UPDATE: Investigators arrested Harvey without incident this morning in Niagara Falls, New York. Authorities in North Carlonia are on their way to NY to interview the suspect. More to come…
An all out manhunt is underway for a man wanted for allegedly killing 23-year-old Valerie Hamilton. Her body was found early Sunday in a storage unit in East Charlotte.
Valerie was the daughter of Concord, North Carolina Police Chief Merl Hamilton. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police say a convicted sex offender may be the person responsible for her murder and they have issued a warrant for 34-year-old Michael Neal Harvey. He was originally convicted of a rape in New York in 1996. Valerie was reported missing last week. Investigators were looking into surveillance tape from the Thomas Street Tavern where Valerie was last seen with Harvey last week.
Authorities believe Harvey could be driving a stolen 1996 Chevrolet Blazer with a possible tag: ZXE-1756.
If you have any information on Harvey’s whereabouts, please contact investigators right away: 704.336.7600
Amber Dubois vanished as she walked to school in February 2009. Investigators did not think Amber was abducted, so the case was treated as a runaway early on. Earlier this year, Amber’s body was found in California because another young girl, Chelsea King, had vanished in the area. A convicted sex offender, John Albert Gardner, was linked to both of the cases and arrested. In April 2010 Gardner confessed to killing Amber and Chelsea, and he will remain behind bars for life.
This week Amber’s mom launched a new website, TEAM AMBER RESCUE. According to the site, its mission states:
“Team Amber Rescue was formed to train volunteers in the proper search and rescue techniques so missing children can be found as quickly as possible. It was founded by Carrie McGonigle in loving tribute to her murdered daughter, Amber Leeanne DuBois.
Reported missing, the police declined to issue an Amber Alert and maintained that she was likely a runaway although possibly she could have been abducted. Carrie knew her daughter was someone’s victim, and, praying that she was still alive, worked with family, friends and volunteers to find her with searches on foot, on horse, door to door, websites, mailers, posters, media, psychics, and, even knocking on doors of known sex offenders.
UPDATE: Investigators say a person of interest in the Alisa Maier abduction shot himself yesterday when authorities closed in on him. Police were tipped off to convicted sex offenderPaul S. Smith’s whereabouts when a relative told them where he was staying. Reports are conflicting, but now indicate that Smith has died at the hospital. Investigators are searching for physical evidence to positively link Smith to Alisa’s abduction. More details to come on this case…
Stranger abductions are not as common as we think, but when they happen it feels like the entire nation knows about it through the news and social media. If there is a car description, an Amber Alert is usually attached to the announcement along with a suspect description. That was the case with little Alisa Maier from Missouri. She is only 4-years-old and investigators say she was snatched from her front yard two days ago by a stranger. Alisa was playing in her front yard with her brother when the abduction occurred, and their mother jumped into her vehicle and tried to chase the abductor down. The FBI from St. Louis and investigators from surrounding counties quickly joined forces to create a command post and follow up with every lead to help find Alisa. Members of the community met at the local Elk’s Lodge and volunteered their time going door-to-door passing out fliers with Alisa’s face and information on them. The first 48 hours in an abduction arethe most crucial. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, since 1997 the Amber Alert program is credited with the safe recovery of 502 children. There are 120 active amber plans in check across the country.
This swift effort by the community and the authorities in and around Louisiana, Missouri should be commended, because their efforts worked. I received an e-mail around 3:45 a.m. this morning from FBI S.A. Rebecca Wu that said Alisa was found late last night wandering around a car wash in Fenton, Missouri. Someone saw a small child, they believed to be a boy, and made contact with “him.”
Just a few days ago, John Albert Gardner III was sentenced to life in prison for raping and murdering two teens in California, and now investigators say he admitted to having more victims. Investigators are looking into those other possible crimes right now, but they aren’t releasing any details yet. Chelsea King went missing on February 25, 2010, and her body was found a short time later in a park near San Diego. Then, a few days later, the bones of 14-year-old Amber Dubois were discovered. Amber went missing more than a year ago on February 13, 2009 as she walked to school. When John Albert Gardner III was arrested last month, he wasalso charged with assault for an attack he allegedly committed on December 27, 2009 on a woman in the same park whereChelsea was found.
Convicted sex offender Thomas J. Leggs, Jr. appeared in Wicomico County Circuit Court today in front of a judge who granted him an automatic change of venue for his murder trial. Leggs is facing the death penalty for the kidnapping, rape and murder of 11-year-old Sarah Foxwell. A trial date has not been set, and the judge is consulting and doing research to figure out the best courtroom for a fair trial to take place.
The State’s Attorney for Wicomico County issued a release on February 9, 2010 stating, “The Grand Jury for Wicomico County indicted Thomas Leggs, Jr. for the First Degree Murder of Sarah Foxwell, in addition to First Degree Burglary, Kidnapping, Kidnapping of a Child, and First and Second Degree Sexual Offense.” Leggs is currently beingheld without bond. According to the press release, “The State will file Notice of Intent to Seek the Death Penalty and the Notice of Intent To Seek Life Without Possibility of Parole before the end of February.”
Hundreds of young athletes gathered yesterday to help raise money for the Chelsea King Memorial Scholarship fund. Chelsea was raped and murdered as she jogged in San Diego by convicted sex offender John Albert Gardner III. Gardner pleaded guilty earlier this month to her murder, and the murder of 14-year-old Amber Dubois.
Nearly 60 teams played in baseball games around the county and paid entry fees hat raised more than $20,000 for Chelsea’s fund. The money will go to a student at Poway High School where Chelsea would have graduated this year.
Gardner issued a public apology over the weekend. The note was given to CBS News 8 in San Diego by an unnamed source and says, “I’m sorry. I wish I could take it back. I know that it doesn’t mean anything to anybody but I really am sorry for everything. I wish that I was able to get help when I tried to get help. I tried to seek out help and was not able to get any.” News 8 also says just days before Chelsea’s murder Gardner claims he tried to admit himself into a mental hospital, but was denied.
John Gardner, convicted sex offender, pleaded guilty today to murdering teenagers Chelsea King and Amber Dubois.
Chelsea King went missing on February 25, 2010, and her body was found a short time later in a park near San Diego. Then, a few days later, the bones of 14-year-old Amber Dubois were discovered. Amber went missing more than a year ago, on February 13, 2009 as she walked to school. When Gardner was arrested last month, he wasalso charged with assault for an attack he allegedly committed on December 27, 2009 on a woman in the same park whereChelsea was found.
Gardner’s initial arrest sparked an outrage across America, and the question was asked: how could this convicted sex offender be allowed to strike again?? Gardner should have spent 10 years behind bars, but only served five, and was on probation for three.
Gardner was convicted in 2000 of sexually assaulting and attacking a girl in his own home. He punched the 13-year-old in the face numerous times during the attack.
Investigators confirm the skeletal remains found in a remote area of San Diego County are those of Amber Dubois. Amber went missing on February 13, 2009 as she was walking to her high school in Escondido, California. Investigators will not say if convicted sex offender, John Albert Gardner is responsible for her death, or if he has any connection to her case. Gardner is currently behind bars, and is charged with the murder and rape of 17-year-old Chelsea King. Chelsea went missing a little more than a week ago as she was jogging through a San Diego County park. Gardner is also charged with a December 2009 assault of a woman in the same area. As we learn more about the investigation… we will bring it to you.
6:45 p.m. BREAKING NEWS COMING IN… Investigators confirm human remains were found in the area they were searching for missing teen Chelsea King. Authorities say the body was covered in a shallow grave, and was near the area where evidence was found a few days ago. At this time, the remains appear to be Chelsea King. The medical examiner will make an official confirmation on those remains by tomorrow morning.
Since last Saturday, more than 4,500 volunteers have donated their time to look for missing teen Chelsea King. Right now the focus is on and near Lake Hodges where she went missing. Authorities say Chelsea vanished last Thursday after she went for a jog at the Rancho Bernardo Community Park. Chelsea, 17, is an avid runner for a local high school. She left her car in the park nearby, and her cell phone was inside the vehicle.
Very sad news to report this Christmas. Just a few hours ago missing 11-year-old, Sarah Foxwell’s body was found by searchers near the Maryland-Delaware line. Nearly 3,000 volunteers gave up their Christmas to search for the missing child throughout the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Investigators say Sarah went missing on Tuesday from her home, and authorities believe Thomas J. Leggs, Jr., 30, a convicted sex offender, is the one who kidnapped her. Leggs is charged with kidnapping and burglary, and more charges are likely to follow. It is believed that Leggs did know the child, and may have been a former boyfriend of Sarah’s aunt, who is her legal guardian. Police fear there are other children who are victims of Thomas Leggs, and they are working to identify those children now. If you have any information, please contact the Wicomico County Sheriff’s office: (410) 548-4891
Michelle Sigona is a crime fighting, victims advocate extraordinaire, but for Michelle -- the good fight doesn't stop there. In her spare time, she is a volunteer firefighter -- and now, she is tackling the issues and cases that mean the most to her....
