OBIT: Ezra Milan - One year ago, today 10 Mar 2010

Subject: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Becca72
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 07:14 AM

We got some very frightening news from my niece (Kendall's granddaughter) last night. It seems her husband Ezra and a friend went out to the Old Port section of Portland, Maine last Tuesday night (3/10/09) to celebrate the friend's birthday. Ezra has not been seen or heard from since. We're at 7 days now and at a complete loss. The police are involved, though they had to wait 72 hours to file a missing persons report. My niece has made up a poster to be distributed as far as we can get it and our next step is to get the media involved. Please, we could really use all the good vibes we can get right now. Also any helpful suggestions on things we can do would be appreciated. Thanks for taking the time.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Janie
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 07:18 AM

All the good vibes I can muster are headed north, Becca.

Is the friend also missing?

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: maeve
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 07:22 AM

Of course, Becca. I'll PM my telephone #.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Mrrzy
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 07:24 AM

How very frightening! Good luck! Hope he's found soon!

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 07:25 AM

Love, Blessings and good thoughts for you and yours.

Erica and Bryn

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Becca72
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 07:27 AM

Janie,
His friend went to use the bathroom at closing time and when he returned to the table Ezra was gone.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Megan L
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 07:40 AM

Becca in uk we have a missing persons helpline do you have something similar over there they are really good at getting the information out there and have contacts a family might not even think of.

Ezra and all who love him are in our thoughts and prayers.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Rasener
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 07:42 AM

Becca I really hope things work out OK and my thoughts are with you all.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 08:26 AM

What a terrifying thing.
I am so sorry for you all.
May there be a happy outcome.
keith.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 08:34 AM

Becca,
Anything at all - just ask. I can put up posters in Old Port as well as South Portland.
Mary

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Morticia
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 08:37 AM

the stuff nightmares are made of, thinking of you all and keeping things crossed for the best possible outcome

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: beardedbruce
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 08:45 AM

Let us ( mudcat) know if there is anything we can do.

Sending good thoughts.....

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 09:04 AM

Me too.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Becca72
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 09:08 AM

Sins, I sent you a copy of the flyer Meghan put together. If you could put them up around work and home that would be a great help.
It pains me to say it, but the Old Port is not a safe place for a young confident black man these days. There have been several incidents of people of different ethnic backgrounds either getting beaten into a coma or killed in the last few years. Ezra has never been one to back away from a fight, either. I don't want to even think that's what happened, but with no information to go on your mind tends to fill in the blanks all on its own.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: RangerSteve
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 09:18 AM

My prayers and thoughts are with you.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 09:21 AM

adding my best wishes

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: bfdk
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 09:25 AM

Thinking of you and yours, Becca.

Bente

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: gnu
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 09:36 AM

Oh dear! Thoughts and prayers.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: My guru always said
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 09:56 AM

Sending positive thoughts!

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 10:19 AM

Sending positive thoughts from here too. Hope he is found safe and well soon

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Tinker
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 10:21 AM

Firing up good thoughts and gentle care.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 11:20 AM

I am giving thanks for Ezra's immediate and safe return home; this, or something better, for the highest good of all concerned. May the Great Spirit hold him close. So mote it be.


{{{{HUGS for Ezra and family}}}}}

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: ClaireBear
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 12:45 PM

Positive thoughts winging their way from California. And hugs all round.

Claire

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Azizi
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 01:00 PM

Positive vibrations from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

I hope your family & friends get good news soon.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: GUEST,Bob Ryszkiewicz
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 01:13 PM

Good thoughts for the safe return of Ezra...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Rita_of_Cascia
BR

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: fat B****rd
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 01:13 PM

Kindest thoughts and good wishes from Charlie in Dunfermline.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: olddude
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 01:25 PM

You got my good thoughts and my prayers
my gosh how awful ...

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: number 6
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 01:45 PM

Whew ... Thoughts and prayers are with ya from SJ.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: kendall
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 02:17 PM

I contacted my rep. to the state legislature, the woman whom I helped get elected, and she said she would go directly to the Attorney General. I guess it pays to get involved in politics.

I'm grateful that I lived long enough to see a man of mixed race who now has the right to enter the White House through the front door. I hope I live long enough to see racism die out.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 02:17 PM

from me too

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: maeve
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 02:21 PM

Thanks for your update, Kendall. You know where we are if we can be helpful.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 02:29 PM

It doesn't sound like a racial beating to me..with no commotion, no signs of a struggle etc. I would get the FBI involved. It almost sounds like a Shanghai but hopefully we are in the wrong century for that...but if he was taken against his will he would have had to have been doped and taken out through a window or something..have you checked out the window and exit situation there? Of course he could have been threatened and asked to go quietly or they would hurt family or something. Hate to get this way but no stone must be left unturned. Is he from this country? Could he have unsavory connections,involuntary? Could he have been lured to this particular bar? COuld there be old trap doors etc. from previous times?

Of course it could have been totally voluntary and not great reasons, such as another woman, escaping debts, etc., but at least he would be safe if that were the case. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Partridge
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 03:47 PM

A positive outcome - in my thoughts
Pat x

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: ranger1
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 04:06 PM

Becca, you know how to contact me. Let me know what I can do to help. Jason works in the Old Port, send me details and I'll have him put his ear to the ground.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Becca72
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 04:33 PM

Tami,
I sent you a copy of the poster, too. Let me know if you didn't get it. We would greatly appreciate it if Jason is OK putting some up around the area he works.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: topical tom
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 05:00 PM

A very sad and frightening thing. My thoughts and prayers are with you all (from Quebec.)

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 05:07 PM

Becca, forgive me if you've already mentioned this and I missed it, but have you contacted ALL of the media? The tv news crews should be doing a missing persons report with a photo of Ezra on their screens, as well as radio and print media and not just local, but statewide, plus into neighbouring states. If you need some help writing press releases, finding contact info, give me a holler. Since we're still in broadcasting, we may have some resources for addys and such. I'll ask my Rog, if needed.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 05:51 PM

And could WE possibly have a photo of Ezra? If he left voluntarily, who knows where he might turn up. Put one up on Flicker or something?

If I were investigating this case, there would be a LOT of rather uncomfortable questions asked, but I'm sure that Kendall knows that too.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: open mike
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 06:01 PM

what about witnesses...how frightfully shocking...
please keep us posted on any news.

hugs to all Ezra's family and friends...

and best of luck to all...

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: gnu
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 06:06 PM

Good point, Sorcha... leave no stone unturned.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 06:11 PM

I really hate to say it, but a LOT of adults DO just 'up and leave' voluntarily. If they don't want to be found, they can't be forced to go back.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 06:14 PM

Hain't read all this since the first posts, but is there a Facebook or other online effort going with a "virtual poster" yet, and if not, would one make sense?

Has the nearest NAACP been contacted yet about some help looking and getting the word around?

Have local ministeriums been asked to BOLO for someone (Ezra) seeking safe sanctuary because some bad folks have him running (thru no fault of his I am confident)

Have area welfare agencies been asked to BOLO for anyone needing emergency cash, maybe due to a robbery (poss head injury, not knowing he's himself)

Have local yoot orgs (scouts, 4H, etc) been asked to BOLO?

School officials in case a young black man is hovering, hurt, in a playground, who they may otherwise dismiss as a perve?

What org has a local email network that would blast a BOLO?

CNN with an angle on the biracial overtones-- "another young [black] man [white] people may not care enough to look for or to SEE"?


I know you are doing all you can think to do-- I also know you that are probably pretty overwhelmed and that it's easy to miss a BOLO vector in a situation like this.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 06:14 PM

What is the involvement of the bar or whatever it was? Have they been cooperative? Hush-hush? Of course they don't want it publicized as they would lose business but still..Have they provided architectural drawings to police? Made a list of customers they recall from that evening? This is not something to linger on. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: pdq
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 06:18 PM

Check for activity on all of his credit cards.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 06:26 PM

Becca, I'm sorry and I hope he turns up soon. There's little I can do and nothing helpful I can say. I'm in your corner though, and I'll keep Ezra in my thoughts.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: open mike
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 06:28 PM

i presume BOLO means Be On the Lookout?

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: SINSULL
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 06:34 PM

I know you all mean to be helpful but right now the family needs prayers and positive thoughts. The police are doing their job and all of your points (all excellent) are or will be covered.
I stopped by the bar Ezra was known to have been in on Tuesday and the manager was very concerned and helpful. He asked for a poster and said he would put it on a post between the men's and the ladies' rooms. Everyone who walks in the place will see it.
Posters are going up and without exception everyone who saw them was concerned. One man who works in an ER promised to check out the John Doe records of all the local hospitals.
Portland is usually a very friendly town. We all know the possibilities. Let's join together to support, Kendall, Jacqui and Becca as they requested.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: maeve
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 06:50 PM

Thanks, Mary.

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: wysiwyg
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 06:53 PM

Yup.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Good thoughts needed, please
From: Sorcha
Date: 17 Mar 09 - 06:58 PM

Just trying to cover some bases here is all.......yes, I'll be thinking about them all