Missing History

Less We forget

This event in Arkansas Pagan History is one I lived through and never want to see happen again. I feel it is important that we never forget this and that it serves as a reminder that what actions one pagan group or individual does effects us all. When one group or individual claming Pagan beliefs involve the law by breaking it or defrauding it we all pay. Special attention should be paid to such groups or individuals and avoided whenever possible. When events such as this make headlines it makes it even more difficult for those pagans to be pagan in today's society.

Silver Crow

Blessed Be

At the time of this incident I was the state director for the now
defunct W.A.R.D. (Witches Against Religious Discrimination). And while I
will not discuss specifics of the case, I can say that the depth of
unethical behaviors was very disturbing. Whenever an incident of
unethical behavior happens in the Pagan/Wiccan community we all pay the
price. The mundane world sees us as one cohesive group, and associates
the unethical behavior to us all.

I do not wish to see us become a community of distrust. But, I do feel
that if someone has knowledge, credible knowledge, of someone in our
community who is taking advantage of others for their own gain, or who
is acting against the Rede and knowingly involving others (especially
'newbies'), you have a responsibility to your Pagan/Wiccan brothers and
sisters to share that knowledge. By letting someone walk into
illegal/unethical situations, that you know about, and you don't say
anything...well...to me, this is a harmful act and against the Rede.
I'm not saying that we should 'shout it from the mountaintop', I am
saying that we must be aware that not all those who claim to be Wiccan
are. Allowing someone to walk into a harmful situation when you can
share knowledge that may keep them from that harm is, in my humble
opinion, unethical and in violation of the Rede.
An it harm none, Do as ye' will.
Blessed Be!
Annie

If you wish to add or comment on this please email us with the subject line "less we forget"

Arkansas - Hot Springs, August 31, 2001

]Hot Springs, Ark. Police Ask For Help In Finding Missing Wiccan

Author: KARK News 4 (Arkansas) Source: KARK News 4

Title: HELP FIND EDDIE JORDAN

Aug 31, 2001

Hot Springs (Ark.) police would like your help in finding a missing man. And his family fears that his Wiccan religion may have something to do with his disappearance.

Eddie Jordan has been missing since Sunday. On Tuesday, a note showed up at the store that Jordan's friends run.

Eddie's friend's don't know what to think, and police say they are looking at this case from two sides. On the one hand, he may have been abducted; on the other hand police fear "some sort of a sick joke. We don't know."

NOTE: Representatives of W.A.R.D. (http://www.ward-hq.org/) have been actively involved in this case since Eddie was first reported missing. According to Darla Kaye Wynne (AKlover@aol.com), Assistant National Director of WARD, the Hot Springs Police Department and the F.B.I. are already looking into various possible scenarios. Darla reports:

"The FBI is monitoring this situation and coordinating their efforts with the Hot Springs PD. This is being classified at this time as a missing person report and is not within the FBI jurisdiction, but because of the notes, the FBI continues to follow the case closely."

Addressing the concerns expressed by some of the local Pagans, Dan Sturgill of the Fort Smith Office of the FBI emphasized that the FBI investigates and takes seriously any such crimes reported against a person or persons regardless of their race, color, religion or sexuality. He also stated that the Hot Springs PD was taking this case seriously and conducting a professional investigation into the matter.

Eddie Jordan Found

Author: Sonseeahray Tonsall Source: KARK-TV

Title: MISSING HOT SPRINGS MAN FOUND

Sept 4, 2001

Police say they've solved the mysterious disappearance of a Hot Springs man. Eddie Jordan has been found alive in Louisiana.

Police say Jordan has decided to cut ties with the Church of Wicca and has gotten a job and started a new life. They're still looking for the author of the ransom note.

'Missing Wiccan' Case Details Revealed

Author: Steven Mross Source: The Hot Springs Sentinel-Record

Title: MISSING MAN FOUND

Sept 5, 2001

A local man reportedly missing since Aug. 26 and believed kidnapped, according to his friends and fellow followers of the Wiccan faith, was "never really missing" and was found safe and sound in Louisiana, Hot Springs Chief of Police Gary Ashcraft said Tuesday.

Edward L. Jordan, 37, was located after police issued a BOLO or "Be on the Lookout" alert through the National Crime Information Center to law enforcement agencies nationwide "under the pretense that (Jordan) was an endangered adult," Ashcraft said.

Ashcraft said police have since learned there was no money missing and no official theft report was ever filed involving the cafe or the spiritual store, Arsenic and Old Lace, operated by Jordan along with Dan Demster and Della Walters, both ministers in the Wiccan faith.

Ashcraft said the origin of the (threatening) notes is under investigation and noted they are looking at the possibility the notes "may have been perpetrated by parties involved" in the case.