Erica Pratt
Encyclopedia
Erica Pratt was an American
kidnapping
victim. She was abducted on July 22, 2002 from a Philadelphia sidewalk. There was one witness present, a 6 year old child named Rani Byrd. Rani tried to help Erica but was pushed to the ground before two men pulled off. When Erica's grandmother called for Erica and her sister, a crying Rani stated that Erica had been kidnapped, but her sister was around the corner. Erica's abductors bound her hands and feet and held her captive in a vacant house until she was able to free herself by gnawing at the tape on her wrists and then smashing a window, a day after the kidnapping. Both Pratt's bravery and the media's handling of the situation attracted considerable attention.
leadership. She was named Time
's Person of the Week "as a reminder that not all abductions end in tears". In May 2003, United States Attorney General
John Ashcroft
presented her with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
's National Courage Award "for her unyielding persistence and boldness."
In a year that had already seen several other high-profile kidnappings, including Danielle Van Dam, Samantha Runnion
and Elizabeth Smart, Pratt's story caused several media outlets to consider whether these crimes were actually becoming more commonplace, concluding that reporting was distorting perceptions of their frequency. This case, especially in comparison to those earlier in the year, led to suggestions that the media was selectively reporting about victims on the basis of racial or social class grounds, a claim sometimes generalized as missing white woman syndrome
. Salon
writer Margot Magowan also suggested the non-sexual nature of the Pratt kidnapping contributed to the media's attention. "If raped women were granted the same status as Erica Pratt," she wrote, "there would be no reflex to make them disappear."
money from Pratt's grandmother. Johnson pleaded guilty in May 2003 while Burns was convicted a month later.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
kidnapping
Kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...
victim. She was abducted on July 22, 2002 from a Philadelphia sidewalk. There was one witness present, a 6 year old child named Rani Byrd. Rani tried to help Erica but was pushed to the ground before two men pulled off. When Erica's grandmother called for Erica and her sister, a crying Rani stated that Erica had been kidnapped, but her sister was around the corner. Erica's abductors bound her hands and feet and held her captive in a vacant house until she was able to free herself by gnawing at the tape on her wrists and then smashing a window, a day after the kidnapping. Both Pratt's bravery and the media's handling of the situation attracted considerable attention.
Reaction and recognition
Philadelphia's police inspector William Colarulo commented on Pratt's escape from captivity, stating, "I have twenty-one years in the Police Department, and I have never seen this kind of heroic act of bravery committed by a seven-year-old." Her problem-solving and actions, including her cries for help, have been cited as lessons for others and as an inspiration for African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
leadership. She was named Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
's Person of the Week "as a reminder that not all abductions end in tears". In May 2003, United States Attorney General
United States Attorney General
The United States Attorney General is the head of the United States Department of Justice concerned with legal affairs and is the chief law enforcement officer of the United States government. The attorney general is considered to be the chief lawyer of the U.S. government...
John Ashcroft
John Ashcroft
John David Ashcroft is a United States politician who served as the 79th United States Attorney General, from 2001 until 2005, appointed by President George W. Bush. Ashcroft previously served as the 50th Governor of Missouri and a U.S...
presented her with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is a private, non-profit organization established in 1984 by the United States Congress.-Establishment and overview:...
's National Courage Award "for her unyielding persistence and boldness."
In a year that had already seen several other high-profile kidnappings, including Danielle Van Dam, Samantha Runnion
Samantha Runnion
Samantha Bree Runnion was an American murder victim. She was born in Massachusetts and was a resident of Stanton, California.-Kidnapping and murder:...
and Elizabeth Smart, Pratt's story caused several media outlets to consider whether these crimes were actually becoming more commonplace, concluding that reporting was distorting perceptions of their frequency. This case, especially in comparison to those earlier in the year, led to suggestions that the media was selectively reporting about victims on the basis of racial or social class grounds, a claim sometimes generalized as missing white woman syndrome
Missing white woman syndrome
Missing white woman syndrome or missing pretty girl syndrome is a term used by some media and social critics to describe the seemingly disproportionate degree of coverage in television, radio, newspaper and magazine reporting of a misfortune, most often a missing person case, involving a young,...
. Salon
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
writer Margot Magowan also suggested the non-sexual nature of the Pratt kidnapping contributed to the media's attention. "If raped women were granted the same status as Erica Pratt," she wrote, "there would be no reflex to make them disappear."
Kidnappers
Edward Johnson, who performed the physical kidnapping, and James Burns, the getaway driver, were arrested three days after the kidnapping, which they had committed in an effort to collect ransomRansom
Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved.In an early German law, a similar concept was called bad influence...
money from Pratt's grandmother. Johnson pleaded guilty in May 2003 while Burns was convicted a month later.