Finding Marizela: The Dread Void of Uncertainty; UPDATE: Marizela is still missing, questions unanswered
Update: 7:57pm Eastern…Just received word…no match between Marizela’s records and the unidentified remains in Morton…questions about bureaucratic lapses still unresolved…see more below
This is a sketch released by Lewis County, Washington authorities last week. It is a reconstruction of the facial features of skeletal human remains found on a logging road in April outside of Morton, WA. The small town is located about two hours south of Seattle. The remains are believed to be of a young woman of “small stature,” “possible mixed ethnicity,” and estimated to be in her 20s or 30s. It has haunted me the past four nights as I toggle back and forth obsessively between the artist’s rendering and the vivid, flesh-and-blood photos of my missing cousin, Marizela.
Seven months of searching and not finding. Seven months of praying and not knowing. Seven months of fear, frustration, false alarms, anger, and despair. Seven months of what one war historian documenting the plight of families of the missing so aptly described as “the dread void of uncertainty.”
Is the woman in the drawing Marizela? If not, dear God, WHERE IS SHE?
We have been told there is a good chance it may not be her. But after spending all Friday on the phone demanding answers, we still await final word on whether this is or is not Marizela.
Either way, there is no solace. The unidentified is someone’s loved one. If she is not ours, she belongs to another family suspended in limbo — craving “closure,” but not, never, this kind.
Compounding the dark cloud of unknowing is the unbearable encumbrance of apathy.
The longer Marizela is missing, the less interested news outlets are in covering the case. The quieter her friends, classmates, and university community have become. And the more lackadaisical some authorities have grown.
The persistent lapses on the part of the Seattle Police Department are maddening. Just when we think it can’t get worse, it does.
Consider this.
My family found out about the sketch thanks to readers who e-mailed me a link to a local Washington state website report late Thursday night. Her parents received no notification, no courtesy call, from the Seattle Police missing persons bureau detective assigned to Marizela’s case. In fact, we have yet to hear from him. As has happened on more than one occasion over the last seven months, he was out of the office on Friday and unavailable. He has yet to return several e-mail messages and phone calls.
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office and the King County Medical Examiner’s office, by contrast, were amazingly responsive and helpful. I found out they have tried for weeks to obtain Marizela’s dental records and DNA from the Seattle Police. But for some inexplicable reason, the police have yet to provide them or the Washington State Patrol with the information.
Marizela’s parents provided her dental records and their DNA samples to the Seattle police five months ago.
Washington state law — RCW 68.50.320 — requires the missing person’s case detective to obtain this crucial information “within thirty days” of the person going missing and to input the data with the Washington State Patrol “as soon as possible.”
RCW 68.50.320
Procedures for investigating missing persons — Availability of files.
When a person reported missing has not been found within thirty days of the report, or at any time the investigating agency suspects criminal activity to be the basis of the victim being missing, the sheriff, chief of police, county coroner or county medical examiner, or other law enforcement authority initiating and conducting the investigation for the missing person shall: (1) File a missing person’s report with the Washington state patrol missing and unidentified persons unit; (2) initiate the collection of DNA samples from the known missing person and their family members for nuclear and mitochondrial DNA testing along with the necessary consent forms; and (3) ask the missing person’s family or next of kin to give written consent to contact the dentist or dentists of the missing person and request the person’s dental records.
The missing person’s dentist or dentists shall provide diagnostic quality copies of the missing person’s dental records or original dental records to the sheriff, chief of police, county coroner or county medical examiner, or other law enforcement authority, when presented with the written consent from the missing person’s family or next of kin or with a statement from the sheriff, chief of police, county coroner or county medical examiner, or other law enforcement authority that the missing person’s family or next of kin could not be located in the exercise of due diligence or that the missing person’s family or next of kin refuse to consent to the release of the missing person’s dental records and there is reason to believe that the missing person’s family or next of kin may have been involved in the missing person’s disappearance.
As soon as possible after collecting the DNA samples, the sheriff, chief of police, or other law enforcement authority shall submit the DNA samples to the appropriate laboratory. Dental records shall be submitted as soon as possible to the Washington state patrol missing and unidentified persons unit.
The descriptive information from missing person’s reports and dental data submitted to the Washington state patrol missing and unidentified persons unit shall be recorded and maintained by the Washington state patrol missing and unidentified persons unit in the applicable dedicated missing person’s databases.
Marizela went missing on March 5, 2011. Seattle police didn’t collect her dental records and DNA information, which her parents repeatedly offered, until mid-May 2011.
When Lewis County authorities searched the state database for any matches with the remains, Marizela’s case didn’t come up. Why not? Because the DNA and dental records had not been input.
It is now October 2011.
Seven months of neglect. Seven months of administrative bungling somewhere along the line. Seven months of not following the law.
Lewis County reporter Sharyn Decker has covered the Morton WA case closely and published these horrifying details last week:
The Lewis County Sheriff’s Office confirmed today they believe foul play was involved in the case of the woman whose skeletal remains were found near Morton this past spring.
A motorist who pulled off U.S. Highway 12 to take a break spotted the remains off the side of a logging road about 5:30 p.m. on April 7.
The sheriff’s office has revealed very little about the case, but today released an artist’s sketch they hope will help them identify the woman.
“Obviously we’re at a standstill in the case until we find out who she is,” Chief Civil Deputy Stacy Brown said.
An image was made by studying the facial bones of the female they say is believed to have been between 20 and 35 years old when she died.
She is described as small in stature and possibly of mixed ethnicity.
An examination by a specialist at the King County Medical Examiner’s Office could not determine the cause of death, according to Brown.
The discovery was made 100 yards up a logging road just outside Morton, according to the sheriff’ office. They still won’t specify where, even if that was east or west of town.
“We’re not giving the exact location because whoever killed her knows those details,” Brown said.
The sheriff’s office is not commenting on whether they believe the woman died there or elsewhere but have previously said it was doubtful the remains had been there very long, because it was a well-used logging road.
The sheriff’s office isn’t yet saying what they were told by the expert for an estimate of how long ago the woman had died, in part because they have not yet received the report, according to Brown.
Dental records and DNA from the deceased have been entered into databases with no matches found.
On Friday, after we proactively contacted King County and Lewis County authorities, Marizela’s dad Edgar immediately provided a summary letter from Marizela’s dentist to the medical examiner. The actual radiographs, however, are in the Seattle police department’s possession. Without them, there can be no definitive word on a match or no-match with the Morton, WA remains.
The King County medical examiner, Kathy Taylor, gave Marizela’s parents the latest update on Friday and also provided some much-appreciated words of comfort and humanity:
Thank you for forwarding the written notes from your daughter’s dentist. At this point there seems to be some discrepancy between what the dentist is relating and what is present on our unidentified. That would imply that our unidentified is not your daughter. However, we can not rule her out with 100% certainty until we receive her radiographs.
My understanding is that the Seattle Police have her dental x-rays. We are working hard to get those submitted to the State Patrol so that a final determination can be made. The Lewis County detective, the State Patrol, the State Forensic Dentist, and I are all working to get that done. I will let you know as soon as we have a definitive answer. My apologies at the delay.
Please know that I have been aware of your daughter’s case from the beginning. When the Lewis County remains were found, she was one of the first people that came to mind. However, we think the unidentified is a bit older than your daughter. We also believed her x-rays were in the data base so would have hit when we searched (but we now know her x-rays are not in the database).
I know your daughter is dearly loved and desperately missed. That makes her very important to me too. I will continue to keep her at the front of my mind every time I receive an unidentified case. I will keep you posted on our progress. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Kathy
Kathy Taylor, Ph.D.
Forensic Anthropologist
King County Medical Examiner’s Office
Seattle, Washington
And so, enveloped again in that dread void of uncertainty, we wait.
***
Marizela’s missing persons flyer and information are all here. Please continue to keep your eyes and ears open.
***
We have contacted both the Washington state attorney general’s office and SPD Assistant Chief James Pugel for answers about the failures to abide by RCW 68.50.320 and the delays in sharing Marizela’s dental records and DNA information with requesting authorities.
***
UPDATE 7:57pm Eastern… We just heard from the King County medical examiner. The remains do not belong to Marizela. Momentary relief is mixed with overwhelming sadness for the young woman who has still not been identified — and continued frustration with the failures of the Seattle police department.
Here is the letter informing Marizela’s dad, Edgar, of the news and of the process from here on out on how her DNA and dental records will be handled:
Mr. Perez,
Detective Ogard from Seattle Police called me this morning and has related that the DNA samples they took when you all were in Seattle have been submitted and are being processed. In addition, he delivered Marizela’s dental x-rays to me. I have compared them to our Jane Doe and can assure you that the Jane Doe is NOT your daughter.
I have scanned the x-rays and will retain a copy so that I can easily compare them to any remains that are found in the future. I will then forward the x-rays to the State Patrol (they should go out in the mail tomorrow) so that her dental radiographs will be on file for comparison across the state and nation.
I will always keep Marizela in mind. She will not be forgotten. Now that the dentals are on file and the DNA is being processed, everything is in place. If you have any questions, at any time, please call me.
Kathy
Kathy Taylor, Ph.D.
Forensic Anthropologist
King County Medical Examiner’s Office
We are still awaiting an official explanation from Seattle PD on why the law was not followed and why the records were not turned over in a timely, legally required manner. Hopefully, this experience will alert other families of missing persons to the pitfalls that may face them in their searches for their loved ones.
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One year later: Marizela is still missing; Plus: A public appeal to Google
March 5, 2012 02:40 AM by Michelle Malkin
59 Comments
The Search for Marizela: A Thanksgiving note
November 23, 2011 12:05 AM by Michelle Malkin
51 Comments
Update: Arrest made in case of missing Seattle-area teen Kathy Chou
July 7, 2011 03:17 PM by Michelle Malkin
26 CommentsFinding Marizela: Month Four
July 5, 2011 06:19 AM by Michelle Malkin
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Michelle,
Your family continues to be in our thoughts and prayers for solace and closure.
Doesn’t look like her.
The eyes in the sketch are close together.
The eyes in the pic are wide apart.
The sketch also has a very long face.
The pic has a wide face.
The mouth looks different as well.
As does the nose.
My wife and I pray that this is a false lead and that Marizela is somewhere safe.
God be with you and Marizela’s family through all of this. It’s an outrage the Seattle Police Department appear to be performing so poorly.
The sketch doesn’t look like her to me. I can’t imagine the pain and fear that your family must live in on a daily basis. I’m so sorry and continue to hope and pray for the best.
My heart aches for you and your family, Michelle. I continue to pray for all of you and for a happy ending to this agonizing situation. Stay strong; miracles do happen.
Pray.
Trust in God.
Michelle: I am sorry that you and your family are going through this right now. God bless you and provide you with comfort.
The most important trait for good police/emergency workers/doctors/investigators is an awareness that they are dealing with someone’s loved one! It is what will keep their skills sharp and their minds finely tuned.
If the SPD detective has lost the ability to empathize with your family and care about your cousin as much loved individual, then he is no longer effective at his job and he should retire or be reassigned!
I pray that these remains can be clearly identified, for the sake of everyone involved, and if foul play is involved, I pray that the police will find whoever caused the death!
Stay strong and keep us posted!
Barbara and I have Marizela, yourself, and the entire family in our prayers.
Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum,
Vince
Proverbs 3:5
I could never (and don’t want to) imagine the pain and frustration I’d feel if this happened to my family, only to be compounded by the callous ineptitude of the police. God’s will be done, she will be found, and this is NOT her! Still praying for your family, Michelle. Keep up the heat on these buffoons to do their jobs.
Be anxious for nothing but in all things, through prayer and supplication, let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ or Lord. Philippians 4:7
My prayers are for you in this.
On October 24th, 2011 at 7:52 am, VikingMom said:
The SPD detective sounds either grossly neglegent or intentionally obstructive.
It pains me to think that the detective could be intentionally obstructive, but if he is a liberal who hates Michelle, it wouldn’t surprise me if that is what’s going on here. As Michelle notes, the detective is in violation of Washington state law RCW 68.50.320. They don’t deserve to keep their job.
My prayers remain with Marizela and her entire family. I pray that Marizela returns home safely.
Thank you for the update Michelle, no matter how distressing. I wish all of the SPD were as thoughtful as Kathy Taylor appears to be.
These are our PUBLIC servants at work, paid by our tax dollars. I know there are many dedicated law enforcement people, and I know they are very very busy. But these kinds of cases deserve special handling and priority. Only those who have gone through this agony can know how important it is to get answers, and to know the police are still working on it!
Sometimes it seems as if people have forgotten Marizela…but we know there are many many of us who continue to lift her and her family in our prayers daily. This will continue until she is found!
May God continue to be with you and hold you in His arms, Michelle!!
I add my prayers to the many.
God give you all comfort. Stay strong.
Philippians 4
11Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
With God’s Strength, you’ll get through this.
My thoughts and prayers to finding Marizela. Also for you and your family in this difficult time.
Andy and Barney were more competent than the progressive idiots in the Seattle PD. So sorry Michelle. I’m praying for God’s strength in your weakness now.
Michelle, hon the hardest part of living is the pain of losing someone or the things we love. The more one opens their heart and their soul to life and sharing, the greater the experience of living and the greater the pain when someone is removed. You have been blessed because you love and you share that love freely. It comes with a price.
May He send His angels of comfort in your time of trials.
always,
Barb
Michelle, there are no words to say to soften your pain. I add my prayers for your family and yourself and Marizela. We all pray for her safe return.
I pray this young woman who has been found can be reunited with her family and their healing begin.
God bless you and your family.
The pain of a missing loved one is enough, you just don’t imagine that the family has to deal with incompetence and negligence also.
The likelihood that it is your cousin depends on the population demographics of the region, the number of people that are missing, and the accuracy of the artist’s depiction.
I really hope you find her alive Michelle. If she does come back into your life, will you please hold a meet and greet so all your supporters, such as myself, can meet your cousin and experience the good result?
The Truth, following The Law or even just doing your job are foreign languages to these “people”, our hired public servants. Pitiful.
I wonder how many other missing persons’ DNA and dental records were not in the database to provide a match, thanks to the Seattle PD’s gross incompetence and dereliction of duty.
I hope somehow, some way, the PD can be held accountable for their breaking of the law and their ignoring this case. Will Marizela’s family file a suit in court over the lawbreaking and negligence?
I will continue to pray for her safe return.
You’re right. The police don’t even do what their suppose to do these days. If an incident doesn’t involve danger to a child, domestic violence or a traffic violation, the police will provide little to no service. In fact, had this been a missing child, it would of been covered 24/7 by everyone and their grandmother. But, because Marizela is over 18 years of age, nothing is given.
If the SPD detective is deliberately not investigating a disappearance because of personal or political animosity, then he should not just be reassigned but prosecuted! However small the consolation to Marizela’s family, do not forget that God sees the heart and if this is the case, then He will render judgement on this man!
“Whosoever harms one of my little ones, better he should have a millstone around his neck and be thrown into the depths of the sea!”
Could there be a chance your problems with the Seattle PD are a form of payback for time you spent as a reporter in Seattle? I’d hate to think that, but as I was once (very long ago) a police reporter, I know you can come across some pretty twisted thinking from time to time.
“Working hard” to get submitted? What does that mean? Maybe I don’t understand what is involved but isn’t that like “I’m working hard to mail my tax returns to the IRS”?
Shame on the Seattle detective for not following through on his responsibilities.
I hope you and your family find peace soon, Michelle – whether this is Marizela or another precious, missing girl. I cannot fathom the agony you must all be experiencing over this.
Michelle, It is time to get a lawyer, and a good one, to work on your behalf.
I hope that by you shedding some light on just how piss poorly this detective has been handling (or should I say misshandling) the case that it gets enough attention to see some serious changes enacted. Hopefully that will make a difference to other casses as well as your family’s.
Have you thought about contacting Atty Genral Rob McKenna with what you have found out?
Facial features in the sketch are significantly more elongated compared to Marizela. Other independent objective differences noted by commenters reaffirm my belief this is not Marizela.
No justifiable reason exists for the Seattle Police Department to delay their lawful duties. After receiving plenty of exposure to the media, you would think a shuffling of personnel and re-education of missing persons laws would expedite this case and other bungled cases being investigated by the Seattle Police. The investigator should do the right thing and resign his position along with the police chief. Their neglectful behavior is unacceptable.
Your family is in our prayers Michelle. The conduct of the Seattle Police Department is beyond outrageous.
I contacted him this morning.
Father God, please hold Marizela and all her family in Your arms and comfort them. If it is in Your will, please bring Marizela home to her family.
Amen.
L
The artist rendering looks to have a more elongated face whereas Marizela seems to have a wider face with strong cheekbones. Hopefully, you and your family will know soon if this is your cousin, but I don’t think she is.
I’ve read elsewhere about this sketch and apparently there is another missing young woman from that area. It may very well be these remains are that of this local woman. The sketch looks like it’s an Asian woman but looks nothing like Marizela.
I work for the local DA’s office and it’s frustrating when the agencies don’t cooperate with us and provide us with the evidence we need. Most of the time we get it but every now and then we’ll come across someone who isn’t good about turning over evidence. What’s unfortunate about the red tape is they can’t officially rule out Marizela and that prevents authorities from finding out who this poor woman really was. There’s a family somewhere missing this person, whoever she is. The family deserves closure, the woman deserves a name, and they all deserve to get the justice owed to them.
No family should have to go through this. In my experience, there are good police agencies, and poor police agencies, but it is the leadership at the top that makes it so.
No “Top Cop” should stand for his agency NOT following protocol, nor statutes. In my time as an officer, those failing to meet common competency standards, got fired. With modern, sometimes wondrous technology, there is no excuse for not doing your job as a police officer, and doing it with competency.
No excuses. No cover ups. The OIC should have ordered his investigators to suspend colder cases, and get up to speed on this one. Investigative procrastination often results in poor prosecutions. Botched investigations, especially by such a large department, does not give one confidence.
Perhaps, this police union has adopted the “general” union rules, that incompetent cops can’t get canned? I can see this case going political, rather than being solved. For that, I apologize for the officers in the Seattle Police Department who want to do a good job solving crimes, rather than “covering the a$$es” of lazy, or incompetent officers and leadership.
I, too, am still praying for Marizela’s safe return.
The sketch looks more like a Native American woman than Filipino, to me.
Take comfort, Ms Malkin. You have a lot of people praying for her.
I don’t think so.
It seemed as if King County Medical Examiner’s Office claimed they were working hard to compel the Seattle Police Department to submit the material. It’s more like trying to get your co-worker to mail in their tax returns.
Still praying.
Michelle, since I don’t know what to say to comfort you, I’ll just give you this:
By it I have been comforted in my affliction, because your word has given me life!
Psalm 119:50
I, too, don’t see a resemblance between the sketch and Marizela. I hope you receive a definite answer soon. The inaction by the Seattle police dept. is disappointing.
Dear Father, please bring Marizela home soon. Please be with her, and her family and friends, which include our dear Michelle. Please help them to know You are with them and will never forsake them. Please lay on the hearts of those investigating this disappearance that they should be conducting it as if it were their own loved one missing. Dear Lord, wrap Your arms around this family and hold them close to You. Please comfort them and give them strength. I ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.
I don’t see any way that sketch could relate to Marizela. Even if the sketch is way off, Marizela’s face is heart-shaped while the sketch indicates a long face, Isn’t that a very big thing to be off?
So sorry you’re still going through this. God, it’s awful. Saying a prayer for you and your family.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. Keep the faith!
Come to think of it…you are dealing with SEATTLE after all! Moonbat city. They very well could be dragging their feet on purpose. Michelle, you are well known in the political circles and this is a distinct possibility. Yes, definitely time to get a good lawyer! You have more than enough evidence of their “incompetence”.
The sketch, if anywhere near accurate, is not even close. I assume the dental and DNA will confirm. EmEm is on our daily prayer list and will stay there until she is home. Our timing and God’s timing rarely match up. He knows what He’s doing. Lord, please bring her home.
Faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Don’t give up.
The sketch is a guess, and is not definitive.
IMHO, what it does show is a non-causasian woman, small in stature, with straight black hair.
That eliminates black, Samoan, and probably American Indian women as possible victims. I would think, that narrows the forensic list of victims considerably.
This is so infuriating.
And peace to the woman who died, and her family, whoever she is.
Is this David Ogard? Print his name whoever he is – the SOB.
Every time I am at U Village, I think of Marizela, and the picture of her eating a cupcake. I often buy cupcakes from that same shop. And I pray that she will be found or find her way back.
My husband’s family is from Morton, and for those not familiar with the geography of Washington state, Morton is about 30 miles southwest of Mt. Rainier. It is easily a two-hour drive from Seattle, and there is no train or bus service that goes directly into Morton. It is a small town of just over 1000 people, and has the largest hospital in east Lewis County. I don’t think the sketch looks like Marizela, but if it is her, then someone knows something about how she got there. There is no way that you can “accidentally” end up on a logging road on Hwy 12, just outside of town.
The girl that was drawn does not look anything like Marizela.
It is indeed infuriating when the LAW OFFICERS bungle thru things and fail to do what they are supposed to do by law. So many things didn’t add up when they were investigating the disappearance of my cousin Jodi Huisentruit in Mason City, Ia. I am TORN between the need for closure, and the need for HOPE. I remember those days ticked by turning into months and then years. Jodi’s car at her mothers, and the YEARS of “leads” that turned HOPE into nothing. Even, after all this time, WE STILL HAVE HOPE…but it is now morphed into HOPE for CLOSURE. I wouldn’t wish this feeling on my worst enemies. It turns HOPE into HOPELESSNESS. Many prayers and HUGS to the family. For I have and am still walking in those shoes. I do understand what it feels like to WANT them to come HOME.
I don’t see the resemblance myself but I don’t deal in forensics either.
My hopes and prayers are in line with others here.
“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”
James 1:12
You and yours are in our prayers.
This must be maddening for you Michelle and Marizella`s family and friends. You are still and will remain in my prayers.
Also praying that those responsible for not inputting Marizella`s data, mismanagement of that data, to be brought to justice too !
Our prayers are with you and your family.
I spent 30+ years working in a large municipal bureaucracy and learned some keys to getting through the fog dealing with my own organization, state and federal offices as well as private concerns. Here are my tips:
After you’ve contacted the person responsible, contact everyone else you can identify no matter how unrelated they may seem. The PR department, the press officer, the attorneys, the financial people and so on. At every step, if they tell you they can’t help or seem to be dragging their feet tell them “I know you are limited in what you can do, but…now understand I’m not complaining about you…there is someone you report to who can help. Please give me their number.
Repeat this process ad nauseum. Always try to go higher up the chain of resistance.
Eventually you will have at least two people who, at least privately, think something needs to be done. Your goal is to have them bump into each other in the hall and realize they’re working on the same issue.
Bureaucratic official channels are designed to be self preserving and are automatically defensive. If you can break out of the official channels that is when you get results. Success comes when it becomes easier to fix your problem than to defend their untenable position. I can happen.
My rule to the folks who worked for me was: when someone calls with a problem, the problem is real and needs attention. If we screwed up, fix it. If we did it right explain why and help them understand the matter. If you can’t get them to agree with you, try thinking about personally explaining this on the ten o’clock news. If that doesn’t sound attractive then some other solution will – find it.
Having spent 25 yrs in law enforcement, now blessedly retired for many years, I agree with jdtruly. You’ve got to keep hammering on them, from all angles.
It’s sad to say, but I know that missing person cases are handled much like routine vandalism cases. A city like Seattle will receive many missing person reports per day. Unless the person is very high profile, if no leads are developed within the first day or two, the file tends to be forgotten.
Whether Seattle, Los Angeles or Podunk Iowa, pressure has to be kept on the police or the file ends up buried under the mountain of other reports. It’s just how it is, everywhere.
I pray this is NOT Marizela.
But, whoever she is, I pray also that there is evidence at the scene that leads straight to whoever is responsible for her death.
Michelle,
The ray of hope that I see for this sketch to NOT be Marizela is this information from Kathy Taylor:
Kathy Taylor sounds like a true professional and a wonderful human being.
Since Dr. Taylor was aware of Marizela’s disappearance from the beginning (possibly due to all of the hard work you have been doing to share information about Marizela), she would have been more likely to make a connection between Marizela and the sketch, if there was a connection to be made.
I continue to pray that Marizela will come home safely.
And in the meantime, I keep an eye out for anybody who looks even remotely like Marizela every time I go to an event where young people gather in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Please continue to keep us informed so we can all continue to help look for Marizela. You have more people who are looking for your cousin than you will ever know.
Hold onto every ray of hope!
Michelle,
Any update on getting access to Marizela’s cell phone info?
go to seattle.
I’m assuming that the detective mentioned in both quotes is the same person.
I don’t have all the facts, but from what I do know, it sure looks like this detective is being intentionally obstructive.
And if so, this detective needs to learn first-hand what life is like behind bars.
Positive thoughts and prayers for all involved, Michelle.
“We have contacted both the Washington state attorney general’s office and SPD Assistant Chief James Pugel for answers about the failures to abide by RCW 68.50.320 and the delays in sharing Marizela’s dental records and DNA information with requesting authorities.”
PLEASE post what their response to this travesty is.
Many prayers for your entire family, Michelle.
I see several comments that the sketch does not resemble Marizela.
What if the sketch artist is as incompetent or uncaring as that worthless detective?
I pray that the Lord, Jesus Christ, gives you and your family the strength to deal with what ever the findings may be, and I pray a legal eagle in the Seattle area steps up to the bat for you and your family to press for the answers you deserve.
Good luck, Michelle. I can’t imagine the heavy heart you carry every day.
I don’t put a lot of faith in sketches. Usually, to me at least, they appear pretty generic.
Facial reconstruction is much more accurate but takes time. Since it’s been months already, I’d say it’s the way to go.
I thank God that His Son, Jesus, understands what we as humans go through. He understands your dread in this situation and invites you, and all of us, to approach Him boldly and ask for His help. He promises His grace to us when we need it most.
I continue to pray for Marizela and your family. God bless you.
*Continued prayers Michelle; Your extended family needs to find a champion to help find Marizela, outside of law enforcement, like the fellow in Texas (Eqquisearch, I believe) who has been through this with his own daughter, and his heart would be in it totally; I would send coin for him if he gets on board; God Bless!
We are still praying. Every time I come, I am reminded that Marizela is still missing and am also reminded to pray, pray, pray.
The green thermos she was last seen with is identical to one I use and have from Starbuck’s. Every time I have that cup with me, I pray for Marizela’s safe return.
We are still praying…
Miss Michelle, you and your family are in our prayers. GOD’s comfort to you all. Never give up hope!
I hope for the best. Michelle, you’re in our family’s prayers.
Hair parted on the wrong side, seems unlikely from even a novice sketcher.
Heartbreaking.
My daughter is about the same age, I can’t even imagine the terror your family is experiencing.
I’ve had experiences with city police vs county sheriff departments, the sheriff department is human, kind and helpful while the police have a chip on their shoulder and don’t really care about victims of crimes. The sheriff deputies we worked with even admitted that they can’t stand the police either.
I fervently hope that your cousin is found safe and sound soon.
Having lived in the Puget Sound area, I am not surprised that anything but incompetence comes from the city of Seattle. Do not expect any accountability. This is a SNAFU moment.
Thank goodness the sketch was not of Marizela!
The search to find Marizela continues.
Thank you for the update, Michelle. It will help us all sleep a bit better tonight.
Bless Dr. Kathy Taylor for her compassion and professionalism in her difficult work!
Good news. Unfortunately, the uncertainty continues. I know how hard it is but keep the faith and never give up hope.
There are some good Law inforcement people, the people we worked with were very helpful. Wish there were more people like Dr. Taylor helping you.
Continued prayers for you and Marizela’s family.
Prayers for the family of this girl…
My heart aches for your family, and I am very sorry you are going through such a difficult time.
God Bless you, Michelle
Kathy seems like a decent and caring individual – pat on the back to her.
Some days it seems that we just can’t win but, we don’t give up because there is always hope. As for the Seattle Police Dept., there can be no excuse for not even completing the basic legal requirements for putting a missing person’s data into the systems designed to help locate them. Once again our government lets us down. God Bless you, Michelle, for being a shining star and example for all conservatives.
I hardly know how to react. I am relieved to know this “Jane Doe” is not your niece but somewhere, one or more other families are now worried that perhaps the police have found their daughter…
There is a profound evil at work in this world…
*Good to hear the update, but sad for some other family members somewhere; An all too common occurance, and mostly to the shame of the male of the species!
*I have always said, that depravity will always lurk on the edges of humanity, and it is only with a greater belief in God that we shall keep it there; And unfortunately, the male of the species is by far the primary culprit.
Heavenly Father, hear our prayers…
That’s true eh? I am a guy, but many times I feel shame toward the way in which my side of the human species behaves. Could it be testosterone?
Men do seem to commit most of the really big displays of evil.
I don’t know that testosterone accounts for it. Maybe men are less prone to ask for help when they need it. Maybe it is a combination of testosterone and society. But male or female, there’s no doubt evil is lurking, and vigilance is require to fight it.
This is why Jesus taught us to ask for help to keep evil out of OUR OWN HEARTS – “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” —
Many people don’t believe evil exists (despite clear evidence). Many people don’t ask for help in keeping it away (and therefore practice it in small ways, which can lead to big ways).
Only evil can explain what some people are capable of.
Innocent people are often the victims when others have allowed evil in.
Prayers going up for your family. May God grant you His peace and bring your loved one home.
The forensic anthropologist is a brightness in the dark of this situation. She is to be commended for her compassion and caring. I pray for the unknown woman to be identified and returned to her family and for Marizela’s safe return to your family.
Praying that she finds her way home.
Have to admit, I didn’t worry much about it being EmEm. Forensic sketches based on skeletal remains are generally closeer. But I’ve been worrying and wondering why a young lady’s remains are there – and no one is looking for her. Did no one love her enough to look for her? And who hated her enough to leave her there? God rest her soul, and give her the peace with You she could not have here. This world can be a hard place.
Marizela – It’s time. You are running from the very thing you need and desire. Please let someone help.
Lord God, comfort her heart tonight, and grant Michelle and her family rest and the comfort and assurance of your Spirit. We cry out as one. Bring Marzela safely home. We ask it in Jesus name.
I’m both relieved for you and your family and sad.
Relieved that the body wasn’t Marizela’s…and sad that your questions still remain unanswered.
My thoughts and prayers continue to go with you and your family.
My prayers still remain – may Marizela be found, or may she find her way home.
Let’s try to keep the male bashing bigotry off the blog, here. Men are not the ones who have made the choices to slaughter 50 million of their children for the sake of convenience.
Men tend to be better at violence, so forms of evil that involve the need for more ability and skill at violence tend to involve more men. But violence itself is not evil at all. The most violent person on the planet during the 1940′s was the American military man.
Evil is a sickness in the soul. It is a way of seeing humans and human society. It is an outlook. A twisted philosophy. As a group women have it every bit as much as men do, perhaps more (on average), as evidenced by the death rate of the preborn.
Thank you for the update Michelle/ Kathy Taylor is a true professional. Doing her job with the compassion clearly missing from the SPD. If the SPD cannot even do something as mundane as posting the dental records for a missing person, what else have they overlooked early on in the investigation due to their incompetence and laziness? (sigh)
That sketch looks way off, but I guess the scientists will let your family know. I pray for some definitive news for you and your family Michelle. God bless all of you.
I still look twice at every young Asian woman just to make sure it’s not Marizella, and I still pray for her and your family. God bless!
From Michelle’s post:
Well then maybe a nice juicy story of rank police incompetence and perhaps even malfeasance will spice things up for them. There has to be someone who’s willing to take that on.