‘We Are The Essentials’ helps find the missing

HOMOSASSA, Fla. — In missing person’s cases, the most important question is not ‘why’ or ‘how,’ but ‘where?’

“So her body was discarded in this pond,” said Shelley Croft, pointing to a murky creek that flows parallel to Suncoast Boulevard in Homosassa.

Croft, Amanda Reece and Billy Lane stand along the creek. The three have spent hours in and along this small creek in rural Citrus County.

“We came back out just recently and found another three bones,” said Lane.

The trio are the founders of We Are the Essentials, a rescue and recovery nonprofit whose mission is to find the missing.

“You always remember their names. You always remember where you recovered them from. Always,” said Lane.

In a creek is where Jaime MacDonald’s body was dumped after she was murdered. It sat submerged for 44 days before she was found by police.

Hope Yates looks down at the spot her mother was found. She is MacDonald’s eldest child. She came back here in January to meet Croft, Lane and Reece because they had recently uncovered more missing bones that belong to MacDonald.

“This is so special, thank you guys,” said Yates.

Like most missing person cases, MacDonald’s started with missed phone calls. Her two children knew something was wrong and called the police.

“It was very frustrating,” remembers Yates. “And the 44 days before she was found, we were kind of left in the dark. So we weren’t really aware where the case was going.”

Yates said the police did not continually communicate, so she and her brother turned to the internet searching for help. That is when they found We Are The Essentials.

“It was just so comforting just to have somebody responding when we were at such a time of silence,” said Yates.

Silence that often happens when search efforts stall.

“Because a lot of time and not knowing, I think can also destroy a life,” said Reece.

That is just one of many reasons the nonprofit was started by private investigators and former law enforcement.

Their first big case is one most people across the United States know.

“Because of Gabby, we exist,” said Lane.

The group played a role in the search efforts after Gabby Petito was found murdered.

“A group of former law enforcement, military guys, we all worked together,” said Lane. “We decided, let’s go out. Let’s use our skills to see if we can help find Brian Laundrie.”

Though after that case, the purpose of We Are The Essentials became more clear.

“It was important for us not to seek out suspects, but we flipped it from suspects to actual victims and those who were missing,” said Lane.

To date, they have found dozens of people, augmenting law enforcement efforts.

Croft points out that there are several gaps when it comes to missing person’s cases. A big one Reece and Croft say is the usual rule to wait 48 hours before police will pick up a missing person’s case.

“Those are the most critical, important times is when that person goes missing initially. And I believe that there needs to be a streamlined approach,” said Croft.

They are now pushing for a federal law to create a stronger national database for missing person’s investigations.

“Our goal is to come up with a No Wate Bill. The ‘WATE’ being W-A-T-E, for We Are The Essentials,” said Croft.

They group firmly feels it would help with the cases that go cold or fall through the cracks.

“Everybody deserves answers,” said Croft “And I think that unknown is the hardest part because so many families like the Kesse’s, you know, they’re going on 20 years. And they don’t have those answers.”

Yates agrees. Parts of her mother’s hand were never found, and she said she will not stop looking until they are all discovered. 

“I will not,” said Yates. “I’ll be looking for Mom until we find all of her.”

Nonprofits like We Are The Essentials do not charge families. Lane said their services are always free. 

To keep going, the group relies on sponsors and private donations.