MISSION
For Rebekah...
At this time our base of support consists of family and friends that are passionate about overcoming obstacles from Law Enforcement/County Attorney’s Office and the laws that are presently in place in the state of Montana.
Presently, the laws do not defend or assist the VICTIM of Domestic Violence and/or Missing Persons; the laws do not reflect what is in the best interest of the victim and the law does not provide resources for the victim’s family when LE refuses to consider the event a CRIME.
We will primarily focus on Montana at first. We need assistance in Montana and other states throughout the US. Rebekah could be anyone’s daughter in any state.
**THE MISSION** of Rebekah's Legacy is to Bring Awareness to Domestic Violence and Missing Persons as well as to encourage better protocol that addresses domestic violence and missing persons specifically through education, awareness, and prevention strategies. When a missing person is also a victim of domestic violence, that case should be immediately elevated out of the county level to DCI; the State’s Department of Justice and/or FBI. When you have a victim of domestic violence go missing, homicide should be considered first instead of never.
When a missing person that was a victim of domestic violence is later found deceased, the estranged spouse should not automatically be deemed the Personal Representative of the deceased missing person simply because they are the spouse. There is Montana Code in place to prevent this from happening. Slayer’s Statue and 72-3-501(2), MCA. These laws should have protected Rebekah and they didn't. The Judges and Attorneys of Montana need to be informed and educated that Montana Code presently exist.
We believe there should be a Crime Victim TaskForce available to the family of the Missing Person to assist in navigating the judicial system and education/resources.
We wish to turn our personal tragedy into a positive. It is our hope that Rebekah's Legacy will bring these important issues into the forefront of the public eye to the benefit of all our communities.
GOALS
GENERAL HISTORY
Rebekah and her beloved dog Cerberus had recently left an abusive marriage and charges of Domestic Violence were filed against her estranged husband. Rebekah and Cerberus went missing the same day she met with her estranged husband's caregiver for an exchange of personal property.
Law Enforcement refused to request assistance from outside agencies such as DCI and FBI even though the Sheriff's Office did not have the ability to adequately investigate the case.
Law Enforcement refused to consider the estranged husband as a suspect even though there was a pending domestic violence charge against him.
Rebekah's estranged husband was found "Not Guilty"; mostly due to the fact that Rebekah was MISSING and unable to defend herself at the trial.
OUR GOALS THROUGH LEGISLATIVE CHANGES
Initially our focus will be on legislative changes in Montana
1) When DV is involved, the 180 day waiting period to legally file for separation should be waived.
2) When there is an active PFMA charge against the partner when the person goes Missing - if the county does not have the resources (Forensics, Detectives, Investigators, etc) - then the case should be elevated to the state level.
3) When there is a PFMA hearing involving a Missing person, the Jury should be informed they are Missing.
