For further information please contact: Sgt. Keverne L. McCollum
Q/DDCC -- Missing Persons Unit (573) 526-6178
Q6089
June 23, 2008
EMPHASIS: Project REST Poster Campaign

For many Missouri families, each day brings new reminders that a family member is missing. Whether a child or an adult, these missing persons leave a large void. The Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Missouri Department of Transportation are committed to helping these families recover their lost loved ones through the announcement of a new statewide poster campaign, “Project REST -- REcovering the loST.”

“Project REST” will spotlight missing persons from throughout Missouri on posters at all MoDOT rest areas. The posters will include both missing children and missing adults.
“The Patrol understands the impact a missing person has on a family,” said Sergeant Keverne L. McCollum, supervisor of the Patrol’s Missing Persons Unit. “Regardless of age or circumstance, a missing family member is a devastating occurrence.”

As of May 1, 2008, a total of 1,436 Missourians were reported missing, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Crime Information Center. This included 540 juveniles (anyone under the age of 17) and 896 adults (anyone age 17 and older).

The first “Project REST -- REcovering the loST” poster will be displayed at the Boonville Rest Area on Interstate 70, located at the 104-mile marker. This poster will highlight four missing persons cases, including: Kristina Renae Bishop, a 13-year-old female missing from Columbia since October 1994; Tammy Sue Rothganger, a 15-year-old female missing from Eldon since May 1984; Megan Nicole Shultz, a 24-year-old female missing from Columbia since August 2006, and Daryl Wilkes, a 54-year-old male missing from Jefferson City since August 2007. The remaining 18 posters will be completed and displayed during June.

MoDOT currently maintains 19 rest areas and welcome centers throughout Missouri. Located on seven different interstates, each site encompasses a different region of the state.

“More than 24 million people visit our rest areas each year, so they provide the perfect sites for the ‘Project REST’ posters," said MoDOT Director Pete Rahn. “We understand public information is crucial to solving missing persons cases. The more public viewing each poster gets, the better the chances of bringing someone home.”

Cooperating to find missing individuals is nothing new for the Patrol and MoDOT. Both agencies, as well as Missouri broadcasters, currently work hand-in-hand to inform the public of missing and abducted children via the statewide Amber Alert program. When the Patrol issues an Amber Alert, MoDOT uses its 48 message boards along Interstates 70 and 44 to alert the public. In addition to Amber Alerts, the Patrol has an Endangered Person Advisory, which is issued for missing adults, as well as children who do not qualify for the statewide Amber Alert. Through May 23, 2008, the Patrol has issued five Endangered Person Advisories. Each of these advisories concluded with the location of the missing individual. No statewide Amber Alerts have been required during 2008.

“This is an innovative way to share information about missing persons,” said Colonel James F. Keathley, superintendent of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. “It is hoped this partnership between the Patrol and MoDOT will help recover missing children or adults. As we all know, the first few hours are crucial in the recovery of a missing person.”

For more information regarding the Missouri Missing Persons Clearinghouse, please visit the Patrol’s website at www.mshp.dps.mo.gov. For more information regarding MoDOT and MoDOT’s rest areas and welcome centers, please visit www.modot.mo.gov.