The Tale of the Two Amanda Berrys, One Missing, One Not.

[Kelly]

This is an amazing, interesting story that I know you will love.

There is a teenage girl from Cleveland named Amanda Berry, who has been missing for over a year. One day, I received an email from AMANDA BERRY! The subject line was also Amanda Berry. I was almost afraid to read it because I was concerned it might either be a hoax or that the missing girl was emailing me for some reason. I opened it and it said: “Can I adopt Amanda Berry on your Adopt a Missing Person program?” I wrote back and explained that Amanda was not on the program and how families can place their missing loved one on the program. I asked her how she found, us, and if she knew the missing girl’s family.

Her name was also Amanda Berry. She wrote back and said she had found us and the Adopt program on the Internet. She also told me a most interesting tale about how one day she decided to type her name into the Google search engine just to see what she would find. She found the missing Amanda Berry from Cleveland. From that day forward, the other Amanda never left her thoughts. She wished she would hear more about her and that she had been found. She did not know the family at all. She was just a woman who cared, miles from the family in Cleveland who wanted so desperately to see their Amanda again.

I found this to be such an interesting and profound story, and I knew I had to do something about it. I asked Amanda if she was ok with me pursuing this with media who had done stories about the other Amanda. She was very open for me to do that. I told her that I intended to take it all the way; that it was too good of a story to pass up, and that the missing Amanda Berry and her family deserved an infusion of hope, knowing that someone cared. If we could get it on the airwaves, we could help this family. I think that neither one of us thought it would go anywhere. We were wrong.

The second media outlet I emailed the story to wrote back, and they were very interested. It took us a few days to make all the necessary arrangements, and then today we both went and filmed news segments in our respective cities. In the meantime, the families were writing their segments to include their daughters on the Adopt a Missing Person program. (Missing 14 year-old Georgina DeJesus from Cleveland was also included in the story, as we wanted to help both families.) Both girls will be on the Adopt a Missing Person site soon, and we have buttons ready to go.

Here is the link for the news story, plus a video you can watch online. Do watch the video as it features reactions from the family, too. They are so grateful that a stranger would come forward and help them as Amanda Berry did. I applaud Amanda and thank her for having the courage to do this.

This story is an excellent example of the fact that there is more good to found in the world than bad. The next time we are presented with an opportunity to do good, run with it, as you never know what might happen next. Amanda did, and look what came of it. I look forward to receiving Amanda’s adoption request for Amanda in the mail and hopefully many, many more.

http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=21980 (http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=21980)

Adopt a Missing Person:
http://www.projectjason.org/adopt.html

With Hope,
Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
www.projectjason.org

[WasBlind]

What an amazing story, Kelly. Thank you for sharing it, and special thanks to Amanda Berry for helping missing Amanda Berry. Many prayers were answered when this interview aired.

The Lord definitely has His hand is this, for it is truly divine!
With love and HOPE, Lanie
Help For The Missing
HelpForTheMissing@yahoo.com

[amandab]

You are both too kind. I'm just glad to have had the opportunity to turn the spotlight back onto Amanda and Gina for a bit. Someone, somewhere, knows what happened to these girls. I pray that they are found, and soon.

Thanks,
Amanda

[NewMom2003]

You are both too kind. I'm just glad to have had the opportunity to turn the spotlight back onto Amanda and Gina for a bit. Someone, somewhere, knows what happened to these girls. I pray that they are found, and soon.

Thanks,
Amanda

Wow Amanda. What you've done is amazing! The world needs more people like you in it. I think you're wonderful! :angel: I also pray that these girls are found safe and soon. God Bless You!

[Kelly]

The video for this newscast can now be found at:

http://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=6108&sid=21981&bw=

[Kelly]

It looks like if you want to see the video, you'll need to click on the video link and scroll down to the story date of 8/13.

Amanda Berry is a hero in my book.

Kelly

[gardenmom]

That's really nice, thank you for sharing.

[Kelly]

Happy Birthday to our AManda Berry.

Remembering your kindness to the missing Amanda Berry. :-)

Kelly

[amandab]

Awww - thanks so much! :-)

[WasBlind]

:HappyBday
I hope you are having a wonderul Birthday, Amanda.

You have an e-mail from me.

God bless you, Lanie
Help For The Missing
HelpForTheMissing@yahoo.com

[Kelly]

Project Jason, in affiliation with J.B. Scott Publishing, is pleased to announce that Amanda Berry and Georgina DeJesus are featured inside of the November 2004 issue of Through the Gears. You can pick up a free copy of this publication at your local truck stop.

Both girls, missing from Cleveland, are also on the November 18 Wheel Angel program campaign. Be sure to download and print several posters and place them to help the families bring them back home.

http:///www.projectjason.org/18wheel.html

Be sure to visit their websites and sign the guestbook to show the families that we care and support them in their efforts to locate these girls.

www.findgeorgina.com
www.amandaberry.net

Thank you.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
www.projectjason.org

[Kelly]

Amanda Berry's mother, Louwana, appears on the Montel Williams Show on Wednesday, November 17th. Check your local listings for the station and time.

Thank you.

Kelly

[Fran Bancroft]

Thanks for the info.

[amandab]

Amanda Berry's mother, Louwana, appears on the Montel Williams Show on Wednesday, November 17th. Check your local listings for the station and time.

Thank you.

Kelly

Oh wow!! Is there anyone here who'd be willing to tape that for me??

[Anngelique]

What a touching story! AmandaB, you ROCK! Thank you for showing people there IS much good in this world. God bless you.... :blowkiss:

[amandab]

Awwww gosh.....thanks. :blushing:

I would like to think that anyone would do that if they were in the same position.....

[amandab]

I just read on the Montel site that Amanda's mom is going to be asking Sylvia Browne about Amanda's disappearance. Has Sylvia Browne ever shown to be accurate or reputable? I worry, b/c so often psycics are wrong about these kinds of things, and just succeed in further tormenting the family.....

[Anngelique]

I just read on the Montel site that Amanda's mom is going to be asking Sylvia Browne about Amanda's disappearance. Has Sylvia Browne ever shown to be accurate or reputable? I worry, b/c so often psycics are wrong about these kinds of things, and just succeed in further tormenting the family.....

Isn't she the one who made the grave mistake of telling a family their child was sold to a foreign country for a slave and all the while the child was murdered? Please help me out here, this memory is not clear.

[CaliMom]

Isn't she the one who made the grave mistake of telling a family their child was sold to a foreign country for a slave and all the while the child was murdered? Please help me out here, this memory is not clear.

Yes, that would be the Opal Jenning case....

[amandab]

Oh gosh, that's not encouraging. Can anyone tell me what happened after the show's over? I wasn't able to tape it....

[Kelly]

Sb has NEVER been correct about a missing person's whereabouts.

I would like to know exactly what happenned. I already know what was said to her mother. What a shame!

Kelly

[Kelly]

Video about the show:

http://www.wkyc.com/video/player.aspx?aid=8242&sid=26506&bw=


News Story (http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=26501)

Kelly

[amandab]

Kelly-

Thanks for posting the news story (I can't view video here at work). I can only hope that Sylvia is wrong about Amanda, as she has been in the past....

-Amanda

[RCOOKE]

The national exposer is a lot more important than what Browne said. I was told by Montel's staff that they average 3 million viewers. Maybe one of those viewers saw something and will come forward.

People want to believe there is an easy solution to finding missing persons. This is part of what keeps Browne in business. It's too bad she couldn't be right some of the time.

[amandab]

The national exposer is a lot more important than what Browne said. I was told by Montel's staff that they average 3 million viewers. Maybe one of those viewers saw something and will come forward.


SUCH a good point. Someone, somewhere, knows what happened.....

[Kelly]

Amanda will be on the news again by next Monday night as her family is holding a memory walk in her honor on Sunday, plus our reporter friend will be covering the story as seen on Jason's thread.

Kelly

[dannyodie]

since these girls disappeared in the same area, does anyone know if gina dejesus knew amanda? I wonder if maybe the police ever thought of a manager at the burger king resturant that amanda worked at? if it were a manager gone bad, maybe at one point or another, gina dejesus possible visits her at work, and the perp sees her as well. And later sees her walking down the road, and he offers her a ride, maybe she would have felt comfortable with him, since she knew he was amandas manager. this is sad that these girls have fallen out of the picture, hopefully police have checked into a possible connection to someone that amanda and gina might have known, such as a possible manager idea that I have. at the very least I feel this person lives in the general area. seems like there hasn't been any others recently that have gone missing in that manner in a close period of time, this person knew whene they would be out and about. our prayers are with amanda and gina, and the families that are still looking for answers.

[Taximom]

Sadly, it's been 5 years today since she went missing. Her mother has since died of heart problems. :(

http://www.newsnet5.com/news/15943398/detail.html
She disappeared a day before her 17th birthday.

It's the same neighborhood where Gina DeJesus also vanished the same year.

The rally begins at 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot across from fast-food restaurant. (more at link)

[MeoW333]

Project Jason, in affiliation with J.B. Scott Publishing, is pleased to announce that Amanda Berry and Georgina DeJesus are featured inside of the November 2004 issue of Through the Gears. You can pick up a free copy of this publication at your local truck stop.

Both girls, missing from Cleveland, are also on the November 18 Wheel Angel program campaign. Be sure to download and print several posters and place them to help the families bring them back home.

http:///www.projectjason.org/18wheel.html

Be sure to visit their websites and sign the guestbook to show the families that we care and support them in their efforts to locate these girls.

www.findgeorgina.com (http://www.findgeorgina.com)
www.amandaberry.net (http://www.amandaberry.net)

Thank you.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
www.projectjason.org (http://www.projectjason.org)

I love the 18 Wheel Angel's concept; better than milk cartons, as they move around a lot, more people see them!

[mywarmbluefleece]

This has haunted me for a long time as they went missing from a neighborhood very close to where I lived and I was a teen at the same time they were.

I knew the area they vanished from very well. I would not consider it a safe place, but for the most part, houses are well kept and there is a lot of community pride and togetherness. My aunt did mail-carrying in the neighborhood and has a lot of strange and scary tales.

I am 99% police have checked to see if Amanda and Gina knew each other, these cases are constantly on the minds of Clevelanders and in the news.

There was an article about Amanda I saw a few months ago, before I was a member of Websleuths. It was either in the Cleveland Free Times or the Cleveland Scene, but I cannot find it in their search. I will keep looking in the meantime. The only interesting information I remember is that months after Amanda went missing, they found her dirty BK uniform rolled up behind her dresser, and they said it meant Amanda came home before she went missing. The article said the first time that fact was released was in that article.

*****************EDIT**************I found it http://www.freetimes.com/stories/15/1/whatever-happened-to-gina-mandy

since these girls disappeared in the same area, does anyone know if gina dejesus knew amanda? I wonder if maybe the police ever thought of a manager at the burger king resturant that amanda worked at? if it were a manager gone bad, maybe at one point or another, gina dejesus possible visits her at work, and the perp sees her as well. And later sees her walking down the road, and he offers her a ride, maybe she would have felt comfortable with him, since she knew he was amandas manager. this is sad that these girls have fallen out of the picture, hopefully police have checked into a possible connection to someone that amanda and gina might have known, such as a possible manager idea that I have. at the very least I feel this person lives in the general area. seems like there hasn't been any others recently that have gone missing in that manner in a close period of time, this person knew whene they would be out and about. our prayers are with amanda and gina, and the families that are still looking for answers.

[Taximom]

mywarmbluefleece, thanks for the Free Times link. James Renner is a really good writer, IMO, and he's written a book about Amy Mihaljevic too.

I grew up down by Fairview Hospital, so that area is very familiar to me too. (Especially when it was Sears!)

I just wish they'd find these two girls, and the killer of Amy. :(

I'm really disappointed in local news coverage.