MI - Possible Dowagiac Michigan area abduction

colette

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Kids hearing screams noticed a man trying to pull a teen into a wooded area at gunpoint.

The juveniles described the man as having white skin and brown hair, but they could not determine his age. He was reportedly wearing a dark, hooded sweatshirt with writing on it that may have been an Aeropostale logo, and blue jeans.

The juveniles described the female being a white teenager. She reportedly had straight, shoulder-length blonde hair and was wearing a pink zip-up sweater or sweatshirt.

Officers received a tip Wednesday night that a male and a female — who were wearing clothing similar to what was originally reported — were spotted in a white Ford F-150 pickup truck in the area near the location of the possible abduction.

http://woodtv.com/2014/04/03/juveniles-man-with-gun-took-teen-into-woods/
 
Possible teen abduction under investigation in Cass County -

ORIGINAL STORY: Police are on the lookout for a missing girl in Cass County this morning, and they say she could be in danger.

Dowagiac Public Safety Director Steven Grinnewald says around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, police received a tip from some young people who said they were playing in a parking lot in the area of the 500 block of Riverside Drive. They said they heard a girl yelling near the woods behind a building there.

The witnesses said they saw a male pull a female in the woods and may have had a handgun. The suspect is described as white with brown hair, was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt with writing on it, possibly saying "Aeropostale" and was wearing blue jeans.

The victim is said to be white with blonde, straight shoulder-length hair and was seen wearing a pink zip up sweater or sweatshirt. Two people fitting those descriptions were later spotted near the area in a white Ford F-150 pickup. Police are investigating that tip.

The following release was issued by Steven Grinnewald, Dowagiac public safety director, this morning:

Search teams conducted a ground search of several areas adjacent to Riverside Dr. behind the dentist office where the incident was reported to have occurred. Search teams conducted a search on foot through a large wooded area and were unable to locate anything. Officers conducted a neighborhood canvass of a large area and were unable to gain any new information.

Officers received a tip during the evening that a male and female wearing clothing similar to what was originally reported were observed in a white Ford F-150 pickup truck in the area near the location of this incident. The female in the truck was reported to be “younger” in age, possibly a teenager. The vehicle was reported to have left the area. This information is being investigated to determine if it is related to the original incident.

http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/police-in-cass-county-search-for-missing-teen/25295884
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/04/possible_teen_abduction_under.html
http://www.leaderpub.com/2014/04/02/dowagiac-police-investigating-potential-kidnapping/
 
This is not far from me. This is so strange. A lot of discussion/coverage on wsbt-tv ABC 57, WNDU ON FACEBOOK.
 
The thing is after, most police departments refuse a missing person's report til 48-72 hours passed. Unfortunate when time is so crucial.
 
DOWAGIAC, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - Police in Cass County are looking for a possible missing girl after a group of kids claim they saw something suspicious -

Police tell Newschannel 3 that a group of kids say they saw a man pull a girl into the woods who was screaming for help around 7:00 p.m. last night in the 500 block of Riverside Drive in Dowagiac.They also say the man may have had a gun.

http://wwmt.com/shared/news/feature...ble-abduction-victim-19717.shtml#.Uz2k1ah90yE
 
I don't think that is true anymore. I think LE will take a missing person's report now when someone has reason to believe that a person is missing - regardless of timing.

If I was a parent in the area and had a daughter with blonde hair, I would be making sure she was where she was supposed to be :(

This could also be a hoax, so we just need to watch and see what happens.

Salem
 
This could be related to the Jessica Heeringa case. Has some similarities (and reasonably close in proximity).
 
Many possibilities:

a) A kidnap right there at that time.
b) A kidnap/human trafficing victim days, months or even years ago moving thru the area. An escape attempt?
c) One of those numerous teen girl/elderly male hookups gone bad?
d) Misunderstanding. A young couple fighting or having a very heated argument.
 
I don't think that is true anymore. I think LE will take a missing person's report now when someone has reason to believe that a person is missing - regardless of timing.

If I was a parent in the area and had a daughter with blonde hair, I would be making sure she was where she was supposed to be :(

This could also be a hoax, so we just need to watch and see what happens.

Salem

Definitely the case here in San Diego (not having the waiting period)

I listen to the scanner a lot, and people of all ages they'll get officers out there based on the call alone.

And with kids, elderly, at risk, they deploy substantial resources VERY quickly (once they get enough specifics and have just checked like the house or whatever quickly)

And even just with 'regular folks' they do it very quickly (but I mean, often 15-20 minutes after the first call w/ the more 'at risk') and typically not much longer for a 'regular' (believed less at risk) person.

Last night we had a 61 year old woman reported missing shortly before 6 pm, the helicopter was there within the half hour, as were folks on the ground. They had choppers up, SAR team, etc.

Unfortunately her body was found w/ a suicide note 6 hours later. But again, this was a healthy, not believed to be at all at risk (other than not going to work being uncharacteristic of her) adult woman and really a full scale response in under an hour. That's...impressive, IMO.

With that said, I suspect that the waiting period may be true in some places, but I think it's largely now become more of an urban myth in many places, unfortunately.

I've heard people - even after many instances like last night - say they just thought they had to wait and so didn't even call until it had been at least a day. (And, frankly, the worst they can do is say no, you have to wait, or whatever...or that's my opinion)
 
But the other thing I'd say is that I think, even if it's an area that might have that 'waiting period,' is that it largely comes down to how it's presented.

If someone goes in/calls/whatever and is real blase, saying they're not sure if they left by choice, blah blah, whatever, and doesn't seem like they are as concerned, or give a ton of possible reasons it might be voluntary or...(you probably get my picture?) that THEN there may be more of a delayed or less than whole-hearted response on the part of LE, but that it's almost more of an 'in kind' response.

(If any of that makes sense? :blushing: I know what I'm trying to say but I'm afraid I'm not articulating it well.)

From the hours I've listened this past year - I mean, thousands of hours - I have been incredibly impressed at the insight I've gained into how our LE (at least here in the SD County area) responds in nearly all instances!
 
They searched the woods and nearby neighborhood and found nothing so far.

Police said no further searches are scheduled at this time, although searches will be conducted immediately is any new information is received.
Police ask anyone with information to call Dowagiac Public Safety at 269-782-9743

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/04/search_in_area_of_possible_tee.html

We've had a couple of these this past year...

I remember one involved a possible child and a bike (and I think a pick up? or van?)...

Actually, the other may have been similar - but two sedans (one the 'witness' and one the 'suspect')

I don't think we ever had resolution in either, did we? Anyone remember? Or know how on earth we'd find those threads? I don't even remember area to see if any were close to this possible incident?
 
They think it was hoax, search called off last night.
 
They think it was hoax, search called off last night.

I have seen that they are done searching since nothing was found but I have not seen anything in MSM that says it was a hoax. Do you have a link? Thanks in advance.

I tend to believe the kids saw what they saw since another totally independent person saw the same man and girl. Possibly the man saw the kids and took his victim elsewhere. Many killers walk their victims into the woods.

As far as missing blonde girls in lower Michigan, Jessica Heeringa has yet to be found. She is a very young looking woman IMO, could be mistaken for a teen.
 
This could be related to the Jessica Heeringa case. Has some similarities (and reasonably close in proximity).

That's the first thing I thought of, maybe this person just goes up and down that side of the state looking for women.
 
I really worded my last post poorly. From online comments I read some speculated it COULD of been a hoax. Who knows, I wish they would of found some sort of clue.
 
Many possibilities:

a) A kidnap right there at that time.
b) A kidnap/human trafficing victim days, months or even years ago moving thru the area. An escape attempt?
c) One of those numerous teen girl/elderly male hookups gone bad?
d) Misunderstanding. A young couple fighting or having a very heated argument.

bbm

I'm not sure I know what you mean. Escorts?
 

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