Carrollton, Va. - The Isle of Wight County Sheriff's Office has released new information about the investigation into a child abduction that took place in October 2013 in Carrollton.
On October 2nd, an 11-year-old girl was reportedly abducted from her bus stop and sexually assaulted twice. She was returned to her bus stop after being driven around for several hours. The victim was reportedly taken into a wooded area behind an abandoned house and also into a wooded area on a gravel road called Iron Mine Springs.
The girl provided a vivid description of the man and details about the abduction. She remembers a dirty green lunchbox or cooler and a star-shaped pink and green pendant, the size of a quarter.
Investigators now say the girl told investigators there was a softball sized hole in the middle section of the car's dashboard.
The abductor is described as an older white male who is about 178 pounds and around 5’8. He has short blonde hair, a thick beard, no mustache and bushy blonde eyebrows. He has blue eyes, yellow teeth, a wide nose and he has lots of freckles on his face and arms.
Officials say he was wearing small round glasses, cut off jean shorts and a tan shirt. He also had on brown and blue tennis shoes. His speech is described as “slow.”
The girl also remembered very specific details about the car he drove and where he took her.
The vehicle is a 1995-2001 Chevrolet Cavalier, two-door, light grey or silver in color.
Investigators have now provided a map of the route they say the abductor took the girl. The section missing on the right, near downtown Suffolk is where they are unsure of. Investigators had previously released video of what they believe to be the suspect’s vehicle as it drove past the Suffolk Courthouse.
There have been 729 leads so far in the case, but only 24 since January 2014, 3 of which are actively being investigated at this time.
"There's rarely a day that goes by that I'm not asked about the status of the case,” says Isle of Wight Sheriff Mark Marshall.
“Unfortunately for us, as an office and agency, it’s very frustrating for all of us,” he says. “Many of the folks who have worked on this case, in fact the majority of the people that have worked on this case all have children, so they can certainly put themselves in the shoes of those parents. We want to solve this case. Not only for the victim, but to ensure that he does not do this again."
Boxes and electronic files now hold the possible clues.
"It's somewhere in this case, it's going to be a tip from a caller, it's going to be something very small that will open up this case and lead us to our suspect," says Sgt. Tommy Potter, with the Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office.
For a year now, the abduction of an 11-year-old Carrollton girl has rocked the small community of Carrollton.
"People are holding their daughters closer," says Judy Carter, who has three children who ride the bus in Carrollton, two boys and a girl. "It's different, you know. Stuff like that doesn't usually happen around here. People are more amped to let their boys go out, whereas my daughter has fewer friends and fewer outings."
PREVIOUS:
Naked man accused of growling, trying to bite face of Isle of Wight deputy
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
