Lessons To Learn From the Lindsay Lavoie Kidnapping Case

In 2002 Lindsay Lavoie met an internet predator who called himself "Kon." She was barely into her teens and he was 35. After exchanging messages and emails, Lindsay became convinced that Kon loved her, and was a powerful and trustworthy friend. Her family reacted very appropriately. They counseled her, they warned her as to the dangers of meeting men online. They ordered her to stop emailing him. When that failed to discourage her, Mrs. Lavoie took the computer key board with her to work, in order to protect Lindsay from communicating with "Kon."

The true horror of this true story is yet to follow. Mrs. Lavoie was not a lax parent; she did everything right and yet, things went horribly wrong. She even contacted law enforcement authories and was told there was nothing they could do to keep "Kon" from contacting her daughter. One sad afternoon when Lindsay was home alone with an illness that kept her out of school, her Mother went on to her place of employment. When she returned Lindsay was gone. "Kon", a German Citizen, had bided his time and made his move.

Kon had access to her address and had flown into the United States with the express purpose of abducting Lindsay into a Child Pornography Ring. After five months of sadistic sexual hell and neglect, Lindsay was rescued in Greece. She was in tatters and exhausted; "Kon" had dyed her blonde hair vivid black. He had made her sleep on the floor where he filmed their sexual encounters. He also administered drugs to Lindsay to render her submissive. A huge internet Child Porn Ring was discovered, with contacts all over the world.

The message of this story, in this writer's opinion, is that Mrs. Lavoie did everything she possibly could at the time to reasonably protect her daughter., but it still did not prevent disaster. Since "Kon" had access to their phone number and address, he only had to wait and lurk, like the predator he was-and pounce when Lindsay was home alone. He had contacts in the states where Lindsay was hidden, and given false documents, including a passport. By the time they landed in Greece Lindsay was "brainwashed" into the fatal "learned helplessness" that is so often the hallmark of extreme abuse.

Lindsay will have life long problems stemming from her hideous ordeal. The moral that we all can learn is never, ever drop your guard. Never underestimate the relentless online predator and his or her resources. Never assume that these monsters will give up easily when confronted--they have been known to actually move into the neighborhood where their "prey" lives and simply wait and watch. For his hideous acts, "Kon" was sentenced to eight years in a Greek Prison, with probable time off for good behavior.

Our children have to be shrewdly, diligently watched and protected. Never let your children have access to websites that you do not have the password for. Put the computer in the main family room where kids will be less likely to enter risky sites. If you suspect a predator is following your child online, assume they will follow it up with a visit and be prepared. Teach your kids to NEVER give out their phone number, or address to persons they meet online. If your child is posting a photo of his or herself into a social networking site, raise a holy ruckus. Make them use a cartoon drawing or a photo of a pet as a mascot. Predators surf the web to look at beautiful children. Do not make their lives easier by letting them look at your child for the asking. Seeing can lead to wanting, and wanting can easily lead to tragedy.