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Noreen learned that the child sex trafficking organization that took Johnny had direct connections to extreme "higher ups", including the CIA, the military, and politicians in Washington DC. This information was later confirmed by other victims of the same ring. Over the years, with the help of media, friends, and private investigators, Noreen was able to personally meet with these victims who had actually been with Johnny and knew him personally. They were able to give her updated information on his condition, but didn't know where he was. Noreen learned that Johnny and another boy had eventually escaped their captors and were living in hiding, fearing for their lives.

Johnny's Visit in 1997

Noreen never gave up her search for Johnny. She continued to give regular press releases, made public appearances, and engaged in activism on behalf of missing children. Through her efforts, Johnny and other kidnapped victims became the first abducted children to have their pictures placed on milk cartons in hopes of someone coming forward with information on their whereabouts. Many leads came in over the years, but none that led her directly to Johnny.

Early one morning in 1997, not long after Noreen made a television appearance with a special message for Johnny, she was awakened by a knock on her door. She looked through the peephole and saw 2 young men. She stated, "Who is it?" A voice answered, "Mom, it's me…Johnny. Can I come in?" She immediately opened the door and instantly knew this was the son she hadn't seen for 15 years. Their meeting was short-lived. Johnny hadn't come home to stay; he came to ask his mother for help. He gave her a brief account of the last few years. The pieces of the puzzle began to come into place as Noreen finally confirmed what she'd known all along. He was very nervous during their reunion and declared he was still in great danger and needed his mother to help bring his abductors to justice so he wouldn't have to live in fear the rest of his life. Johnny stayed with Noreen for only a few hours, then left before daylight, disappearing into the night to leave his mother with nothing but the secret memory of his visitation.

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Source

https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/The-Tragedy-Of-Johnny-Gosch