[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 89 (Monday, June 23, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1291]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TO A DEDICATED HERO SHERIFF RIECK KENDALL

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                           HON. GLENN POSHARD

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 23, 1997

  Mr. POSHARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true hero, Sheriff 
Rieck Kendall of Moultrie County, IL. He is responsible for saving two 
young children, Timothy and Cheryl Poplett, after they were abducted by 
their father from their custodial mother in July 1994.
  In 1996, Sheriff Kendall discovered money that was intended for the 
abductor which was regularly funneled to an address in the Honduras. He 
contacted Honduran authorities and persuaded them to assist in the 
investigation. International cooperation, involving Interpol and 
fostered by Sheriff Kendall, led the authorities to discover that the 
children were living on a small island off the coast of Honduras with 
no electricity, running water, routine medical attention, or schooling. 
When word got to the children's father that the authorities were on to 
him, he piled them and their few belongings into a boat and headed for 
another hideaway. During the escape, the boat capsized. Local fishermen 
found the children and their father floating in the water and clinging 
to a gas can. Police rescued the children and arrested their kidnapper.
  Truly, finding Tim and Cheryl was no easy task. Sheriff Kendall's 
devotion to recovering the Poplett children involved more than 
following leads, but taking the time to make daily phone calls and 
reassuring the Poplett family that he was pursuing their children's 
case. It takes a brave and dedicated man to not give up and simply go 
home after his other work is done. He persevered and put the Poplett 
children and their family first. Mr. Speaker, because of Sheriff 
Kendall the Poplett children were recovered and are home with their 
family
  Mr. Speaker, I want to honor Sheriff Kendall for all his valiant 
efforts and persistence. According to the National Crime Information 
Center [NCIC] there were a total of 955,252 missing persons in 1996 
alone. In that same year more than 99 percent of all missing child 
cases were resolved successfully. We can thank people like Sheriff 
Kendall for his inspiring statistic, because they refused to give up 
and provided support for the families who had to struggle through such 
terrible crises. It is an honor to represent Rieck Kendall in the U.S. 
Congress.

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