LESLIE ANNE MAYNARD-GOTAY -13 yo - Woodbridge VA

I was involved in a case similar to this one in the past and I agree, the first hours are crucial. Exposure is crucial but done incorrectly can make a situation worse than it already is. A missing child -- a young teenager especially -- is incredibly vulnerable and any "wrong move" as part of an investigation or informing the public can push the child back into hiding. I personally ask that all who question the authority of the custodial parent to remember that they are indeed the custodial parent -- and for a good reason. I apologize to the mother if this sounds harsh, but you do not have custody of your daughter and unfortunately for you that is indicative of your inability to properly parent her. My sister was involved in a similar case with my niece (who came home thankfully by her own will) and our search for her was hindered by complications and misinformation coming from her ex husband.
I don't know your story but I ask that you respect this situation for what it is. If anything, it sounds like (from your writing) that this is a very confused and upset little girl who needs to come home. If you are truly concerned for the safety of your child I would suggest staying out of the process/investigation until necessary. It's not a he said, she said thing at all. It's about bringing home a missing child.

Thank you Mermaid. I just received this note from Marlene:

Marlene Rodriguez April 14 at 1:31pm
TODAYS UPDATE: Leslie has been classified as a RUNAWAY which means unless they get a lead there is nothing else they will do. Students were reinterviewed today with no luck. Please please please if you have any information the previous number given to report any information about leslie was incorrect. The phone number you should call is 703-792-6500

Turner.L wrote:I was involved in a case similar to this one in the past and I agree, the first hours are crucial. Exposure is crucial but done incorrectly can make a situation worse than it already is. A missing child -- a young teenager especially -- is incredibly vulnerable and any "wrong move" as part of an investigation or informing the public can push the child back into hiding. I personally ask that all who question the authority of the custodial parent to remember that they are indeed the custodial parent -- and for a good reason. I apologize to the mother if this sounds harsh, but you do not have custody of your daughter and unfortunately for you that is indicative of your inability to properly parent her. My sister was involved in a similar case with my niece (who came home thankfully by her own will) and our search for her was hindered by complications and misinformation coming from her ex husband.
I don't know your story but I ask that you respect this situation for what it is. If anything, it sounds like (from your writing) that this is a very confused and upset little girl who needs to come home. If you are truly concerned for the safety of your child I would suggest staying out of the process/investigation until necessary. It's not a he said, she said thing at all. It's about bringing home a missing child.

Thank you for your input. I would only disagree with one thing. It may not be a failure to "properly parent" the child, it could have everything to do with financial resources and doing what is best for the child. Just because a parent is the custodial parent, it does NOT mean they are the "better" parent. The greatest sacrifice a parent can make is giving their child to the other parent, because it is in the best interest of the CHILD, not because anyone is a failure as a parent. The fact that the dad wants to keep this out of the media and the assertion that the step-mom and Leslie did not get along raises red-flags all over the place for me. Perhaps I've just seen too many of these cases. I hope with all my heart Leslie just ran away. And if that is the case, then I would question the parenting choices of the father. What made her run? And sometimes, teenagers are just teenagers, they don't always have or need a reason for their behavior. Their brains aren't fully developed, and they tend to make poor choices, impulsive choices, and sometimes those choices can lead to terrible consequences.

Hopefully, this is just a case a of confused, little girl....but 13 year-old girls that are planning to run don't leave behind cash, clothes and their cell phones.

And we are very well aware how delicate this situation can be, but WE are the adults here. If she is indeed hiding, she can only hide for so long. It is in everyone's best interest, especially Leslie's, to get her story out there and get her FOUND. Frankly, we run so many stories like this, and so many have been found, and so many haven't. I hope it DISCOURAGES other teens from pulling this sort of stunt. We get emails often from teens who DEMAND their names be removed after they have run away and then returned. We aren't going to rewrite history. You can read on the front page of this forum our policy on this and the whys of our policy.

Unfortunately, there are far too many cases where a child was thought to be a run-away, and in fact, they were abducted. Does the name Kyron Horman ring a bell? I will not just "be quiet" until it goes away or she is found. We are going to do everything in our power to help this mom, and to help Leslie. I am going to put her name and picture out there until she is found. And one thing we have found after almost 3 years of running this forum, teenagers like to Google themselves. And guess what? Sometimes they want to go home, but don't know how to go about returning safely, and they contact us. So, again, thank you for your input, we will tread lightly, but the last thing we are going to do is "be quiet." My own child asked me to make this a priority, because she knows Marlene personally, and I am going to keep my promise to my child. BTW, I am the custodial parent of 3, and my ex has custody of my 4th. I signed her over willingly, because it was in HER best interest, not because I'm a poor or neglectful parent.

I'm glad your niece returned safely, but that isn't always the case. I so hope this is a case of a run-away. I hope she returns unharmed and gets the help she needs. And, welcome to the forum, feel free to look around and give us your input. Since you have personal experience with certain types of cases, we would welcome any insight you could provide.

~Melissa~

Thanks for your input. I agree it's a very touchy situation and I hope for her safe return. I will definitely browse around the forums.

HAVE YOU SEEN LESLIE ANNE? Please call 1-703-792-6500 or 911 if you have information about Leslie.

"The children and teachers at her school have been interviewed and several homes have been visited. With no luck the police say "we have exhausted all leads.""

http://www.boyziimen.com/news/detail.aspx?nid=4611

There has to be more they can do!! Very strange that dad doesn't want more awareness!

mom_in_il wrote:"The children and teachers at her school have been interviewed and several homes have been visited. With no luck the police say "we have exhausted all leads.""

http://www.boyziimen.com/news/detail.aspx?nid=4611

There has to be more they can do!! Very strange that dad doesn't want more awareness!

---It's beginning to sound a bit like the Zahra Baker case. "If we don't say anything, maybe nobody will miss her..."

Message from Leslie's mom just now, no details or confirmation....

Marlene Rodriguez:
lESLIE IS HOME THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR PRAYERS PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION ON SHE IS HOME AND SAFE

I'm not moving this to found until I find out what is going on and what happened.

Admin wrote:I'm not moving this to found until I find out what is going on and what happened.

---Ooops! I will move it back...

Marlene has no details, she is only going on what she has been told. I don't even know if she's actually spoken to Leslie, or if this is something her ex told her to get it removed. When I know more I will let you know.

Well, interesting timing...just as I was posting that Marlene said she has not spoken to Leslie OR the ex. She said she spoke to the police....and is waiting for Leslie to call her. I still don't want to move this to found until she talks to Leslie. I hope that's okay with all of you.

Admin wrote:Well, interesting timing...just as I was posting that Marlene said she has not spoken to Leslie OR the ex. She said she spoke to the police....and is waiting for Leslie to call her. I still don't want to move this to found until she talks to Leslie. I hope that's okay with all of you.

I'm in VA and am patiently waiting. Well, really not that patiently. Any word yet? I sure hope she calls her mother.

Admin, I'm so relieved it looks like Leslie had been found. I hope she's ok.

https://www.facebook.com/notes/marlene-rodriguez/leslie-anne/10150209914827079

6 hours ago she posted the reason they can't get an amber alert - she may still be missing - not much in MSM so far.

With the custodial father and the angry step-mother being unwilling to bring attention to thier missing daughter. I am reluctant to move this to "Found," until I hear from Marlene that she has spoken with Leslie. I guess I should be from Missouri, the "Show Me" state. It's been 6 plus hours! Shouldn't Leslie have called by then? Maybe I am too suspicious, but anyone can call and impersonate a police officer.Especially if the dad wanted it to be kept out of the media.