7 replies to this topic

[Kelly]

Project Jason Profile:

[img width=320 height=400]http://www.missingki...CMC905507e1.jpg[/img]

Missing Person: Steven Earl Kraft

Date of Birth: 01-11-1989
Missing Since: 02-15-2001
Missing City: Benton Harbor
Missing State: Michigan
Age at disappearance: 12
Gender: Male
Race: White
Height: 5'1"
Weight: 95 lbs
Hair Color: Light brown
Eye Color: Green

Characteristics: Red birthmark on the side of his abdomen.

Clothing: Aqua and purple jacket, a tan and white striped shirt, tan parachute pants, and black boots

Circumstances: Steven's photo is shown age-progressed to 17 years. He was last seen when he went outside with his dogs, which have since returned home. 

Agency Name: Benton Township Police Department (Michigan) or your local FBI office
Agency Phone: 269-926-8221

Print a Poster: http://www.projectja...StevenKraft.pdf

Print a Poster: http://www.missingki...earchLang=en_US

[Kelly]

Article from a year ago:

http://www.wzzm13.co...x?storyid=74038

Missing Michigan boy might be linked to other kidnappings

Investigators want to know if accused kidnapper Michael Devlin had anything to do with the disappearance of a Michigan boy.

The disappearance of 12-year old Steven Kraft was a high profile case back in 2001. You can still find flyers with his picture on it. He would now be 18-years old.

Now, investigators are asking for your help. They say Michael Devlin, who's accused of kidnapping two boys in Missouri, may have been headed to the Pentwater area around the time of Steven Kraft's disappearance.

In Benton Harbor, Steven Kraft's older sister says, "One minute you think that the worst has happened, then the next minute you get a glimmer of hope", says Jodi Bopp.

It's been 6 years since Bopp has seen her 12-year old brother. He disappeared from their Benton Township home in 2001 when he was outside with his dogs.

Steven Kraft Sr. says, "We've been through all kinds of stuff. We searched every inch of Berrien County."

The Kraft family had accepted the possibility that the case may never be solved. This week, all that changed during a press conference about Michael Devlin. Sgt. Al Nothum of the Missouri Highway Patrol says, "We want to talk to anyone who knows about his travels to Michigan."

Michael Devlin is accused of kidnapping two boys and holding one of them for over four years at his home in Missouri. Now, investigators are looking at the possible connection to Steven Kraft. They say the Devlin family had a cottage on Lake Michigan, in Pentwater. The route from St. Louis, would have taken Devlin right through Benton Township, where Kraft disappeared from. Investigators say the Devlin family typically visited in the summer, but Michael was known to take trips in February. Sgt. Nothum says, "We don't know for sure what vehicle. But, anyone with information. We want to talk to you." Devlin might have been driving a 1983 Silver and Gray Toyota pick up truck, with a white stripe and gray camper top.

The Kraft family says they appreciate any new information that might help investigators find Steven or help solve the case.

The task force that was formed to look into these possible cases wants any information, big or small. You can contact them at 636-239-7496.

[Kelly]

AAN Poster Notify Sent  Code 34

Help us find the missing: Become an AAN Member
http://www.projectja.../awareness.html

[Kelly]

Steven has been placed on Project Jason's 18 Wheel Angels campaign. A special poster has been made for him and can be downloaded and printed for placement. More information about the program, and the link for the poster can be found here:

http://projectjason.org/18wheel.shtml

In addition to the campaign, Steven was also featured in a national trucking publications, either Independent Contractor or TruckJobSeekers. These free magazines are distributed in truck stops nationwide and have a circulation of about 150,000.

Independent Contractor and TruckJobSeekers are two of Target Media Partner's many publications. In partnership with Project Jason, they each feature two missing persons each per month. You can pick up your free copies at a local truck stop, but if it's far from you, you may want to call and ask if they carry that magazine. These are NOT with the regular for purchase magazines.

We hope this helps in the search for Steven. Please consider printing and placing a poster in businesses in your community.



Thank you.

Kelly, Project Jason

[Kelly]

http://www.heraldpal...ews/1199315.txt

Police still seek answers 9 years after Steven Kraft vanished
12-year-old disappeared after going outside with his dogs

By JULIE SWIDWA - H-P Staff Writer
Published: Monday, February 15, 2010 1:10 PM EST

BENTON TOWNSHIP - Hardly a day goes by that Benton Township Detective Lt. Delmar Lange doesn't think about Steven Kraft, especially now that Lange's own children are grown.

"It's every parent's nightmare. My youngest was close to his age at the time, and I think how much those parents have missed out on," Lange said.

Steven was 12 when he disappeared nine years ago after going outside with his dogs. The dogs eventually returned home, but Steven's family never saw him again. The family was living in the Benton Heights neighborhood where houses have since been demolished for an airport runway expansion.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is again asking for the public's help. Anyone with information about Steven's disappearance or his current whereabouts is asked to call (800) THE-LOST (800-843-5678), or the Benton Township police at 926-8221. Calls are confidential and can be made anonymously.

Lange said the case is still open and police still get tips from time to time.

"We'd like to get this resolved. It's one of those really hard cases," said Lange, who has been with the police department since 1980. "We'd like to give the parents some closure one way or another. Not knowing is the worst."

Lange said he still has hope sometimes for Steven.

"There have been cases just in the last couple of years when kids that were missing for years have turned up," he said.

When Steven disappeared he had light brown hair, was 5-foot-1 and weighed 95 pounds. He was last seen wearing an aqua and purple jacket, a tan- and white-striped shirt, tan parachute pants and black boots.

[Jenn]

NamUs Profile for Steven: https://www.findthem....org/cases/4009

[Deborah]

Steven is still missing.

 

Federal Bureau of Investigation (Detroit, Michigan) 1-313-965-2323