Johnny Gosch - National Interest

National Interest

Johnny Gosch quickly became a poster boy for missing children across the Nation. Gosch's disappearance became something of a cautionary tale to midwestern youth, Johnny Gosch jokes swept the Nation's schoolyards, and dollar bills began turning up with "Help me! - Johnny Gosch" scrawled across them.

The case generated national interest as Noreen Gosch became increasingly vocal about the inadequacy of law enforcement's investigation of missing children cases. She established the Johnny Gosch Foundation in 1982, through which she visited schools and spoke at seminars about the modus operandi of sexual predators. She lobbied for "The Johnny Gosch Bill", state legislation which would mandate an immediate police response to reports of missing children. The bill became law in Iowa in 1984, and similar or identical laws were later passed in Missouri and seven other states.

In August 1984, Ms. Gosch testified in Senate hearings on organized crime, speaking about "organized pedophilia" and its alleged role in her son's abduction. She began receiving death threats. Ms. Gosch also testified before the U.S. Department of Justice, which provided $10M to establish the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Ms. Gosch was invited to the White House by President Ronald Reagan for the dedication ceremony.