UPDATED - Seeking Caroline Stitcher: Illinois Teen's Disappearance Galvanizes Twitter Users

Here's more info as of Saturday night:
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/02/cops-search-for-missing-highland-park-teen.html

This brings up an ethical question.
If she's been the victim of a sexual assault, will the police release that information? The search for her required that her name be released. Yet rape victims are generally not identified to protect their privacy. If police now learn there was a rape, particularly if she was kidnapped and assaulted for more than twenty-four hours, the public has an absolute right to know that type of crime has occured in that neighborhood.
Which is more important? The safety of the community or protecting this girl's privacy? What if police don't release the information and someone else is attacked in the same fashion?
Just raising the question for discussion.

how is it that when a white girl is missing the police don't wait the 24 hour waiting period before they start a search, but when people from another race get lost this is enforced?

Claire, unfortunately EVERYTIME Steve reports on a missing white girl, someone will inevitably make a comment similar to yours. In fact, whole threads have been hijacked based on this very subject. And Steve will usually come in, and make a very complelling statement meant to explain his post without defending the media bias. When my friend (deceased), who was black, went missing, I contacted those sites I KNEW were about bringing awareness to those who are missing and black. Steve generally reports on stories that have already generated national attention. He is not in the news-making business. Here is a link that may help you:
http://blackandmissing.blogspot.com/, and it is ran by a woman whose passion is bringing attention to missing minorities. You may want to connect with her and help her further this project.

The girl is home and safe. That's great.
The parents have declined to say why she disappeared.
That's not so great.
The police weren't able to find her. Why?
Were family members and friends up front with the investigating officers?
Did the police do the best they could to find her? Were they handicapped by less than helpful witnesses?
I don't need to hear the whole story and I really don't care if she's just another neurotic teenager unwilling to accept responsibility for her actions. But, given the fact that tax-paid resources and the time of thousands of volunteers were used (in vain) to find her,I think we need a more complete explanation than "not a public safety issue."

Latest news, and father's statement:

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2009/02/cops-search-for-missing-highland-park-teen.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-090222-stitcher-statement,0,1736447.story

Mary, thanks for the updated links. If this is a case of psychiatric problems, I see nothing wrong with the police and the community doing everything they can, and expending resources, to help find her. If only they'd do that with every missing person who is endangered. But that is a complaint for another day.

As for not naming sexual assault victims, well when it is no longer a stigma for the victim (as it shouldn't be, IMO) but more about violence against them, then we'll probably not have the ehtical questions that Michael brought up. I see no shame in SA victims, but that isn't the way a lot of people think.

The police in the immediate (Deerfield/Highland Park) community as well as those neighboring communities/municipalities will DO exactly what they did for the Stitcher family, always have and always will, there is no differentiation as to race or ethnicity. Most of the officers involved in the search were not just looking for Caroline, they were looking for their own child (yes they are parents just like everyone else) and this is what makes them so awesome. Our local community police officers take threats against their towns personally. (Sorry speeding tickets & motor vehichle violations do not fall under the no fault rule) My husband & I were teenagers in the same high school when Alice Alzner never made it home one night, we were married & living on The North Shore (Me an RN & He a local police officer) when Laurie Dann violated our communities. The only thing that has changed since is we are now the parents of 2 teenagers, and as such are elated that a lost child is safe,as are our communities. Trust me the police would be the first to alert us if there were any public safety issue. Tax dollar wise, was minimal, (many of the volunteers were OFF DUTY officers with a needed desire to find this child.... my awesome husband was one of them) however who can place a price on a child's life. If it's closure you need look up the definition of LOST, that's what young Caroline was... now she is home & the family is finding ways to heal. If you continue to need the story, I'll share with you the story of a 12 year old who was missing for 7 hours and 18 minutes two years ago (if you wonder why this didn't get public attention, it's because the 12 year old was MY son, and thankfully my husband, on duty sent the red flag up to our neighboring towns,I was also assisted by more than a dozen of my son's friends & parents..... I was found driving in circles, pulled out of my car, brought home & left to wait when the police car pulled up with my son's bike on the back, I vomitted, then the back door opened and there he was...... I hugged him so tight I may have caused brain damage.... then I hugged him again..... then I flattened his bike tires and grounded him indefinately (after 6 weeks we losened the grounding), where was he, out with some friends who convinced him he didn't need to call home & check in. He is now 14 & caries a cell phone with the stipulation that we hear from him EVERY 60-90 minutes, and I still relive the nightmare regularly... Caroline's story differs a bit but what I hope to share is how lucky we are to have neighbors, friends police municipalities etc that are & will always be there for anyone that goes missing.