Was Amber Dubois A Victim of Human Trafficking? Update: Amber's Remains and Chelsea King's Murder Related?

Reader: Why have you not covered the Amber Dubois disappearance? They need help now more then ever to find her.

Legal Pub: It is difficult to cover every interesting story and still personally try jury trials. But since you asked, here goes:

Amber Leeanne Dubois is the 14 year old California girl who disappeared on her way to school in February. Surveillance video from Escondido High School shows a mysterious red truck which may have been involved in the abduction. A witness believes Amber had been walking with a tall dark skinned boy shortly before her disappearance. A friend of Amber's apparently told police that she had started chatting with two boys on the Internet approximately a week before her disappearance. Amber's mom, Carrie McGonigle, monitored her daughter's Internet activity. She recognizes that Amber could have been lured by someone she met on the internet.

Recently Amber's parents have closed the center that was the staging ground for search efforts. The cost of maintaining the center was not justified by the handful of volunteers who were coming to the center. The center's electric and telephone bills simply were becoming cost prohibitive. That is not to suggest that the search for Amber will stop. After all, Amber DuBois was not the type of kid who would go anywhere without telling her parents or friends. The search will continue with a small group of dedicated volunteers. If you want to help, you can go to Amber's website: (http://www.bringamberhome.com/) Maurice DuBois, Amber's father, promises that the search will continue and it shall.

In the mean time, if any one saw Amber who was walking to Escondido High School or a red truck by the school on February 13, 2009, contact police. If you want to know more about Amber, here are some links: Amber's childhood. BringAmberHome.com

After watching the movie TAKEN, one has to wonder if there is in fact a real life human trafficking ring that sells young girls in an under world sex trade. Police admit that a human trafficking problem does in fact exist around San Diego. They have not publicly said that they think Amber was abducted by such a ring. However, if in fact Amber was abducted for such a purpose, she may still be found alive or she may some day escape.

Human trafficking is a multi-dimensional threat: it deprives people of their human rights and freedoms. It is a global, not a local problem. Human trafficking is a universal health risk thought to be associated with organized crime. Human trafficking has a devastating impact on victims and their families. Furthermore the impact of human trafficking undermines the safety and security of our freedoms. It needs to be stopped. In the short term, let's start with finding Amber. In the long run, let's cripple the human trafficking problem with harsh legal punishment and sentences.

Update 1-30-10: Due to excessive spam by investblog, comments are closed. You may thank them by never clicking on their spam or giving them any business. For readers with additional input feel free to email at legalpub@legalpub.net

Update 3-1-10: Amber's family is taking the search to a new level. Amber's father Moe used donations from Wes Adams and Tom Wilhelm of GP Color Imaging in North Hollywood, CA, for a great new look for his truck. The new wrap features beautiful large images of Amber, as well as her website address and tip line phone number. The wrap was installed by two Vinyl Graphics Professionals, Rob Nell and Al Gonzalez of Kingsize Installers in Bellflower, CA. Please consider patronizing such vendors for their kind acts.

Update 3-3-10: Amber Dubois family joined in the search of missing 17 year old Chelsea King. That search, however, is now apparently over. It is being reported that authorities believe that Chelsea's body was found in a shallow grave. A registered sex offender has been arrested in connection with Chelsea's murder. The same suspect may also have assaulted a 22 year old jogger in December in the same Rancho Bernardo Community Park on the northern edge of San Diego. Capt. Jim Collins said that evidence has linked 30-year-old John Albert Gardner III to both park related cases. However, there are other reports that a swab taken from the elbow of the Colorado woman did not match Gardner's DNA. Gardner is held without bail for investigation of murder and rape in the King. Gardner pleaded guilty in May 2000 to molesting a 13-year-old female neighbor. The neighbor girl was physically assaulted before escaping. Gardner served five years in prison after prosecutors rejected a psychiatrist's advice to seek stiffer punishment. Gardner had no significant prior criminal record before the 2000 incident.

Chelsea King was a straight-A student at Poway High School. She ran cross-country and volunteered in the peer counseling program. Prior to moving to California, she lived in Naperville, Illinois. At this point, there is no definite connection between King's murder and amber Dubois disappearance other than her family volunteered to help in the search. Yet there are some who feel there may be a connection. In the mean time, keep in mind that all suspects are innocent unless otherwise proven.

Update March 8, 2010: The remains of Amber DuBois, the California-area 14-year old girl who was missing for more than a year, have been found. Skeletal remains were found early Saturday in Pala -- a rural, rugged area in northern San Diego County, California. Identification has been confirmed according to Police Chief Jim Maher of Escondido, California. Suspicion is growing that Amber's murder is related to the murder of Chelsea King. John Garner proclaims that he is innocent of all charges related to King's murder and presumably of any involvement in Amber DuBois' death.