CNN logo Navigation Infoseek/Big Yellow Pathfinder/Warner Bros Main banner Price Waterhouse rule DOOR-TO-DOOR SCHOOL SALES DEBATED AFTER BOY'S SLAYING Werner October 1, 1997 Web posted at: 10:02 p.m. EDT (0202 GMT) TOMS RIVER, New Jersey (CNN) -- During the school year, it's a scene that takes place across the United States -- children selling merchandise door-to-door, raising money to benefit their schools or activity groups. But now, the rape and murder of an 11-year-old New Jersey boy who tragically knocked on the wrong door has brought renewed attention to the issue of whether door-to-door sales should be discouraged, or even outlawed. Prosecutors say Edward Werner was attacked and murdered by a 15-year-old boy who opened the door at a house in Toms River. Edward hoped to win a walkie talkie by selling the most merchandise in a contest. Authorities say they know of no other connection between the victim and the teen who has been charged -- that it was a "chance encounter" brought about by Edward's door-to-door selling in what a prosecutor describes as a "very safe" neighborhood. The teen-ager was charged Wednesday with murder and aggravated sexual assault. Authorities did not release his name because he is a juvenile. Raising money for the PTA Schools and non-profit groups pull down an estimated $2 billion a year from product sales, and no state has a law restricting door-to-door fund-raising sales by school children. But in the wake of Edward's slaying, a New Jersey legislator has suggested a ban. Neighborhood Ironically, Edward was raising money for the PTA -- though the national Parent Teacher Association has a policy discouraging students from selling merchandise door-to-door. The sales kits provided to the students warned them to sell only to "family, friends and neighbors with whom you are familiar." The Association of Fund Raisers and Direct Sellers, a trade group representing about half of the estimated 1,500 companies that deal with school and youth groups, has also adopted a policy saying it does not endorse door-to-door sales. Instead, the association suggests that children sell to relatives, friends or neighbors they know, while having parents sell to their co-workers, according to Russell Lemieux, the association's executive director. "That's really the bulk of sales in fund raising," Lemieux said. "The instance of a child going door-to-door is quite rare." However, children are often offered incentives that encourage them to sell as much as they can -- incentives which could have a tendency to encourage, rather than discourage, door-to-door sales. "Our members say incentives ... make a big difference," Lemieux said. Robbery thought the motive When he was last seen, Edward had about $200 on him, and police say he had been showing that money to friends. Robbery is believed to have been a motive in his murder, but no robbery charge has been filed. In the wake of the tragedy Edward's school district has banned door-to-door sales, as green ribbons have begun to appear in his memory. Correspondent Christine Negroni contributed to this report. _________________________________________________________________ Infoseek search ____________________ ____ ____ _________________________________________________________________ rule Message Boards Sound off on our message boards You said it... [INLINE] Price Waterhouse rule To the top © 1997 Cable News Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you.