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Lily Aramburo Featured in Highway Billboard and Miami New Times!

By on January 13, 2011 in CBS4, cold case, FDLE, foul play, Lily Aramburo, Lucely Aramburo, media, MIami Dade Police, Miami New Times, missing person, Ray Hoadley
It has been a very productive and extraordinary week for the search to Help Find Lily! 

On Sunday, we learned that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement put up another highway billboard featuring Lily. This time the entire billboard is devoted to her! It’s on the Palmetto Expressway South bound by Okeechobee Road, a very busy highway that gets mad amounts of steady traffic. I was able to see it for myself this morning. Wow, it was really impressive! Check out the photos I took:

On Monday January 10, 2011, CBS4 Miami highlighted Lily Aramburo’s cold case. It felt phenomenal to finally see Lily on the news!! We’re ecstatic and very grateful to CBS4.

On Tuesday January 11, 2011, a follow up article was written by Frank Alvarado from the Miami New Times. Thank you Frank! The article is posted below. Read it for yourself and please take a minute to comment if you feel inclined! Your thoughts are important to us.

If you’d like to assist in the search for Lily, you can do so easily by sharing these articles and recent news with friends and social networks. You can also join and invite others to the Help Find Lily Facebook Page. THANK YOU so very much for caring about Lily!!! 

More than three years after she went missing, Miami-Dade Police investigators believe Lilly Aramburo was a victim of foul play. At least, that’s what an updated missing persons flyer seems to indicate. New Times wrote a cover story about the young single mother’s June 1, 2007 disappearance from the east Kendall apartment she shared with her then-boyfriend Christian Pacheco.

In December, Aramburo’s case was transferred from missing persons to homicide. And the department has assigned the case to Ray Hoadley, a veteran homicide detective who solved the cold case murder of an 18-year-old Homestead girl killed in 1993. The development has given hope to Aramburo’s closest relatives and friends.
An ongoing social media campaign started by Aramburo’s friend and Miami-based Internet marketing consultant Janet Forte generated national media coverage about the case, but has turned up few leads into what happened to the 24-year-old woman. Forte and Aramburo’s mother, Lucely Zalvidar, had grown frustrated with the police investigation, at times suggesting detectives were indifferent to finding Lilly because of her history of running away from home and drug addiction. A Miami-Dade police spokesman declined comment because of the open investigation.
“I feel very confident with the new detective on the case,” Forte says. “I believe in karma and know that whoever was involved in Lilly’s disappearance will ultimately face the consequences of their actions.”
Hoadley, a 38 year veteran, was the lead investigator in the cold case of Trinity Robinson. In 2006 Hoadley arrested her boyfriend Christopher Phillips for her murder despite not finding the body. This past September, a jury convicted Phillips based on circumstantial evidence and witness testimony Hoadley gathered. The 38-year-old, who was sentenced to life in prison, is only the second person in Miami-Dade history to be convicted of murder without a victim’s body.
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Missing mother Lily Aramburo on America’s Most Wanted!

By on September 18, 2009 in media, missing mother, missing person

Young Mom Lily Aramburo Disappears

THE CASE

In the early hours of June 2, 2007,  Lilly Aramburo left her boyfriend’s apartment, never to be seen again. As her family and friends have told us, she would never leave her baby son behind on her own free will.

Now, they have turned to America’s Most Wanted for help.

Lilly is described as friendly and always willing to listen and help a friend in need. A blog has been started, called Justice in Miami, to raise awareness about her case.

At 22, she was not without problems. She struggled with drugs, and may have found herself in a situation where people she knew did her harm.

Private Eye Working To Find Lilly

Lilly’s friends are desperate for answers in her disappearance.

The quiet residential street in Miami where she lived turned different at night, and people are afraid to talk about what they see and what they know.

Law enforcement sources say they know the last place she was seen alive, a private home on the street.

Those who love her have great concerns about her not being alive when she left that house.

A South Florida private investigator, Joe Carrillo, has received some great tips that have been passed on to Miami law enforcement.

Those that know Lilly think some people might be afraid to come forward.  Lilly’s loved ones want to know what may have been done to her.

To read more about Lily Aramburo, click on http://www.amw.com/missing_persons/brief.cfm?id=67889

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Candlelight Vigil and Silent March for Lily Aramburo’s 2 Year Anniversary

By on May 6, 2009 in anniversary, candlelight vigil, facebook, Florida, Lilly Aramburo, Lucely Aramburo, media, MIami Dade Police, missing mother, missing person, Silent March, South Florida, Twitter
Community to Hold a Silent March and Candle light Vigil for the 2nd Year Anniversary of Lilly Aramburo’s disappearance.

What: Justice for Lily Candlelight Vigil and Silent March
When: Sunday May 31st at 6pm
Where: 3440 Percival Ave Coconut Grove, FL 33133 Map
Why: It’s been exactly 2 years since Lilly vanished. We need to find Lilly and we need the person(s) responsible to be brought to justice!
Sunday May 31st, the South Florida community is invited to attend a candlelight vigil and silent march in memory of my friend, Lilly Aramburo, a young mother missing from Miami since 2007. Beginning at 6pm (Eastern time), Lilly Aramburo’s mother, Lucely will lead the crowd in a Justice for Lilly silent march in front of the house it is believed Lily may have lost her life.

The purpose of the silent demonstration is to grab the public’s attention for a short time on the two year anniversary of Lilly’s disappearance to make everyone aware that Lilly is still missing, and we are still looking for answers. We understand that Lilly isn’t the only loved one that’s missing. There are many missing persons in South Florida and thousands across the country. We are remembering them and their families on this special occasion, as well. Anyone with a missing loved one is urged to attend the event and bring a photo or flyer to share. Let us stand together in solidarity.

Family and friends will peacefully deliver a powerful message to Miami Dade Police Department that Lilly deserves justice, she deserves to be found. Lilly has not been forgotten by her family and friends and she shouldn’t be forgotten by the community where she lived. We’d like to see Miami Dade Police take meaningful action. Please show your support by joining Lilly’s family and friends. Help us seek JUSTICE FOR LILLY!

I realize few of you (loyal readers) live in the Miami area, if you are unable to be there in person, we ask you to have Lilly in your thoughts and prayers while the vigil is going on. Please join us in spirit by lighting a candle for Lily (where ever you are). But to those who live in South Florida, we’d love the chance to see you in person to thank you for your support and commitment to finding Lilly these past 2 years. Although it will be a very hard day for all of us, spending it together will help us heal in a small way.

Visitors are welcome to bring a candle to light for Lilly but it is not required. Please RSVP via Facebook or if you’re on Twitter, you can RSVP below.

Media is encouraged to attend.

We’d like to give very special thanks to Anita Hunt of Nita Joy Craft Design and author of “Are You Being Bullied” for creating the lovely flyer pictured above. Nita, you’re a star, thank you for your generosity! Nita graciously volunteered after responding to my tweet. (Pictured below ~ Note: read from bottom to top)


Nita’s reply was a complete surprise. As you can see, the exchange was short and sweet. A few hours later, the flyer was done. It was that easy and carefree. So, if it’s a personalized greeting card or gift you need to help brighten someone’s day, please consider Nita Joy Craft Design. If you tweet, you can follow Nita on Twitter.

And finally, I’d like to thank Staples for donating flyers for Lilly. Thank you, Staples!! We appreciate all of your support.

Help us spread the word. Pass on the link to this post, tweet it, invite your friends on Facebook and email your network, if you have a blog inform your readers. We need your support now more than ever.

Hope to see all of you on Sunday, May 31st!

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Emillie Hoyt Vanished From Highland Beach, FL

By on November 30, 2008 in Emillie Hoyt, facebook, Florida, Highland Beach, media, media attention, missing adult, missing person, myspace, social media, Twitter

Emillie Hoyt is MISSING. She vanished without a trace January 2006. She may have traveled to Fort Lauderdale from Highland Beach, FL.

Description:
Alias: Emmy
Date of Birth: Oct. 7, 1982
Missing Since: Jan 2006
Missing City: Highland Beach
Missing State: Florida
Age: 23
Gender: Female
Race: White
Height: 5ft 6in
Weight: 110 lbs (aprox)
Hair Color: Light brown
Hair (other): May be dyed blonde
Eye Color: Brown
Complexion: Fair


Please to take a good look at her picture and go to the Flickr Missing Persons Group to see more pictures of Emillie. Her family needs to know the truth. No one vanishes into thin air. Someone out there has to know something. Please do the right thing and come forward if you know anything about Emillie Hoyt’s disappearance. Contact Det. Bob Devito at 561-266-5800.

You can help find Emillie by joining her Facebook Group and adding as a friend on myspace. If you use Twitter, you can follow @emilliesbrother. As you could imagine, they are desperate to find Emillie. The holidays are especially difficult for families dealing with the loss of a missing loved one. Please don’t forget about them. All missing persons deserve to be found.

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Suggestive Reading: Media Bias: Only White Kids Get Abducted

By on November 11, 2008 in Abduction, kidnapping, media, minorities, missing children, missing people

Check out this article on Mom Logic about media bias as it relates to race and missing children. I really appreciate their mention of the good works by Black and Missing But Not Forgotten. A blog dedicated to those that are missing and black. Thanks for all you do, Deidra! Unfortunately, there are many who say they are dedicated to missing persons, but none focus on missing minorities in general.

As stated by the Media Bias article, “Thousands of kids go missing each day — so why do we never seem to hear about the African-American children?” Great question, Mom Logic! Thanks for bringing this issue to the forefront.

Media Bias: Only White Kids Get Abducted

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Lilly Aramburo’s Front Page Article on Miami New Times Puts Miami Police on Notice!

By on September 10, 2008 in crime, foulplay, Lilly Aramburo, Lucely Aramburo, media, media attention, MIami Dade Police, Miami New Times, missing mother, missing person

Wake up, South Florida! Lilly Aramburo is one of 5,000 people a year reported gone without a trace in Miami-Dade County.

Today, Lilly Aramburo’s story is featured on the front cover of the Miami New Times. The article appropriately titled “Missing Peace” was written by Francisco Alvarado. I must say, he did a pretty thorough job. Much more thorough than Miami Dade Police! (Frank deserves many props!)

He accomplished the seemingly impossible…he tracked down Christen Pacheco and got his side of the story. He interviewed Kelly Starling and a neighbor of Christen’s who knew them and happened to talk to Lilly just before she vanished. I can’t help but wonder, how many resources did it take? Was it costly? Did it take that much time and trouble?

According to the article, “police inaction is one reason she hasn’t been found.” Amen to that! Even Christen Pacheco admits he’s spoken to a detective only once by phone since the initial report. Kelly Starling says she’s tried contacting the detective several times but he’s never returned the calls. She says “no one has been trying to do anything. I’ve been wanting to talk to the detective all this time.”

Captain Janna Bollinger-Heller from the Miami Dade County Police domestic crimes bureau was interviewed. She says Lilly’s case “has been a high priority.” “We have followed up on every lead.” Interesting…

Miami Residents, are you outraged? This could be your child or relative! They believe they have treated Lilly’s case with priority? If speaking with the last person to see her alive once by phone is priority, then I’d hate to even think about the cases that have not been a high priority.
If what Captain Bollinger-Heller says is true and there are only 4 detectives in Miami Dade for the 5000 reported cases of missing people, then how on earth are they supposed to be found?

I have a solution. Why don’t they classify Lilly’s case and others that qualify as homicides? They obviously have more detectives in Homicide. Besides, they have much more training and are better prepared to deal with these kinds of investigations.

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2008-09-11/news/missing-person-lilly-aramburo/1

Make sure to read all 5 pages! After you read it, let us know what you think. Leave a comment on the New Times Article. Click on the bottom left link that says write your comment.

Contact Francisco Alvarado (Author):
francisco.alvarado@miaminewtimes.com
or call 305-571-7562

Contact Miami New Times:
Email: editorial@miaminewtimes.com
Mail: Letters, New Times
PO Box 011591
Miami, FL 33101-1591
Fax: 305-571-7678
(If you send a letter, include your name, address and daytime phone number. The information is used for confirmation only.)

Lilly’s family and friends urge the South Florida Community to take a good look at her picture. If you know Lilly or any of the key players involved, including a guy who goes by the name “EJ” – PLEASE COME FORWARD!! This EJ was also there but has since disappeared, unwilling to cooperate. Keep in mind, Lilly has a son who deserves to know the TRUTH.

If you think you know something, anything can be a clue that leads us to find Lilly – please contact us right now. There are numerous ways to submit a tip. You can leave a comment on my blog or the Miami New Times article. You can submit a web tip to Miami Dade Crime Stoppers or call 305-471-8477. You can contact Miami Dade Police Detective Aaron Mancha at 305-418-7245 or amancha@mdpd.com. No matter how small a detail you may know, it may lead us to answers please reach out and help bring Lilly back home.

If everyone who reads this would take a moment to make a phone call to the US Attorney’s Office – it would be of tremendous help in demanding justice for Lilly. Ask them to investigate the possible homicide of Lilly Aramburo. It only takes a minute to make a phone call.

Contact the US Attorneys Office
99 N.E. 4th Street
Miami, Fl. 33132
Phone: (305) 961-9001
Fax: (305) 530-7679

I’d appreciate your feedback! If you have any questions or comments about the article, leave a comment here too!! And if you feel strongly about this case, like I do, help demand justice for Lilly. Justice has been interrupted for far too long.

Stay updated by subscribing to my RSS feeds or subscribe to receive email updates. Bookmark and Stumble this blog – share it with your friends. Help us bring Lilly home. Help her family get closure!

I am signing off for now but I’ll update later tonight with more thoughts on this Miami New Times article.

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Free Online Resources for Finding Missing Persons Using Social Media

By on September 6, 2008 in awareness, Justice in Miami, Justice Interrupted, Lilly Aramburo, media, missing adults, missing persons, mymilkcarton, NCMA, resources, social media, social networking


I thought I’d give you (my regular readers) the heads up, I have a guest post on the Subliminal Pixels BlogFree Online Resources For Finding Missing Persons Using Social Media

I’ve had so much to share with you these past few days and week but haven’t had much time to post. I’m working on a few projects and awareness campaigns.cements:

  • Justice Interrupted Show featuring Lilly Aramburo’s case has been scheduled for Tuesday, Sept 9, 2008 at 10:10 PM Central Standard Time or 11:10 Eastern Standard Time (whatever your time zone) Please call in with your questions. I hope you are able to listen. I’ll be updating you all with the most current info about her case.

  • We have created a new Lilly Aramburo Milk Carton. I urge all families with a missing loved one to use this free service. My Milk Carton is a free resource that allows you to create a milk carton for your missing loved one. It’s very easy to use, all you need to do is register for your free account, submit the information and pictures about the missing person in the form provided and you’re all set. The pictures must be smaller than 2MB in size to upload. It takes between 24-48 hours. Using a milk carton to aid in your search is a playful and catchy way to get serious attention and have your missing person noticed.
  • I’ve saved the best for last. Next week, the Miami New Times is publishing an article about Lilly!!! That’s right, an article on the front page of our independent newspaper, Miami New Times! I’m sure it will help her case in many ways. Finally, Miami residents will get to know her story. I think it will be published next Wednesday night or Thursday morning, I’ll keep you posted. I’m rejoicing!! Thanks, Frank and Miami New Times!! Love you guys=)

Don’t forget to let me know what your thoughts are my latest post! Free Online Resources for Finding Missing Persons Using Social Media

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Boycott Miami!!

By on August 17, 2008 in boycott, Christen Pacheco, Justice in Miami, Lilly Aramburo, MDPD, media, Miami, missing persons


If you listened to War on Crime Radio tonight, you heard Levi suggesting a protest of Miami. I’ve included the show below, take a listen for yourself. Boycotting Miami is a great idea! If I lived outside of Miami, I’d be scared to visit here. Don’t be fooled, Miami Dade Police are not like what you see on CSI:Miami or The First 48.

Lilly was a lifetime resident. She vanished June 1, 2007. Miami Dade Police have not properly investigated this case from the start. The case was assigned to a detective who was on vacation. No one did anything for months! The flyer was created over 2 months later. Police did not interview Christen Pacheco, her boyfriend and the last person to see Lilly alive, until many months after. The list goes on and on. Obstacle after obstacle. Up until the present moment, they are not cooperating or properly investigating the case. Just think about how they will treat a tourist!

This can happen to you or your loved one! Lilly’s story is not special. People disappear from Miami every day. The problem comes in when police don’t do their jobs and don’t investigate. Civil servants (police) are paid by our tax dollars. There is no excuse for their disregard of human life! Miami Dade depends heavily on tourist dollars. Boycott my beautiful city and refuse to travel here until Miami Dade Police investigate Lilly’s case. No one should have to endure the suffering that Lilly’s family has had to endure. Is it a coincidence that the media in Miami rarely report on missing persons? I think not.

Help find Lilly. Boycott Miami. If boycotting is too big a task, then please please for the love of truth, make a phone call to to the US State Attorneys Office in Miami and politely ask them to investigate the possible homicide of Lilly Aramburo. It only takes a minute. The phone number for the State Attorney’s Office in Miami is 305-961-9001. Also, please contact Attorney General Bill McCollum Office, the Contact Person is Sandi Copes at (850) 245-0150. If you’d like to contact Miami Dade Police, the detective’s name is Aaron Mancha, his phone number is (305) 418-7245 and his email is amancha@mdpd.com.

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Heather Riggio Update

By on July 12, 2008 in CBS4, Heather Riggio, Kid Finders Network, media, Miami, Miami Herald, missing person, mobile billboard, North Miami Beach Police, Sherri Milstead, WSVN

Thankfully, a few media outlets have covered the disappearance of missing 20 year old Heather “Kitty” Riggio.  Heather, a petite blonde, was last seen wearing a pink top, jeans and high heels. On the afternoon of May 6, 2007 she left her family’s house in North Miami Beach and got into a white SUV, police say. She has never been seen since.
The Miami Herald wrote a good article about it on today’s paper. They have published a series of about 8 or 9 articles about Heather’s disappearance. You can find those articles in the Miami Herald archives. The writer, David Ovalle, included information about the Kid Finders Network. 
He writes: “The billboard is being provided to North Miami Beach police by the Kid Finders Network, a West Palm Beach-based volunteer organization run by Sherri and Dennis Milstead. Kid Finders, which relies on donations, provides mobile billboards aimed at finding missing young people. The price of Riggio’s mobile billboard — the printing of the banner and trailer upkeep — is about $3,000, footed so far by the Milsteads. ”We work off donations and we’re still trying to get sponsors,” Sherri Milstead said.“We’re hanging by a shoestring.”
Miami residents and businesses, please support Kid Finders Network. They desperately need corporate sponsors. Or if you are able to make a donation, you can do so by credit card or paypal safe and securely here. Please visit their website for more information. Their work is crucial to finding Heather and so many missing loved ones. They also seek volunteers to drive the mobile billboard.
From the moment I met Sherri and Dennis Millstead from Kid Finders Network, I immediately saw their devotion and personal sacrifice to find the missing. Dennis, kindly offered us a neat little gadget called Safety in a Flash. With Safety In A FLASH you can create missing person flyers, and it has the capabilities to export these files to police or missing person’s bureaus. Safety In A FLASH is highly recommended for the Elderly and those suffering with Alzheimer’s. Here’s a handy screen shot. I think it’s a great idea! Every single parent should have one for their kids or elderly parents. You can store birth certificates, pictures, fingerprints, etc. You can order one today for only a $65 donation to Kid Finders Network. Trust me, your family is worth it.
Here’s another article and video about Heather on CBS4. (The link is no longer active) And another on WSVN including video. You can find more information about Heather Riggio’s case by doing a Google search. There’s over 26,000 pages of search results.

From Heather’s sister’s Myspace page http://www.myspace.com/heathersmissing:

“We want as many people as possible to see her picture and know her story..But we need help..we need people to donate gas money and driving time to keep the billboard running..PLEASE contact Sherry @ 561-333-2779 if you can do anything..anything at all helps..thanks a lot, Lisa”.  
Heather’s family is torn up and suffering dearly for the return of their precious “Kitty”. See more pictures of Heather here. If you have any information, anything at all, please contact North Miami Beach Police at 305-949-5500.
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Live Discussion About Lilly on Internet Radio

By on May 23, 2008 in Justice in Miami, Lilly Aramburo, Lucely Aramburo, MDPD, media, Miami, missing adult, missing mother, missing person

Tune in to the The Dana Pretzer Show on Scaredmonkeys- Listen LIVE Tonight at 9PM Eastern. I will be discussing Lilly Aramburo’s case.

This week’s guests include:

* Jacque Hollander, Victim’s Rights Advocate
* Aden McEvoy and Theresa Jordan, family to Becca McEvoy
* Janet Forte, family spokesperson for Missing person Lily Aramburo
* Joel Brodsky: Attorney for Drew Peterson, husband of missing Stacy Peterson

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN LIVE TONIGHT AT 9PM EASTERN

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