It’s almost three years to the day since Denise Pipitone vanished in Mazara del Vallo, Sicily on 1 September, 2004 aged four. She will be seven-years-old next month.

Denise was playing outside the front of her house while lunch was being prepared when it is believed she was kidnapped, and that ”nomads” could have been responsible.

Beppo Grillo, Italy’s “most famous comedian”, was asked by Denise’s mother to highlight this heartbreaking story on his blog. She is trying to change the law in Italy about missing children. I find their present laws on kidnapping quite unbelievable:  ”a great big hole that goes back to an old law, where kidnapping under article 605 of the Penal Code was considered to be an affair (fling). “

She describes her tormented frustration in trying to get help and continuing to raise awareness. Many thanks to Welshcakes Limonchello for bringing this to my attention, she tells me that Denise is regarded as the Sicilian’s Madeleine:

I’m signora Piera Maggio, the mother of the child Denise Pipitone, who was kidnapped 01-09-2004, at Mazara Del Vallo in the province of Trapani in Sicily. Investigations are still going on. I know that you care about things that are happening in our country of Italy, even serious things that at times get simple indifference as their only response. Following on from various telephone conversations in favour of widespread distribution of images of Denise, and other lost children, it seems that not all individuals or companies are bothered about these cases. Using various strategies they come out with the simple response: We don’t want to create a precedent.

The widespread showing of photos of the lost children is very important in the attempt to find them, to keep the awareness high and to encourage people to keep their eyes open. Indifference is the worst thing that can be. Many people consider this sort of thing as something that doesn’t affect them, something that is far away from them, from their family. But it’s not like that. I didn’t imagine that one day I would have chosen the winning number in the lottery of disaster, catapulted into another dimension. And yet that is what I’m living through now.

I know something about this. From the moment that Denise was kidnapped I have been battling hard. Even though we are afflicted by great pain. I am fighting to keep the level of awareness high so that someone will make a relevant notification. I have knocked on many doors to get initiatives for the search. Many have opened their doors to me and I thank them. Many have slammed the door in my face. Unfortunately, there is no organisation in Italy that helps parents of people who have disappeared to circulate the photos or anything else that could be useful. Those who can, fight on their own.
On 23 November 2006, I met up with the Minister Clemente Mastella to propose a new possibility to reform the law on the kidnapping of minors. I don’t know what value will be given to this idea, but silence follows http://www.cerchiamodenise.it/denise/prospettivediriforma.htm.

A great big hole that goes back to an old law, where kidnapping under article 605 of the Penal Code was considered to be an affair (fling). Today even children are kidnapped. Signor Grillo, if you read the documentation that is attached and can be found at the website www.cerchiamodenise.it, and if you think it would help us if others can reflect on this, then this is what I am asking. Greetings and thanks for what you can do to help Denise and other children.”
Piera Maggio - Mazara Del Vallo, 29-12-06.

In memory of those who are still missing.