On December 11, 1980, 19-year-old Vanessa Blockett’s two sons were taken by a woman who said that she was a social worker. The woman let the older child go, but kept David Blockett.
Thirty years later, Frederick, David’s brother, is still searching for answers.
Authorities say two theories may explain the mystery woman`s motives.
Newport News detective amber Rogers re-opened the case after NewsChannel 3 started digging.
She says that human trafficking may have occurred.
A peek into the past sheds light on this theory.
On December 8th 1980, David’s birth announcement appeared in the Daily Press as well as his address and birthdate.
Three days later, a middle-aged black woman showed up with a list of other newborn babies in the area.
The case file reveals that around the same time of David’s abduction, another so-called social worker approached a different Newport News family. This one had a similar description as David’s abductor.
But the mother told her to get lost.
A February 1986 edition of Ebony Magazine - profiled black baby abductions.
Experts suggested there may have been a baby selling ring.
They even profiled baby David’s case.
Frederick is leaning toward the theory that maybe she wanted to raise David as her own baby.
“Infants are taken primarily so they can rear them as their own ,” says Robert Lowery, the executive director for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
David’s abduction was one of their first cases when the center opened in 1984.
“We really strongly believe just in the case of David, he could very well be out there--maybe having some doubts about who his mother might be and I think we can help him. All he has to do is reach out to us,” says Lowery.
Joe Mullins, a forensic imaging specialist for the center, showed NewsChannel 3 a graphic of what David may look like today.
The answer may also be in the clothes David was wearing the day he was abducted.
The abductor left a diaper filled with his little booties , a sweater and more on the Yorktown Colonial Parkway.
Just last week, detectives found them tucked away in their evidence warehouse.
Among the evidence was hair samples preserved for 30 years!
DNA testing didn't exist back in the 80's, but today it could lead to finding David and/or his abductor.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says odds are that David can be found.
They’ve had 279 missing children cases reported since 1983.
Only twelve of them, including David’s, remain unsolved.
If you have any information about David, take action.
Call Newport News Police at 757-928-4200 or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
