In Memory of Malinda
The beautiful young girl you see in this picture is my daughter Malind Thank you. Phil Ellenbecker For Other Memorial pages from people who have lost family members while selling door-to-door, please visit 
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She was killed in a devastating van crash on March 25, 1999 while traveling with a magazine sales crew. There were a total of 14 kids in the van when it's driver tried to switch seats while speeding down Interstate 90 near Janesville Wisconsin at over 80 mph. The van flipped over twice and killed 7 of the 14 passengers. Five of the other passengers suffered massive physical injuries, but lived. My daughter Malinda died instantly from a massive skull fracture. Since then the driver has been convicted on 7 counts of vehicular homicide and sentenced to 7 years in prison. But the magazine sales companies that he worked for have continued to operate. The Wisconsin Attorney General's office (James Doyle and staff) has since filed criminal and civil charges against the magazine sales company. Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin has introduced legislation (Bill # S.1989) which if passed will introduce new laws to protect magazine sales crew employee's from the devastating tragedies that for well over two decades have plagued this questionable industry. Many of the people that run these magazine crews are violent, being physically and verbally abusive to their workers. Many of the children have been enticed by false promises of predatory magazine sales crews. With only their own greed in mind the crew chiefs pay little attention to their worker's well-being and safety. The kids are manipulated and lied to from the very beginning. Promised large sums of money, adventure, and a chance to see the world they would sign up, not knowing what harsh realities lie ahead. Many of these children never came home.
04/25/00
For additional information regarding this horrific tragedy and links to more news stories and Senator Herb Kohl's Bill please view the following WEB sites: Wisconsin Department Of Justice: Senator Kohl's Bill Number s.1989:
