CARROLLTON, Va. - Isle of Wight County investigators are still trying to solve the 2013 kidnapping and sexual assault of an 11-year old girl.
A man kidnapped the girl on her way to the bus stop. The Carrollton neighborhood where she lived is the type of area someone would be looking for as trees separate from some of the busier streets of the county. On October 2, 2013, it appears someone drove up for one purpose.
"My daughter was abducted," begins the 911 call from a frantic father with an alarming story. His daughter made it back home about four hours after someone kidnapped her. "Just calm down for me," the dispatcher told the father
Listen to the 911 call below:
Before 8 a.m., the girl began her journey to school. New to the neighborhood, she usually arrived at the bus stop before many of the other kids. That morning she was alone.
Suspect's car looked similar to this Chevy Cavalier.
"She told me a stranger drove up, said, 'Get in the Car!' She said, 'No.' She was screaming at the top of her lungs," the girl's father explained to the 911-dispatcher.
Despite the screams, the girl couldn't get away as the man grabbed her and forced into his car. He drove her into Suffolk, Northeastern North Carolina, and then back to Isle of Wight County. Along the way, he sexually assaulted her twice, according to investigators.
Map of the area the man drove the victim. It also continued into Northeastern North Carolina.
"This is a very disturbing course of events," said Lt. Tommy Potter, whose department in the Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office began working the case that day. State and federal investigators are also involved in the unsolved case.
The girl's vivid memory of what happened helped authorities create a detailed sketch of the man. In addition, the girl told them he had freckles and a distinct, slow manner of talking. She also described his car in a very specific way. She even remembered Christmas ornaments the man had in his car.
"To be able to remember those details and to go through a traumatic experience like she did speaks volumes about her character," said Lt. Potter.
Members of the community called in or emailed nearly 800 tips, but investigators haven't made an arrest. "These type of cases, when a tip comes in at the end of the day, no matter how tired you are, you find something within you to give it the extra get up and go," said Lt. Potter
That drive to finally catch a kidnapper keeps them going. Lt. Pottery says investigators won't give up until there's an arrest. "This has been an exhaustive and in-depth case," he said. "We're going to catch him."
Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Line at 1-888--LOCK-U-UPSM.
Previous coverage:
Artist on IOW sketch: ‘Sooner or later, we are going to find that person’
Attempted abduction in York-Poquoson may involve IOW suspect
New information coming in about IOW abduction, sexual assault
911 call, new video from Isle of Wight abduction released
Over 400 tips reported in search for abductor in Isle of Wight
