My friend meant well, but still, how hard is it to go to Google [1], type in a search request [2] and on the first link (!) [3] see that this is an unsubtantiated urban legend or rumor?
On that particular forward, I was the 161^st person to get that. It was forwarded some eight (!) times before my frind got it and forwarded it out to his friends, some of whom, I'm sure, are forwarding it yet still.
Sheesh!
[2] http://www.google.com/search?q=Penny+Brown+missing+child