Erica Pratt

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Erica Pratt
Born 1995
Nationality American
Home town Philadelphia
Known for Kidnapping Victim

Erica Pratt (b. 1995) was an American kidnapping victim. She was abducted on July 22, 2002 from a Philadelphia sidewalk. Her abductors bound her hands and feet and held her captive in a vacant house until she was able to free herself by gnawing at her tape on her wrists and then smashing a window where she was kept, a day after the kidnapping.[1] Both Pratt's bravery and the media's handling of the situation attracted considerable attention.

[edit] Reaction and recognition

Philadelphia's police inspector William Colarulo commented on Pratt's escape from captivity, stating, "I have twenty-one years in the Police Department, and I have never seen this kind of heroic act of bravery committed by a seven-year-old."[2] Her problem-solving[3] and actions, including her cries for help,[4] have been cited as lessons for others[5] and as an inspiration for African American leadership.[6] She was named Time's Person of the Week "as a reminder that not all abductions end in tears".[2] In May 2003, United States Attorney General John Ashcroft presented her with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's National Courage Award "for her unyielding persistence and boldness".[7]

In a year that had already seen several other high-profile kidnappings, including Danielle Van Dam, Samantha Runnion and Elizabeth Smart, Pratt's story caused several media outlets to consider whether these crimes were actually becoming more commonplace,[8] concluding that reporting was distorting perceptions of their frequency.[2][9] This case, especially in comparison to those earlier in the year, led to suggestions that the media was selectively reporting about victims on the basis of racial or social class grounds,[9][10] a claim sometimes generalized as missing white woman syndrome. Salon writer Margot Magowan also suggested the non-sexual nature of the Pratt kidnapping contributed to the media's attention. "If raped women were granted the same status as Erica Pratt," she wrote, "there would be no reflex to make them disappear."[11]

[edit] Kidnappers

Edward Johnson, who performed the physical kidnapping, and James Burns, the getaway driver,[12] were arrested three days after the kidnapping,[13] which they had committed in an effort to collect ransom money from Pratt's grandmother. Johnson pleaded guilty in May 2003 while Burns was convicted a month later.[14]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Abducted Philadelphia Girl Escapes Captors. CNN (2002-07-24). Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  2. ^ a b c Coatney, Mark (2002-07-26). "Person of the Week: Erica Pratt". TIME. 
  3. ^ Cooper, Eric (Apr 2003). Teachable Moments (pdf). National Urban Alliance for Effective Education. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  4. ^ News Conference on Escaped Abducted Girl. CNN (2002-07-24). Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  5. ^ Smith, Charles A. (Jul 2004). Raising Courageous Kids: Eight Steps to Practical Heroism. Sorin Books. ISBN 978-1893732766. 
  6. ^ Rose, Sylvia (Jun 2004). Rise Up: A Call to Leadership for African American Women. ISBN 978-0830832125. 
  7. ^ Attorney General Honors Law Enforcement Officers for Efforts in Missing and Exploited Children Cases. United States Department of Justice (2003-05-20). Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  8. ^ Men arrested after girl escapes. BBC News (2002-07-25). Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  9. ^ a b Irsay, Steve (2002-07-24). A parent's worst nightmare: Are child abductions on the rise?. CNN. Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  10. ^ Goldberg, Bernard (2003-11-03). Arrogance: Rescuing America From the Media Elite. Warner Books. ISBN 978-0446531917. 
  11. ^ Magowan, Margot (2002-09-09). "The "shame" of rape". Salon.com. 
  12. ^ "Conviction In Kidnapping" (2003-06-14). The New York Times. 
  13. ^ Philadelphia Police Arrest Pratt Kidnappers. CNN (2002-07-25). Retrieved on 2007-05-28.
  14. ^ "Sentence For Two Kidnappers" (2003-30-07). The New York Times. 


Persondata
NAME Pratt, Erica
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH