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The Search for Rachel, a father's journal

Saturday, November 1

Texas EquuSearch will have another benefit concert and auction on November 16 from 1:00-8:00 p.m. This time they will have two special guest speakers. Doctor Stephen Gammon will speak about the Texas Missing Person DNA database, Retired FBI agent Mark Young will describe his career in the FBI as a field agent and later as a profiler.

I put information about the TES Mission for the Missing Concert on Rachel's bulletin board. To view the information click here.

Sunday, November 2

I finished copying all of the non-profit documentation onto rachelalert.org. The IRS requires a public record of the information to be available.

I created a Rachel Alert Network brochure today. It contains our mission statement and describes the services RAN offers. We will go over the brochure at the next RAN Officer's meeting. The information brochures will be handed out at any events we sponsor or attend.

Monday, November 3

During lunch I did a quick interview with KVUE Mid-Day News. I discussed today's M.U.S.T. class. Several people called for information after watching the segment. We really appreciate all of the help the media has given us over the past two years.

Over 100 women attended the M.U.S.T seminar tonight. Our instructor, Deborah Brown, did an excellent job teaching the class. We now have 100 additional women with the skills to protect themselves.

I wish more women would take the seminar. There is a reason they instruct passengers on airlines to put the oxygen mask on themselves before they put the mask on their children. I'd like every mother to think about this. Who would take care of your children if you are not there?

Tuesday, November 4

My sister Elaine and I spent some time evaluating last night's M.U.S.T. women's self-defense seminar. We are pleased with the way it functioned and would like to continue sponsoring the classes. The Rachel Alert Network officers will discuss future RAN events at our monthly meeting next week.

We sold out of the Kristen Modaferri Foundation cookbooks last night. They seem to make a good Christmas gift. Maybe next year we will publish a Rachel Alert Network cookbook.

Wednesday, November 5

I didn't spend much time on Rachel's case or RAN activities tonight. The last two weeks have been pretty busy so I took it easy. I did post some new pictures from Monday night on the bottom of the MUST page on both rachelalert.org and rachelcookesearch.org.

Thursday, November 6

My sister Elaine and I drove to Jacksonville, Texas, today to attend a vigil for missing Jimmy Scott. Jimmy has now been missing for one year. His sister Marie and other family members had a small candlelight vigil at a local park.

Before the vigil Elaine and I sat in on the Victims and Survivors Against Violent Crime monthly meeting. The organization has made a lot of progress since I attended their August, 2003, meeting. One of the activities is a fund-raiser for the Teddy Bear Project.

The Teddy Bear Project will fund a room in the county courthouse where children may testify remotely during a trial. Sometimes it's hard for children to speak in front of a crowded courthouse. By law they have the right to testify via remote microphone and/or video.

Friday, November 7

Several businesses have contacted both Deborah Brown and me about the M.U.S.T. seminars. The companies would like to have the course taught to their female employees. Many of their female employees are required to work at night, and the company management wants to protect them.

Chief Brown and RAN will continue to host the free public M.U.S.T. women's self-defense and awareness seminars. We all agree how important the classes are. I hope more women will realize this importance and will attend one of our future seminars.

Saturday, November 8 and Sunday, November 9

I worked more on the Rachel Alert Network brochure today. We want to have a brochure to hand out at the different events we host and attend. After our officers are satisfied with the information in the brochure, we will have some brochures professionally produced.

RAN is beginning to be invited to child safety events and other activities. As word of our organization spreads, RAN should be invited to even more conferences and other events.

Monday, November 10

I added a few more of the old prayforrachel.org messages to Rachel's message board. The rest of the messages should be posted this month.

We still need some more baked good donatations for our bake sale on Saturday, December 6. Please send an e-mail to rachelalert@yahoo.com if you would like to donate baked goods or some other type of food product. The proceeds from the bake sale will go to help families of the missing and to sponsor programs like the M.U.S.T. self-defense classes.

Tuesday, November 11

The Rachel Alert Network Officers met tonight. We had a lot of action items to discuss. The topics ranged from the M.U.S.T. seminars to next year's Run/Walk for Rachel. Our next function is the bake sale on December 6. We finalized what kind of food items we will sell at that event.

I challenged all of the officers to think of goals for RAN in 2004. We will discuss those goals in our December meeting.

All of the officers are pleased with the progress RAN has made this year. We started out as just a web site that gave advice and links to other organization. Now we have raised $6,000 for search and rescue teams, helped a few families with missing persons, and trained almost 200 women and teens in self-defense and awareness.

Wednesday, November 12

I didn't sleep much last night. I kept thinking about Rachel and how much I miss her. All of the same questions keep coming up. Who took Rachel? Why can't we find her? Why won't anyone come forward? I am so upset and frustrated about this.

The frustration got worse, and even some anger came out tonight when I watched the evening news. Over the past 22 months Rachel has been missing, I stayed up many nights planning searches, updating search maps, planning fund-raisers, and trying to think of anything else which would help bring Rachel home.

On the news I saw what Sheriff Maspero has been doing. He has been drinking heavily at bars, like a college student does. At one point in an Austin gentlemen's club he got down on his knees and barked like a dog and even tried to bite one of the women there. He also sponsored a law enforcement retreat in Burnet County which was just a big drinking party paid for by taxpayers. This is the man who is responsible for finding Rachel!

The Williamson County Attorney has filed a lawsuit to have Sheriff John Maspero removed from office. The attorney has confirmed all of the events I mentioned with at least two witnesses each. More about the lawsuit may be read here.

Maspero has lost the backing of virtually all of his previous supporters. He has certainly lost my support.

Thursday, November 13

I decided to go public and state that I think John Maspero should resign as sheriff of Williamson County. His drinking problem has affected the safety of the county citizens.

With the possibility of a lengthy trial about the charges made against him, the well being of Williamson County will be greatly hurt. The moral of the Williamson County Sheriff's Office is at an all time low. The trial will just make it worse and extend the pain until another sheriff takes office in January 2005.

I believe in giving people a fair trial, but the sheriff's office is too important to be in a state of turmoil. An important public figure is responsible for maintaining a certain level of dignity. John Maspero has not done this, and it is hurting the county.

Both KVUE and KEYE contacted me for interviews which I did this afternoon. I have many issues with the way the Williamson County Sheriff's Office operates. The biggest problem is with their leadership. If strong leaders with open minds are put into place, then the other issues can be corrected as needed.

I always think constructive criticism is the best way to handle problems. I'm willing to work with the county to help in any way possible.

A 31-year-old woman is missing from Rosenbury, TX. Ludi Jasso disappeared on Sunday, November 9. Texas EquuSearch is starting a search for her tomorrow. Ground and horse searchers are needed. Ludi's flyer is on the TES site, texasequusearch.org.

Friday, November 14

The Texas EquuSearch Mission for the Missing is this Sunday in Houston. This is a good chance to listen to some experts from the FBI and Missing Person DNA Database. More information may be found here.

The Sheriff's Office has gone on the defensive after my interviews with the media yesterday. They seem to not understand what a task force is. They have been using the Texas Rangers to interview people outside of Central Texas and the FBI to interview people outside of Texas. This does not allow full input of those agencies in Rachel's case. That's what is needed. New ideas and different types of experiences just might help solve Rachel's case.

Saturday, November 15

Yesterday I ate lunch with Greg Allen, the father of missing Sabrina Allen. Greg is planning another trip to Mexico. He did pass some information to Mexico's President Fox when he was in Austin a few weeks ago. I hope Fox will help in the search for Sabrina.

Missing Ludi Jasso's remains were found yesterday in Rosenberg, Texas. My friend Marie and I were going drive there today and help with the search led by Texas EquuSearch. My thoughtss and prayers go out to Ludi's family.

I'm still looking for a good local P.I. to work on Rachel's case. It's time to start picking up the pace again.

Sunday, November 16

My sister Elaine, friend Marie, and I drove to Houston this morning to the Texas EquuSearch Mission for the Missing Benefit. Stephen Gammon from the Texas Missing Person Database opened the event with a presentation on what DNA is and how the DNA database works.

Next, Dr. Ashraf Mozayani, the laboratory director for the Harris County Medical Examiner's Office spoke next. She gave the audience some highpoints of what her office contributes to an investigation.

Retired FBI Profiler Mark Young then talked about the number of missing persons in the United States. He explained what type of person is most likely to abduct a certain age person. Family members and friends are the most likely to take most ages. Mr. Young then talked about stranger abductions. What surprised my is that infants are usually taken by a woman. After that, sexual predators come into play and most abductors are men.

The event included a live action next and then three of the families of missing person spoke. I gave my usually 2 minutes about how Texas EquuSearch helped my family. The Cowboy's Nightmare Band then performed.

Monday, November 17

I completed the Rachel Alert Network brochure today. I printed out 100 copies to hand out at our future events.

NEWS 8 AUSTIN interviewed me this afternoon. The interview will be shown as part of their end of the year special. They will tell me when the broadcast date will be in a couple of weeks.

Tuesday, November 18

The date of the next M.U.S.T. seminar will be Tuesday, January 13, in Round Rock. B's Gathering House, 106 W. Bagdad, is donating the classroom. The free beginner's class on self-defense and awareness is open to females ages 14 and older. The seminar will take place from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

The following week Deborah Brown will teach an advanced M.U.S.T. class at B's Gathering House. We will require reservations and a $10 donation for this class because enrollment is limited.

For information about both classes and directions to B's Gathering House, go to: rachelalert.org/must.

Wednesday, November 19

I updated the rachelalert.org/must page with information about the January 13, 2004, M.U.S.T. seminar. The page also has a map to B's Gathering House and a link to the B's Gathering House Web site.

Tomorrow Chief Deborah Brown and I will visit a local high tech firm. They are interested in having Deborah Brown teach their female employees the M.U.S.T. techniques in self-defense and awareness.

Thursday, November 20

Two people have already e-mailed us to say they will attend the January 13 M.U.S.T. seminar. I think the excellent media coverage we've received and word of mouth will produce a good attendance in the class.

I met with a high tech firm today. They are interested in having a one-hour version of Deborah Brown's M.U.S.T. seminar taught to their female employees. Chief Brown will really have to work to condense the class into only one hour.

John Maspero goes to court tomorrow to hear the allocations against him. KVUE played a audiotape of a conversation between Maspero and the acting sheriff. Maspero actually tried to threaten employees of his old office into standing up for him. Maspero used the words "standing tall". I guess I have a different definition of what standing tall means.

Friday, November 21

I received some bad news this morning. My friend Todd Irby was killed in an auto accident yesterday. his 2-year-old son was seriously injured in the same accident. His daughter has minor injuries. Two other chidren Todd and his wife Ashley were in the process of adopting were also injured.

Todd and Ashley catered several of the searches for Rachel. They donated much needed hot food to very tired searchers. Last April they fed Al White's band and families of the missing the night before the Music for the Missing Concert.

Last Thanksgiving Todd and Ashley fed the families at the Ronald McDonald House in Austin. On Christmas Eve they fed a turkey dinner to around 500 homeless persons in Austin.

The funeral for Todd will be on Tuesday, November 25. at Lake Travis United Methodist Church on Highway 620 at 10:00 a.m. Please pray for the Irby family.

Saturday, November 22

I visited with Ashley Irby today at the hospital where two of the boys are. The boys were injured in the auto accident which killed Ashley's husband, Todd. Her 2-year-old has two broken legs and is expected to recover completely. The 9-year-old boy they are adopting is doing better but is still in serious condition. Both girls were treated and released.

I created a slide show with pictures of Todd Irby on rachelcookesearch.org. There is a link to the slideshow on the home page.

Sunday, November 23

I spoke with a man today who has a missing girlfriend. We talked about her case and I gave him some suggestions I had which might help find her.

The Rachel Alert Network officers have been discussing the upcoming December 6 bake sale. We were given an out-of-the-way booth at the Christmas Stroll, and so we may have to have someone walking around with a RAN sign. That person will probably have free samples.

Monday, November 24

John Maspero was suspended today from his position as sheriff of Williamson County. The ruling is in effect until a January, 2004. In January a second trial will determine if Maspero will be permanently removed from office.

I plan to meet with acting Sheriff Richard Elliott soon. There are many issues I want to discuss about Rachel's case.

Tuesday, November 25

We laid Todd Irby to rest today. My brother David and I both spoke at his funeral. After the funeral a group of friends and family prepared and served food to Todd's family and other friends. Most of the workers are members of the Rachel Cooke Search Team. It was time for us to serve the Irby family after they helped us so many times.

I met the parents of Mark Kilroy at Todd's wake. Mark was kidnapped and murdered by a drug cult in 1989. Mark and three friends were on spring break at South Padre Island. He was abducted and taken to Matamoros, Mexico where Mark was murdered.

Mark's Father, Jim Kilroy, has written a book about the ordeal. Jim gave me a copy of the SACRIFICE book. Jim, and his wife Helen have established the Mark Kilroy foundation. The foundation teaches drug prevention in Houston area schools. I placed a link to the Mark Kilroy Foundation on rachelalert.org and rachelcookesearch.org. All proceeds from the book go to the foundation.

Wednesday, November 26

Two different people have contacted me about missing North Dakota woman Dru Sjodin. She was most likely abducted while walking to her car in a Mall parking lot. I'll help anyway I can with the case.

The 48 HOURS program on Murdered Molly Bish will be aired this Saturday, November 29. The program will be shown on CBS.

Thursday, November 27

Thanksgiving was a little easier this year. I hope Christmas won't be as hard as last year.

Friday, November 28

It looks like CBS has rescheduled the 48 HOURS program on Molly Bish again. When they announce the new broadcast date, I will post it here.

I think we have everything lined up for next Saturday's bake sale. Rachel Alert Network will have a booth at the Georgetown Christmas Stroll. The Stroll will be from noon until around 8:00 p.m. We will be selling baked goods, mixes, cokes, and a few other food items.

Saturday, November 29

I received late word that we may have to get a temporary food serving permit for Saturday's bake sale. I've never heard of this being required for something as simple as a bake sale, but I will check into it more on Monday.

A web site has been created for missing Dru Sjodin from North Dakota. The web site is finddru.com. People can download Dru's flyer there.

Sunday, November 30

I finished adding the rest of the prayforrachel.org messages to Rachel's message board. There are now over 300 messages in that forum.

Ace Collins, a Central Texas author, is touring the United States on a book signing tour. Mr. Collins is wearing one of Rachel's buttons at every event. He writes books about the story behind the story and has featured a link to Rachel's site on his acecollins.com web site for almost a year. Thank you, Ace!