Race:  Caucasian

Date Missing:4/21/2009

Christiana was last seen on Avon Ave. near Green Valley HS.  She was wearing Sponge Bob blue boxers and a tank top.  Christiana has pierced ears and belly button and scars on her arms.  She may be in the company of a 16 year old white male named Christopher who is 5' 7" with brown hair and eyes, and short spiked hair.

 

If you have information on the whereabouts of Christiana Minnick, you can call Nevada Child Seekers at 702-458-7009 or Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept. - Crimes Against Youth and Family (702) 828-LOST (5678.)

The new law took effect upon signing by the Governor, and it requires courts to examine whether a parent seeking custody has committed an abduction in the past and if so, unsupervised visitation and custody will not be granted due to the high risk of the child being victimized again. If this happens the courts will identify ways to allow the child to continue a relationship with that parent if possible and does not present any indication that the child will be harmed. 
 
Because the bill creates a rebuttable presumption concerning the best interests of the child, an abducting parent who has moved beyond the abduction mind set may be able to rebut the presumption by showing evidence of a changed heart and understanding of the needs of the child.  The intent of the presumption is to foster a realization in the abducting parent of the harm of such actions and to encourage reunification of the parent and child relationship and a redemption of harmonious family interactions. 
  
Several parents of missing children spoke to both the Senate and Assembly Judiciary Committees encouraging them to pass this bill to reduce the number of children victimized by this crime. "Those parents and family members made a huge difference," said State Child Advocate Victor H. Schulze. The children of those parents and family members that testified on behalf of the bill include;

Rachel Hofberg abducted in 2006 at age 3 year

Landon League abducted in 2005 at age 4 years

Jessica Harrison abducted in 2005 at age 4 years

            

        Rachel                 Landon             Jessica

 

Ethan Foley abducted in 2007 at age 3, located in 2007
Reannah Haddad abducted in 2008 at age 2, located in 2008

 

Passage of this bill indicates that Nevada takes family abductions seriously and is a leader in seeing that abduction of a child by anyone, including a parent, is not acceptable and is a form of child abuse.  Children are typically advised the left- behind parent does not want them, is involved in illegal or immoral activity or even worse they are told the other parent has passed away. 

 

 

As a result of your efforts, we raised over $50,000 in donations, sponsorships and pledges that will help to sustain our many programs to protect children.  Whether you "dashed", "strolled", volunteered or donated, we thank you for contributing to a very successful event.  See you next year!

Erin Runnion, whose 5 year old daughter Samantha was abducted and murdered in California in 2002 introduced her Samantha's PRIDE Neighborhood Child Protection Program to the Henderson Community on Friday, May 15, at the Valley View Recreation Center. "The program recruits and trains volunteers to watch over children at parks, community events and the walk to and from school and is in line with Nevada Child Seekers' efforts to reach out to after-school programs," says Stephanie Parker, NCS Executive Director.

At the invitation of Nevada Child Seekers, Runnion spoke to parents and representatives of the Henderson Parks and Recreation Department's after-school programs in an effort to teach Nevadans how to form PRIDE groups in their neighborhoods.  This was part of a weeklong seminar with the radKIDS™ program which teaches children personal safety practices and the confidence to thwart would-be abductors.  The radKIDS program enabled five children in southern Nevada to thwart attempted abductions and one child to disclose sexual abuse.