Stats Say No Increase For Abduction Here In Iowa

Mahaska County Sheriff’s Department

Sheriff says that if it “doesn’t look right, it’s probably not right, call it in.”

Oskaloosa, Iowa – Ever since 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts disappeared from nearby Brooklyn, Iowa, the public has been on a heightened state of alert.

For Mahaska County Sheriff Russ Van Renterghem, the extra calls and work from concerned citizens are just fine. “I want to reiterate that’s what we’re paid for in law enforcement. I don’t care if we’re talking about sheriff’s deputies, police officers, state patrolmen. We’re paid by taxpayers and that’s what we’re paid for is to look into suspicious activity.”

The social media posts have helped many people stay vigilant. “What I like about the social media, it seems to bring it to the surface where people are aware of it.”

That raised awareness has had parents approach Van Renterghem for advice on safety tips for their children. “I talked to one dad that said he’d instructed his teenage daughter she’s not to be going anywhere alone. Doesn’t have to have a guardian or chaperon but if your going to the mall to pick up a pair of shoes, go with a friend. If you’re running up to Smokey Row to have a cup of coffee, invite a friend to go with you, and I like that.”

We spoke with Van Renterghem in the past six months about human trafficking, and if it’s something happening locally. “Human trafficking is real. It involves Iowa, and it involves Mahaska County. I can’t give you any specifics, but it does.”

Van Renterghem and Oskaloosa News have spoken about the subject of human trafficking in the past, and it’s something that Van Renterghem says is on the rise.

Human trafficking happens in many ways. It could be a young person that sent a compromising photo of themselves to someone they thought they could trust and are now being forced to do things they don’t want to. It could be a boyfriend taking money or trading something for sex with his girlfriend. It could be more. “Human trafficking is not just abducting someone and hauling them off to Mexico and putting them into slave labor or that type of thing,” explained Van Renterghem.

One of those social media posts that cause a significant amount of chatter in the Mahaska area was the report of a white SUV, with an individual that caused some concern.

Van Renterghem said local law enforcement found and spoke with the individual driving the vehicle that had caused concern. They spent several hours interviewing and running background checks on the individual and his family.

The individual and his family were asking for donations of money and food and may have taken in over $1000 in donations from others during their time in the area. Van Renterghem said that it was discovered the family is receiving food stamps from another state.

Social media has also been buzzing about missing individuals since the disappearance of Tibbetts.

At a recent press conference Medina Rahmanovic, Iowa’s Missing Person Information Clearinghouse Manager, discussed those concerns raised by the news media and social media.

Starting with some general statistics, Radmanovic said that as of August 2nd, 2018, there were a total of 390 persons entered into the National Crime Information Center. “Of those, 225 were listed as juveniles. A majority of those are run-away situations.”

“Twenty-six of those individuals listed on the clearinghouse website are categorized as involuntary,” explained Radmanovic. “Those 26 cases date back as far back as 1976, which confirms that abductions, involuntary disappearances, are not common in our state.”

“People go missing for various reasons. Whether that be by choice, wondering away because of their disability, running away from home, stranger abduction, or by someone that they know,” said Radmanovic.

In his 30 years in law enforcement, Van Renterghem said he’s taken hundreds of missing person reports. Like many in law enforcement, many are juveniles that run away from home for various reasons. “I’ve never worked a true abduction.”

True stranger abductions are a rare occurrence. “Very few acts of violence are committed by strangers,” added Van Renterghem, who said that there is typically a connection between the suspect and the victim.

Van Renterghem said that it’s good that the public remains vigilant and keep doing what they have been for the past few weeks. “If you see something suspicious or see someone who appears to be out of place or suspicious call it in, that’s what we’re paid for is to look into that, and again were on 24/7, and we want those calls.”