Welcome
Light The Way Missing Persons Advocacy Project is a victim-centered volunteer organization dedicated to reuniting missing persons with their loved ones, fostering positive relationships between families and law enforcement and advocating tirelessly for victims of unresolved cases, missing individuals and their families.
At Light The Way we believe in treating missing persons, their families, and loved ones with empathy and compassion and we understand that every person deserves to be found.
We have the right to choose which cases are accepted and what services are needed at our own discretion.
WE NEED YOUR HELP
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For the last two plus years, Light The Way Missing Persons Advocacy Project has organized a weekly phone call and email writing campaign to Governor Inslee on behalf of missing child Oakley Carlson requesting that he conduct an immediate secondary independent agency review of Oakley’s Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (WA DCYF) case. This past fall, Governor Inslee responded and stated that, “The Office of the Family and Children’s Ombuds (OFCO) found that DCYF’s conduct and actions were consistent with court orders, state and federal laws, and agency policies. My office has a high degree of confidence in both the thoroughness and impartiality of the OFCO’s investigation and finding regarding DCYF’s conduct and its service delivery to Oakley and her family.” His response felt as if he was ignoring Oakley’s supporters concerns regarding Patrick Dowd’s lack of transparency when interviewing Jamie Jo Hiles, Oakley’s foster mom, and the verified timeline which shows WA DCYF’s disregard for the multiple phone calls and emails made to social worker Angela Fries regarding Oakley’s safety.
The facts are simple, WA DCYF failed Oakley Carlson and we have created a petition in support of seeking answers for Oakley by requesting that Governor Inslee conduct an immediate secondary independent agency review of Oakley Carlson’s WA DCYF case. We need your help today by signing the petition and sharing the petition across your social media platforms and with friends and family.
We THANK YOU for being a voice for Oakley and a voice for children who have been failed by the adults whose job was to keep them safe. Click here to sign and share!
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Call to Action
Lonene “Lonnie” Rogers has been missing since January 7, 1981 from Hayfield Township, Pennsylvania. She is profoundly deaf and as a result cannot speak fluently. Lonnie communicates primarily through lip reading and American Sign Language. It was reported that on January 7, Lonnie was last seen by her husband, Clinton “Bud” Rogers, between 2 and 3 am during a snowstorm. According to Bud, she left after the two had an argument. He stated he went to sleep and that when he awoke she was gone. Lonnie left behind her purse, hearing aids, medication, glasses, Mustang car, car keys, and two small children that she loved dearly. Bud did not report Lonnie missing. Lonnie’s parents did, after Bud started behaving strangely just hours after her disappearance.
For the next eight years after Lonnie’s disappearance, Lonnie and Bud's two children were shuttled from one temporary location to the next. On October 14, 1989, Bud dropped their daughter Alison off at a police station and stated he no longer wished to care for her. A guidance counselor at Alison's school reached out to her, and she ultimately came under her legal guardianship for the remainder of her childhood and Alison considers that family to be her true family.
On January 19, 2022, A Daughter’s Journey…and Story of Resilience, written by Lonnie’s daughter, Alison Duiker, was published, click here to view the book. The book details the life of Lonene Ray Rogers and Alison’s own life experiences growing up as a daughter whose mother was missing and her belief that her biological father, Bud, may have been involved in her mother's disappearance. Alison’s strength and determination to find the truth about what happened to her mother Lonnie shines through in her book and we feel honored to work with her.
Over the last forty-three years, Alison has remained Lonnie’s most steadfast advocate, stopping at nothing to find justice for her missing mother. However she has struggled to work collaboratively with law enforcement due to the numerous denials when requesting her mother’s missing person’s case files. Law enforcement has reported that they have been actively working Lonnie’s case, however, according to Alison in four decades they have been unsuccessful in moving the case forward. Alison states that each phone call made by her family results in detectives communicating there is nothing new to report. These words are often followed by how busy they are solving other cases, and a reminder that Lonnie’s case is an add-on to their already overwhelming workload. Alison recently initiated a petition aimed at establishing “Lonnie’s Law,” a legislative proposal which would grant families of missing individuals access to case files in instances where the case remains unresolved for exceeding 20 years. Please sign and share the petition regarding Lonnie’s Law by clicking here.
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Engage With Empathy Campaign
Light The Way proudly supports and encourages Julie Murray's Engage With Empathy Campaign. The #EngageWithEmpathy Campaign unites survivors of true crime, supporters, & content creators as we make the difficult journey for those struggling with loss a little more bearable.
​​​CAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES:
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To offer support and solace to those struggling with loss and trauma.
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To educate content creators on the lasting effects their content has on those who have the most at stake in the stories they cover.
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To educate the public on how to identify responsible and ethical true crime content.
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To engage the true crime community on issues important to victims and families left behind in the wake of these tragedies.
#EngageWithEmpathy Campaign - Maura Murray (mauramurraymissing.org)
Birthdays And Important Dates
SEPTEMBER 2
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On September 2, we honor Andy Puglisi on what would be his 58th birthday.
Very sadly, Andy disappeared on August 22, 1976, from Lawrence, Massachusetts, and has been missing ever since.
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Happy Birthday, Andy. Missing, but never forgotten.
To learn more about Andy’s story, please click here.
SEPTEMBER 17
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MISSING SINCE 2015
Ava Grace Baldwin was last seen on September 17, 2015, in San Antonio, Texas when she was just 6-years-old. At the time of her disappearance, Ava was 6 years old with blonde hair and hazel eyes. Ava is believed to be in the company of her non-custodial mother, Kathryn Ann Baldwin, who has a felony warrant out for interfering with child custody.
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If you have any information, please call 911 or the San Antonio Police Department at 210-207-7660.
SEPTEMBER 17
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Join Light The Way NEXT TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 from 8 to 9pm EST as we present “Collaborating for Justice: A Guide for Families and Creators Spreading Awareness of Unresolved Cases."
This is an informational webinar that will focus on the how-to's of building partnerships to amplify voices and seek justice for the missing and unresolved. We hope to see you there!