R. E. S. C. U. E.

The Impact of Saved in America’s Investigative Process on Recovering Missing Children

Every year, countless families face the unimaginable fear that comes when a child goes missing. While the sheer number of these cases can feel overwhelming, organizations like Saved in America (SIA) offer a beacon of hope. Recently, one of our Board Members and past president of the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI), Mark Gillespie, wrote a compelling and informative article in the TALI monthly publication, The TALI Tip Off. Mark has been instrumental in championing the efforts of organizations like Saved in America. His expertise and dedication as a licensed private investigator have significantly contributed to shaping effective strategies for child recovery and safety. TALI’s support and the involvement of experienced members like Mark are vital in advancing the cause and enhancing the capabilities of investigators in the field. Read Mark’s article here!

The effectiveness of SIA can be attributed to our structured investigative process, known as R.E.S.C.U.E., which includes:

  1. Record: Initial contact and planning.

  2. Examine: Deep dive into social networking for leads.

  3. Summarize: Develop actionable investigative leads.

  4. Coordinate: Collaboration with law enforcement for recovery planning.

  5. Unite: Execution of the recovery plan.

  6. Equalize: Post-recovery support and rehabilitation.

This meticulous process ensures that every aspect of the child’s disappearance is explored, from digital footprints to physical search and recovery operations. SIA’s collaboration with law enforcement is particularly crucial, ensuring that operations integrate seamlessly with official efforts, thus maximizing the chances of a successful recovery.

The stories of these recoveries are not just statistics; they represent real children and families whose lives have been changed through the efforts of SIA. The model that SIA has created is a guiding framework for others in this field. SIA’s commitment, strategy, and success is the result of our founder’s vision and the determination of our highly skilled volunteer investigators and Board Members. It compels us to expand our capabilities and collaborate widely to ensure that no child, no matter the circumstance, is left at the mercy of exploiters. Join us in our unwavering commitment to strive towards a world where all children are safe and free from exploitation. Please make a monthly donation to Saved in America and help us continue our mission.

Learn more about Saved in America and how you can help our mission!

“Saved In America’s success can be attributed to their detailed investigative process which can serve as a model for PIs across the United States.”
— Mark Gillespie, MFS, TBCI, CCDI, Gillespie Investigations

Founded by Joseph Travers in 2009, SIA has dedicated itself to the mission of locating missing and exploited children, particularly focusing on preventing child sex trafficking. In the TALI Tip Off article, Mark Gillespie starts by citing the alarming statistics:

“460,000. Let that sink in - 460,000. According to the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) an estimated 460,000 children are reported missing every year...thirty percent of those missing are
being trafficked (approximately 109,000 children).”
— Mark Gillespie, The TALI Tip Off

As one of our Board Members, Mark is involved in the development of investigative strategy and operations. His article goes into detail about the effectiveness and efficiency of SIA’s operations. SIA’s unique approach combines the expertise of former law enforcement officers, retired Navy SEALs, and special ops personnel who have transitioned to licensed private investigators. This skilled team works on a volunteer basis, providing their services free of charge to the families enduring these crises, as well as the law enforcement agencies we support and assist. This expertly developed investigative process has led to the recovery of over 275 children across the nation, with 60% found before they could be trafficked. Our Tech Ops Team lead, Frank Bonniwell, has created this flowchart to illustrate the three ways we engage in an investigation and open a case. (1.) Parent Contacts SIA, (2.) SIA Team identifies a recent missing child reported to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and (3.) SIA works with a high-risk shelter to locate a runaway resident of the shelter.

SIA Investigative Flowchart created by Tech Ops Lead, Frank Bonniwell

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Mark is a past president and board member of the Texas Association of Licensed Investigators (TALI) and is a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences as well as a number of other state and national private investigation and professional associations. In 2017, he and Joseph Travers co-founded the National Association for Missing and Exploited Children (NAMEC). He is a frequent lecturer throughout the US and has been featured on many cable and local news networks discussing forensic science, private investigation, cold cases, missing persons/human trafficking and active shooter survival. Joseph Travers and his son, Joshua Travers, have also written a book which serves as a valuable and educational text used as a study guide to train law enforcement in the investigation of missing and exploited children. You can purchase this book here!

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