4 Questioned In Abduction Of Girl From Philadelphia School
By Jericka Duncan, Pat Loeb, Jenn Bernstein
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Philadelphia police say they brought in four people who were questioned in connection with the abduction of a young girl from her school last month.
A man in a dark and light blue hoodie was first to be escorted by detectives from 6243 Walton Avenue, in Cobbs Creek. Minutes later, a man wearing an Eagles cap is put in a police car. A woman wearing a green coat and red hoodie was next, followed by a woman wearing a white baseball cap. Police say all four are being questioned at Special Victims Unit.
Sources tell CBS3 Eyewitness News, DNA from something in the home matches the DNA found on the T-shirt of the 5-year-old, who was abducted from her Bryant Elementary School kindergarten classroom on January 14th, just a few blocks from the home in question. She was found early the next morning, shivering and alone, in an Upper Darby playground, wearing just the oversized T-shirt. (See Related Story).
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"This was a heinous crime that was committed, make no mistake about it, and this family has been through an awful lot. Hopefully, we are getting closer to justice in this case," the attorney for the girl's mother, Tom Kline, said. "We believe that those individuals who are in custody match those people who were involved in this horrible crime."
"I have a 5-year-old and I couldn't imagine her going through anything like that," neighbor Jayde Browser said.
"I'll be glad when it's over. It's kind of nerve-racking. Everyday you come out of your home. It's like everyone's a suspect," says neighbor Elizabeth China.
Last week police executed a search warrant on the home. Authorities say the 5-year-old girl's account of what happened lead them there.
"Beautiful, strong, hopefully she'll persevere," neighbor Leonard Crawley said.
"I just believe that little girl is a genius," China adds.
While the neighborhood waits to hear more about the four people now being questioned, everyone who spoke to CBS3 is pulling for the victim and are hopeful justice will be served.
"I believe time heals all wounds," China said. "God makes everything new again. I'm praying for her."
"You make your bed, you lie in it," adds neighbor Ken Davis. "If it turns out it is them, they had something to do with it. I don't feel sorry for them at all."
"It's a very important day and we're very hopeful, especially mom, hopeful that those people who did these horrible things -- taking her little girl from a kindergarten classroom -- will be brought to justice," Kline said.
