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| Hostages' families roll the dice with public appeals | Hostages' families roll the dice with public appeals |
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| The families of several high profile kidnapping victims have recently taken to the airwaves to plead for their loved ones' release. Experts say such emotional pleas can be helpful, but in some cases risk further endangering the captive. | The families of several high profile kidnapping victims have recently taken to the airwaves to plead for their loved ones' release. Experts say such emotional pleas can be helpful, but in some cases risk further endangering the captive. |
| This week, the father of missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham showed a roomful of reporters his daughter's beloved stuffed rabbit. | This week, the father of missing University of Virginia student Hannah Graham showed a roomful of reporters his daughter's beloved stuffed rabbit. |
| John Graham asked for help reuniting Hannah - not heard from since 13 September - with her family and favourite toy, using her name throughout his remarks. | John Graham asked for help reuniting Hannah - not heard from since 13 September - with her family and favourite toy, using her name throughout his remarks. |
| Hostage negotiator and forensic psychologist Herbert Nieburg recommends focussing on a victim in an intimate way. | Hostage negotiator and forensic psychologist Herbert Nieburg recommends focussing on a victim in an intimate way. |
| "A parent whose child has been abducted is going to try and let the abductor know that they love them and they're valuable and try to give them reasons that [the victim] should be let go," he says. | "A parent whose child has been abducted is going to try and let the abductor know that they love them and they're valuable and try to give them reasons that [the victim] should be let go," he says. |
| Nieburg says abductors want to avoid engaging in a personal relationship with their victims. | Nieburg says abductors want to avoid engaging in a personal relationship with their victims. |
| Therefore, a focus on details of the captive's life - pet names, hobbies or even a cherished stuffed animal - can help break down barriers preventing the kidnapper from viewing the captive as a person. | Therefore, a focus on details of the captive's life - pet names, hobbies or even a cherished stuffed animal - can help break down barriers preventing the kidnapper from viewing the captive as a person. |
| "The more personal one is with an abductor, there's more of a chance statistically of hitting a nerve somewhere," he says. | "The more personal one is with an abductor, there's more of a chance statistically of hitting a nerve somewhere," he says. |
| The shortcoming in the strategy is that kidnappers tend to be sociopaths who lack the ability to experience remorse or guilt. | |
| It is crucial also to appeal for information from those who know the abductor or may have witnessed an element of the crime, says international kidnapping negotiator Julio Gomez, CEO of Trident Crisis Management Group. | It is crucial also to appeal for information from those who know the abductor or may have witnessed an element of the crime, says international kidnapping negotiator Julio Gomez, CEO of Trident Crisis Management Group. |
| He says public pleas - particularly in cases of kidnapping for ransom - can resonate with a perpetrator's relatives. | He says public pleas - particularly in cases of kidnapping for ransom - can resonate with a perpetrator's relatives. |
| He estimates that in 10% of cases, public pleas yield tips that can be used to aid in locating the missing person. | He estimates that in 10% of cases, public pleas yield tips that can be used to aid in locating the missing person. |
| In cases of kidnapping for financial or political purposes, pleas by family or friends can spur captors to enter negotiations that can accelerate the hostage's release. | In cases of kidnapping for financial or political purposes, pleas by family or friends can spur captors to enter negotiations that can accelerate the hostage's release. |
| Gomez says a public plea can convince the captor it is in his best interest to let the victim go. Communication between the captor and the authorities can also yield information useful to finding the missing person. | Gomez says a public plea can convince the captor it is in his best interest to let the victim go. Communication between the captor and the authorities can also yield information useful to finding the missing person. |
| "The more publicity, the better," Gomez says. "Any time they communicate, any time they do anything at all other than sitting in a cave or a basement somewhere, it gives us the ability to find them." | "The more publicity, the better," Gomez says. "Any time they communicate, any time they do anything at all other than sitting in a cave or a basement somewhere, it gives us the ability to find them." |
| But, experts warn, ultimately kidnapping is about a desire for power - be it personal, financial or political. | But, experts warn, ultimately kidnapping is about a desire for power - be it personal, financial or political. |
| "There are some perpetrators who are really so sick that hearing these pleas and begs may actually stimulate them," Nieburg warns. | "There are some perpetrators who are really so sick that hearing these pleas and begs may actually stimulate them," Nieburg warns. |
| Gomez advises his clients to avoid public pleas altogether if there is a possibility the abductor is unaware whom he has kidnapped. If the captor learns the victim is rich, powerful or famous, it could prolong or complicate negotiations. | Gomez advises his clients to avoid public pleas altogether if there is a possibility the abductor is unaware whom he has kidnapped. If the captor learns the victim is rich, powerful or famous, it could prolong or complicate negotiations. |
| Gomez also instructs families to steer clear of politics in their personal pleas - the better to avoid offending kidnappers or otherwise destabilising the situation. | Gomez also instructs families to steer clear of politics in their personal pleas - the better to avoid offending kidnappers or otherwise destabilising the situation. |
| Particularly in kidnappings in the Middle East - including those committed by extremist group Islamic State (IS) - it is crucial to avoid mention of praying to Jesus, for example. | Particularly in kidnappings in the Middle East - including those committed by extremist group Islamic State (IS) - it is crucial to avoid mention of praying to Jesus, for example. |
| Randall Rogan teaches hostage negotiation at Wake Forest College, and advises playing up "the importance of the victim being an essential member of the family" over religious, political or military affiliations. | Randall Rogan teaches hostage negotiation at Wake Forest College, and advises playing up "the importance of the victim being an essential member of the family" over religious, political or military affiliations. |
| In August, the mother of journalist Steven Sotloff appealed directly to the leader of IS to release her son. | In August, the mother of journalist Steven Sotloff appealed directly to the leader of IS to release her son. |
| "Steven is a journalist who travelled to the Middle East to cover the suffering of Muslims at the hands of tyrants," Shirley Sotloff said, also citing her own recent studies on Muslim teachings regarding mercy. | "Steven is a journalist who travelled to the Middle East to cover the suffering of Muslims at the hands of tyrants," Shirley Sotloff said, also citing her own recent studies on Muslim teachings regarding mercy. |
| Just days later, a video was released showing Mr Sotloff's execution. | Just days later, a video was released showing Mr Sotloff's execution. |
| Gomez says family members can do little to nothing to appeal to an extremist group such as IS, which is bent on attracting wide attention to its cause. | Gomez says family members can do little to nothing to appeal to an extremist group such as IS, which is bent on attracting wide attention to its cause. |
| But it may still serve a beneficial purpose by enabling families to feel they are doing something, anything, to help their missing loved ones. | But it may still serve a beneficial purpose by enabling families to feel they are doing something, anything, to help their missing loved ones. |
| "At the end of the day, they have to say they tried," Gomez says. "It's therapy for them." | "At the end of the day, they have to say they tried," Gomez says. "It's therapy for them." |
| Additional reporting by Micah Luxen | Additional reporting by Micah Luxen |