Missing wife and mom, Patricia Viola, dob 8/18/58, Bogota, NJ, 2/13/01

[WasBlind]

Praying for y'all, Jim
Much love in Christ, Lanie

[WasBlind]

For Patricia, Jim, Christine and Michael.

Prayers and hugs, Lanie

[WasBlind]

For everyone who loves and misses Pat.

[Trino]

This story is really confusing... no ID, no credit cards, little money, then just walked out of her life. It certainly seems that this was an abduction. A 45 year old mother just wouldn't have run away and never contacted her children again.

It seems that one clue is the door alarm. I've always wondered if someone was in the house when she came home. Her mother stated that she asked if she was feeling well. Maybe someone else was in the room with her?

[WasBlind]

For Patricia, Jim, Christine and Michael.

With love and hope, Lanie

[WasBlind]

http://patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/

Much love to all the Viola's, Lanie

[WasBlind]

Prayers for Pat and all who miss and love her.

With HOPE, Lanie

[findcarrie]

I used to see Pats husband on CTV's msg. boards. I wonder if anyone has heard from him lately. Anyway, I wanted to say that I look in on Ms. Viola from time to time to see updates on her case. We keep her linked on Carrie's site. My thoughts and prayers are with Pat's family just as all those people who are missing.

[WasBlind]

Jim has been busy with some new projects as well as tending to his personal life, raising their two children and offering whatever he can in support of Pat's best friend who is now very sick. Of course, he continually is searching for Pat in every way he can think of.

Please whisper a prayer for her, her name is Toinette.
Her note for Patricia can be seen here
http://patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/Note_from_Toinette.htm

Thanks for asking.
With HOPE, Lanie

[WasBlind]

I don't understand, but all of Jim's posts are gone for his wife. His nick is missingmywifepat Can someone please check and find out why certain posts are disappearing? Thanks, ahead of time.

News article on the search for Patricia

http://northjersey.com/print.php?qstr=ZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY0ODYzMjEmeXJ pcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXky

Husband of missing Bogota woman asks for help
Tuesday, February 10, 2004

By KAREN MAHABIR
STAFF WRITER

In the nearly three years since Jim Viola's wife vanished, the Bogota father of two has created a Web site dedicated to finding her, canvassed New Jersey with fliers and video CDs, and pleaded for help on radio and television programs.

Not finding a single clue, he has now turned to a psychic.

Which raises a question: Can a stranger he spoke with for less than an hour solve Pat Viola's disappearance?

"I think it's possible," Jim Viola said. "We have to follow up on everything."

Dead ends will sometimes lead family and friends to psychics for help in locating a missing loved one. Those who claim the ability to see what others can't have become a staple of television talk shows - and a source of hope for those desperate for answers.

Yet people seeking closure need to be careful, say those with experience.

Cindy Brown of Browns Mills consulted a psychic after her 29-year-old son disappeared in March 2003. He was with an older woman in California or Florida, she said she was told.

Shortly after Christmas, the psychic told Brown that she soon would receive news about him.

On Jan. 9, a hunter in the woods found the badly decomposed corpse of Jimmy Lee Brown. He had hung himself with a shoelace about 48 feet up in a tree - five miles or so from home.

"A lot of things she said were wrong," Brown said.

After 12-year-old Polly Klaas was abducted in California, psychics flocked to the family, offering all kinds of information.

"They were all off the mark, every last one of them," said her father, Marc Klaas.

Two months after the abduction, a parolee with a long criminal history confessed to killing Polly. He led police to her body.

"I look at these people as a second wave of predators," Klaas said of psychics.

[blueclouds]

I don't get it either. Where is his posts? how strange. When someone is "banned" or removed from the site, their posts are still generally here.

What happened?

[Timex]

As far as I know, we never delete all posts by an individual.

[Kelly]

Patricia has been added to Project Jason's Adopt a Missing Person program. Please consider helping reunite Patricia with her family by wearing her photo button and sharing her story with others. For more details on how you can make a difference, please see:

http://www.projectjason.org/adopt.html

If you chose to adopt Patricia, we'll send you a personal bio so you can share her with the world as a person, rather than a case or a statistic. Here is an excerpt from her bio:

"Pat is an extremely dedicated mom as evidenced by her spending 9 days at her son, Michael’s bedside when he needed open heart surgery. This loving support helped Michael’s full recovery. Pat is a devoted and loving wife who always went out of her way to investigate what her husband, Jim, was looking into so she can get him the perfect gift on those special occasions. Pat was always there for her husband, Jim, especially when his dad, grandparents and young cousin passed away. Pat is also a dedicated friend and always has time to lend an ear to listen and support her many friends."


Thank you!

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

[Kelly]

(A Project Jason Press Release)

Bogota, NJ -- Christmas for Jim Viola, and his two children, Christine and Michael, is just not the same without wife and mother, Patricia Viola, missing from Bogota, NJ, since February 13th, 2001. The empty chair at the dinner table, and Patricia's favorite Christmas decorations, serve as constant reminders that she is not home, and another
year has come and nearly gone.

"Like many typical families, Christmas shifts into high gear right after Thanksgiving, not this year though. The beautiful artificial Christmas tree that we picked out as a family a few weeks before we celebrated our last Christmas together in 2000, will go up, eventually, mainly to keep some sense of normalcy and spirit for our two children, Christine and Michael, " Jim Viola, Patricia's husband, explains with a weariness expected of a man who has been devastated by this loss.

It is difficult for the family to get into the Christmas Spirit, especially when facing four years without knowing the answers in regards to Patricia's disappearance. The family does still have hope, and part of that comes from the efforts of strangers to help find Patricia.

Some of the country's best natural networkers, truck drivers, are going to help the Viola family to keep that hope by their participation in the 18 Wheel Angels program.

18 Wheel Angels is a national missing person's locator program spearheaded by nonprofit organization Project Jason. The program enlists the aid of truck drivers, and business travelers to place posters of missing persons along their routes as they travel across the country. A different missing person is featured every 2 weeks. Participants are asked to go to the 18 Wheel Angels link on the Project Jason Website at www.projectjason.org, and to then download and print as many posters as they can place. Anyone can participate.

Patricia Viola's campaign begins on December 16th and will run through December.

In addition to the 18 Wheel Angels campaign, Project Jason had added Patricia to their Adopt a Missing Person program. Patricia's family sent buttons to the organization to have available for people across the country to mail in and request. The compassionate person who adopts Patricia will also be mailed an info card, which contains a bio and personal information about her. Whoever adopts Patricia will wear her button and share her story with others. As awareness is key in missing person's cases, it is important for Patricia's face to be seen so that she can be found and reunited with her family.

Project Jason was founded by Kelly Jolkowski, mother of missing Omaha, NE youth Jason Jolkowski. The all volunteer group's mission is to create and increase public awareness of missing people through a variety of outreach and educational activities. Project Jason seeks to bring hope and assistance to families of the missing by providing resources and support.

For additional information about the 18 Wheel Angels or the Adopt a Missing Person program, and Project Jason, please see the website at www.projectjason.org, or contact President and Founder, Kelly Jolkowski, at 402-932-0095. You may also email kelly.jolkowski@projectjason.org.

For more information, please see Patricia's web site, http://patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com

[Kelly]

http://northjersey.com/print.php?qstr=ZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY2Mjk0MDQmeXJ pcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkz


Family still clings to hope for missing mom's return
Wednesday, December 22, 2004


BOGOTA - He still talks about her in the present tense, as if his wife of 18 years took a quick walk and would return at any moment.

The reality is that Patricia Viola stepped out nearly four years ago and has not been seen since that February afternoon. Then 42, the mother of two left behind a puzzling mystery that has stumped her family and investigators.

Still, Viola's husband and two children cling to the hope that she eventually will be found alive and safe.

Continuing his efforts to spread the message - and, he hopes, find more concrete clues - Jim Viola said the family is kicking off two nationwide campaigns this month to raise awareness about the baffling disappearance.

Under a project called "18-Wheel Angels," truck drivers and business travelers throughout the country will be hanging fliers and posters of Patricia Viola on routes they travel. The locator program is assembled by a non-profit group called Project Jason.

Project Jason also has added Viola to its adopt-a-missing-person program. Under the project, someone can ask for information on Viola, or other missing persons, and will wear her photo button and share her story with others.

Project Jason is a non-profit organization designed to raise awareness about missing people. It is named after Jason Jolkowski, who was 19 when he disappeared from in front of his Omaha home on June 13, 2001.

Viola vanished Feb. 13, 2001, leaving behind her belongings, including her epilepsy medication. Earlier, she had gone to volunteer at a nearby library and called her mother.

"It's basically my opinion that we need the right person to see Pat's face," said Jim Viola. "It could be that she is in a hospital somewhere, maybe someone is taking care of her. But you don't know who will be that person who will help you."

"If we don't keep Pat's face out there, the story is just going to fade away," Viola said.

For more information on Project Jason, call founder Kelly Jolkowski at (402) 932-0095, or visit the Web site at projectjason.org.

[Kelly]

Please remember the Viola family in your thoughts and prayers as tomorrow, February 13th, marks four long years since they have seen Patricia.

Thank you.

Kelly

[WasBlind]

For Patricia, and all who love and miss her.

With prayers of HOPE, Lanie

[monkalup]

I posted Patricia's site and story to the Edgewater NJ message board. I read there all the time for years, and never saw her story there, although Bogota is a couple of miles away...
Hope no one minds...just thought more eyes looking

[monkalup]

Jim saw post and link I added to the Edgewater board for Patricia. He responded. He appreciated it and continues his search.

[Kelly]

Pat's husband Jim informed me that Pat has a new forum. Please come and visit. http://findpat.conforums3.com/

Also, Jim wrote a lovely poem about his beloved wife:

"Broken Heart
By Jim Viola


Our hearts came together during a job interview

The courtship that followed was not out of the blue

The attraction was immediate and mutual too

The eventual wedlock was heaven to me and you

The memories were built as we shared our lives

Our children arrived early and oh what a delight

In Christine and Michael I see mirrors of you

To have a beautiful family and you at my side

My sweet Patricia I love you so

I felt so blessed as we enjoyed our sweet life

From the Jersey Shore to Disney to Shawnee and more

To be so much in love and be without a fear

And then have it disappear is too much to bear

Our hearts are now broken and our guts ache so

Not knowing where you are or if you were forced to go

The pain is so great as the tears start to flow

We must keep on going and looking for answers

They say it's God's plan but still I ask why

It's hope that we have and with all the support

Our confidence is high

You'll be back soon at our home port"

[Kelly]

Patricia's story is featured today on the Project Jason-Voice for the Missing blog.

It is entitled “The Reluctant Mr.Mom”, and tells the story of a deep, abiding love.

http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/


Be sure to help out the families of the missing by telling others about the blog. This is just another way we can reach out and let the faces of the missing be seen. We welcome appropriate website links. Other ideas are posting the blog link on other forums you frequent, and sending it out to your friends and family via email.

Thank you for helping us to help others.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

[missingmywifepat]

International Webcast featuring: East Coast Missing children and adults!
Gina Bos, Lorne Boulet, James Farrence Jr., Audrey May Herron, Sharon Ivy Jones, Asukile & Sakile Melchishua , Tina & Bethany Sinclair, William Smolinski Jr., Crystal Soles & Patricia Viola

Saturday Jan 14, 2006
8-10 PM PST (11PM - 1 AM EST)
"GINA for Missing Persons"
LIVE INTERACTIVE WEBCAST CONCERT
Featuring: Kelly Fitzgerald (Salem, MA, native)
& Jannel Rap the C Street Band
www.kellyfitzgerald.net (http://www.kellyfitzgerald.net/) www.jannel.org (http://www.jannel.org/)
Kulak's Woodshed
5230 1/2 Laurel Canyon Blvd.
North Hollywood, CA
818-766-9913
To view click on link below
http://www.kulakswoodshed.com/ (http://www.kulakswoodshed.com/)
Join us and DO SOMETHING about it. If you can't make it to Hollywood you can do something about it anyway; by forwarding and watching! See you one way or another Saturday Night!
When singer/songwriter, Jannel Rap's sister (www.jannelrap.com), Gina Bos, disappeared Oct 17, 2000 she had no idea that this would be a pivotal life changing moment. Gina's story had no scandal, no suspects and lacked the hook and intrigue to get the attention of the national public. Gina Bos had simply vanished after performing at a pub in Lincoln, NE. Six months of slamming doors woke Jannel up in the middle of the night to do what she already does. The concept of using entertainment to get attention for the missing was born. Since Oct 2001, 150 concerts nationwide, 2 nonprofit organizations (www.411Gina.org, www.411Warrior.org (http://www.411warrior.org/)), a TV show called "America Lost and FOUND" and now a monthly international webcast featuring east coast missing.

FEATURED ARTIST & Salem, MA native, Kelly Fitzgerald, just released her first solo CD "So Far." Kelly has shared the stage with such artists as Shelby Lynne, Nancy Griffith, Cheap Trick, Eddie Money, Vonda Shepard, the Gin Blossoms and more...

Thanks for your attention!
Jannel Rap

www.411Gina.org (http://www.411gina.org/)
www.411Warrior.org (http://www.411warrior.org/)
www.AmericaLostandFOUND.org (http://www.americalostandfound.org/)

PS Scroll down for detailed instructions re: LIVE Webcast! NOTE: Just follow the instructions. You do not have to pay $5. to watch, so don't let that confuse you!

For a tax deductible donation & to help us stay on the air:
Donate $30. & you receive a gift of the DVD of Web cast
Donate $50 & you receive a gift of the DVD and Missing CD
Donate $75 & you receive the DVD, Missing CD and Jannel Rap CD
Donate $100. & you receive the DVD, Missing CD and Jannel and KELLY's CD.
http://411gina.org/donate.html (http://411gina.org/donate.html)


HOW TO WATCH ONLINE!
Just go to http://www.kulakswoodshed.com/webcast.shtml (http://www.kulakswoodshed.com/webcast.shtml)
Click on: Take me to the Webcast (Performances from 8p-10p) PST
If you don't have it, download Windows Media Player (It's FREE!) from the site. It will be needed to view the live show. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp)
Click on the speed of your internet access
56K (Dial Up)
256K/500K (DSL/CABLE)
Once the speed is selected, the show will begin on the internet.
During the Show, You can make a donation to the organization and Email the performers live. They will even talk back to you : )It is recommended that you try to get online ahead of time (follow the
prompts for webcast) to make sure you do not miss it.

[Kelly]

Jim Viola stepped forward to help with our national Campaign for the Missing.

He was very willing to join us on our mission to pass legislation in each and every state pertaining to missing persons and unidentified remains. He indicated he'd had no experience in doing this, but he was still willing and ready.

Much to his surprise, he was the first person to get sponsorship for the bill.

Read his thoughts about his work on the Campaign for the Missing, and what it meant for him to have this initial victory:

http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2006/02/2206-first-of-many.html

Thank you.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

[Kelly]

http://northjersey.com/

Prayer vigil planned for missing woman
Friday, February 10, 2006


BOGOTA -- A prayer vigil marking the fifth anniversary of the disappearance of borough resident Patricia Viola is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 115 E. Fort Lee Road at Palisade Avenue.

Viola, a married mother of two, vanished Feb. 13, 2001. Then 42, Viola volunteered at her son's school library that morning and was seen by a school crossing guard at 11:35 a.m. She called her mother from her home around 1 p.m. and has not been heard from since.

Viola left all her personal belongings behind, including her epilepsy medication.

For more information, visit patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com.

[Kelly]

A news video from the 5 year anniversary:

http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/Patricia_Viola_NJ12_News_Prayer_Service_Feb_13_200 6.wmv

[Kelly]

From our friend, Jim Viola:

"Everyone,

Effective today, June 16, 2006, Patricia's Story has been added to the AMW web site
in the My Story section. It is in the June section and will remain there indefinitely.

To view it, click the link below:
http://www.amw.com/missing_persons/brief.cfm?id=38620

We are very excited about this considering that the AMW site get over 1 million hits per week.

Please pass this on. Thanks for everyone's continued support. We are not ready to give up by any
means.

Media outlets, please call Jim Viola at xxx-xxx-xxxx to arrange for an interview with AMW reps.

Thanks
Jim
http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com "

This is wonderful news for Jim and his family.

Kelly Jolkowski, Mother of Missing Jason Jolkowski
President and Founder,
Project Jason
http://www.projectjason.org
Read our Voice for the Missing Blog
http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/

[missingmywifepat]

Everyone,
This article appeared in the Sunday Aug. 27, 2006 Daily Mail paper in the Catskills, NY.

http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/files/The_Daily_Mail_Article_Aug_27_2006.pdf

I had attended the Riding for Audrey (Herron) Benefit on Sat. 8/26 with my children, Christine and Michael, and had all of Pat's information on display.

Pass this article on.
Thanks.

Warmly,
Jim Viola
http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com (http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/)

[Bobbisangel]

Everyone,
This article appeared in the Sunday Aug. 27, 2006 Daily Mail paper in the Catskills, NY.

http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/files/The_Daily_Mail_Article_Aug_27_2006.pdf

I had attended the Riding for Audrey (Herron) Benefit on Sat. 8/26 with my children, Christine and Michael, and had all of Pat's information on display.

Pass this article on.
Thanks.

Warmly,
Jim Viola
http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com (http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/)



I am so sorry that your wife is missing. I can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to go to bed at night wondering where she is and what has happened to her and wake up wondering the same thing. It has to be a nightmare.

I'm sure that through the years law enforcement has investigated everyone that you could possibly think of that knew Pat. Have you checked out homeless shelters? There is the possibility that she isn't in New Jersey anymore. Have you taken your search out of your home state? What a puzzle. It doesn't sound like your wife decided to just leave and start a new life somewhere else. I wonder if a co-worker picked her up at home and something happened after they left. So many possibilities.

I hope that your search comes to an end soon. Someone out there must know something. Usually a person just needs that one phone call to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. I hope that you receive that one call and that your family is united once again.

[Kelly]

Press release from Jim Viola:

"Background Information

Patricia's Law and the majority of its language were born over a year ago in April 2005 as Model Legislation at the first National Strategy Meeting on identifying the Missing.

At this conference, the National Criminal Justice Reference Service brought together Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement, medical examiners and coroners, victim's advocates, forensic scientists, key policymakers and families who have lived through this tragic experience to develop the baseline Missing Persons' Model Legislation. The Model was now ready for the next step.

ProjectJason.org, a not for profit Missing Persons organization, facilitated the next step and called for volunteers in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia to retain a Sponsor to support the Model Missing Persons Legislation at the state level. Campaign for the Missing 2006, a grassroots effort, was born and volunteers came forward from many states to take the Model Legislation, tailor it for their respective state, retain a Sponsor and forge it into law.

I took on NJ and Senator Weinberg and her staff immediately embraced the new proposed Legislation, making NJ the first state to obtain sponsorship and making it a reason for all of us to be proud. I know I am.

At present, there are 22 states, including NJ actively pursuing similar legislation. Seven of those, including NJ have obtained sponsorship. Three states have passed Law in their respective state. For NJ, we are well on our way. Patricia's Law was introduced to the NJ Senate on Oct 12, 2006.

I encourage everyone to learn more about Patricia's Law and for everyone to contact their respective NJ Senators, Assemblymen, and Assemblywomen to request their support for Patricia's Law when it comes to vote.

Click here to find your District Senators, Assemblymen & Assemblywomen. (http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp)

Click here to enter bill S2255 (Patricia's Law) and track it's progress. (http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/)

Click here for more information about NJ's Legislative Process. (http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/legprocess.asp)

Patricia's Law will provide HOPE to families missing their loved ones by:

- Improving the Law Enforcement Community's ability to locate and ensure a safe return of missing persons.

- Improving the collection of critical information about missing persons.

- Prioritizing high-risk missing person cases, and ensuring for prompt dissemination of critical information to other law enforcement agencies and the public.

- Enhancing the current system of notifying families of missing persons.

- Improving the identification of human remains.

- Providing for feedback to families of missing persons by law enforcement in regard to the existence two National Centers,
The Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Center for Missing Adults, where families will have access many services to aid in locating their missing loved one.

I plan to continue to work with Senator Weinberg's staff and colleagues to ensure passage of Patricia's Law in NJ.

Thanks
Jim

http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com "

[Kelly]

North Jersey Media Group providing local news, sports & classifieds for Northern New Jersey! (http://www.northjersey.com/print.php?qstr=ZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcwMDk5MjcmeXJ pcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkz)

Missing woman's kin inspire bill
Wednesday, October 25, 2006

By MICHAEL J. FEENEY
SPECIAL TO THE RECORD

BOGOTA -- More than five years after a 42-year-old borough woman went missing, her husband has joined forces with state and local officials to propose legislation geared toward improving how New Jersey agencies handle missing persons cases.

State Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck, stood on the front lawn of Jim Viola's home recently to rally support for "Patricia's Law," legislation named for his wife that would enhance the system of notifying families of missing persons and work to improve procedures for identifying human remains that may help solve such cases.

New Jersey adds to the growing list of states embracing such legislation. Colorado, Wyoming and the District of Columbia have already passed laws bolstering procedures surrounding missing persons cases, and more than 25 states are considering similar measures, said Kelly Jolkowski, founder and president of ProjectJason.org, a non-profit missing persons organization.

Please continue to read at the link provided.

(Project Jason was included in the interview since this legislation effort comes from their Campaign for the Missing, a grass roots effort to pass this law in all 50 states. Please see Project Jason-Voice for the Missing: 12/13/05 Campaign for the Missing 2006 (http://voice4themissing.blogspot.com/2005/12/121305-campaign-for-missing-2006.html) for more information about this volunteer effort.)

[petra]

Bumping for yet another anniversary coming up.

Prayers and thought are with Pat Viola, her loving husband, family and friends.

They have never given up looking for answers and have helped so many others along this nightmare of a journey.

My heartfelt thanks for all your good work.

Bless you all.

[T-Rex]

I know this is totally far-fetched, and I'm not sure how it could apply here, but I thought of Patricia as soon as I saw the headline.

Woman on the wrong bus lost for 25 years
http://www.breitbart.com/news/2007/02/07/upiUPI-20070207-122729-3124R.html

[Bobbisangel]

How sad for this husband and their children. Five years and they know nothing more than they did the day she disappeared. I feel so bad for them.
I wish somehow they would find this lady so that this family could find some peace of mind.

[Kelly]

From our friend, Jim Viola:

"Everyone,

As you know my wife, Patricia Viola, will be missing 6 years this coming Tuesday, 2/13/07. Yesterday I taped an interview with NY1/Time Warner (Channel 10 in parts of NJ and TBD in NY) for their Week in Review Show. It will air today, Sat, 2/10/07 and tomorrow, Sun 2/11/07, at 5:30 PM, 7:30 PM and 9 PM each day (6x total). They did record photos and the latest video of Pat that I brought.

In addition, on Tuesday, 2/13/07, I will be on an internet radio talk show, "Missing Pieces". To listen, go to WCAN RADIO (http://www.wcanradio.com) from 8-9 PM EST for 1 hour live discussing the case, the proposed "Patricia's Law" we have in the NJ State Legislature and other Missing Person issues. Please try to tune in by going to the above web site, turning up your speakers and selecting "tune in".

As always, please continue to pray for Pat's safe return and pray for us to have the strength and resolve to find her. The reward of $10,000 is still available for Pat's safe return but unless we can do better on our fund raisers (Shirts) and more pens coming soon, the reward may have to be eliminated.

To make a donation to help maintain the reward and allow us to order more flyers, buttons, etc go to:
Donations (http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/Donations.html)

For more information on Patricia, go to our web site:
Index - Patricia Viola Missing Mom - Bogota, NJ 2/13/01 (http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com)

PLEASE CALL ANY TIPS TO THE BOGOTA POLICE AT 201-487-2400. You do not have
to leave your name.


To visit our message board, where ideas and well wishes can be posted go to:
Missing My Wife Pat Viola - Last Seen Feb. 13, 2001 - Home (http://findpat.conforums3.com/)

To download a flyer go to:
http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/MISSING_PAT_10K_REWARD_Rev_h.pdf

To download a banner go to:
http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/Patricia_Viola_Yard_Sign_org.jpg

For more information about the proposed "Patricia's Law" go to:
Patricias_Law (http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/Patricias_Law.html)
We need NJ residents to write to their NJ State District Senators and NJ Assemblymen and woman to ask them to become more family with "Patricia's Law" and to sponsor it. Sample letters available on Pat's web site.

To watch videos of Pat go to:
Video_Collection (http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/Video_Collection.html)

Thank you.
With Hope,
Jim and family"

[Kelly]

A Message from the Family:

"On Monday, 2/26/07, I will be going to Trenton, NJ, to testify on "Patricia's Law", S2255 for the Senate Committee, Law and Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs. S2255 has been added to the agenda and I will be there on Monday to help expedite its passage through the Senate Committee.

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/BillsForAgendaView.asp

The next step would be to push the Assembly version of "Patricia's Law", A3643, in the Assembly Committee for Law and Public Safety. We need to get A3643 on the committee's agenda.

Jim"

[Kelly]

Visit us on the World Wide Web at: www.njsendems.com

FOR RELEASE: Immediate CONTACT: Cara Noel
February 23, 2007 Tel: (609) 292-5215

** MEDIA ADVISORY**

SENATE LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER PATRICIA'S LAW MONDAY


TRENTON - The Senate Law & Public Safety and Veterans Affairs Committee will meet on Monday at 1 p.m. in Committee Room 4 of the State House Annex to consider a list of bills including Patricia's Law, a measure aimed at helping law enforcement personnel locate and safely return missing persons to their families.

The bill is named for Patricia Viola, a woman who disappeared from the kitchen of her Bogota home in 2001. Patricia's husband Jim Viola is scheduled to testify before the Committee during Mondays meeting.

Senator Weinberg's bill, S-2255, is designed to help law enforcement locate missing persons, to enhance the current system of notifying families of missing persons, and to work to improve the process for identifying human remains.

The proposed legislation reflects model missing persons legislation proposed by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, a federally funded resource center created to support research, legislation and program development for criminal justice.

Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle and Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson, D-Englewood and Teaneck have sponsored identical legislation in the Assembly.

The legislators held a news conference with Patricia's husband Jim on October 19th at the Violas home.

Our thoughts and special prayers are with Jim as he goes before the committee.

[Kelly]

Congratulations to Jim Viola for his progress with Patricia's Law in NJ:

Visit us on the World Wide Web at: www.njsendems.com

FOR RELEASE: Immediate CONTACT: Cara Noel
February 26, 2007


WEINBERG'S "PATRICIA'S LAW' CLEARS SENATE LAW & PUBLIC SAFETY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

TRENTON--- A measure sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg known as "Patricia's Law", which would work to help law enforcement personnel locate and safely return missing persons to their families was unanimously approved today by the Senate Law & Public Safety and Veterans' Affairs Committee.

The legislation is named for Patricia Viola, a Bogota woman who disappeared from her kitchen in 2001. The case is considered high risk because Patricia takes medication to control her epilepsy. Patricia's husband, Jim Viola, was present at today's meeting, and he testified before the committee.

"I am in favor of "Patricia's Law" which is named after my wife, because I am hoping it will enhance missing persons reporting. I hope that the legislation would work to improve communication within families, to improve death scene investigations and, most importantly, to give priority to missing people who are high risk," said Jim Viola.

"This legislation is about providing hope when a family member goes missing," said Senator Weinberg, D-Bergen. "Hope is what helps keep families like the Violas going. Mr. Viola has been a tireless advocate for this legislation because he knows firsthand how it feels to lose a loved one; to not know whether or not they're even ok. I believe that we owe it to families like the Violas to do everything we can to help them safely locate their missing family members in a timely, organized manner."

Senator Weinberg's bill, S-2255, would outline the best practices and protocols law enforcement should follow when handling missing person cases, identifying human remains and in providing timely information to the families on the status of investigations. The bill would also recognize some of the new technologies such as DNA testing which can help find or identify missing persons.

In high risk cases, law enforcement would be required to enter a missing persons report in to the National Crime Information Center database within two hours of the initial filing. All other missing persons cases would be investigated within 24 hours of their initial filing.

The proposed legislation reflects model missing persons legislation proposed by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service, a federally funded resource center created to support research, legislation and program development for criminal justice.

Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle and Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson, D-Englewood and Teaneck have sponsored identical legislation in the Assembly.

This bill now heads to the full Senate for approval.

[Kelly]

From our friend, Jim Viola:

"Everyone,

I finally received a copy of the NY1 "The Week In Review" interview on Time Warner Channel 10, I had on Feb 9 and aired 6 times over the weekend of Feb 10-11, 2007.

Click the lick below (or paste it into your browser) to watch the interview, if you missed it.

http://www.patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/NY1_Week_in_Review_Patricia_Viola_Interview_aired_ Feb_10_-11_2007.wmv

Warmly,
Jim"

[Kelly]

One of our heroes needs our prayers. He's Jim Viola, husband of missing Patricia Viola (http://patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/). She's been missing since February of 2001 from Bogota, NJ.

http://patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/files/pat_alone_xmas_2000.jpg

Since her disappearance, Jim has rallied to the aid of other families of the missing, using his skills and talents with the computer and internet to make them audio/video presentations, offering them advice and support and much more.

With the exception of another family who testified at the senate hearing, Jim has single-handedly run the Campaign for the Missing (http://www.projectjason.org/legislation.html)in the state of NJ. If successful at passing this bill, thousands of present and future missing persons cases have a better chance of being resolved.

Jim (and the NJ lawmakers) need your prayers. This bill, named Patricia's Law (http://patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/Patricias_Law.html)after Jim's beloved wife, is currently in committee. The committee needs to place the bill on the senate agenda by 11/19 to then be voted on by 12/13.

If unsuccessful, Jim will need to begin anew with his effort in 2008. If successful, NJ will join CT, IN and OR as other states passed through Project Jason's Campaign for the Missing this year.

The people of NJ (and all states without it) need this bill passed. Jim has made such a tremendous effort in educating the NJ senate and the citizens of NJ about what's missing with procedures to help find our loved ones.

I ask that for those of you who pray, to join me in hope and prayer that Patricia's Law will be passed in 2007.

Let Jim know you are grateful for his efforts and support him by signing his guestbook (http://patriciaviolamissing.homestead.com/#anchor_13104).

Thanks, Jim, for being one of our heroes!

Kelly, Project Jason

http://www.projectjason.org/images/campaignLogo.jpg

[Kelly]

Congrats to Jim Viola for his accomplishments on Project Jason's Campaign for the Missing in NJ!

http://www.politickernj.com/assembly-passes-measure-ensure-efficient-handling-missing-persons-cases-15131

By John Duthie - January 7, 2008 - 2:39pm

ASSEMBLY PASSES MEASURE TO ENSURE EFFICIENT HANDLING OF MISSING PERSONS CASES
'Patricia's Law' Could Be National Model for Law Enforcement

(TRENTON) - Legislation Assembly members Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Gordon Johnson, Joan Voss, and Linda Greenstein sponsored to enhance the ability of law enforcement officials to efficiently locate missing persons and reunite them with their families passed today in the General Assembly.

"When a loved one goes missing, families need to know that law enforcement is following a comprehensive playbook that will leave no stone unturned," said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). "New Jersey should be a national leader in setting the standards that other law enforcement agencies across the country can follow."

The measure (S-2255/A-3643) - dubbed "Patricia's Law" - is named for Patricia Viola, a Bogota wife and mother who went missing from her home in February 2001. Her disappearance was considered especially troubling as she suffered from epilepsy, which requires medication to control. There is no evidence that she either took medications with her the day she disappeared or had access to her medicines.

The bill is based on model missing-persons legislation crafted by the National Criminal Justice Reference Service. It would direct the Superintendent of State Police to develop a statewide best-practice and training protocol for addressing missing persons cases. The State Police also would train local law enforcement on the proper handling of missing persons cases.

"When a missing persons report is filed, every second becomes precious time," said Johnson (D-Bergen). "Regardless of where a case originates, every law enforcement agency should be working in lock-step to reunite a family with a loved one who has disappeared."

The bill would define a high-risk missing person as an individual whose disappearance suggests he or she may be at risk of injury or death. Such circumstances would include abduction, direct knowledge that the person is in need of medical attention, or a person missing for more than 30 days. Under this classification, Patricia Viola's medical history would have prioritized her as a "high risk" missing persons case.

"When a missing person is deemed to be in a decidedly precarious situation, the law enforcement community needs the ability to intensify its search," said Voss (D-Bergen). "When time is literally of the essence, officials should not have to wait for a bureaucratic green light to mobilize every resource at their disposal."

When a law enforcement agency determines that a missing person is high-risk, it would notify the State Police Missing Persons Unit, which would then alert all police agencies across New Jersey and in the surrounding states. In the case of a missing child, photographic information would be distributed nationally via the Missing Child Alert System.

A high-risk missing person case would be required to be entered in the National Crime Information Center within two hours of the reported disappearance; all other missing persons cases would be entered within 24 hours of the initial report.

The measure also would mandate the state Attorney General's office to train local law enforcement agencies on proper procedures for handling death-scene investigations. The bill would impose specific testing requirements upon medical examiners, including the use of photographs, fingerprints, dental records, and DNA testing for unidentified remains; a prohibition against cremating unidentified remains; and the retaining of tissue samples or other forensic evidence that could facilitate a future identification after the body has been buried.

"Helping the families of missing persons to become reunited with a loved one, or to at least reach closure, will require a comprehensive approach that links together all levels of law enforcement and makes use of cutting-edge forensic science," said Greenstein.
"Nothing should ever be left to chance."

According to the State Police, there are between 15,000 and 18,000 missing persons cases reported each year.

This bill passed 80-0. It now heads to the Governor, who may sign it, veto it or modify it in the form of a conditional veto.

[petra]

Thinking of Patricia and her loving family today.
Jim,thank you for all the good work you do.

[Rle7]

Police must accept — without delay — any report of a missing person and immediately jot down identifying information about the individual, under a measure signed Wednesday by Governor Corzine at Bogota Borough Hall.

"Patricia's Law," named for a woman who remains missing after leaving her Bogota home in 2001, ensures that police cannot refuse to accept such reports and must notify the missing person's family of support services.

Another initiative announced Wednesday will have police and medical examiner's offices comparing DNA samples of the state's roughly 1,500 missing persons with those of 272 unidentified bodies, authorities said.

The initiatives come seven years after 42-year-old Patricia M. Viola was reported missing after leaving her Chestnut Avenue home.

Her husband, Jim, has continued his tireless search for her and in recent years pushed for legislation to require police to act immediately on all missing person's cases.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/njpolitics/7-year_search_yields_a_law.html

[Kelly]

From our friends at the Center for Human Identification: (DNA lab)

http://www.hsc.unt.edu/news/Connections/20080321Connect/Links/TopStory02.html

New Jersey signs law requiring use of Health Science Center DNA Lab services

A new law in the State of New Jersey aims to identify missing persons through a partnership between New Jersey law enforcement agencies and the UNT Center for Human Identification here on the UNTHSC campus. Patricia’s Law, which passed in January, requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to submit reference DNA samples from family members of people missing more than 30 days to the UNT Center for Human Identification’s DNA lab for analysis and uploading into CODIS. Patricia’s Law is the first of its kind in the country to offer a comprehensive plan for collecting DNA evidence.

The law was signed by New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine at a press conference on Wednesday. Also in attendance were several New Jersey lawmakers, law enforcement representatives and the family of Patricia Viola, for whom the law is named.

Viola was a 42-year-old New Jersey wife and mother who disappeared Feb. 13, 2001. She left her home between 1 and 2:30 pm without identification, keys, credit cards, or her medication. No one knows what happened to her, and she has not yet been found.

Patricia’s Law was born from model legislation designed in 2005 at the first National Strategy Meeting on Identifying the Missing, which brought together federal, state and local law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners, victim's advocates, forensic scientists, key policymakers, and families who have lived through this tragic experience.

ProjectJason.org, a not-for-profit missing persons organization, then called for volunteers in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia to retain a sponsor to support the model missing persons' legislation at the state level. Patricia’s husband, Jim, took on New Jersey, and State Sen. Loretta Weinberg immediately embraced the new proposed legislation, making New Jersey the first state to obtain sponsorship.