MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Online community pushes renewed search for missing toddler

Feb 6, 2012, 2:46 PM | Updated: 8:53 pm

An online community hopes renewed pressure and attention will lead to the discovery of the fate of ...

An online community hopes renewed pressure and attention will lead to the discovery of the fate of missing 2-year-old Sky Metalwala.

It wasn’t long after hearing the story of 2-year-old Sky
Metalwala disappearing after his mother claimed he was
left in the car in Bellevue, that JV wanted to help. So
she turned to an online community aimed at helping law
enforcement solve crimes, especially against kids.

She and thousands of others have traded tips and theories
on Websleuths.com in an effort
to find Sky.

She says the community includes experts from all walks of
life with tangible skills in forensic sciences, research
and other professions.

“It was directly as a result of the forum that the time
frame for when Sky actually went missing was narrowed
down,” she says of the volunteer crime fighters who
identified a calendar in some photos of the boy’s mother,
who remains a person of interest, but uncooperative in the
investigation.

JV and several others are also trying to pressure law
enforcement into increasing efforts to force Julia
Biryukova to cooperate with an online petition calling for her
arrest. And she questions why police haven’t arrested
her, even for abuse of her young daughter, who was
emaciated when she was removed from the woman’s custody
following Sky’s disappearance.

From the petition:
“On the very same day he went missing, she got a lawyer
and has since, not cooperated with the police’s request.
And (she) is not even looking for her child.”

They have never once went to the media and plead for his
return, Julia and her brother, Stan, both have active
Facebook accounts that they still use and don’t even have
his missing picture up. Julia’s account has one picture of
Sky, but there are tons (sic) of her daughter who she
favored,” reads the petition.

JV hopes the renewed pressure ultimately leads to
Biryukova’s arrest.

“Then she could be in jail where hopefully, she is less
comfortable. She might crack, she might talk, we might
figure out where this little boy is.”

In the meantime, she says she’s most concerned with
keeping Sky’s case front and center.

“We want to make sure that Sky’s name is still in the
news. He’s important to us even if he’s not important to
his mother.”

MyNorthwest News

This NOAA satellite image shows the magnitude of the storm moving inland from the Pacific Ocean. (P...

Ted Buehner, KIRO Newsradio Meteorologist

What to expect as Western Washington’s first big fall storm arrives Saturday night

The fall season’s first strong weather system will sweep through Western Washington tonight, bringing strong winds and rain.

6 hours ago

Pierce County man sentenced child sex crimes...

Regan Gallo-Fenz

Pierce County man sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for child sex crimes

A Pierce County man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after attempting to arrange the sexual abuse of children and producing child sexual abuse material, federal prosecutors announced.

14 hours ago

home listings...

Frank Lenzi

Home listings jump more than 25%: Is it a buyer’s market?

If you’re thinking about buying a house, now might be a good time: Home listings have risen, and pending sales have declined.

1 day ago

Grays Harbor...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Grays Harbor deputies seek information about deadly hit-and-run near Satsop

The Grays Harbor County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help after a 53-year-old man was found dead along a road near Satsop last week.

1 day ago

first responders...

Luke Duecy

Renton firefighter shot while responding to call highlights dangers facing first responders

A Renton firefighter was shot. The shooting is another example of the dangers first responders face while trying to help people in crisis.

1 day ago

Macklemore (3)...

Julia Dallas

Macklemore says Climate Pledge Arena among venues that rejected his ‘Free Palestine Tour’

Macklemore said several venues, including Climate Pledge Arena, have rejected his efforts to bring his “Free Palestine Tour” to the U.S.

1 day ago

Online community pushes renewed search for missing toddler