Homepage / Connecticut News
E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters
Related To Story

Parents To Danielle: 'We Love You'

15-Year-Old Missing For Almost One Year

POSTED: 5:05 pm EDT June 7, 2007
UPDATED: 8:01 pm EDT June 7, 2007

The parents of a missing girl spoke out for the first time on Thursday.

Bloomfield police held a press conference at Town Hall shortly after 4 p.m. to provide an update in the case.

Police arrested three adults on Wednesday when they found Danielle Erica Cramer locked in a small, hidden room in a West Hartford House. Police executed search warrants at 258 Newington Road when they found the 15-year-old girl who disappeared on June 14, 2006.

The parents, Jennifer and Jamie Hesse, who police said investigators are not considering as suspects in Danielle's disappearance, shared the podium with police at the beginning of the press conference before leaving to see their daughter.

"There have been no allegations that the parents have sexually abused their children," Bloomfield police Capt. Jeffrey Blatter said. "There was an allegation that a family friend may have abused the victim, may have threatened the victim over a year ago, but there was insufficient evidence to support it as accurate. There are no facts that she was abused at home."

Jennifer Hesse, who was able to see Danielle briefly on Wednesday night, said she was at work when she received the call from police that officers located her daughter.

"I was devastated at just the fact that the police were calling, I was overwhelmed," she said. "I was very sad that I wasn't able to go and see her right away. It took many, many long hours of waiting patiently."

An attorney representing Danielle's parents, Marc Needelman, said they found strength and inspiration in faith throughout her disappearance.

"Jennifer and Jamie Hesse are grateful for Danielle's return, that is really what's important to them, everything else is superfluous," Needelman said. "Danielle is back, she appears safe, she appears sound, happy and looking forward to being with her family."

"Every parent's nightmare was mine. Every parent has nightmares about it, I was having them more fluently. I could never describe the horror of losing a child and having to maintain a family at the same time and continuing to go on," Jennifer Hesse said.

When asked what they would say to Danielle, the girl's stepfather, Jamie Hesse, stepped over to the podium and said: "We love you and we miss you very much and we hope you come home soon."

"We love Danielle, she knows we love her. I've told her I never want to let her go again and I have no intentions of letting her go. She's my girl and I love my girl so much," Jennifer Hesse said. "I'm very happy that she's home and not every parent gets this opportunity to get a happy ending, and if it takes a couple more months to make that happen, it will happen because we will work even harder than we have already worked to get that done."

"The family has been separated for a year. If it takes a few more days to help her adjust and ease her back into the household, it's time well-spent. The trauma's been significant, and clearly, we're getting the help of professionals to make it a little less traumatic and a little easier to reintergrate," Needelman said.

Needelman expressed thanks from to police, saying: "The family is most appreciative to the Bloomfield Police Department, who have throughout the year not given up, not gone on to other things and showed continued concern, drive and dedication to resolving the disappearance of this child."

Click here to e-mail news tips to Eyewitness News, or dial: 860-244-1700.
Refresh WFSB.com often and Channel 3 Eyewitness News for the latest news updates.


Advertise On WFSB

Advertise with WFSB-TV-DT and WFSB.com
Reach your best potential customers by advertising on the No. 1-rated television station in the Hartford/New Haven market. More


Sponsored Links


MONDAY on Better: We meet a man who can carve whatever you want with a chainsaw -- watching him work is just as amazing as the sculptures he creates.
more
Links We Like
Sponsored Content
Learn about the most common cancers that could affect you and what you can do to prevent them. More

If you’re starting to feel like your home needs a little warmth, try these helpful hints to make your living space just a little more cozy. More

If you’re feeling like you’re not doing what you’re supposed to, take this quiz and take control of your working destiny. More

The signs of Cancer can sometimes be very subtle. Here's a guide to help you recognize them early. More

Like online video? Then you'll love Now See This.

CBS Shows Online




Hartford Magazine
Meriden Record-Journal
AllGreen.com