Do You Know Me? Please Help Me.

My morning is typically spent wading through emails from readers with stories happening in their local areas, links to various news sources, light hearted fun stuff, etc.  And I love receiving all of them - so keep them coming.

While I can't write about all of them - there just aren't enough hours in the day - you people really do have a feel for what will strike a DGMS rant on this end.

I know I tend to bang the abused and neglected children drum quite frequently - and that the tone around here can take a decidely less-than-humorous turn - but it is because child abuse in any form is simply intolerable to me.  And ignoring it, or wishing it away, is just not a stance I will ever take.

Another reason I write about these cases is that I don't take for granted the reach of this blog.  It is read by thousands and thousands and thousands daily, from all over the world, and if one person can be affected postively, if one child can be spared further suffering by pulling stories into the spotlight, then I think it is a worthwhile endeavor.

That being said, I hope you will bear with me and not only read this piece, but watch the video.  A child's life is at stake...

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Out in the middle of the desert, about 60 miles west of Las Vegas, sits the town of Pahrump (no rum pum pum jokes, please).

Roughly five months ago, a man named Darren Tuck claims to have found a videotape out in the desert.  (I am as skeptical as are police, as the video had no signs of wear and tear and he waited quite a while to come forth.) He surrendered it to police only after another man reported he had viewed it and was moved to action by its contents.

On the tape?  A bedraggled little girl, no more than 4 or 5 years old, dressed in what looks like a leopard nightie.  Her eyes are vacant.  She looks truly like a little girl lost.

And there is good reason for the lack of light in her eyes. 

As the tape moves on, a grown man is seen performing all manner of complete and total sex acts on the child.  According to Nye County sheriff's detective, David Boruchowitz, the tape, roughly 30+ minutes in length, clearly shows the adult man performing criminal sexual acts that he says include rape, "everything else, and then some."

Again, she is, at most 5 years old.

If your heart is not breaking at this point, if you are not overcome with the desire to castrate this piece of filth with a rusty kitchen knife, then you should stop reading because your heart is as vacant as her eyes.

Authorities are fairly certain the man who turned it in, Mr. Tuck, did not make the tape, and are certain he is not the man seen abusing the child.  However, he was arrested Sept. 19 on charges of promoting child pornography and possession of child pornography.

Police have taken the step of going public, not only with the story, but with portions of the video (nothing graphic) and still photos, in an effort to identify the child and the human sewage abusing her.

(The video does contain footage of an older girl, however, police have identified her and ensured she is safe and was not physically abused.  They have not been able to link the two children.)

Watch the video, it is The Early Show interview with Officer Boruchowitz, and contains the footage and photos of the child.  Invest the four minutes in this child's life and then pass this link around.  This will bring people directly to this story, regardless of it moving down the page on the blog: http://dontgetmestarted-lindasharp.typepad.com/dont_get_me_started_with_/2007/09/do-you-know-me-.html

The more eyes that view it, the more caring, compassionate, decent people who get involved, the more likely this baby can be found and receive the care, the therapy, the nurturing, and the love she so desperately will need to survive.

To reader Michele - thank you for sending me the information.  And I completely understand why you said you were crying as you typed to me.  My heart is aching and the dam in my eyes has already broken.

Anyone with any information should call the Nye County Sheriff's Office at 775-751-7000.

I cannot embed the video, but please CLICK HERE TO VIEW.  Thank you all.

Comments

[Katy]

God, I pray they find her alive. I am sure they weighed the pros and cons of going public (i.e. if this POS knows they are looking for her, he could kill her and despose of the body, then off to Mexico). What is sickening is that it's been FIVE MONTHS that Mr. Tuck's had this tape, so God only knows WHEN this abuse happened and how much more that poor child's been through since then. I don't believe Mr. Tuck found it in the desert. And I can't believe that he's been released without bail - - this guy knows SOMETHING. I hope they are tailing him.

[Jacque]

Thankfully, we didn't have to view more than four minutes to get a good look at the POS! I seriously got chills when his face became in full view. I can't imagine what he's put her through if only seeing his face freaks me out. They indicated they have identified and rescued the older girl? Did she know nothing about the younger child...are they on the same tape? OMG...I'm still just shaking and absolutely mortified.

I say they start with the same drugs they use on 24 to get Tuck to talk. If that doesn't work, start cutting off fingers, toes and limbs and I bet he finds a way to help! He didn't find that in the desert...he had it and probably couldn't live with himself any longer. He may not be involved, but he's helping it to continue and there's a crime in that as well. It got into his hands some way and if it wasn't through the freak on the video, he knows someone who knows him and she needs to be found immediately!

I don't even want to know what "everything else and then some" means. WTF is wrong with people?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?

[SK]

Excuse me but I have to go throw up first!!! BASTARD...

[Michele]

Thanks again for posting this, Linda. You are a truly wonderful and caring person! If that perverted POS doesn't see justice in this life then he will surely see it in the next... that was my only consolation when I watched this on TV this morning. I will add her to my long list of people I pray for, I just wish there was something more I could do.

[Toni]

Linda, can I copy the whole blog and post it to MySpace? That way ALOT of people on top of the crowd you have here can see it, and maybe, just maybe, someone can help.

[Linda Sharp to Toni]

Absolutely! Whatever gets this child's story in front of people!!!!

[Katy]

Jesus. I just keep coming back to this page, and looking at that little girls face. She's maybe FIVE? And she can not possibly understand why she's being put through such horror. And like I said earlier - this Tuck ass has had the tape for five months. How long has this child had to endure this existence. Just said another prayer that they find her alive....

[Linda Sharp to Katy]

Me too. I just keep staring at her tiny face and wishing I could reach through the screen and pull her out.

[Shawn in Lakewood CA]

Linda - I copied and pasted your entire blog entry including picture of the little girl and links to the video to everyone in my office and will use my personal address book to forward it to personal contacts. I am in a state of shock that this type of thing KEEPS happening over and over. It seems like these pieces of S**T are coming out of the woodwork. I am heartsick for this little girl and all like her who must endure such horror.

[Linda Sharp to Shawn]

THANK YOU - every new pairs of eyes that sees her, sees HIM in that video, increases the chances that someone, somewhere may experience that "AH HA!" moment and call police with their identities.

[Katy]

I just can't believe that NO one has missed this little girl. How could she be gone for 5 months, plus whatever, and NO ONE has been looking for her. That's what scares the hell out of me. What if this little girl was taken in another country? (like Madaline may have been), then transported here and put in this life of horror? Does anyone know if she spoke at all on this tape? Jesus, this just really upsets me.

[Haileysmom]

My heart is just breaking for that poor little girl. My daughter is 4, and a petite little thing. A baby! How can someone derive any sexual pleasure from a baby? I am just sickened by this! I pray that they find her & place her somewhere that she will be safe & loved so that she can begin to heal. I pray that they catch the sick mother f*cker who did this to a BABY, that he will get the worse possible torture that anyone could possibly get.

[Michele]

I thought the same thing Katy. I'm just hoping that someone is looking for her and that they see her picture here. Better yet I hope someone recognizes the POS pervert and he gets whats coming to him.

[Tanya]

Linda, I have pasted it onto my blog and then emailed the blog entry to my whole address list. I just want them found. Why did this doofus have this tape for 5 months? In my mind he is just as sick as the person who made this tape. He ought to be locked up tight and never let go. They better have his phone bugged and watching him like a hawk. You know the sick thing is that this baby is probably this guys kid. Otherwise wouldn't they already have a positive identity on her from the list of many children abducted if this happened clear back on the 19th? It just makes me wonder.

[Jennifer]

Disgusting POS... I pray that when he is caught and put in prison the other prisoners will be apprised of the reason he is there.

[Shawn in Lakewood CA]

I also copied and pasted this onto the message board on the Yahoo Dallas Cowboy fanclub group I belong to. There are over 1500 members (tho who knows how many actually visit the site).

[Shawn in Lakewood CA]

Plus pasted it to the Off Topic message board on forums at the 2 Old 2 Play website that is for those 25 and older who enjoy playing video games. Many of these folks are parents as well. Sure hope this all helps find her.

[Kerrie]

My stomach hurts and I've been crying for about five hours now...I can't get her face out of my mind. I don't know where to go with this feeling I have. I know you've posted things about previous acts of evil...Maybe this one effects me so b/c she resembles my own daughter - or have I just had enough? Please - oh lord, please keep us updated. I've prayed all day for the Lord to keep her and protect her.....I just don't know what else to do.

[Dana]

In looking around on the internet, I found a link with more pictures, most importantly including what seem to me to be better pictures of the man. It's at http://www.fox5vegas.com/slideshow/news/14212467/detail.html
and everyone should look at it. Please.

[Susanne - NC]

I saw this on CNN this morning. It is heartbreaking and I feel so helpless to do anything. I HOPE that with the news coverage, your blog and everyone else putting this out there, someone will come forward. I can't understand how anyone could do something violent, devastating and horrible to an innocent child.

[Trish]

My heart broke just looking at the picture of this little girl. The picture of that guy with his shirt off,in bedroom. She's wearing a leopard print nightie, for Gods sake!!! I just do not understand what is wrong with people. I do not get it. Like you said, Linda, leaving kids in cars, the parents that ran out with their dogs,but, not the kid, and the list just gets longer everyday. It sickens me and saddens me that there is so much sickness and selfishness out there. All of these people need a bullet to their heads. Do not waste time or money, putting them in jail, just end it for all of us and all the victims. Just one quick shot. Done.

[Jennifer]

I just caught this update:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070928/ap_on_re_us/sex_tape_search;_ylt=AvJ6UVQ62hjvON.Sao6iurxH2ocA

[Shawn in Lakewood CA]

I was wondering if any progress had been made.