A Warning To Police and Parents

Sadly, the Morcombs will soon have to bury the remains of their son who disappeared about eight (8) years ago.  The couple have very deftly managed the media getting publicity not normally due parents of a missing child or teen; and wanting to do this is only natural-that is keep everyone looking for your missing child. However, when an alleged offender for the crime of murder of their child was caught, the Morcombs changed.  Suddenly they were not as willing to speak to the media. When one reporter asked (perhaps without an understanding of the impact of the question) 'do you expect to find more remains'?. One parent mumbled disrespectfully under their breath - 'what a stupid question'. The point is once Police advise or encourage parents of missing children and/or teens to open the door so widely to the media; be very aware it can never be closed again. The door remains wide open for the rest of the lives of the family. The Morcombs have now told the media that people should be aware that reporters are talking about the remains of their son. Well, yes; but the Morcombs wanted the publicity and this has generated an at times annoying amount of publicity and focus on the case.  I heard several comments from people in the centre of the area where the publicity was focused along the lines of 'I'm Daniel Morcombed out'.  Again, open the door to the media and the door to your lives and it stays open.   The media cannot be managed or controlled.  The media in the Western world is not something that you turn on when it is useful and off when it is not.  The funeral is yet to come and the Morcombs must realize that this will start the publicity circus all over again. Is it healthy healing for them or their adult children? No, but the door cannot be closed!  After the funeral the Morcombs have said they want to continue to advance the cause of their foundation keeping Daniel's name alive.  Well; good. However, again, it requires the media to turn up when wanted and to go away and mind their own business when not wanted.  Police and others who work with parents and families of the missing and those who suffer in similar ways should be very, very, very careful before encouraging zealous use of the media; because lives will never be private again.