Missing Alabama student in Barcelona

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Experts believe he was robbed and assaulted.

Fox News? ok. Must be true then.

No matter the source, be realistic. Common sense says that's what happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This hits so close to home and my heart. My son recently was at the exact same popular nightclub Shoko on the beach in Spain. They had a table, it was hot and packed. He left his phone and friends, went outside to get fresh air thinking they’d let him back in because of purchased table. The bouncers refused because the line to get in was 200 long. So he was separated from phone, apple wallet and friends. He had no cash for taxi, no maps spoke no Catalon. After four hours of wandering around Spain he finally found two girls who spoke English who gave him directions to his hotel where he arrived safely scared but exhausted and went to sleep.

Back home in the states I could see on Life 360 that he hadn’t moved from the club in 7 hours. Waited for the club to close and when he didn’t move, knew there was a problem. Had his friends scour the beach for him in the dark in groups worried he was in the ocean because it was so close to where his phone was pinging. Finally heard from him after 15 hours when the club reopened and he retrieved his phone at 3pm Spain time. Was so upset he didn’t find a way to contact me sooner. It was the longest most terrifying night of my life.

That same night one of his friends wallet and phone were stolen. He was also held up by knife point in Italy weeks later. If you have a child studying abroad or visiting foreign countries, you must drill into them street smarts, a few important phrases in the native language, have names and phone numbers of the kids they are with, name of hotel, flight info, rules for check in or please do not let them go. We made mistakes by not doing those things. It’s not Disneyland. They can not go anywhere without their phone. They need their phone in a safe interior pocket at all times and CASH! Such a lesson to learn. Thankfully my son was not drunk so that he couldn’t function. If he had been, my heart lurches and breaks at the thought. This child could have been my boy. I am shaken to the core. This should have never happened but it so easily does. It’s so easy to be caught up in the excitement and glamour of a foreign country. Kids will be kids. Such a beautiful boy who sounds like he was a really great kid. Praying for this family with all my heart. Devastating.

Land the helicopter Mom. Spain and Italy are both far safer than the US. Kids do stupid things sometimes, but they land on their feet and it’s important for their growth. It sounds like your son was fine. Give him room to grow and don’t smother him. You are not doing him any favors!

There’s something different about your kid being so distant and in a place where they may not speak the language and be familiar with the culture. The Europe of today is not the Europe of the past.

I’m the helicopter Mom. Hard agree with you. As someone who has been to Europe multiple times over the decades, it is a much different place than 20-30 years ago, so much more dangerous. But even then it wasn’t safe. I was chased down a back alley by a man with a knife not far from the Spanish steps, barely made it to safety. It’s why I knew to keep a watch on my kid. Even then I was waaay too lax for the first few weeks. He was flying all over Europe on cheap plane tickets, staying in hostels and I had no idea with who. His Barcelona incident was a huge wake up call. Thats why I’m here to give my hard earned advice to other parents so tragedy can hopefully be averted. We were so lucky. But the truth is it can happen even here in the US. It’s important to teach your kid to be vigilant and street smarts and equally as important to keep track of the ones you love. Watching out for their safety is not controlling them. Huge difference.

I personally want to thank you, "helicopter mom" - although I do not think you are being that - you actually seem like "excellent mom" and a really good person for sharing your experience to help others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This hits so close to home and my heart. My son recently was at the exact same popular nightclub Shoko on the beach in Spain. They had a table, it was hot and packed. He left his phone and friends, went outside to get fresh air thinking they’d let him back in because of purchased table. The bouncers refused because the line to get in was 200 long. So he was separated from phone, apple wallet and friends. He had no cash for taxi, no maps spoke no Catalon. After four hours of wandering around Spain he finally found two girls who spoke English who gave him directions to his hotel where he arrived safely scared but exhausted and went to sleep.

Back home in the states I could see on Life 360 that he hadn’t moved from the club in 7 hours. Waited for the club to close and when he didn’t move, knew there was a problem. Had his friends scour the beach for him in the dark in groups worried he was in the ocean because it was so close to where his phone was pinging. Finally heard from him after 15 hours when the club reopened and he retrieved his phone at 3pm Spain time. Was so upset he didn’t find a way to contact me sooner. It was the longest most terrifying night of my life.

That same night one of his friends wallet and phone were stolen. He was also held up by knife point in Italy weeks later. If you have a child studying abroad or visiting foreign countries, you must drill into them street smarts, a few important phrases in the native language, have names and phone numbers of the kids they are with, name of hotel, flight info, rules for check in or please do not let them go. We made mistakes by not doing those things. It’s not Disneyland. They can not go anywhere without their phone. They need their phone in a safe interior pocket at all times and CASH! Such a lesson to learn. Thankfully my son was not drunk so that he couldn’t function. If he had been, my heart lurches and breaks at the thought. This child could have been my boy. I am shaken to the core. This should have never happened but it so easily does. It’s so easy to be caught up in the excitement and glamour of a foreign country. Kids will be kids. Such a beautiful boy who sounds like he was a really great kid. Praying for this family with all my heart. Devastating.

I mean, yea, tough story and glad your kid was ok, but had you not been tracking him the whole entire thing would have happened anyway and you probably would never even have known about it. College kids have been studying in Europe for generations without being tracked.

A girl would have used a friend’s phone to text mom. Also, I have my daughters’ friends contact info in my phone so I would have just texted someone she was with.

Having people look out for you is not a bad thing as long as it not controlling.

My point is that back in the day nobody had phones. And everybody was fine.

No everybody was NOT fine.

+1

Yes, we were. I was, my spouse was, and three of my kids who studied abroad a generation later also were fine.

Oh then, ok! Just because you and 4 other people you know were fine that means everyone will be fine. You either have main character syndrome or are just plain dumb.

Listen to yourselves. For generations thousands of American college students have studied abroad. Many more have studied in the US. In both instances only a tiny sliver have experienced the unfathomable tragedy that this poor kid has.

There's no epidemic a violence affecting US college students studying abroad. It's just not happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is tragic and unfortunate and bad things can happen to anyone anywhere but rich Alabama frat bro drunk on a foreign beach past midnight means asking for trouble and getting it.

you are a disgusting human being

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My point is that back in the day nobody had phones. And everybody was fine.

No everybody was NOT fine.

+1

Yes, we were. I was, my spouse was, and three of my kids who studied abroad a generation later also were fine.

Everyone was fine and safe... pre-EU and pre-open borders when Europe was like 99% native-born? The tourist hotspots are beyond gone at this point thanks to open borders and soft on crime policies.

Hasn’t the pickpocketing thing been a problem long before the increased immigration?

[Anonymous]

It doesn't pass the smell test that this drunk kid's phone was "left on the beach" so he could walk along the cold water or rocks or whatever.

The ocean is frigid cold right now plus iPhones have been waterproof for well over 5+ years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the poster who said nobody had a phone years ago has a point. I know the world was safer then, but I wonder if a phone gives kids a false sense of security. When I was abroad, I knew I was alone and on my own. No easy way to contact home or my coordinators without going to an internet cafe. Knowing I was alone, I didn't do things like go places where I wasn't familiar with the neighborhood. I studied maps of the city and planned out how to get to and from places before leaving. I knew I either had to know enough of the language to get by or have another plan that wasn't Google translate. People depend way too much on their phones nowadays (me included) and it can be dangerous when that phone is suddenly gone.

Also, agree with nothing good happens after midnight. I would never dream of going to random bars in a foreign city where I didn't speak the language past midnight. Just don't do it.

+1 excellent advice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't pass the smell test that this drunk kid's phone was "left on the beach" so he could walk along the cold water or rocks or whatever.

The ocean is frigid cold right now plus iPhones have been waterproof for well over 5+ years.

Poor kid was probably drunk as hell. I don’t think it is impossible that he dropped it somewhere or got pickpocketed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My point is that back in the day nobody had phones. And everybody was fine.

No everybody was NOT fine.

+1

Yes, we were. I was, my spouse was, and three of my kids who studied abroad a generation later also were fine.

Everyone was fine and safe... pre-EU and pre-open borders when Europe was like 99% native-born? The tourist hotspots are beyond gone at this point thanks to open borders and soft on crime policies.

Hasn’t the pickpocketing thing been a problem long before the increased immigration?

Yes, when we were studying in Madrid decades ago and traveled by train to Italy one of us was pickpocketed at the station in Barcelona. It's long been a problem.

[Anonymous]

Top spec stolen iPhones are worth $1,000 to even $2,000+ on international markets

He appeared to be wearing a gold necklace, which even if thin and light, gold is $5,000 an ounce right now

Once a mugger has your iPhone, they often force you to unlock it so they can drain your financial accounts and/or use Apple Pay to run up fraud purchases and cash transfers well before you can freeze accounts. And good luck freezing accounts without a way to login with two factor authorize (they have your phone!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Top spec stolen iPhones are worth $1,000 to even $2,000+ on international markets

He appeared to be wearing a gold necklace, which even if thin and light, gold is $5,000 an ounce right now

Once a mugger has your iPhone, they often force you to unlock it so they can drain your financial accounts and/or use Apple Pay to run up fraud purchases and cash transfers well before you can freeze accounts. And good luck freezing accounts without a way to login with two factor authorize (they have your phone!)

Take your theories to a true crime website. There's no evidence that any of this happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't pass the smell test that this drunk kid's phone was "left on the beach" so he could walk along the cold water or rocks or whatever.

The ocean is frigid cold right now plus iPhones have been waterproof for well over 5+ years.

Poor kid was probably drunk as hell. I don’t think it is impossible that he dropped it somewhere or got pickpocketed.

If he was targeted and pick-pocketed by professional criminals and thus lost and confused without his phone which led to his separation from friends and later death, all perps involved ought to be held accountable for his death. Manslaughter charge at the very least. Robbing a foreigner isn't some innocent crime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It doesn't pass the smell test that this drunk kid's phone was "left on the beach" so he could walk along the cold water or rocks or whatever.

The ocean is frigid cold right now plus iPhones have been waterproof for well over 5+ years.

Poor kid was probably drunk as hell. I don’t think it is impossible that he dropped it somewhere or got pickpocketed.

If he was targeted and pick-pocketed by professional criminals and thus lost and confused without his phone which led to his separation from friends and later death, all perps involved ought to be held accountable for his death. Manslaughter charge at the very least. Robbing a foreigner isn't some innocent crime.

Neither is robbing a citizen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This hits so close to home and my heart. My son recently was at the exact same popular nightclub Shoko on the beach in Spain. They had a table, it was hot and packed. He left his phone and friends, went outside to get fresh air thinking they’d let him back in because of purchased table. The bouncers refused because the line to get in was 200 long. So he was separated from phone, apple wallet and friends. He had no cash for taxi, no maps spoke no Catalon. After four hours of wandering around Spain he finally found two girls who spoke English who gave him directions to his hotel where he arrived safely scared but exhausted and went to sleep.

Back home in the states I could see on Life 360 that he hadn’t moved from the club in 7 hours. Waited for the club to close and when he didn’t move, knew there was a problem. Had his friends scour the beach for him in the dark in groups worried he was in the ocean because it was so close to where his phone was pinging. Finally heard from him after 15 hours when the club reopened and he retrieved his phone at 3pm Spain time. Was so upset he didn’t find a way to contact me sooner. It was the longest most terrifying night of my life.

That same night one of his friends wallet and phone were stolen. He was also held up by knife point in Italy weeks later. If you have a child studying abroad or visiting foreign countries, you must drill into them street smarts, a few important phrases in the native language, have names and phone numbers of the kids they are with, name of hotel, flight info, rules for check in or please do not let them go. We made mistakes by not doing those things. It’s not Disneyland. They can not go anywhere without their phone. They need their phone in a safe interior pocket at all times and CASH! Such a lesson to learn. Thankfully my son was not drunk so that he couldn’t function. If he had been, my heart lurches and breaks at the thought. This child could have been my boy. I am shaken to the core. This should have never happened but it so easily does. It’s so easy to be caught up in the excitement and glamour of a foreign country. Kids will be kids. Such a beautiful boy who sounds like he was a really great kid. Praying for this family with all my heart. Devastating.

Land the helicopter Mom. Spain and Italy are both far safer than the US. Kids do stupid things sometimes, but they land on their feet and it’s important for their growth. It sounds like your son was fine. Give him room to grow and don’t smother him. You are not doing him any favors!

There’s something different about your kid being so distant and in a place where they may not speak the language and be familiar with the culture. The Europe of today is not the Europe of the past.

I’m the helicopter Mom. Hard agree with you. As someone who has been to Europe multiple times over the decades, it is a much different place than 20-30 years ago, so much more dangerous. But even then it wasn’t safe. I was chased down a back alley by a man with a knife not far from the Spanish steps, barely made it to safety. It’s why I knew to keep a watch on my kid. Even then I was waaay too lax for the first few weeks. He was flying all over Europe on cheap plane tickets, staying in hostels and I had no idea with who. His Barcelona incident was a huge wake up call. Thats why I’m here to give my hard earned advice to other parents so tragedy can hopefully be averted. We were so lucky. But the truth is it can happen even here in the US. It’s important to teach your kid to be vigilant and street smarts and equally as important to keep track of the ones you love. Watching out for their safety is not controlling them. Huge difference.

I personally want to thank you, "helicopter mom" - although I do not think you are being that - you actually seem like "excellent mom" and a really good person for sharing your experience to help others.

Thank you

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My point is that back in the day nobody had phones. And everybody was fine.

No everybody was NOT fine.

+1

Yes, we were. I was, my spouse was, and three of my kids who studied abroad a generation later also were fine.

Everyone was fine and safe... pre-EU and pre-open borders when Europe was like 99% native-born? The tourist hotspots are beyond gone at this point thanks to open borders and soft on crime policies.

Hasn’t the pickpocketing thing been a problem long before the increased immigration?

Yes, when we were studying in Madrid decades ago and traveled by train to Italy one of us was pickpocketed at the station in Barcelona. It's long been a problem.

+1 same for places like Naples, Italy