COLUMBUS – A woman held prisoner in Cleveland for a decade will be among the highlights of a program marking National Missing Children’s Day in Reynoldsburg Saturday.
Gina Dejesus, who was freed in 2013, along with fellow captives Amanda Berry and Michelle Knight, after almost 10 years of captivity by kidnapper and rapist Ariel Castro, will speak during the annual observance of National Missing Children’s Day at Messiah Lutheran Church, 1200 Waggoner Road.
A forensic artist from the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation who specializes in forensic facial reconstruction will have one of her sculptures on display. Anyone with missing loved ones will have an opportunity to contribute some DNA samples.
For the fourth year in a row, the event, which drew a crowd of about 150 in 2016, will be highlighted by a balloon launch to commemorate the thousands of people still listed as missing in Ohio.
There will also be a rock climbing wall and military and law enforcement vehicles on hand to entertain the kids.
Lunch will be available for purchase with proceeds going to the Reynoldsburg Youth Human Trafficking Coalition.