November 15th, 1989. Geraldo Rivera’s namesake talk show brings media exposure to cold, tragic cases of children snatched then never seen again.
“Today’s program is dedicated to him. It’s dedicated to Jacob Wetterling. And to the universal hope that he will soon be returned, alive and well…”
An introduction brings us the case of Jacob Wetterling, 11 years old and snatched at gun point in Minnesota less than a month earlier. We meet the panel which includes John Walsh the host of America’s Most Wanted. Kim Swartz’s daughter has been missing for a year and half while Gloria and Jim Matthews daughter was snathed from their home 5 years ago. Ann Gotlib disappeared from a Louisville Kentucky shopping mall in 1983 and her parents sit nex to Timothy Bryant’s 6 week old lost son lost his mother and was never found. Robert and Ruth Mort’s son was taken from their backyard in Niagara Falls 7 years before.
The interview with Dr. Jerry and Patty Wetterling beigns as they describe nothing being like the first night without their child, full of panic and confusion. The heartbreaking emotions are discussed as they tell the world what it’s like Sheriff Charles Grafft describes the case and continuing efforts.
The 2nd segment begins with John Walsh sharing insight into the sheer number of these cases, before Kim Swartz describes Amber’s disappearance. Her husband, a police officer, was mudered when the child was young and the cases could be related. She describes how her daughter has introduced herself to numerous people, but they didn’t know who she was until a week or two later, and the case goes cold. A message directly from mother to daughter is spoken.
Gloria and Jim Matthews bring in the 3rd segment describing the case of their 12 year old daughter. There is evidence she was in the home but when dad got home, Jannelle is gone and they are convinced this was not a run-away.
Ludmilla Gotlib’s daughter was just 12 when she went to a friend’s house on her bicycle, and vanished. Some witnesses claim to have seen her being kidnapped by two men but mom is convinced that the description does not match. 1983 was six years before.
John Walsh brings us in next describing how he also covered the story of Ann Gotlib, who was a Soviet immigrant. Tim then describes getting the news his wife was found dead in the Bronx, but his 6-week old son was not found. A flight attendant claimed to have held the child at the airport, and to have psychic powers, but this was the best lead so far on his missing child.
Ruth Mort describes being angry at everyone and no one at the same time. This sort of tragedy is hard to conceive of, losing your child. Their boy would now be 10 years old.
A women in the audience describes how her son was taken from a playground in New York. Two boys asked if they could play with her son, then a man distracted her while her son and the two boys vanished behind her back. Jerry Wetterling describes how the disappearance of Jacob has affected his brother Trevor. John Walsh continues the conversation, they’re right, they may never return to a normal life.
Jim Matthews closes the segment, discussing the need for schools to do a better job keeping track of the kids enrolled, where did they come from. A computerized method would be nice. John Walsh comments on this issue saying only 3 states require proof that the child belongs to the parents who enroll them. Tips for parents, final appeals, and contact information is presented throughout and before the show ends.
This day, Geraldo’s Television History.