ISLE OF WIGHT, Va. (WAVY) — 10 On Your Side is starting a new initiative to spotlight cold cases investigators believe can be solved with some help.
When we think of cold cases most of us automatically think of a murder, but there are other cases out there that have huge impacts on victims and the community at-large.
The abduction and sexual assault of a child in Isle Of Wight County five years ago is one such case. Investigators are sure someone out there can help them find the criminal and protect other children.
In a frantic call to 911 from his home in Carrolton five years ago, a father told dispatchers, “My daughter was abducted, potentially raped, and they returned her.”
The 11-year-old girl was snatched from a bus stop in the Brookwood subdivision on her way to school in October 2013. “She’s been able to give me a pretty good description,” the father told dispatch.
From the girl’s description, the FBI created a sketch of a suspect that generated more than 900 tips. Investigators say they followed up on every single one.
Lt. Tommy Potter told 10 On Your Side, “We interviewed a number of people of interest in this case, but at the end of every lead we came up short.”
VIDEO: Sheriff talks about child abduction in IOW
Potter and his team at the Isle of Wight Sheriff’s Office are frustrated and afraid that this man is out there somewhere hurting other children.
“He may age a little bit, may change certain things in appearance that you can change. There are certain things about this suspect that we know you can’t change,” Potter said.
The man is covered in freckles from head to toe, has a distinct accent or dialect and has blue eyes. At the time of the attack, he had blond hair and a thin blond beard.
VIDEO: Authorities release description of suspect
He was driving a two-door silver Chevy Cavalier with black and gray interior and a cracked windshield and rotted out center dashboard, model year 1995-2001.
Investigators say when they find him, there will be no question. “One day, whether it’s today, whether it’s tomorrow, because we have solid DNA evidence on this individual,” Potter said.
Someone knows this man — and while he could be anywhere — with social media connecting people even more now than five years ago, getting his face out again could be the break investigators and the family need to finally put him behind bars.
VIDEO: Update on investigation in 2014
So here’s what you can do: If you know anything that might help find the man who kidnapped and assaulted the young girl, call the Crimeline at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
Even if you don’t know anything, share this picture on your social media pages and ask others to do the same. Eventually, investigators hope, someone will come forward.
