Donna Jou

We live our lives everyday without worries or cares of the danger that lurks behind those dark corners that we know are there but choose to ignore. Thinking "that will never happen to me". But the reality of that is we are wrong.

Our lives can change just like that! In a blink of an eye. Without notice. Everyday living, normal events and routine should be anything but dangerous you would think. But it is not. Who would have thought that going to a party would change the lives of so many innocent people? And It did for Donna Jou and her family.

Donna Jou was a young lady with dreams, goals, expectations and her whole life ahead of her until she met with a man named John Steven Burgess on a website called craigslist..She was offering her services as a math tutor and John Burgess was listing rooms for rent at his home in Los Angeles. Donna did not know this man was a sex offender, he failed to register himself.

Donna being the trusting person that she is, not aware of the evil that lurks in the shadows. Met up with this man John Steven Burgess and jumped on his motorcycle to attend a party at his house for the evening on June 23 2007. She said bye to her mother without thinking twice and took off down the road.

Donna Jou has not been seen since. On June 24th the next day Nili Jou receives a text message from her daughters cell phone saying "batteries dying. In San Diego. Be home soon. I love you mommy" Was that text from Donna Jou? Her mom does not seem to think so because of the format in which the text was wrote..That very same day Donna's family report her missing to Orange county sheriffs office after she does not show up for work or school.

John Burgess roommate tell police that Donna was at the party and on July 5th Burgess was seen packing cardboard boxes in his truck and that's the last time he has seen him.

A few days later a man finds a box stuffed under some vines a mile and a half away from Burgess home, with a vanity license plate "SINJIN1" from Burgess truck, a black motorcycle helmet, rubber dish washing gloves, rope and a scrub brush. Why was John Burgess hiding these items? One can only speculate because he gives no answers to what he did to Donna or where she is..

Burgess who is now serving a three year sentence in prison on charges of failure to register as a sex offender continues to taunt the family of Donna Jou. He is the only one who knows exactly what happened to Donna and where she is but he says nothing..And why..To try to save himself? ...He keeps this all to himself because he can. Because he is selfish, uncaring, heartless, sick, disgrace to human kind, and evil. I mean for Pete's sakes he likes to touch himself in front of children and touch them..He should have been locked up and the key be thrown away from the start..Why would anyone let this sick twisted man walk the streets with our children anyway!! Or another person for that matter.

A search was conducted December 29-30 through out the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu..And yet the question still remains...Where is Donna Jou and what happened to her?

How does one continue to draw strength to go on searching and looking for answers that never seem to be in reach..Determination, love, hope and peace. Something I myself have learned from my own experience with my missing mother.

To Nila and Reza Jou, your family and Donna are thought of greatly..Your pain, and sorrow is heard and felt by all. Even by people who have not walked in your shoes. Your Donna is touching so many lives and hearts. YOU are touching so many lives and hearts...Especially mine.

Karen Jo Smith

This story of karen Jo Smith is a story that is personal to me.. Or should I say a story that I hold dear and personal. Although I have never met Karen Jo. Nor her parents.. I do however know her step mother Patti..

I have never met Patti in person. My first encounter with Patti was through team hope over the phone.

My two month old daughter was abducted by her own biological father.. He packed up some of her clothes and nebulizer while I had gone grocery shopping..And when I returned home they were gone.. Days later she was returned back to me.. But I was suffering with panic disorders due to the stress of my mothers abduction and murder..The abduction of my daughter had triggered it.. Trying to figure out how I could cope with everything I had recieved the number for HOPE from the victims advocate of CPD.

I called Team Hope and that is when my relationship with Patti was formed.. She helped me deal with my panic disorder and we talked alot about the abductions of my daughter and my mother..And with my story she told me hers.. Which is of Karen Jo Smith..

Five years later Patti and I still keep in touch and talk on the phone.

Here is the story of missing Karen Jo Smith.

Karen Jo Smith is a sibling of a sister named Kim and a brother named Chad. A daughter to Ed and Linda. Years down the road Karens father remarried a woman named Patti who became Karen Jo's step mom..

Like many normal children Karen grew up to become an adult. Married and had children..She birthed two beautiful children. A son named Brandon and a daughter named Stephanie.

While married to Steve Halcomb it was anything but perfect.. Karen was a victim of abuse. Abused by the hands of a man who vowed to love, charish and honor her, til death due them part..

Karen left and divorced Steve. And was on her way to a better life with her two children.. A life she had wanted and dreamed of.. A life Karen deserved.. She had a loving, caring family..A supportive family.

In August of 2002 Steve Halcomb had been released from prison on parole for a drug dealing conviction.

On December 27th 2002 Karen put her two children to bed.. Brandon at the time was thirteen years of age and Stephanie eight years of age.. The next morning the children got up to find their mother was gone. Little be known to the innocent children that the night before would be the very last time they would ever touch, smell, hear or feel their mother again.

Sometime that night Steve Halcomb forced Karen out of the house. Drove her somewhere and murdered her. Karen Jo Smith's remains have never been found.. She is still out there somewhere..

For her family this is hard to live and deal with. Especially for her children. It has been eight years now. And the question still remains. Where is precious Karen Jo Smith? When will she be discovered? Will her family ever be able to lay her to rest?

Steve Halcomb was charged and convicted of her murder and serving a prison sentence of 95 years.. You might as well say he is serving a life sentence. But is 95 years in prison enough justice for the hell he has put Karen and her family through? My opinion is NO! I think he should have recieved the death penalty myself.. But that is just my OWN opinion.

This is dedicated to Patti, Ed, Brandon, Stephanie, Kim, Chad, Linda and all of Karen Jo Smiths family members.. I hope that someday you will find Karen and bring her home and give her the proper buriel she so rightfully deserves! My thoughts are with you all, Every moment of everday! Love to you all..

BRING KAREN JO SMITH HOME!