Erica Pratt By: Alex Caraulia

By: Alex Caraulia
(Author’s Note: This is a piece on the character Erica Pratt in the story, Vanished True Tails of the Missing. This is about what happened to her and how she got out alive.)

Erica Pratt is a playful young second-grader that lives in Philadelphia. One thing you might not realize about her though is her unconditional bravery. Some might say she could fight a bull and live! Maybe she should become a fighter in the famous Roman Colosseum. On July 22, 2002, young Erica was walking with her sister on the sidewalk. All of a sudden, Erica was abducted by two men right in front of her sister’s eyes. As the kidnappers, Edward Johnson and James Burns, drove away the police were immediately informed of this very tragic incident.

After three days of being duct-taped to a mattress that was locked in a dark basement, Erica bit through the tape to escape. She navigates her way through the house to find a window to scream for help. The wind carried her shout through the woods and it acts as a guide to her safety. Luckily, help isn’t far off because two teens come to help her out. Her bravery lucked out for her and she never gave up. She wasn’t someone who just lay there helplessly; like a building waiting to be demolished into rubble. She took action and helped herself to get the help that she needed.