Law Enforcement: Reported Abduction 'Credible;' Identity of Boy Unknown

A team of some 60-law enforcement professionals from the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, the Virginia State Police and the FBI are continuing their search for a missing boy who a witness said was pulled against his will into a van Thursday.

Capt. Jeff Pearce of the Sheriff’s Office told a press conference Friday morning the case is a top priority even though the victim has not been identified.

“We all realize this is somewhat of an anomaly, where we thus far don’t have the child identified and don’t have any reports from parents that a child is missing,” Pearce said. He said the information garnered from the 9-1-1 call, witness interviews and neighborhood canvassing is too credible to ignore. 

“We’re going to error on the side of caution until we’re able to put this to rest,” Pearce said.  “Whether the child is truly abducted, or if it was a parental custody issue, or if it was a someone simply rounding up a child who was misbehaving.” 

At 1:40 p.m. Thursday, the Spotsylvania County 911 center received a call from a witness reporting an abduction in progress at Holleybrooke Drive in the county. The witness reported the boy was forced, kicking and screaming, into a van.

It’s possible the parents do not yet know the child is missing because it is a holiday weekend, Pearce said.  He gave the example of a child saying he was going to spend the night at a friend’s home: The parents think the child is at the friend’s house while those at the friend’s house may think the child decided not to come after all, Pearce explained.

Pearce said the description of the vehicle is crucial in identifying the people involved.  

“Someone knows who owns that vehicle,” he said. The vehicle was seen driving in the neighborhood several times in the last week by various residents, Pearce said. 

The boy was described as white, slender, about 12 years old, about 5-foot-2 and 70 to 80 pounds with light brown hair. He was wearing a red-and-white horizontally striped pullover shirt with dark blue cargo shorts.

The boy had been seen riding a black bike earlier in the day, and was walking the bike because it had a flat rear tire.

The witness described the suspect as white or Hispanic, about 5-foot-10 and 180 to 200 pounds. He was wearing a black tanktop shirt and dark cargo-type painters pants. The pants were dirty and stained.

The vehicle was described as medium-blue with two doors on the back that swing open. The left door has a tinted window and a decal on the bottom of the door.  The right door does not have a window, but has a "rather large primer spot," Pearce said.

The Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office has established a 24-hour hotline at 540-507-7200.

Pearce said phone calls and leads are being received in an emergency information center.

“As we receive tips we’re sending out agents and detectives,” Pearce said.