Fowler was finally able to declare her son missing on Nov.13, 1995, but said she still didn’t receive any help from the police department.

"For four years I searched on my own," she said. "I called the police department on a weekly basis, handed out fliers, spoke to newspapers, and went to every hospital looking for all the John Does. My brother, being a correction officer, had access to police department’s morgue pictures, but no matches were ever found."

Fowler finally got a break on September 7 1999, when she met with police at One Police Plaza who informed her that her son’s Death Certificate was found.

According to investigators, on Oct. 24, 1995, a body was pulled out from the East Harlem River.

Within days the FBI, with fingerprints and dental records, had identified the body as the final remains of Dottin.

"My son’s body was found six days after he disappeared, but since I was unable to declare him missing until Nov. 13, the police department did not receive information of the bodies found before that date. If they were able to collect information after the 19th, like I wanted to, I would not have wasted four years looking for my son.

"The information was out there since Oct. 24 of 1995. The FBI had already identified my son and had placed him in the city’s morgue for the first four months that he was missing, from Oct. 1995 to Feb. 1996," Fowler said. "But all the while the police department had refused to provide me with any information regarding my missing son or follow up on FBI reports because of their policy."

On Feb. 13 1996, Dottin’s body was taken from New York City’s Medical Examiners Office and buried in a mass grave for unidentified persons, which is located on Harts Island — 16 miles away from City Island off the coast of the Bronx.

"My son shared a head stone with 150 different people for four years. There are approximately 1,500 to 2,000 John /Jane Does buried each year in Potter’s Field," she explained. "I believe that not all these bodies are unidentified, but instead are unclaimed. Family’s are being denied vital information that can be used to find their loved ones in our city morgues and in Potters Field."

In response to her ordeal, Fowler has developed the Lamont Dottin Foundation, a service dedicated to helping parents find their missing family members who have not been declared missing.

"If I had the FBI’s information, I would have been able to find my son’s body," Fowler said. "I want to take that information and compile it with Potters Field, which keeps a written record of all who are buried, and make it computerized. Every time a body is received, that information will be collected, downloaded into a database, and available for everyone to see."

• Every child has the right to say "no" to unwanted touch.

• Touching, kissing, hugging someone and having someone return that affection is a personal choice. But, if a parent/guardian, grandparent, relative, friend, babysitter, stranger, etc., wants to touch the child’s "private areas" (parts of the body that a bathing suit or underwear cover), they need to understand that they should say "no," get away, tell an adult they can trust.

• Talk to their parent/guardian, trusted adult, school guidance counselor, etc. Even if they are embarrassed or ashamed about a situation or behavior that makes them feel uncomfortable. They should not let anyone (family, friends, strangers) convince you to keep it "secret."

• On any class trip or family outing stay with their group, don’t wander off alone. Have a prearranged meeting area to wait for the family/group in case they get separated. Choose a location where there are other people so that they are not alone until they are found.

• Children must know to lock doors/windows and never indicate to anyone that they are home alone. They shouldn’t open the door to anyone they are not expecting. If someone telephones asking for their parents/guardian, they should know to say they can’t come to the phone. Take a message or have them call back.

• Kids must enter a public rest room with caution. It is best to have someone accompany.

• Shirts, blouses, outer clothing, jewelry, etc., should not show their name because someone they have not met before might trick they into believing she/he knows them by calling your name.

• They must learn always tell their parent/guardian or responsible adult where they are going, with whom they will be and when they will return.

• Kids should be familiarized with their neighborhood. Look for places they can go to if they should need immediate help (store, gas station, a friend’s home, police/fire station, etc.).

• Every time they are tempted to take "shortcuts," walk through deserted areas, alleyways, vacant lots, or go into an abandoned building, etc., they must learn to think about the danger involved and walk and play in open areas where they can see around you and be seen by other people.