On November 22nd, Chris Lang was talking to his girlfriend, 22-year-old North Dakota college student Dru Sjodin on her cell phone as she was leaving work. During the conversation, he heard her say, "Oh my God!" just before her phone went dead. That was 11 days ago - she has been missing ever since.

Of all the crimes that people could become unfortunate victims of, this one is by far the most heinous - and the worst kind for the victim's loved ones. Besides the horror of the crime itself - it is the mystery of not knowing where Dru is - or if she is even still alive - that has to be tearing her family and her loved ones apart. As I watched interviews with her mother, brother, roommate and friends on the news over the last few days - I cringed as they tried desperately to keep their emotions in check as they talked about how good of a person she is - and when they would talk to the camera and tell Dru to stay strong and that they loved her very much.

As hundreds of volunteers search desperately for Dru, police on Monday arrested 50-year-old Alfonso Rodriguez, Jr. - a convicted "Level-3" rapist who police believe was in the parking lot of the Columbia Mall where Dru went missing at the time of her abduction. Rodriguez, who has a long history of sexual crimes, including a charge of aggravated rape in 1975, to which he pled guilty, was, of course - just released from prison in May of this year after serving 23 years for the attempted abduction of a woman in 1979 whom he stabbed during the crime.

Of all the stories that come across the newswire, I always follow stories of sexual abduction with a very close eye. My absolute worst fear would be having a loved one fall victim to one of these sexual monsters that prey on innocent women. What happened to Dru, and what happened to other victims of this type of crime - like Elizabeth Smart - are by far something that should be immediately punishable by death. Sexual crimes are certainly the most personal of offenses - and those that commit them can never be rehabilitated - and obviously do not belong in society. Just the fact that Rodriguez was released in May and is now under arrest for the exact same crime not even six months later is proof of that. But while it is good news that police have Rodriguez in custody - they still do not have Dru.

Since his arrest, Rodriguez has not cooperated with police and has not given any indication of where Dru may be. In fact, at an extradition hearing today, the only words this lowlife said during the hearing was that he understood the proceeding. And as each day passes that this monster sits in a jail cell, keeping his mouth shut as to the whereabouts of Dru, the chances of finding her safe and in good condition grow more and more thin.

The good news is that as I write this column - there are almost a thousand volunteers on foot and on all-terrain vehicles searching the Grand Forks area and the snowy fields of northwest Minnesota in an effort to find her. There is also a $140,000 reward for information leading to the location of Dru. Her family and friends have also constructed a website, www.finddru.com, that contains printable flyers, ways to help find her - and information on what a great person she is.

I will pray every night that Dru Sjodin is found safe very soon. I will also pray that the scum that did this to her is given nothing but a very quick death sentence. How I long for the day when our lawmakers will finally see that convicted sex offenders that are released back into the community will do nothing to society but tear apart another family. While no good can come out of this terrible atrocity - I hope it sends a message that sex offenders should only get one strike before they're out.

If you have any information on the location of Dru Sjodin, or on the circumstances surrounding her abduction, please call the Grand Forks Police Department at (701) 787-8000, the Tip Line at (701) 780-8213, or e-mail tips@finddru.com.

And Dru, stay strong my dear and know that there are hundreds of people that miss you very much, thousands of people looking for you - and millions more that never met you - but are praying for you and long for the day when you are found.