This case was originally brought to me a couple of weeks ago from one of my U.S. Marshal contacts. Yesterday, the investigation advanced to new levels and now the FBI and U.S. Marshals are on the hunt for a man they believe kidnapped Lexis.
It all began on October 8, 2010 when hunters in Harrisonburg, Louisiana stumbled across what they believed to be human remains. The men contacted the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office and an immediate investigation went underway. Since then the FBI, U.S. Marshals, U.S. Postal Service, Office of Louisiana Attorney General and the LSU Forensic Anthropology and Computer Enhancement Services have all been on the case.
Just last week a big break came when the remains were positively identified as 12-year-old Lexis Kaye Roberts. The FBI says she was last seen with her mom, Suellen Roberts and Thomas Sanders. A source close to the investigation told me Suellen and her daughter went on a vacation over Labor Day weekend with Sanders. The couple met when they were working at a storage facility in Las Vegas, and I am told that a significant amount of money was taken from the facility by Sanders to go on this trip. Suellen told her mother if she didn’t return within a couple of weeks that something bad may have happened, and for her to call authorities. It appears that something horrible has occured, and not only has Lexis’ body been found, but Suellen has not been seen.
UPDATE:I just spoke with Sgt. Bill Goodin, and he did confirm to me that Amber was found in the middle of the night. He says a tip came in that she was at a local gas station and when police arrived on location, she was gone. I spoke with Amber’s father, James White, and he did tell me that his daughter called him directly and said, “they decided to let me go.” He raced to the store where Amber called from and picked her up. White says Amber is extremely tired, she is resting right now, and he is “relieved” that his daughter was found alive. He cannot talk about the specifics of the case or where his daughter may have been held over the last few days, but he did tell me that more arrests may be made in this case. White also said that Amber was found in white pajama pants.
Investigators are back on the ground this morning searching for a 12-year-old who went missing over the weekend. Amber White never returned home after swimming in her community pool. Sgt. Bill Goodin from the Shreveport Louisiana Police Department told me she was last seen around 3 p.m. near her home in the 6900 block of Buncombe Road. Amber’s mom and dad called 9-1-1 when they couldn’t find their daughter. Although Amber is only 12, and she may have left with two men, Sgt. Goodin says, “We do not believe there was an abduction.” He told me they have to take every missing person on a case by case basis in order to determine if an amber alert can be issued. I spoke with Mistie Williamson, a neighbor of Amber’s, and she said, “All of the parents are scared, because it happened so close.” Mistie also told me that Amber’s home is near the front of the mobile home park and she is very close to the pool area.
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.”
Christian Walker has been missing since Christmas day 2008. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children says he was last seen with his mother in Brockton, MA, and may have traveled to Louisiana.
He could be using the last name Hale or Harris, and is known to have a gap between his top front teeth. This case is considered a family abduction.
If you have any information, please call: 1-800-THE-LOST
CAPTURE: U.S. Marshals say they captured the three inmates on the run in Miami, Florida. Investigators are looking into two robberies and the disappearance of a Florida State University graduate student while the suspects were on the loose.
BACKGROUND: It’s been two weeks since three dangerous convicts escaped in Alexandria, Louisiana. Since the break out investigators say the suspects have left a trail of crime leading to Florida (detailed list below). U.S. Marshals say the inmates drummed up an elaborate plan to break out of the Avoyelles Parish jail on March 30, 2010. One of the inmates, Quentin M. Truehill, made a handmade knife and allegedly held it to the throat of a correctional officer, threatening to kill him if he didn’t open the door. Another officer was witnessing the attack tried to help, but couldn’t and was cut on the hand. The inmates escaped on foot, and the local sheriff believes they were picked up by an accomplice in a nearby parking lot. Authorities have been working around the clock to locate the criminals.
DETAILED LIST OF CRIMES SINCE THE ESCAPE FROM U.S. MARSHALS:
New Orleans police are on the hunt for two gunmen who shot seven people over the weekend. Investigators say gunfire erupted around 9:15 p.m. just outside the French Quarter festival in New Orleans, Louisiana. Police believe only one of the seven victims was the intended target, and this incident possibly stemmed from an argument nearly two months ago. The others shot were unfortunate innocent bystanders. Thankfully, everyone injured is expected to survive and the investigation is on-going.
If you have any information, please contact the New Orleans police: (504) 821-2222
It’s been more than a week since three dangerous convicts escaped in Alexandria, Louisiana. Since the break out investigators say they have left a trail of crime to Florida (detailed list below). U.S. Marshals say the inmates drummed up an elaborate plan to break out of the Avoyelles Parish jail on March 30, 2010. One of the inmates, Quentin M. Truehill, made a handmade knife and allegedly held it to the throat of a correctional officer, threatening to kill him if he didn’t open the door. Another officer was witnessing the attack tried to help, but couldn’t and was cut on the hand. The inmates escaped on foot, and the local sheriff believes they were picked up by an accomplice in a nearby parking lot. Authorities have been working around the clock to locate the criminals.
DETAILED LIST OF CRIMES SINCE THE ESCAPE FROM U.S. MARSHALS:
• On March 30, 2010, at approximately 1500 hours, TRUEHILL goes to house located on Cocoville Road, Marksville, LA and asks to use phone (phone not able to dial out). Witnesses see TRUEHILL walk back next door and get into a beige Lincoln with four other occupants.
It’s been four days since three dangerous convicts escaped in Alexandria, Louisiana. U.S. Marshals say the inmates drummed up an elaborate plan to break out of the Avoyelles Parish jail. Investigators say one of the inmates, Quentin M. Truehill, made a handmade knife and held it to the throat of a correctional officer, threatening to kill him if he didn’t open the door. Another officer was witnessing the attack tried to help, but couldn’t and was cut on the hand. The inmates escaped on foot, and the local sheriff believes they were picked up by an accomplice in a nearby parking lot. Authorities have been working around the clock to locate the criminals.
This information is directly from a press release issued from the United States Marshals Service on each fugitive:
• Quentin M. Truehill – Originally from New Orleans, but came to Lafayette, Louisiana during the Hurricane Katrina evacuation. Truehill is serving a 30 year Sentence for Manslaughter and was also convicted of armed robbery in Rapides Parish in 2009. Truehill is a 22 year old, black male, 5’9”, 140 lbs, and has a tattoo of a cross on his forehead.
2:40 p.m. New Orleans police confirm the body is in fact Dough Schantz.
2:04 p.m. – It appears the body of Doug Schantz may have been found in the Mississippi River. Tim Miller from Texas EquuSearch confirms he is on the ground, and pulled a body from the water.
Doug Schantz, the president of Sequent Energy, hasn’t been seen since last Friday, March 5, 2010 at 2 a.m. At that time, he was seen leaving friends at the Razzoo Patio bar in New Oreleans. Doug is a resident of Houston, Texas and was visiting New Orleans to make a donation to his daughter’s university. New Orleans police say he was reported missing by his wife, Lori, after he missed his flight home with his daughter later that day. Doug’s son Michael is hitting the streets of New Orleans passing out fliers about his father. Investigators say Doug’s credit cards have not been used since he went missing, and searches are underway to find this husband and father. Investigators and Tim Miller from Texas EquuSearch will focus on the Mississippi River today.
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....
