(10/31/2008)
10 years. November 3 will make 10 years since the day little Maddie went missing. 10 years. I look back on those years and wonder why Josh hasn't told the REAL reason why he done it. Since Josh has already done the worst thing he could do, why not tell the story? There are a million things in life I have yet to get answered, this is one of the top 5... Why did you do it Josh? WHY? Was it something she saw in your house? Did she not say hello sweet enough? 10 years I still have this pain eating away at me that I can't even explain. It still bothers me that a person at any age could do something like this. It even still bothers me that Jessica and her family are still suffering from this. 118 times I have been to the grave site. Each time is just as hard as the first time. When I'm there, I try to put myself in the shoes of Maddie's family. I just feel like screaming from the pain I feel. I still remember the first day I met the family. Oddly enough, remembering being around the Clifton's, I felt some sort of calmness that I can't explain. I was able to see the anger and sadness in the family's eyes. I could even feel it sometimes. My thoughts aways were for Jessica. 11 years old and just lost her sister. How in the world does a kid at that age cope?!?!? How is she coping now I often wonder. It's been 9 years since I've seen her, and 8 years since I spoke last with Shelia. I've heard that sometimes they review this website... So just in case you do, my heart is still with you guys and so does the memory of Maddie.
Greetings to all reading. Once again, information about the case of Maddie Clifton is coming up. This information I am hearing about really upsets me all the way to my soul. Josh Phillips, a person that was CONVICTED by a jury is getting a hearing to be re-tried. I just have 1 simple question I would like to hear come out in this hearing.... When will Maddie be re-heard so she can walk this Earth again. I will accept Josh being able to walk when Maddie can walk.
Hello to everyone that is reading this. It makes me feel good that after this time that has past since we all came to know Maddie, that everyone still remembers her as if it was yesterday. I can say I know Maddie because of the honor of knowing her family. When I visited the Clifton family, I can still feel the love that family has. Families all across the globe should have this same love that the Clifton family possesses. Keep the faith, and keep the love.... --Wes
A year has past and we are still trying to get over this whole thing. Quite honestly, I seriously doubt we can. I know the Clifton's will never get over it, but it is almost expected that they can't get over it. How can someone get over this sinceless act? Why does it even happen? Why did it happen? 1 year later we still don't know. I bet this time next year, we still will not know. I know one thing, if every kid was raised as good as Maddie and Jessica, the crime of this old world would be brought down to nothing. It was sad a year ago, and it is just as sad today. I guess life will go on no matter what questions stay unanswered. Does anyone else think life sucks sometimes? On the flip side, take a look at what this one 8 year old girl has done. She has brought a full city together. Has brought many families back together, resparked love within the family units. Proved to the Clifton's that even at the worst times of their lives, the family unit is still strong if not stronger. All this from one girl. I've tried all my life to look on the bright side of things no matter how bad the situation is. Maddie's smile, Jessica's Strength, Sheila & Steven's courage and love will live on. No doubt about that. Everyone that is reading this, take time and go to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's Web Site. The URL is http://missingkids.org. Read up on what you can do to help out the other kids in the nation and world. Donate time, money, ideas, whatever it takes. We as parents and concerned people (all the way down to the pre-teens) have to do something about all this sinceless acts that harm our children. Also, send a comment in the support forum for the Clifton's. These comments will be printed out different times of the year for their ongoing scrap book. All 560+ messages have been printed. Thanks to all of you that are helping to keep Maddie's Memory Alive! Thanks to Jessica for giving strength to the world. Thanks to Steven and Sheila for allowing this web site to continue.
Finally, at long last, the case of Joshua Phillips is over. As the healing process continues, we will still remember Maddie Clifton, her memory will remain alive for many many years from now. I hope this web site has helped everyone in this terrible time of crisis. Many people have told me how they love this site. I wish to thank each one of you. Please remember though, this is not MY site. This is Maddie's Web Site. This site was originally set up to help for the search efforts, to relay any new news as it happened in hopes of finding Maddie safe. Unfortunately, Maddie was not found alive. From that moment on, I changed this site over to a dedicated site to keep Maddie's memory alive. It was once told to me that a person is not dead unless the memory is lost. Maddie's memory will live many many years in the future. Steven, Sheila, and Jessica, it has been an honor getting to know you better and able to become another friend of the family. Jessica, I haven't forgotten my promise to teach you how to make a web page.
This entire web site, all messages posted by the public and all pages other pages have been printed out in a book form for the Clifton family. Updates to the site will also be printed and given to them.
During the recent events, I have dedicated this web site to Maddie and her family. As long as OneHop Hosting is alive, so will Maddie's memory. At this time, I would like to express my deepest sorrow for the loss of Maddie to her family and friends and thanks to all who helped on the search efforts.
I have noticed that most of the people that are viewing this web site, were doing so through the site address of http://www.onehop.com and coming in from the link on this page. Although this is ok, I just wanted to clarify that the proper site address is now http://maddieclifton.org as of July 6, 1999 (No longer http://onehop.com/Maddie). Maddie's link will stay on http://www.onehop.com however I encourage you to use the http://maddieclifton.org. OneHop.Com is my business web site and was not meant for people to see while looking for Maddie's Web Site. I am against people trying to get business from other peoples loss. This is unfair and not right.
Maddie's Web Site shall stay up for as long as OneHop Hosting is alive. Feel free to keep passing out her web site to family and friends. Updates to this site will happen as any new information is available.