VA A.B.: Missing from Bassett, VA - 12 Feb 2021 - Age 12 *Found Safe*

Police: Abducted 12-year-old believed to be ‘extreme danger’ found safe

A 12-year-old Virginia girl who state police said was abducted Friday has been safely located and the man authorities believe was responsible is in custody, according to the Henry County Sheriff&#8…

www.wric.com

Amber Alert issued for abducted 12-year-old believed to be in ‘extreme danger’​

A 12-year-old girl has been abducted from Henry County and now Virginia State Police are working to find her and the man suspected of taking her.

She was abducted on Friday at 1:00 p.m. and was last seen at 2373 Reed Creek Drive in Bassett.

Police say she could be in extreme danger.

The child has been identified as AMB. She is a described as white with brown hair and blues. Allie is 4-feet 11-inches tall and weighs 107 pounds. Police say she was last seen wearing a grey James Madison University sweatshirt and dark fleece pants.

VSP believe she was abducted by Kaleb Christopher Merrit. A 21-year-old white man with brown hair and green eyes. Merrit is 5-feet 10-inches tall and weighs 250 pounds. Police are unsure of what he could be wearing at this time.

It is possible Merrit is driving a 2000 Light Green Mercury Grand Marquis with a Texas tag. The license plate number is DMP-2294.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Police: Abducted 12-year-old believed to be ‘extreme danger’ found safe

A 12-year-old Virginia girl who state police said was abducted Friday has been safely located and the man authorities believe was responsible is in custody, according to the Henry County Sheriff&#8…

www.wric.com

Amber Alert issued for abducted 12-year-old believed to be in ‘extreme danger’​

A 12-year-old girl has been abducted from Henry County and now Virginia State Police are working to find her and the man suspected of taking her.

She was abducted on Friday at 1:00 p.m. and was last seen at 2373 Reed Creek Drive in Bassett.

Police say she could be in extreme danger.

The child has been identified as AMB. She is a described as white with brown hair and blues. Allie is 4-feet 11-inches tall and weighs 107 pounds. Police say she was last seen wearing a grey James Madison University sweatshirt and dark fleece pants.

VSP believe she was abducted by Kaleb Christopher Merrit. A 21-year-old white man with brown hair and green eyes. Merrit is 5-feet 10-inches tall and weighs 250 pounds. Police are unsure of what he could be wearing at this time.

It is possible Merrit is driving a 2000 Light Green Mercury Grand Marquis with a Texas tag. The license plate number is DMP-2294.

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Well it is rare they flat out say they are sure it is an abduction. That's scary. I hope they find her and fast.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Well it is rare they flat out say they are sure it is an abduction. That's scary. I hope they find her and fast.

They have to say it's an abduction to qualify as an AMBER Alert. If they say they "believe she left with him willingly" they can't issue an Alert.

Can only imagine what a 21-year-old wants with a 12-year-old. Creep.

 

[GrandmaBear]

They have to say it's an abduction to qualify as an AMBER Alert. If they say they "believe she left with him willingly" they can't issue an Alert.

Can only imagine what a 21-year-old wants with a 12-year-old. Creep.

I allow for she may have met him online and even met him but as you say, it is a 21 year old with a 12 year old. So willing or not, yeah, it qualifies as an abduction, she is out of her depth either way. I did a quick check this a.m. and saw no updates so apparently she has not been located yet.

 

[Guess Who]

They have to say it's an abduction to qualify as an AMBER Alert. If they say they "believe she left with him willingly" they can't issue an Alert.

Can only imagine what a 21-year-old wants with a 12-year-old. Creep.

and adult taking a child without permission can easily qualify as an abduction, especially one that young. My state has special charges for adults interfering with those under 14. I am not sure about other states.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Yeah I didn't mean that she wasn't abducted, even if she did go "willingly". She's not nearly old enough to make that decision.

Haven't seen anything new today at all either.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

His car has Texas plates. Perhaps heading back toward Texas?

 

[Guess Who]

How is he funding this? it appears he's been there trying to get her to leave with him for a while now.

"In a further investigation, authorities found that Merritt and A met in December 2020 on Instagram, where they chatted until Merritt traveled to Virginia in early February 2021 to meet with her.
Authorities found that Merritt had set up camp in the woods behind her house and met with her several times before he took advantage of the messaging app to tell her to leave the house."

Amber Alert, issued for 12-year-old Henry County Police girl, says she is in extreme danger

verietyinfo.com

 

[GrandmaBear]

Yeah I didn't mean that she wasn't abducted, even if she did go "willingly". She's not nearly old enough to make that decision.

Haven't seen anything new today at all either.

Yeah, I never thought you meant that if I came across that way.

I was hopeful she would be found by now since they have a name, plate, etc.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

How is he funding this? it appears he's been there trying to get her to leave with him for a while now.

"In a further investigation, authorities found that Merritt and A met in December 2020 on Instagram, where they chatted until Merritt traveled to Virginia in early February 2021 to meet with her.
Authorities found that Merritt had set up camp in the woods behind her house and met with her several times before he took advantage of the messaging app to tell her to leave the house."

Amber Alert, issued for 12-year-old Henry County Police girl, says she is in extreme danger

verietyinfo.com

Creepy.

That link looks like a poor translation of another article though. Nobody's name is spelled correctly. I wonder where the original info is from.

 

[GrandmaBear]

How is he funding this? it appears he's been there trying to get her to leave with him for a while now.

"In a further investigation, authorities found that Merritt and A met in December 2020 on Instagram, where they chatted until Merritt traveled to Virginia in early February 2021 to meet with her.
Authorities found that Merritt had set up camp in the woods behind her house and met with her several times before he took advantage of the messaging app to tell her to leave the house."

Amber Alert, issued for 12-year-old Henry County Police girl, says she is in extreme danger

verietyinfo.com

Wow. He had been camping behind her home?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Here's the original article. Basically the same but a bit easier to read.

Amber Alert canceled for 12-year-old girl in Henry Co. believed to be in extreme danger

On behalf of the Henry County Sheriff's Office, Virginia State Police has canceled the Virginia AMBER Alert for a missing 12-year-old girl from Henry County. Officials with VSP confirm that 12-year-old Allie Broadaway has been found safe and her alleged abductor, 21-year-old Kaleb Merritt, is in...

wset.com

 

[Guess Who]

Creepy.

That link looks like a poor translation of another article though. Nobody's name is spelled correctly. I wonder where the original info is from.

I saw a different article on my phone this morning that had that info on it, but it was the same info. I didn't even notice it was a different one.

Here's the FBI's own page that has the camped in the woods info, too

Welcome to fbi.gov | Federal Bureau of Investigation

www.fbi.gov

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

UPDATE: 12-year-old Henry County girl safely located, police say suspect is in custody

UPDATE 7:52 p.m. — Virginia State Police announced this evening that Allie Broadaway, the subject of an Amber Alert, has been safely located. Kaleb Merritt, the man authorities believe abduct…

www.wfxrtv.com

Henry County authorities continue searching for abducted 12-year-old Henry County girl​

A family member reported AMB, 12, missing and police say they believe that the girl left with Kaleb Merritt, 21, willingly.

Merritt is said to have been living out of his vehicle, a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis with Texas tags DMP-2294.

Sheriff Perry also said that a credible siting of B and Merritt was noted in Danville near the time she was reported missing.

Authorities believe there is a chance that the two may be heading to Texas where Merritt is said to have family; however, Sheriff Perry did say that is not certain.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

VSP: Amber Alert cancelled, missing Henry County child found safe

UPDATE: The Amber Alert for 12-year-old Allie Michele Broadaway has been cancelled as the Henry County Sheriff's Office reports she has been found safe. The Virginia State Police report Kaleb Merritt is in custody. ---- The Virginia State Police and the Virginia Missing Children Clearinghouse...

wcyb.com

VSP: Amber Alert cancelled, missing Henry County child found safe
UPDATE: The Amber Alert for 12-year-old AMB has been cancelled as the Henry County Sheriff's Office reports she has been found safe.

The Virginia State Police report Kaleb Merritt is in custody.

 

[GrandmaBear]

VSP: Amber Alert cancelled, missing Henry County child found safe

UPDATE: The Amber Alert for 12-year-old Allie Michele Broadaway has been cancelled as the Henry County Sheriff's Office reports she has been found safe. The Virginia State Police report Kaleb Merritt is in custody. ---- The Virginia State Police and the Virginia Missing Children Clearinghouse...

wcyb.com

VSP: Amber Alert cancelled, missing Henry County child found safe
UPDATE: The Amber Alert for 12-year-old AMB has been cancelled as the Henry County Sheriff's Office reports she has been found safe.

The Virginia State Police report Kaleb Merritt is in custody.

Thank goodness. This one had me really worried for some reason.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Bassett girl found safe is a caution to parents, investigators say

The man who took her was arrested in 'predatory situation.'

martinsvillebulletin.com

Bassett girl found safe is a caution to parents, investigators say​

A 12-year-old Bassett girl has been located and is safe after being abducted from her home in Bassett, and investigators warn that this is a cautionary tale for all parents about what they say was a child falling victim to a predatory situation.


"This was a predatory-type situation," Perry said. "A is being seen by EMS for very minor injuries."

Perry declined to say what the injuries were or how she received them, but the investigation picked up steam after a press conference he had held just more than five hours earlier.

"It came about, literally within seconds with other agencies," Perry said. "The resources came in, the vehicle was located, and Merritt was taken into custody."

Perry said Henry County investigators would be reuniting Broadaway with her family shortly after the press conference concluded.

Perry also said Merritt was in contact with other young women in the area.


Regarding Merritt's communication with other young girls in the area, more investigation will have to be done.

Said Perry: "We're still seeing what we're going to turn up and it may open up to others."

 

[Guess Who]

Bassett girl found safe is a caution to parents, investigators say

The man who took her was arrested in 'predatory situation.'

martinsvillebulletin.com

Bassett girl found safe is a caution to parents, investigators say​

A 12-year-old Bassett girl has been located and is safe after being abducted from her home in Bassett, and investigators warn that this is a cautionary tale for all parents about what they say was a child falling victim to a predatory situation.


"This was a predatory-type situation," Perry said. "A is being seen by EMS for very minor injuries."

Perry declined to say what the injuries were or how she received them, but the investigation picked up steam after a press conference he had held just more than five hours earlier.

"It came about, literally within seconds with other agencies," Perry said. "The resources came in, the vehicle was located, and Merritt was taken into custody."

Perry said Henry County investigators would be reuniting Broadaway with her family shortly after the press conference concluded.

Perry also said Merritt was in contact with other young women in the area.


Regarding Merritt's communication with other young girls in the area, more investigation will have to be done.

Said Perry: "We're still seeing what we're going to turn up and it may open up to others."

so was she just the first one that would leave with him?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Henry County abduction solved though investigators say more children may be involved

The Texas man accused of traveling to Henry County to abduct a 12-year-old girl remains in jail Monday after law enforcement worked for 36 hours to bring her home.

www.wsls.com

Henry County abduction solved though investigators say more children may be involved​

The Texas man accused of traveling to Henry County to abduct a 12-year-old girl remains in jail Monday after law enforcement worked for 36 hours to bring her home.

Investigators now believe that Merritt was in communication with at least one other Henry County girl and another department somewhere else in the country is also looking for information about Merritt.


The victim’s family tells 10 News she continues to receive medical attention and is recovering from the incident.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Warrants reveal what led to Henry County child abduction, Amber Alert

Warrants and a criminal complaint filed against the 21-year-old man charged in connection with a Henry County abduction painting a clearer picture of what led to her abduction last week.

www.wsls.com

Warrants reveal what led to Henry County child abduction, Amber Alert​

Warrants and a criminal complaint filed against the 21-year-old man charged in connection with a Henry County abduction are painting a clearer picture of what led to her abduction last week.

Kaleb Merritt, 21, now faces three felony charges in connection with the abduction and his interactions with the girl.


The documents revealed that once Merritt knew police were involved, he told the girl to hide her phone, which she did in a saxophone case.

Charges filed in Henry County abduction case following AMBER Alert

Merritt is awaiting extradition in Henderson, North Carolina.

www.wdbj7.com

Charges filed in Henry County abduction case following AMBER Alert​

Charges have been filed against Kaleb Merritt, 21, after this past weekend’s alleged kidnapping case in Henry County.

He is charged with rape, computer solicitation of a child younger than 15 years old, and abduction, connected to the kidnapping of a 12-year-old girl in Henry County February 12.

Court documents reveal the two initially met over Instagram before messaging each other on an app called Discord.

The app sent a report about the messages to authorities saying the reported user, whom police identify as Merritt, was a part of a group on the app that extorts girls.

Warrants show Merritt and the victim exchanged messages and child pornography through the app and the documents explicitly detail sexual acts between the two.

February 11, police say, Merritt told the victim to leave her home and hide her phone after authorities contacted him.

The next day, she was reported missing after a family member found a suicide note.

According to the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children, the number of tips they received have increased by 71 percent in their region this year as kids are learning virtually.