2/19/06 An article in a local paper regarding communications data
legislation has, once again, prompted me to do more research. As I
meticulously conducted my study, my heart began to sink as I discovered
one company after another with no apparent ability to advance this
search beyond what we already know. But then, I found something that
froze me to my seat... a company claiming an ability to trace the
history of the information we have - up to ten years of it. Until now,
our only option has been the currently active account.
I will be working with this firm and I will report the results, if any,
in the next newsletter. (This one is a nail biter, folks!) Meanwhile, I
will start compiling the information and materials I need to do a
mailing to 200 or 250 Framingham businesses, most of which are
Brazilian owned. The mailing will contain an introductory letter and
several copies of the flyer linked below. Wish me luck!
May love prevail.
-Jeff
3/2/06 A total of two data companies - Abika and US Skiptrace -
conducted research on communications data we have had since January
2005. The results could not have been more disappointing. Neither
company could find a shread of information that currently exists
concerning this data. Both graciously offered me a refund.
When it became evident that their efforts would fail, I had my little
15 minute cry. But then, for some reason, I started to think about a
suggestion a friend had made months ago concerning advertising on
Framingham community related web sites. Researching that option has
also evolved into a Google AdWords campaign which I am now in the
process of setting up. Unlike a couple of (cowardly) big local print
publications (who are apparently managed by their fear-crazed
attorneys, not their editors and sales managers), Google has no problem
with this kind of advertising or content. (Now, if I can just get the
knack of it and have the ads actually show up... )
I am currently in the process of assembling a collection of key words
and composing ad copy for up to four ad groups with Google: 1)
Framingham/MetroWest related, along with local Brazilian businesses,
social organizations and agencies, 2) Adult nightclub and exotic dance
related key words, 3) Massachusetts insurance agency related key words,
and 4) Google's Brazilian site (in Portuguese), with the intent to
reach someone in Rio (or the country at large) who may have known
her.
I will also begin compiling the information and materials I need to do
direct mail to 200 or 250 Framingham businesses, most of which are
Brazilian owned. The mailing will contain an introductory letter and
several copies of the flyer linked below.
To say the least, I have my hands full.
3/25/06 The three most distinct efforts and developments since the
beginning of this month have been the following:
1) After countless hours and weeks of fine tuning, advertising
campaigns on Google and Yahoo have been established at a daily cost
that I can afford. These campaigns are tied to appropriate search
engine key words and also appear on appropriate partnered sites. Also
pending is a quarter page ad in the Community News edition of the
Brazilian Times.
2) On Thursday 3/23 I made a long overdue return visit to downtown
Framingham. I spent most of my time walking around the entire business
district, from the upper reaches of Union Avenue and Concord Street to
the lower end of Hollis Street. With a clipboard in my hand, I wrote
down the name of every business that offered a hint that it was either
Brazilian owned, catered to the Central and South American immigrant
population, or employed such immigrants. By the time I had to leave for
work, I had accumulated the names of well over 80 businesses. This list
will provide the foundation for the proposed mailing I had mentioned
previously. I only had time to post one flyer, but the location was a
well chosen one: the bulletin board at the Pandaria Brasil Bakery on
Concord Street. Downtown Framingham is a very stimulating place these
days, and while I was collecting business names, I felt more
invigorated and happy than I have felt in weeks. I also felt like I
might be on the cusp of something.
3) On Friday evening 3/24 I came home to an intriguing message on my
answering machine. It was from a lady who spoke little English, but
obviously knew she had to leave a message for me in English. I was able
to decipher her name and she mentioned she had "received" either my
note or some form of communication and would try for me again on
Saturday. She admitted that her English was poor and remarked that she
had been studying English for only seven or eight months. She also
mentioned that we could meet for coffee. However, she did not mention
Daniela at all in her message. She also didn't leave her phone number,
and I don't have Caller ID.
At first I thought she may have made a mistake. Perhaps the Internet
generated Portuguese in the flyer I left at the bakery wasn't clear
enough and she thought I had work to offer. Recent news articles have
pointed out that the Pandaria Brasil Bakery on Concord Street has
served as an early morning gathering place for day workers looking to
be picked up by employers for short term work assignments. But four
years of (now rusty) high school instruction in a sister language -
Spanish - plus confirmation from a Brazilian that my Internet
Portuguese generator is a good one, lead me to believe otherwise. I
have also dismissed the possibility that she was calling on behalf of
the Brazilian American Association (their founder speaks fluent English
and six weeks have passed since I sent her my letter) or the Brazilian
Times (as far as I know, anyone who would reach me from that
publication would speak fluent English. Besides, "meeting for coffee"
is not necessary to arrange advertising.)
At this moment, I can only come to one conclusion - this woman probably
knows something. Why else would she be contacting me? I recorded a
special outgoing message to her should she try to reach me on Saturday
while I was at work. I read both my original English message to her and
an Internet Portuguese translation. (I had problems with a few words,
but most I believe I pronounced correctly.) As of this moment (late
Saturday night), I have yet to hear back from her. But I certainly hope
we can connect before the weekend is over. I will inform the mailing
list as soon as I do.
3/26/06 7:46 PM I have still not received a return call
from "Maggie," but I have just spent several minutes listening to her
message seven or eight more times while transcribing it to the written
word. She seems to have attempted to use the English word "strategy"
twice in her message - a word I could not previously decipher. One
thing has become evident with more listens that wasn't so evident
before: It is clear that Maggie is sympathetic toward me and wants to
help. But again, there is no mention of Daniela in the message, nor any
hint that she knows her or even knows who she is. Of course, I welcome
any help, especially from someone in the Framingham Brazilian
community, and I consider it a high priority to meet with Maggie if it
can be arranged. But after 20 months, I think we've had enough theories
and strategies. It's time for results! We need to find someone who
actually KNOWS Daniela or at least knows who she is. Daniela may be a
"lone wolf," but she is definitely no social recluse. Furthermore, she
lived in Framingham, quite possibly took a job in Framingham, and used
a Framingham cell phone number for years. There must be at least a
couple dozen people in town who know her and perhaps twice that many
who know who she is. We need to find at least one of those people!
3/29/06 12:35 PM On Monday afternoon, I determined that Maggie's
message was a response to the ad in the Brazilian Times that appeared
on Friday. They published it without bothering to call me because I had
so thoroughly provided everything they needed, including translated
copy and a check. Then, on Monday night when I arrived home from work,
guess what was waiting for me? Yes, a second phone message from Maggie.
I thought I would make it easy for her by putting my outgoing message
through a translator and reading it in Portuguese, but it looks like I
spoiled her. Most of the message she left was in Portuguese and right
now I'm trying to figure out ways to decipher it. It's not just the
language. It's the language combined with typical answering machine
audio quality. There are at least a couple of Brazilian born students
at my local middle school but I'd have to catch them in the office
between classes. The nearest Brazilian store is in Leominster and I
won't have time to bring my machine to them today for a translation. I
may just borrow a cell phone and call her tonight if there is a slow
period at work and get around the language barrier as best as we can.
What I have deciphered in her message, however, appears to be
encouraging. She left her phone number in English and it is obviously a
Framingham number. Also, toward the end of her message, she mentioned
"Framingham" followed by "aqui," likely indicating that we can meet
down there close by. Even if she never met Daniela, she may have her
"ear to the ground." She may know what I must do and who I should talk
to.
3/30/06 12:45 PM I finally reached Maggie live over the phone
last night. The language barrier is a real problem. I will meet with
her at noon in downtown Framingham on Friday 3/31. I am in serious need
of an interpreter who understands both languages fluently. If any
qualified person browsing this site can fill that role tomorrow for me,
please get in touch immediately. Go to the contact page for information.
By request, I have made the audio of Maggie's phone messages available.
At the moment, I have my doubts that this is going to amount to
anything. The fact that Maggie lives in Framingham is certainly good,
but her lack of English ability is disappointing. (She also doesn't
have a computer.) From our conversations, Daniela gave me the
impression that fellow Brazilians she was the closest to had been here
for some time and probably had reasonably good English ability. With
all the work I have yet to do in this search, and such limited time to
do it, she better not turn out to be just a sympathetic "busy-body"!
4/2/06 Although Maggie has lived in Framingham for only a year and a
half - and does not know Bianca/Daniela or (as far as she can tell)
anyone who knows her - my meeting with her on Friday 3/31 greatly
exceeded my expectations under such circumstances. In spite of Maggie's
limited English, she is much better suited to helping the search than I
anticipated, and she is a much different person from the impression I
received over the phone. As it turns out, Maggie's job is in real
estate, and she knows lots of fellow Brazilians involved in real estate
in Framingham. She is going to talk about the search with as many of
her colleagues as she can.
It's still a long shot, but our hope with this strategy is that
eventually, we may find Daniela's "American Mom." Yes, it is possible
that Daniela was only renting a room from her and that the American Mom
doesn't actually own rental property. But from the impression I
received when Daniela mentioned this, combined with my own observations
of the housing stock surrounding downtown Framingham from several long
walks over the entire area, it is more likely that Daniela was renting
a regular apartment, or at least seperate living quarters, and not just
a room. Forget about the media image of nine or ten Hispanic immigrants
crowded into a single apartment. In spite of housing stock some call
"affordable," Framingham is very much a middle class town, and the new
immigrants I see and meet there project that attitude and image. There
are no "slums" and you obviously have to be gainfully employed or in
business to live there.
So, it has taken 20 months, but we finally have a Portuguese speaking
ally in the Framingham Brazilian community who, on my behalf, will
engage in the oldest, cheapest, and still most effective form of
advertising there is: face to face word of mouth.
(More information about Maggie appears in the email newsletter I sent
on 4/6.)
4/20/06 After two weeks of relative inactivity (other than the
distractions of spring fever), the 3 PM hour today proved to be an
eventful one. First, I reached Maggie by phone after discovering last
week that her number had been temporarily disconnected. The language
barrier over the phone is still an obstacle, but it appears she hasn't
found anything significant yet from her Framingham real estate
contacts. I was able to get her mailing address, so I will send her a
small "thank you" gift for her interest and help, along with some
flyers she can hand out whenever she talks about the search.
Less than ten minutes after I finished with Maggie, I received a call
from a lady who had seen my most recent Brazilian Times ad in the
edition of 4/14. She mentioned that a niece of hers had danced at the
Fitchburg club in 2003. But her niece left the club some time in 2004
and moved to Florida along with some friends.
Those of you long familiar with this search know I have stated on this
site and elsewhere that Bianca/Daniela is, most likely, the only
Brazilian dancer to have worked at the club in Fitchburg in a six year
period. If I recall properly, Nadia also seemed to agree with that
perception. But it looks like I was wrong. There was a 14 month period
from late February 2003 to mid May 2004 when I didn't visit the club at
all due to financial challenges. It appears that this other Brazilian
girl worked at the club during that period. I don't believe I have met
her, but there was some confusion recalling the name she actually used
at the club.
Although Bianca/Daniela worked only two nights per week (Tuesday and
Saturday), there is a chance that she did meet this other Brazilian
dancer. There is even a possibility that Bianca/Daniela was one of the
friends who moved to Boca Raton with her. Right now, I think that
possibility is quite remote. I am currently negotiating my way to this
dancer to see if she might know anything.
In the meantime, I hope to finally begin the mass mailing to select
Framingham businesses early next week. My list is now approaching 100
entries.
7/6/06 To mark the second anniversary of Bianca/Daniela's
disappearance, I completed a long overdue rewrite and update of the "My
Experience of Bianca" essay. The task proved to be highly exhilarating
and joyful. It felt like the events of 2004, last year's developments,
and the present moment, were all happening at once and I am very
pleased with the results. It is now a complete, compelling narrative
that should win the hearts of more readers. A revamping of the rest of
the web site has also been completed to make the layout simpler and
more logical.
While I was in the midst of the exhilaration of the "My Experience of
Bianca" rewrite - and thinking about cell phones - I came up with an
intriguing question. Is there any way that I can obtain or to be
assigned Bianca/Daniela's old Framingham cell phone number? As some of
you may recall from my newsletter back in February, two data companies
could not come up with any information about the number, including any
current account. Such results seem to indicate that the number was
available then and may still be. Anyone who has moved out of town or
changed phone numbers knows the "method to my madness" here. I know in
the case of my own home number, I was receiving an occasional call
intended for a previous holder of my number (a lady with
a cleaning service) for as long as five years after I was assigned the
number. Even with a pay-as-you-go wireless account, you just never know
who might attempt to reach her who failed to update their phone list.
Even with a language barrier, you at least have caller ID and other
possible methods of tracing the call.
But alas, the representative of T-Mobile told me that all numbers are
assigned randomly. There is no way I can request assignment of a
specific number, even if it is available and part of the T-Mobile
network. Nevertheless, I did end up with a Framingham number for
my new cell phone account, which is a story in itself.
7/13/06 A mailing begins to Framingham area real estate agencies not
on the original Brazilian business list.
8/7/06 With the unexpectedly complex mailing to Framingham area real
estate agencies now complete, a mailing project to Framingham insurance
agencies (not on the original Brazilian business list) begins. This
mailing project is proving to be much more straight forward than the
real estate effort, and a final list of over 50 agencies has already
been compiled.
Also, during the first week of August, I felt heavily drawn back to the
investigative end of this search. I felt a burning desire to finally
pursue an unexplored opportunity and to tie up some loose ends that
have been dangling for too long. But some of my own research only
served to coincide with the experience and advice that a P.I. friend
related to me today in a phone conversation. Outside of the possibility
of obtaining more complete names from previous research, the
investigative side of this effort truly is, for all intents and
purposes, dead. It would be difficult enough in this situation, two
years later, even if there was no impedance to the flow and
availability of information. But with the so-called "privacy" hysteria
and crackdown that began in January and February of this year, it is
now virtually impossible. If this trend continues, it seems to me that
the private investigation field will be rendered more and more
ineffectual. Only the government will have the resources to track
someone down, with no checks or balances from private citizens or
independent professionals.
Simple incoming/outgoing phone number data, when used discreetly, does
not disturb the subject's life or privacy. It's a far cry from wire
tapping, which is a blatant invasion of privacy in real time. Anyone in
need of protecting their incoming and outgoing phone number data (such
as sources for investigative reporters) can simply use a phone
registered to a person or company that no one would associate with them.
Freedom of information is essential to a free society, especially when
it comes to finding lost people. There are ways around the risks
without surrendering this freedom.
8/17/06 The mailing project to all Framingham insurance agencies (not
on the original Brazilian business list compiled in March) has been
completed. After some careful research to reduce undeliverable pieces,
45 agencies on a final list of 48 were sent a mailing (with three
having already been served). At this point I have completed all the
mailing projects I have planned. Nearly 150 businesses have been
notified, but so far, there has not been a single response.
On the advice of a friend, my next effort will be a letter to the staff
of the Maury Povich TV show. From what I have heard, this show's staff
has the resources and connections to find some of the most evasive
people.
8/27/06 An email submission to the Maury Show has been prepared and
sent.
10/20/06 No reply was ever received from the Maury Show. I suppose I
can assume they didn't have enough interest in the situation compared
with other submissions. In mid September, an opportunity to work 10
hour days and 55 hour weeks came my way and I took it due to financial
necessity. As a result, I now have next to zero time for the search.
But I hope to run some Brazilian based advertising between now and the
end of the year. This is the only relevant publicity category I have
yet to explore.
Whether or not Daniela is still (or currently) in the US, she
undoubtedly has family, relatives, and friends in the Rio area who know
about her life in America, as well as her current whereabouts. I have
been told that two Brazilian magazines, "Revista Caras," and "Revista Contigo"
are among the most popular with young Brazilian women who have been to
the United States. The most relevant daily paper in Rio de Janeiro
appears to be "O Dia," but given my experience with equivalent US
media, who knows if they would accept this type of ad. All three
publications have web sites, but no advertising rates are listed,
either in Brazilian reals or US
dollars.
1/1/07 I have decided that the final effort in this search will be a
one time ad run in two Brazilian magazines, Revista Caras and Revista Contigo.
Sadly, this will have to wrap things up. On this New Years Day, I am
feeling great pain in my body due to three and a half months of 50-60
hour work weeks involving intense manual labor. I have reached the
limit of what I can do and what I can currently earn with the cost of
everything going through the roof.
Fortunately, the proposed ad for these publications was finished back
in late September. When I finally feel better, I will mail the ad to
the two magazines and inquire about rates. Whatever the outcome, this
site will remain up perpetually, as promised, and I will quietly
cherish it to the end of my days.
2/14/07 Due to extremely high advertising rates involving the two
Brazilian magazines most likely to produce results in this effort, I
have decided - ironically on Valentine's Day - to officially end the
active search for Bianca/Daniela after two and a half years of effort.
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