On Monday, October 26, 2015 Dottie Laster, Executive Director of Heidi Search Center convened a press conference in San Antonio, TX to announce the creation of the Digital DNA Kit as a supplement to their Child ID Kits used to gather information in the event a child goes missing.
Individual speakers at the press conference included Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert, Sheriff Susan Pamerleau, Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, Chief William McManus, San Antonio Police Department, Michelle Lee, FBI, and Dottie Laster, Heidi Search Center.
The Digital DNA Kit is used by missing persons organizations and law enforcement agencies to get immediate information about where a missing child may be by tapping into their social media accounts. “This is invaluable to parents to keep on record for if your kids disappear or runaway,” said Chief William McManus with San Antonio Police.
Laster reports that Heidi Search Center offers a Digital Parenting Class that educates parents about the latest internet applications and to help make informed decisions regarding children and the internet.
The San Antonio community has embraced the work of Heidi Search Center, founded 25 years ago in honor of missing and murdered Heidi Seeman. The non-profit organization provides community resources and aids law enforcement with search efforts, provides advocacy, and referrals.
Laster believes that by working in conjunction with the community, and offering preventative measures like the Digital DNA Kit, they will be able to avert situations like Heidi Seeman’s more often. Additionally, collecting the data gives parents a heads up to any online predators who have contacted their children.
Refer to the Heidi Search Center website to register for the next Digital Parenting Class and download a copy of the Digital DNA Kit.
List of media outlets and stories from the press conference:
Texas NPR
Univision (video Spanish)
News 4 SanAntonio
Fox (video)
WOAI
Time Warner (video)
KSAT 12 (video)
Sun Times San Antonio
Dottie Laster
Heidi Search Center Executive Director, Dottie Laster, brings years of experience in combatting global human trafficking to the intersection of missing persons. Her work continues to bring results and she is available nationally for presentations and training. For complete information visit her website, DottieLaster.Com
ImaginePublicity 