May 7, 2010
What's more frightening than having a serial rapist stalking your neighborhood? Finding out you've known him all along ...
What's more frightening than having a serial rapist stalking your neighborhood? Finding out you've known him all along ... Polly Franks www.franksfoundation.org Could YOU be putting your child at risk for sexual abuse and not even know it? You would never forgive yourself but the majority of parents in America are guilty of this denial. We hear the horror stories on almost a daily basis, but we think .. 'Not in my town, not in my neighborhood.' Polly Franks, mother of three little girls thought the same thing. But she was wrong, almost dead wrong. After several years of a close relationship with a trusted family living in her neighborhood, her two young daughters were attacked by a sexual predator while they slept at the trusted neighbor's home ...But it wasn't an intruder...it was the neighbor himself...Imagine Polly's shock to learn her closest friend's husband was the "Bandana Bandit," a sexual predator linked to more than 86 cases in Richmond, Virginia alone. But to make matters worse, he was already infamous...known throughout Texas as the "Ski Mask Rapist", linked to at least 200 sexual attacks on women and children. How can a loving mother be so close to a monster and not know? Thankfully, families around the nation are no longer at such risk since the national database of sexual predators has been made available to the public. The Franks Foundation ( www.franksfoundation.org ) - a nonprofit created to help protect America's kids from sexual predators advises - families use these safety tools to protect your children. So, before your take that apple pie over to your new neighbor ... Check your local sex offender registry website. Educate your kids on sexual abuse issues, such as good verses bad touching. Most important teach them to NEVER keep a secret from a safe family member. Research and create a "Safe Family Network" in your local neighborhood. The Boogey Man can look just like any one of us. He barbequed for Polly's family on Sunday nights, they carpooled the kids together and celebrated birthdays and other milestones throughout the years. Never once did he arouse suspicion until his wife caught him in the middle of night in the midst of a sexual attack on both Polly's children AND his own. Instinct alone is not enough - you need solid information!! Aren't your kids worth it? The Franks Foundation thinks so. Bio: Polly Franks is a former licensed private investigator. She has appeared on numerous national television and radio programs, testified before Congress and lobbied on Capital Hill for tougher sex offender laws. In addition to creating the Franks Foundation, she is a founding board member of the National Coalition of Victims in Action. Contact Polly at pollyfranks@franksfoundation.org Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com

Posted by Staff at 2:05 AM