and Duco have spent many hours searching for Rachel.

Monday, August 9

I mailed the Rachel Alert Network reservation for the Georgetown Christmas Stroll today. RAN will have a bake sale booth again this year. We will also be selling RAN cookbooks. The Christmas Stroll is on Saturday, December 4, from noon until 8:00 p.m.

With all of the focus on missing Lori Hacking and the trial of Scott Peterson, people may have forgotten about the other people like Rachel who are missing. I have listed only a few of them on RAN's missing person page, rachelalert.org/missingpersons. We should remember all of the missing and try to bring them home.

Tuesday, August 10

We sold another 50 cookbooks today to family members. The family members will sell them to their friends. The bill for the cookbooks is due next week, so it is nice to sell as many books as possible before we mail the check.

I received an e-mail from a reporter who is outside of Texas. She wishes to write a story on Rachel. I'll write more details on this as the story develops.

Wednesday, August 11

I spoke with the National Center for Missing Adults tonight. Next week we will talk again and go over my victim impact statement for the law enforcement training classes. It's important that I tell everything that happened, but I have to do it in a constructive manner that shows things need to be, and can be, changed for the better.

I changed the address for ordering Rachel's ribbons. Our Laci Peterson ribbonmaker Gina has moved. To order a ribbon go to rachelcookesearch.org/ribbons.

Thursday, August 12

The kvue.com web site section on Rachel has been redone. It now has a new look, which is very nice. As always, my family and I are very grateful for KVUE's continuing help.

We have the Rachel Alert Network officers meeting next week. A decision on a 2005 Run/Walk for Rachel has to be made. The 2004 Run/Walk did not draw enough participants. It's a whole lot of work, and I don't want to lose money doing it.

Friday, August 13 through Sunday, August 15

I completed my victim impact presentation for the CEO training course at the Center for Missing Adults. The presentation has been e-mailed to Fox Valley Technical College, which is helping to develop the missing person training course.

The "Adopt a Missing Person" program is still being sponsored by Project Jason. You can adopt one or more missing persons by just sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope. People who are interested in spreading the word about a missing person may visit www.projectjason.org/adopt.

Monday, August 16

There was an attempted abduction of a 15-year-old girl who was jogging in her Round Rock neighborhood. Fortunately, the girl fought free of the two males who were trying to take her. The Williamson County Sheriff's Office says there is no evidence relating this to Rachel's disappearance. On the other hand, there is no evidence that proves the attempted abduction is not related to Rachel.

We will continue to hold M.U.S.T. self-defense and awareness seminars in Round Rock and other Central Texas locations. The next seminar is scheduled for Tuesday, October 5, at B's Gathering House in Round Rock. People may find out more information at rachelalert.org.

Tuesday, August 17

I passed along a tip to the sheriff's office which came through Rachel's web site. It may be nothing, but you never know.

The RAN Officers met tonight. We talked about several good things like how the M.U.S.T. seminars and cookbook sales are doing. With much regret we voted not to have a 2005 Run/Walk for Rachel. Too much work is put on me, my family, and a small handful of friends.

The Run/Walk did well the first two years, but this year we almost lost money and half of our volunteers either didn't show up or they canceled the week of the event. We can't run the event without volunteers, and a fund-raiser which is this much work and doesn't make money is not a good idea.

Wednesday August 18 through Sunday, August 22

I took a short vacation the second half of this week.

Monday, August 23

Arts and Entertainment channel had a program tonight on the I-45 killings. Over 15 women and girls have been abducted on a stretch of Highway 45 from Houston to Galveston. Both Laura Miller and Laura Smither are among those killed. Tim Miller and Texas EquuSearch and Bob and Gay Smither and their Laura Recovery Center have helped on Rachel's case. The program also featured former FBI Profiler Mark Young, who has also helped on Rachel's case.

The cookbook sales have slowed down, but the books are still selling. We have two events planned in the winter where we will be selling cookbooks.

Tuesday, August 24

The final walk-through for the missing adult training class is next week in Phoenix. My victim impact presentation is complete, but it might be revised during the practice session. The first training class for sheriffs and chiefs of police is scheduled later this month.

Several new missing persons have been added to Rachel's Message Board. I need to also put them on the links page.

Wednesday, August 25

We already have four people who have registered for the October 5 M.U.S.T. seminar. Hopefully we will have a good turnout for the seminar. Our goal remains to train as many females as possible.

I spoke with Tim Miller from Texas EquuSearch today. He asked me to contact a media person about a possible story on Rachel. I called the person, and the story looks promising. Tim also told me some information about another case in the Houston area. Some new leads may develop in the next few weeks on that case.

Thursday, August 26 and Friday, August 27

I have a lot of personal business to do over the next few days. I probably won't have time to work on the search for Rachel or any Rachel Alert Network things. Next week I will return to the task of finding Rachel.

Saturday, August 28 and Sunday, August 29

I completed my personal business this weekend. It will be good to return to the search for Rachel and working on Rachel Alert Network tasks.

Monday, August 30

We've received a few offers over the past two weeks for help with our upcoming events. I will try to coordinate people and assign them to the best place for them to help.

Our long-time supporter Bill Bickel has written an article about the various missing person organizations which have been formed by the families of the missing. It profiles Rachel Alert Network, Shawn Hornbeck Foundation, Laura Recovery Center, and others. Mr. Bickel has posted the article on-line. To view the article go to www.crimeweek.com/cja/0504missing.html.

We are setting up a local place in Georgetown to buy Rachel Alert Network cookbooks. Hopefully this will be ready to go within the next two weeks. Many people have expressed a desire to buy the cookbooks locally. This also gives people a chance to see them before they decide whether to buy or not.

Tuesday, August 31

After work today, I flew to Phoenix. Tomorrow is the final walk-through of the missing adult case training class for law enforcement. This class is targeted for police chiefs and sheriffs from all across the United States.

I ate dinner with the representatives from Fox Valley Technical College. Fox Valley is helping the National Center for Missing Adults develop the training course.