A sad anniversary silently passed last week. Jan. 29 marked the one-year anniversary of the last time anyone saw 21-year-old Bethany Decker. There were no tearful pleas from the family, no solemn reminder from the Sheriff’s Office and no candlelight vigils praying for this young mother to return home.
Bethany lived in Ashburn. An Army wife with a husband serving abroad in Afghanistan, the young woman had enrolled in George Mason University. While Decker was enrolled at George Mason University, her mother was caring for the couple’s 17-month-old son. Standing at only 4 fee 11 inches tall, she weighed approximately 130 pounds and had brown hair and brown eyes. Still working at a Carrabba’s restaurant in Centreville, she was pregnant at the time of her disappearance.
Bethany was reported missing Feb. 19, 2011, when her family began to become concerned and her grandparents visited her apartment to find her car, but no sign of their granddaughter. A media and law enforcement frenzy ensued, with one press conference and an examination on “Nancy Grace.” But over time, interest in the story withdrew because no new evidence has been obtained.
In August 2011, law enforcement re-circulated photos of Bethany from a prior pregnancy, near the time that she was due to give birth to her second child, hoping that someone would notice her in her current state. But no one located her and there have been no updates to the ‘Find Bethany Decker’ page on Facebook since August as well.
 The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office released this photo of Bethany Decker in August 2011 around the time she was due to give birth to her second child. It was the last correspondence the media heard from anyone on her case. |
Where is Bethany? And why has her disappearance failed to cause a ripple?
There should be outrage. And there should be calls for safer streets and the return of this young women to her home and family.
During the investigation, it was determined that Decker had a boyfriend, a young man who had stayed at her apartment and might have been the father of her child. But this lapse on her part could never justify harm brought to this young woman or her unborn baby.
Every year, near the anniversary of their deaths, we receive a call from the family of Erica Smith. In memory of their own loss, the family of Jammie Lane holds a remembrance service on the anniversary of his death, calling for answers in that slaying. There has been little recognition of Bethany’s disappearance.
Several calls to Bethany Decker’s family’s attorney have gone unanswered, as have requests to interview her family. Inquiries with law enforcement receive the same response, that the case is still under investigation.
And while we hope for Bethany Decker’s safe return, it is not only her safety that we’re hoping for. In a worst case scenario, the person or persons responsible for her disappearance are still at large. Why hasn’t there been more outreach to potentially vulnerable women living in the Ashburn area? Certainly the residents of Orchard Grass Terrance will feel uneasy until the final truth about Bethany is known.
Like many other sad stories, the disturbing part of her tale was the length of time between the last time anyone saw her and the time she was reported missing. That a disappearance can go unnoticed for so long is a sobering fact that we hope is enough to make you call some of your own loved ones.
And after you reassure yourself by listening to the sound of their voice, take a moment and remember Bethany Decker. Light a candle and remember this young woman. Someone should.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Investigator Mack Halley at 703-777-0475 or Investigator K. Poland at 703-777-0475. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call Loudoun County Crime Solvers at 703-777-1919.
If you even had an ounce of decency you wouldnt have posted something like this without actually talking to any of the family. spouting supposed “facts” that dont ring true dont mean a thing. the family of bethany anne littlejohn decker is ALWAYS thinking of her, crying and praying and imagining everything that could have happened. can you imagine it? someone that means the world to you disappearing and you cant do anything about it, you dont know what happened and you didnt get to talk to her before she disappeared. didnt get to tell her you loved her again and the last moment you saw her is always ringing in your head. every big moment that passes in your life you cry and have to take a moment to beg God to bring her back because she’s missing it all. getting accepted into a college. senior prom. graduation. 18th birthday. every moment just reminds you about that empty place in your heart and arms where she belongs. so in response to this article saying we don’t care.. we care so much, and for all the tears we’ve cried, you could at least write an article that was trying to get her back not trashing what happened.
Dear Ashburn Resident,
Shame on you to think there was no out pour. If you knew anything about Bethany you would know she was a very busy lady with school and work so people went days with out hearing from her. Plus you have no clue the circumstances the family was going through. You can not judge tell you walk in her shoes. Plus the facebook pages where created by strangers not family members sitting on their butts. Bethany’s story has reached so many because of facebook so you going to critisize that. I didn’t see any of you residents searching or putting up a effort. Nope you all sat there with your linds drawn and if it didn’t concern you no need to get off your butt and do anything. The facts are wrong plain and simple facebbok groups have been active, and her mom has been contacting people to get her name out there. You should be ASHAMED… I really hope you sleep at night.
There seems to be more outlash from the friends and family over this article than Bethanys own disappearance. Where was everyone when she disappeared?? At home on the computer setting up Facebook groups?? They should have had a strong presence in the area if they were so concerned and there was NOTHING done. Who lets a pregnant woman go missing for 22 days without being noticed by family or friends? It is bewildering to any parent! So when it comes to the reporter “getting his facts straight” I do beleive he is 100% correct! Praying for Bethanys safe return.
Shame on you, Loudoun Times. Shame.
Nice try, but don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story. This is an offensive and insensitive article published by people who should have known better than to prey on others’ misfortune for their own benefit. Bethany is missed every day by her caring and loving family—any fact-checking reportedly done by the writers is bogus.
And, by the way, she has a son that could probably look this up when he’s older. How do you think he’d feel? Articles like these do more harm than good—show some empathy. You’re not a writer for the school paper. Grow up.
How dare this person write that her family did not care. Bethany is my niece, and there is NOT a day that goes by that I am not praying & crying & worrying about where she is and what may have happened. If this person could see all the hurt & concern written in comments & prayers, as well as, having everyone stop and light a candle for her and say a prayer for her…....they would come to understand just how much no one has given up hope on her returning home. I am beside myself that this could have been printed without so much as them getting in touch with her mom, or brothers & sisters, or any family for that matter before such lies where written. I hope having everyone comment about this will stop these people from printing such TRASH!!!!!
This reporter (and I use the term loosely) should be fired. If they had done even the smallest amount of research they would have known that Bethany is prayed for daily. Nothing can express the agony her family has gone through. This paper should be ashamed to have published this article. I hope none of them has to endure what this family has.
Way to NOT check your facts. The author needs to send an apology to the family who is constantly sending out requests and pleas for help finding her! The Loudoun Times should at least repremand this person!
You have no idea how this event has gripped the family and their friends! You didn’t interview them! This caused more than a ripple in their hearts, it caused a tsunami of concern prayer and vigil that continues today.
You do not have a clue as to how much this has grabbed the people that know the family by the heart. It has caused more than a ripple in our hearts, it has been a tsunami for those that know the family! Interview the family and their friends before making sweeping generalizations!
http://www.facebook.com/groups/203067906380653/350287251658717/?notif_t=group_activity join her fb group
I think the media is to blame here. Including you loudoun times! how many articles were written to keep her name out there. If you did your research you would know there is a group on facebook that looks and thinks of Bethany everyday. POOR research id say from someone who claims to be a REPORTER! Why are we focusing on what the family is doing instead of focusing on the facts of the case? HOW DARE YOU!
How dare you claim that the disappearance of Bethany “failed to cause a ripple”! Have you ever talked to her family and friends? Do you really think that because there was no candle light vigil that no one cares? I can tell you, for a fact, that her family and friends have spent every day praying for her. People have been looking for ANY information that might help bring Bethany home EVERY DAY since she disappeared.
The person that wrote this article needs to get their facts straight.
When you have seen this mothers anguish and know this family is when I think it would be appropriate for you to write an article. Until then put the pen down and stop writing things you know nothing of. You are insensitive and WRONG with what you write. How would you feel if this was your daughter and some ignorant journalist wrote this garbage about you? Have some class and get your facts and stop writing garbage about things you know nothing of!!!
Wow…for someone that knows nothing of the family and didn’t bother to get any facts from them, you have some balls. You assume that no one cares. How wrong you are. My family has known her family for many years. I watched Bethany grow from a child to a woman and then a mother. Her family loves her to this day and prays for her safe return. Learn your facts before you swipe your fingers across your keys as you obviously didn’t bother to open your mouth first. Bethany…we all love and miss you and hope and pray you come home soon.
Obviously there is a reason no one wants to talk to you….you cant get your facts straight! If what you’ve printed is true you say….(which as a member of the Fighting for Bethany Decker page on FB, I know it’s not!) but let’s say for arguments sake it is, where did you get this info? Who was your source? You’ve already mentioned noone has or will talk to you so tell us Mr/Mrs “author”....how do you know any of these ‘facts?’.
My suggestion to you is instead of posting time wasting, negative, finger pointing, gossip-like crap about Bethany and her family, do some good with your abilities to reach thousands and get her name picture and ACCURATE info out to keep her story alive.
This article is clearly poorly researched and quite insensitive. You do not understand what the family is going through, or obviously what they have done. There have been vigils, and searches continuous. You should probably think before your write next time.
Yet another well researched and fact checked article by the anonymous media. This young woman is loved and missed by MANY and if anyone had bothered to look into it, they would know that the anniversary was not forgotten or overlooked. Way to show a little class and sensitivity.
The tone of this article was absolutely abysmal. While periodic forewarnings about catastrophic personal events is occasionally warranted, slamming the family as indifferent and uncaring is not only mean-spirited, but also completely off the mark. Having known the family since Bethany was in first grade, they are consistently loving, kind, generous and considerate of others, qualities apparently not similarly held by the “staff” of the Loudoun Times.
Louden Times who is your source? I would like to know the author of this article instead of them hiding behind the name staff? This is terrible did you forget she has a little boy that could google this article when he gets older. What message will it send? I have a story for you what does it take to get a face in the National Media spot light? We would really like to know we have been working on it for a year. My prayers go out to the family.
What a horrible, insensitive article written by someone who has no clue about how much the family misses Bethany and searches for her. The police have instructed them to let the police do their job and handle this-so why aren’t you blasting the police for not reporting any details or information with their continuing search. This is horrible reporting -but I wouldn’t even wish this same type of tragic disappearance on even you-so maybe you should show a little sympathy
You really have no idea what went on that day. Good reporting skills buddy. Bethany was my best friend and not a day goes by that I don’t miss her. You should be ashamed for assuming that no one misses her or that no one is doing anything to find her or even set time aside on the anniversary of her disappearance specifically for remembering her and how great of a person and friend she was. Horrible article proposing non-facts.
I personally know the family and they were not contacted by this author or anyone from LoudonTimes. As for remembering Bethany all of her family and friends pray for her and her babies safe return daily. The author also claims that “there have been no updates to the ‘Find Bethany Decker’ page on Facebook since August as well”. I don’t know what page you are looking at but there has been updates posted on this page in support of finding Bethany and her child.
This article is a crock!!! Loudoun Times has not contacted family and has no idea what Bethanys friends and family are doing to try to find her and get the word out about her disappearance!! How dare you act like no one cares??!! And it’s nice how the “author” of this horrible article doesn’t even have the balls to put their name on it!! Loudoun Times should be ashamed of themselves and should fire whoever wrote this!! They did not do their research!!
I think before you typed you should have checked all your facts. It makes me angry that you think no one has missed her all this time. There is a group on facebook for her it is called Fighting for Bethany Decker and that is exactly what we do all the time. Bethany’s family is on this page and always talking about her and how they pray for her to come home. We have had online vigils, and days we send out her missing poster to get it viral. Before you judge her family, friends, and the strangers putting forth a effort maybe you should help. The media is the best place to get Bethanys picture out there, but time after time we are turned away… Tell me how that is fair?
I think you all should’ve gotten your facts straight before you printed this article. I work with Bethany’s mother and I know her pain, and for you all to say that’s she’s not thought of is wrong. I pray for her safe return, and I pray for her family peace.
A sad and mysterious story. Hopefully, one day, there will be some answers.
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