Missing Girl’s Father Asks Public For Search Help

            Please help me find my daughter. I’m Jeff Skemp, father of Rachel Marie. I know Rachel is out there somewhere. I just want to bring Rachel home and give her the dignity of a Christian burial. On January 31, 2003, the seventh anniversary of Rachel’s disappearance, I was at Village Hall in Bolingbrook helping register volunteers that want to participate in future searches. Thanks to all of you who came in to register or called in for registration forms. You can still register by emailing Rachelfind@comcast.net and asking for a Registration form.

            If you can’t participate in organized searches for Rachel, please search your own private property. Please check your private property for brushy areas, culverts -- places that have remained pretty much unchanged over the past nine years. Most missing children that have met with foul play are found within a 25 mile radius of their disappearance, and many are found much closer, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

            If you discover evidence, contact authorities immediately and DO NOT touch or move anything. If anyone has any new information about Rachel’s case, please call the Bolingbrook Police Department Investigations Unit at 630-226-8620.  Thank you for Remembering Rachel.

Questions Answered by Rachel’s Father Jeff Skemp

1. What do you expect to accomplish by having this drive for search volunteers?

A. Keep Rachel’s name and case before the public so that new information may come forward that will help find her and hopefully solve her case.

B. Put together a database of volunteers that are willing to help with future searches for Rachel AND identify volunteers that are willing to search for any other children that disappear from the Chicago area.

C. Increase awareness of search groups and resources available in the Chicago area so that families of missing persons can get help to find their loved ones.

2. Where do you specifically want to search for Rachel?

A. As spring arrives and people go out to clean up their properties, I’m asking them to check their own private property for areas that have stayed pretty much the same for the past seven years. In addition, I will be developing a list of areas within five miles of Rachel’s disappearance that people believe need to be searched or re-searched. Before conducting any search, I will receive permission from the local authorities.

3. Are you offering a reward for helping find Rachel?

A. No monetary reward is offered for helping find Rachel. I believe that there are many good people out there that want to help find Rachel and bring her home. These Good Samaritans do for Rachel what they hope others would do for them if their family member was missing.

4. How do the Bolingbrook Police feel about your renewed efforts to find Rachel?

A. My Search Volunteer Drive is being conducted with the full cooperation of the Bolingbrook Police and the Village of Bolingbrook. Without them, it wouldn’t be happening. I greatly appreciate their continued efforts to find Rachel.