Rilya Wilson: One Short Life

This is a true story. By the time you reach the conclusion, you’ll wish it were fiction. You’ll wish it were not true in the case of the little girl named Rilya Wilson and you’ll wish it were not true for all the other children adrift in the foster care system down in Florida. Hello Governor Jeb Bush. I think the proverbial buck stops right in the middle of your desk…

“What can I do?”

“I have no idea. I’m not smart enough to be Governor but you’re supposed to be.”

“What did you do?” I ask the social workers.

“What could we do?”

“I don’t know, I’m not trained to be a social worker.”

I acknowledge that it’s a quagmire of a situation. But when one of you simply forgets a little girl is no longer where she should be, raise hell. If that doesn’t work – call in the journalists. Do something. Anything to try to find her.

Overworked, of course and I know most of you do your best. But if you didn’t visit all children you were supposed to check on – tell somebody.

As far as anyone now knows, Rilya Wilson disappeared at the age of four years from the foster home she was placed in. Ironically, her mother named her Rilya as an acronym for “Remember I Love You Always.”

Before she succumbed to a life of crack use, I’m sure she meant that. How does a little pre-school girl disappear down in Florida? Does she wander off in a department store? Is there suspicion of a kidnapping? What is the usual procedure for a parent or caretaker to follow when this frightening situation occurs?

Go to a store security guard for help. They can announce that a child is missing over the pa system. Describe her and what she’s wearing. Ask other shoppers to look around for her. Security surveillance cameras can be checked to see if she walked out of the store with a stranger. They should immediately watch the entrance to make sure she stays inside the store if she isn’t already gone. In a short time call the police.

Anyone who watches TV can describe the procedure they follow. Interview parents and other relatives and caretakers. Put the child’s picture on TV. Allow the parent to be taped and shown on TV describing the child as well as showing her picture to the general public.