Laura Recovery Center
The Laura Recovery Center (LRC) is a non-profit organization[1] that worked to prevent kidnappings and abductions and to recover victims of such events. The center was located in Friendswood, Texas, and was named for Laura Kate Smither (April 23, 1984 – April 3, 1997), a 12-year-old girl who was abducted near her Friendswood home and murdered.
History
[edit]The center was established by Smither's parents, Bob and Gay Smither, in April 1998 in response to their daughter's murder. On April 3, 1997, Laura Smither was abducted near her home while she was jogging. After her disappearance, more than 6,000 volunteers searched over 800 square miles (2,000 km2). Her body was discovered seventeen days later, on April 20, in a regional water retention pond ten miles from her home.[2] In 2016, William Lewis Reece was indicted on charges of murdering Smither, and other missing Texas girls, and in 2022 he was sentenced to life in prison.[3] He had previously been sentenced to death for the murder of Tiffany Johnston in Oklahoma.[4][5]
In 2010, the center announced a need for more funding in order to keep operating.[6] The center originally focused on education, training law enforcement and organized community searches related to child abduction and child safety.
As of 2013, the LRC was no longer active in recovering missing children. The change coincided with the retirement of Bob Walcutt, the center's executive director.[7]During its time working on missing children's case, center participated over 100 active searches, and helped with more than 1,700 cases.[8]As of 2021, they were continuing with training law enforcement on organizing community resources.[8][9]
Searches
[edit]The Laura Recovery Center organized numerous community led searches for abducted children, including those for Danielle van Dam and Morgan Harrington. The search for van Dam in 2002 was the group's first out-of-state effort[10] and was one of the largest volunteer search efforts in Californian history, with hundreds of volunteers searching deserts, highways and remote areas for weeks.[11] A volunteer party organized by the Center found her body.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Non-Profit Explorer: Laura Recovery Center Foundation". ProPublica. Retrieved 2025-02-09.
- ^ Hanson, Chris (2020-04-03). "The disappearance of 12-year-old Friendswood girl Laura Smither". Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ Hernandez, Cathy (June 29, 2022). "William Lewis Reece sentenced to life in prison for murders of Laura Smither, Jessica Cain and Kelli Ann Cox". KPRC-TV. Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ Christian, Carol (2017-04-03). "Abducted 20 years ago, Laura Smither leaves legacy of hope and healing". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ Arnold, Robert (2021-06-02). "After 24 years, 4 murders and one kidnapping, William Reece is sentenced to death". Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ Johnson, Laurie (2010-12-02). "Laura Recovery Center Desperate for Funds". Retrieved 2025-02-09.
- ^ Newpher, Jeff (2013-02-20). "Laura Recovery Center changes with the times". Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ a b Arnold, Robert (2017-04-01). "Remembering Laura: A 20-year search for justice". Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ Laura Recovery Center Foundation (December 31, 2021). "Form 990-EZ (2021) - Laura Recovery Center Foundation". ProPublica. p. 2. Retrieved 2025-02-09.
The President presented at 3 national missing children trainings for law enforcement attended by approximately 280 officers.
- ^ Ma, Kenneth. "Volunteers scour county for Danielle", North County Times, February 10, 2002. Retrieved April 22, 2007.
- ^ "Body Confirmed as Danielle van Dam". ABC News. February 28, 2002. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
- ^ Madigan, Nick (March 1, 2002). "Grim Guesswork Led to the Body of San Diego Girl". New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
