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“Missing” Boy, Not Missing
“Missing” Boy, Not Missing 1/31/13
Jennifer Samp
jsamp@CBS7.com
CBS 7 News
January 31, 2013
Odessa, TX - A viral post of a missing thirteen-year-old leads CBS 7 to look into what really happened and how officials say this trend is getting out of hand.
CBS 7 found that “Devin” was considered a runaway.
School officials say he has been attending classes the whole time. Meanwhile over 1,000 shares on Facebook and counting reads Devin is still missing.
The teen has become a common face online and while it was a desperate attempt to find him, Law Enforcement says social media can have a negative impact on the search for a loved one.
“Social media for us is a double-edged sword,” said Chief Mark Rowden with the Ector County Independent School District Police Department says social media has its success stories and its downfalls.
“It helps us by getting information out and bringing information in, but at the same time some of the social media that is put out there is false, misleading, or misunderstood,” he said.
He says its best to report it to law enforcement first before going to Facebook investigators have more resources to help.
“The chances of recovering that child are greater if you can do that first,” he said.
He advises people who post information about their loved ones to be specific with their words.
“For instance there's a difference between a child being missing and a child running away,” he said.
As for social media users, Rowden advises to pay attention to which agency is also involved with looking for the loved one. Its is more legitimate if law enforcement is posting the information or on their website.
“Like any form of communication,” he said, “It needs to be used responsibly.”
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3:00 P.M.
CBS 7 News
January 31, 2013
ODESSA – Many of you have asked about a missing boy whose picture has been popping up around Facebook.
The Facebook post has prompted many calls and inquires about him to the CBS 7 newsroom.
We looked into these claims and it turns out the boy is not missing. CBS 7 has confirmed that the boy had run away and is home safe.