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The above photo of Carlie Brucia's abduction was captured by a car wash security camera in Florida where it occurred.
This heartbreaking crime that shocked and deeply saddened millions of Americans was the immediate catalyst to the CBS Cares PSA's on Child Abduction.
For the first time, we collectively witnessed a child's abduction. We watched the meaningless end of a young life and felt powerless. Afterwards, we struggled with this horrific experience, reaching in vain for an explanation.
Yet, this accidental recording gave us an extraordinary insight into the dynamics of this type of crime. This tape is, in a sobering way, Carlie's personal legacy to the fight against child abduction.
The tape shows a confident, manipulative abductor who is keenly attuned to a young child's psychology. He knew that, under her cool attitude lay a very fragile and susceptible young mind. The abductor did not use violence to bring Carlie to his car. Instead, he relied on many of the signals used by adults that children are trained to respond and obey: an assertive, authoritative approach, reinforced by an emotional appeal. We watched incredulously, while Carlie was led away by her abductor?like many reluctant, yet obedient children are led away by their parents.
As parents, we pride ourselves in teaching our children many things. Yet teaching them to recognize and fight abduction is perhaps one of the most challenging and essential responsibilities that we must face.
While the first rule will always be not to go along with a stranger, it became clear from watching Carlie that children should be taught that--contrary to human instinct--the best chance of survival in an abduction is to vigorously resist the abductor every step of the way. This is the strong advice of the experts and leading organizations concerned with the safety and welfare of children. Without this knowledge, many of us and our children would do precisely what Carlie and too many others have done: listen to a stranger and later think that, if we are co-operative and go along with an abductor, they might relent and let us go.
We hope that you will take the time to see our PSA's and read this section to see what the experts shared with us. Hopefully, none of our children will ever be faced by an abductor. But, if they were--as tens of thousands of children are each year in the United States--the information that follows could potentially save their lives.
Special thanks to Joe Brucia, Carlie's father.
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