Eleven Year-Old, Carlie Brucia

Joseph Smith has a lengthy criminal record and has been in custody since Tuesday on a probation violation stemming from a cocaine possession conviction. He has been arrested at least 13 times in Florida since 1993, according to state records. He was arrested in 1997 in Manatee County on kidnapping and false imprisonment charges, but was acquitted a year later. He served 17 months in state prison for heroin possession and prescription drug fraud and was released on New Year's Day 2003. Thirty-seven year-old, Smith was arrested eight days later on a cocaine possession charge and was placed on probation for three years. The father of three daughters also was placed on probation for aggravated battery in 1993 and heroin charges in 1999.

Tonight at dinner, we sat with our six and eight year-old daughters around the table to talk about Carlie's abduction and death, and to discuss what we can do to avoid this tragedy from happening in our family.

A young girl, eleven years old, is too young to be walking alone. All agreed that we would stick to our buddy system, much like we do when swimming or in a crowd.

The girls were the first to communicate that they would "act crazy and scream as loud as they could," if someone tried to take them away. Both girls practiced screaming and acting crazy.

The girls agreed that they would not be lured by anyone inviting them to take a look at a kitty cat, a puppy dog, or as our six year-old added, "or even a bunny rabbit."

If someone entered our home and the alarm did not go off, we discussed how we would get to a phone to call 911.

When a young woman was being mugged outside our home here in San Francisco over the holidays, my mind went blank trying to remember whether to call 411 or 911. I literally froze. Fortunately, the girls knew the number. Our live practice run proved useful tonight. The girls agreed they would call 911 and attempt to give as many details to the police as possible.

Since our police did not respond for two hours during the holidays, we discussed a back-up plan, if the authorities were needed. Fortunately, a fire alarm is right out our front door; a good alternative to the telephone. We made a commitment to our daughters to put our cell phones in their chargers every time we arrive home. We also discussed making sure the chargers would remain in the same place, so that we would know where to find them, if necessary.

The last thing we agreed to, before moving onto a discussion about fires and earthquakes, was the information we would give the police. If our girls were abducted yet somehow found a way to get to a phone, they talked about the details they would give the police: vital statistics about themselves and the person who took them, along with details about the car they were perhaps forced into, and there whereabouts at that moment.

Likewise, we agreed that we would have all their vital statistics ready to give the police when they asked, e.g., the girls' height, weight, eye color, physical description, clothing and any unique identifiers. We would also make sure to have an up-to-date picture of the girls (not a problem in this family). Surprisingly, we learned that only 22% of parents surveyed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and ADVO, Inc. were able to provide this kind of detail regarding their children. With over 1,000 missing children reports filed each day by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), we agreed that we could all learn a lot from Carlie Brucia -- to ensure that her death would not be in vain.

Associated Press Photo

Our hearts go out to her family and friends. Our prayers are with them tonight. May all parents and children learn from this tragedy.

~Jennifer

A number of resources we found on the Internet to spur on other ideas include:

Alberta Educational Resources -- Stranger Abduction Precautions

Kids Health -- Preventing and Preparing for an Abduction

Federal Bureau of Investigation -- Crimes Against Children Unit

Related Stories:

WFSB.com -- Body of Kidnapped Girl Found

Dear Carlie Family. I am so sorry what happen to Carlie.
I didn't even know her and I fill like I do. I want you to remember I will always think about her. I have her pictures from the computer on my computer. I know some day I'll have a kid and her name will be Carlie even if it has to be her middle name. I just can't believe he would do something like this. I don't know Carlie but I know she fought very hard to come home. Please keep in touch. I wouldn't mind having some pictures if you can email me. I would love having some of her pictures. She's very special girl thats watching over her family and friends.

Dear Carlie Family. I am so sorry what happen to Carlie.
I didn't even know her and I fill like I do. I want you to remember I will always think about her. I have her pictures from the computer on my computer. I know some day I'll have a kid and her name will be Carlie even if it has to be her middle name. I just can't believe her would do something like this. I don't know Carlie but I know she fought very hard to come home. Please keep in touch. I wouldn't mind having some pictures if you can email me. I would love having some of her pictures. She's very special girl thats watching over her family and friends.

I know that she is a good girl and a smart educator ? if you have any of a pictures in the funeral please e-mail me as soon as possible and send it to my e-mail ? We will alway love you and care for you ?