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Polly Klaas, at the age of 12, resided with her mother and younger sister Annie in Petaluma, California, a low crime town which is forty miles from San Francisco, after her mother got separated from her stepfather. They moved to start anew unaware of the repulsive fate that Polly would face. It was October when it happened.

October 1, 1993—Polly invited friends over to have a slumber party. It was at that time that a man was spotted on the sidewalks in front of Polly’s home. But none dare to question the man thinking that he was but someone who was on a nightly stroll. However, as Polly opened the door to her bedroom to get her friends’ sleeping bags, she was surprised by the said thickly man who pointed her with a knife.  The said man tied Polly and her friends up. He then took Polly as he ordered her friends to count up to a thousand. Over the next two months, endless search for the missing girl was made not only by her family but also by people who felt sorry for the missing girl. The kidnapper was later identified as Richard Allen Davis.

Davis was already a wanted man from his last parole violation. His criminal records show his numerous arrests. During the 1960’s he was recorded to have been arrested four times, his first assault was when he was arrested for burglary at the age of 12, in Chowchilla. Since then he had been time and again arrested either due to an assault or violations. And by the time he had kidnapped Polly Klaas, his criminal records showed him once again as wanted man for the California Highway had already issued an all points bulletin meaning that any police officer that might encounter Davis should arrest him. It was on November 30 when the police finally arrested Davis as the arresting officer recognized his face from the sketches. It was also when they found his fingerprints in Polly’s room that confirmed him as her kidnapper. Four days later, he led the police to where he had kept Polly’s body, decaying for two months. Richard Davis was sentenced to death.

After Polly’s death, her father, Marc Klaas, founded the Klaas Kids Foundation making him a child’s advocate helping parents’ with children missing or kidnapped. Another was the heartwarming tribute of actress Winona Ryder as she produced Little Women—a story about the March sisters written by Louisa May Alcott. It was this book that Polly was very fond of that when Ryder saw it on Polly’s shelf she decided to make it into a movie as a tribute.

Polly Klaas’ tragic story is but one of the many kidnapped and murder case that shook the whole nation.  She is but one of the many kidnapped cases.  

This composition aims to inform readers on the importance of searching the criminal records of an individual for us to be sure to whom to be with. For more information about searching criminal records, check out BackgroundPI.com

There are the typical “dream” vacations like Hawaii, Orlando, Florida, London, and Paris. But what about all the unbelievable destinations you may not have even heard about? Here are a select few of them. 1. Cinque Terre, Italy is a series of villages clinging to a remote stretch of the Riviera coastline. The quaintness of the towns and the area’s natural beauty is forever preserved because Cinque Terre has been declared a national park. Hikers love to walk trails that tower above the Mediterranean and pass close by the native villages. Riomaggiore takes you through a tunnel to a tangle of colorful homes and an uncrowded beach. Corniglia sits smugly upon a hilltop from which you can swoon at the view. Vernazza is a rugged place full of vineyard terraces for the best wine in the region, all overseen by a mysterious ruined castle. Monterosso al Mare has a sandy beach where you can swim if you really want to. Then it’s back to Vernazza for a delicious dinner of the freshest seafood. This is beautiful, authentic Italy-the one you dreamed of experiencing. 2. Four Seasons Tented Camp, Thailand: The Golden Triangle is comprised of bamboo forests where Thailand, Burma, and Laos meet. This is where you can find Four Seasons, the ultimate jungle luxury-an eclectic mix of asian rustic and modern taste. Fifteen elevated tented accommodations are reminiscent of 19th century adventure expeditions, even down to the hand-hammered copper bathtubs. An open-air thatched roof pavilion by the riverbank offers Thai, Laotian, Burmese, and western cuisine. During the day, one can watch elephant training or go on one of the fascinating excursions. If you need pampering, go to the spa for rejuvenating treatments for your body and spirit. At night, torches burn by the tents as travelers gaze out at a magnificent sunset and find perfect serenity. 3. Marrakech, Morocco: And now for something completely different! When you step into Marrakech you will think you have just stepped into a Middle Eastern movie set. Picture scores of market stalls along an endless labyrinth— snake charmers, monkeys, musicians, dancers and storytellers performing to the sound of weird music and drum beat. Visit the Majorelle Gardens, visit actual Berber villages, see the Dar Si Said Museum, or tour the ornate El Bahia palace. If you want more action, go biking, Hot Air Ballooning, or White Water Rafting. The government ensures that all food stalls offer fresh, top quality food so not to worry. Buy grilled sausages on Moroccan bread, beef stew, harira soup, riifa (Moroccan pancake) and the delicious spicy tea. For posh surroundings, you can eat at the La Makarechi. Otherwise, enjoy repasts at Café Agrana, Café Alhamra, or Chez El Bahia. Foods not to miss are pastille (sweet, savory meat pie), Kefta (superb ground beef and egg), tagine (chicken/olive, prune/almond, etc.), or a spicy dessert. There’s a wide span of lodgings, from modern western hotels to native riads. Equity Point Marrakech is a beautiful hostel to check out in the best section of the city. The place has an amazing rooftop from which to view the town. There are doubles, singles, and dorms available. Rooms have full bathrooms, incredible furniture, mezzanines, cushions, etc. There’s also a restaurant attached serving excellent Moroccan food. If you have a taste for the exotic, Marrakech is for you. 4. St. Vincent, the Grenadines: I know. You’ve probably never heard of the Grenadines. That’s for the best. They are still fresh and unspoiled. It’s a small group of islands between Puerto Rico and the Venezuelan coast. What do these islands offer? Only natural waterfalls where you can swim, black sand beaches, majestic volcanoes, botanical gardens, fortification ruins, Romanesque and Gothic Christian sites, spectacular diving, and serene resorts with every amenity. These are only the perfect islands for you. 5. Whitefish, Montana: Whitefish is a small town in a huge state. But this small town stands near the entrance of one of the most remarkable state parks in the U.S., Glacier National Park. We can heartily recommend two lodging places, depending on your tastes: If you don’t mind country rustic and a distant train whistle, then the Grouse Mountain Lodge is your pick. It has a gigantic fireplace, antler chandeliers, and stuffed bears in the lobby. On the other hand, if you like peace and complete privacy, you might opt for the North Forty Resort with its well-equipped cabins where you can sit on your porch and cook out every night if you want. Some other great places to eat are the award-winning Tupelo Grille, the Red Caboose (breakfast), Mackenzies (pizza), and the Craggy Range (buffalo burgers).There are a thousand things to do, including the national park which encompasses over 1 million acres, 300 lakes, 50 active glaciers, the longest designated wild river system in the U.S., and hundreds of animal species including the wild mountain goat. Do I really have to list all that you can see or do? I think you can figure it out. 6. Bernese Oberland, Switzerland: In the famously beautiful nation of Switzerland, the Oberland could be called the crown jewel. On a comfortable summer day, you will wonder how you can walk through a field of flowers, step over jagged rocks, view snow-studded peaks above you, while lakes just below the peaks are not frozen solid. Gazing down from a mountain top you glimpse bluffs boasting over 70 waterfalls, and then you’re awestruck with panoramic Lauterbrunnen Valley. Even skiers who’ve seen a hundred similar sites agree it’s the most breathtaking valley in Europe. The area offers both great hiking and fast skiing—along with mountain-biking, rock climbing, swimming, golf, horseback riding, tennis, sailing and windsurfing. Bed down in a cozy chalet in Interlaken, Grindelwald, Gstaad, or Thun. 7. Finger Lakes, New York: We’re talking about eleven slender lakes, 25 state parks, 1,063 waterfalls, strings of river gorges, a national wildlife refuge, and acres and acres of wine vineyards. In the midst of this wondrous area, the John Treman State Park comes highly recommended. Two great restaurants are the Taughannock Farms Inn and Port’s Café. Three bed & breakfast inns that folks rave about are: South Glenora Tree Farm, Wagener Estate, and Elmira’s Painted Lady. Between the hiking, the water sports, festivals, cultural events, and the wine-tasting, one does not run out of things to do. 8. Quebec City, Canada: Calling this city the “poor man’s Paris” is very unfair. It’s cobblestone streets and chateau-style clifftop architecture is charming, expenses are lower than in Paris, and it offers attractive options for either summer or winter. Between July 4-14 the International Summer Festival offers streetside improvisational theater and some of the best jazz, folk, and rock performances you will ever hear. And beginning in the middle of January and into February, the city offers Carnival de Quebec. Here you will find the Calgary Stampede flapjack breakfast, outdoor dance parties, ice fishing, a single- and double-harness sleigh race, dog agility competition obstacle course, snow slides, downhill skiing, an ice tower, snow rafting, and a snow sculpture contest. (While you’re in the city, you really can’t afford to miss the Laurentides Wildlife Park). And I’ll bet you thought the only thing to do in Canada was fish. Wrong. I’ll bet you can’t decide which of these destinations you most want to visit. Well, why not rank them and try to go to everyone during your lifetime.

Salzburg is one of Europe’s most popular cities. Although relatively small, (population around 150,000) it has an abundance of sight-seeing attractions and provides tourists with an inspirational combination of mountain views and historic monuments.

The city of Salzburg is located in the Salzburg region of Austria close to the border with Bavaria, (Germany). Its name means “Salt Castle” referring to the deposits of salt in the area that made the city wealthy as a centre of the medieval salt trade and its beautiful white castle.

Salzburg is an incredibly beautiful city that has many outstanding examples of both Romanesque and Baroque architecture. Everywhere you look you will see reminders that this city was birthplace of Mozart. His memory is preserved and celebrated in several museums and through regular musical events that take place in the city.

The following, top ten Salzburg travel tips are for things to see and do within the city itself. All of them can be easily reached without requiring any transport

1. Above all else, do not miss visiting the Salzburg Castle

Dominating the city, this magnificent, white, fairy-tale, castle is Europe’s best preserved and largest intact medieval fortress. It is the kind of place you want to look at from every possible angle. Walking in the narrow streets of the old town, you turn each corner hoping to be provided with yet another view of the majestic building sitting at the top of the overlooking Monchsberg rock. When you are walking the hills opposite the Monchsberg, you are treated to views of the castle across the valley (see tip 10 below). When you are walking around the Monchsberg itself you constantly look up at the mighty fortress walls, towering above you. From here and from the castle ramparts you are provided with spectacular views over the city and the surrounding countryside below. Inside the castle, the superbly organised tours reveal many fascinating features and historical facts from its origins in 1077 right through to the twentieth century wars.

2. The Salzburg Dom – the city’s cathedral

The cathedral is another great place to soak up the history of Salzburg. It was opened in 1628 on the site of earlier cathedrals, the earliest of which was built in 767.

3. St Peters Abbey

This Benedictine monastery is the oldest active monastery in Austria, dating back to 696 AD. It is located in oldest quarter of Salzburg and will provide many fascinating insights into the history of the city.

4. Getreidegasse – Salzburg’s medieval shopping precinct

Salzburg’s most fashionable shops can be found in Getreidegasse, a beautiful, medieval alley, almost a mile long, running the length of the old town. Even if some of the shops are overpriced, just strolling along the street is an experience not to be missed.

5. Mozartplatz – Mozart Square

This is the heart of the city and is dominated by a statue of the great composer. The statue is considered to bear only a poor resemblance to Mozart and reveals a glaring historical error inasmuch as it portrays him holding a pencil; pencils were not invented until at least twenty years after the time of Mozart’s death in 1791.

6. Mozart Birthplace

The house where Mozart was born in 1756 has been converted into a not-to-be-missed museum.

7. Mozart’s Residence

Not to be confused with the composers’ birthplace, this wonderful museum is to be found in the new town and is the house where the Mozart family lived between 1773 and 1780.

8. Residenzplatz and Residenz

The Residenzplatz is Salzburg’s largest square. It houses the fifty foot high, Residenzplatz Fountain, probably the most beautiful baroque fountain that exists outside of Italy. The Residenz itself was the residence of Salzburg’s Prince-Archbishops and is open all day for yet another not-to-be-missed place to visit.

9. Mirabell Gardens

The Mirabell Gardens is the place where the children in the Sound of Music danced around the statue of Pegasus singing “Do Re Mi”. The gardens belong to the Mirabell Palace that was built by an Archbishop in 1606 as a residence for his mistress and children! Today it is the office of the Mayor of Salzburg but parts of it are open to tourists.

10. Kauzinerberg

This beautiful hill reaches a height of 2087 feet but there is no need to walk all the way to the top in order to enjoy stunning views of Salzburg in the valley below. The beginning of any walk will take you past the six Stations of the Cross that were built in the early 18th century. The Capuchin monastery which is also on the lower slopes is most definitely worth visiting.