Father In Amber Alert Returned To Md. To Face Murder Charges
DUNDALK, Md. (WJZ) -- The man accused of kidnapping his 11-year-old daughter after killing the girl's mother is back in Maryland. Timothy Virts sparked a nationwide Amber Alert for Caitlyn Virts last week.
Christie Ileto explains Virts is now charged with the murder of Bobbie Jo Cortez.
Baltimore County Police have 38-year-old Timothy Virts in their custody Friday.
"Timothy Virts has been returned to Maryland. He's been officially charged with the March 6 homicide of Bobbie Jo Cortez in Dundalk," Col. John Wachter said, Baltimore County Police.
Detectives believed Virts tied up and killed his ex, Bobbie Jo Cortez, before abducting their 11-year-old daughter, Caitlyn, triggering a national Amber Alert last week.
Friends and family pleaded for her safe return.
"I pray for her every day. I've been praying for her so hard," one woman said.
"I'd like to tell him to bring her home and turn himself in," Caitlyn's grandfather, Peter Virts, said.
Police say Virts and his daughter made it all the way to Florence, South Carolina before a motel owner saw the Amber Alert posted on Facebook and contacted police.
"We just used every tool that we had. We attempted to track where Mr. Virts may be going," police said.
Police say Caitlyn was unharmed and later reunited with her family.
"She did express to the Social Services people and to our detectives that she was very happy to be going home and that she was very happy to have the ordeal of this road trip behind her," said Elise Armacost, Baltimore County Police. "She's doing as well as anyone can expect a person to do after she's been through this kind of ordeal that she's been through."
WJZ learned Virts, who was on the FBI's Most Wanted List, did not fight his extradition to Baltimore County. He is currently being interviewed by homicide detectives.
"We can't talk about the details of what he's been saying to police. This is still an ongoing and very active investigation," said Elise Armacost, Baltimore County Police.
All to get answers as to why he violently murdered his daughter's mother. Meanwhile, the family struggles to recover.
Virts is being held at the Baltimore County Detention Center without bail.
Caitlyn Virts has been placed in child protective custody.
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