Prayers for the 11 yo kidnapped in Florida...
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Prayers for the 11 yo kidnapped in Florida...
Enhanced Image of Girl's Abduction Sought
By MITCH STACY, Associated Press Writer
SARASOTA, Fla. - Police searching for a missing 11-year-old girl said Wednesday that none of more than 250 leads had proved solid, and they awaited enhanced video images from the security camera that captured the apparent abduction.
Carlie Brucia was apparently taken Sunday evening while walking home from a friend's home. A car wash surveillance camera photographed a man walking up to her, talking to her, grasping her arm and leading her away.
"I always have hope. I maintain that. I have to. I look forward to my daughter's safe return," her father, Joe Brucia, said Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America."
The FBI is working with NASA to enhance the videotaped images to determine if any more clues can be gleaned.
The surveillance camera images, found Monday, show the person with Carlie to be a white male in his late 20s or early 30s, wearing a mechanic's shirt with a patch on one breast. An initial partial enhancement of the image showed he has tattoos on each arm.
Sarasota County Sheriff Bill Balkwill said at a morning briefing Wednesday that authorities hoped to receive the improved images later in the day. He investigators hoped the enhancement could show a name on the patch or a better description of his tattoos.
"It appears to be a short name, maybe three or four letters. We're in an effort to try to enhance that to clarify that," said agent Carl Whitehead, in charge of the FBI's Tampa office.
"We have to check every single little lead. You don't know what somebody like this might do," Balkwill said.
The sheriff said 100 law enforcement agents were tracking 267 leads. Sheriff's Maj. Kevin Gooding said earlier that the leads so far had been general in nature and had not led them to a suspect.
A national hot line _ 1-888-382-6237 _ was established to gather information. The Center for Missing and Exploited Children sent two experts to assist, distributing 16,000 fliers with Carlie's picture throughout the region, and a reward for information grew to $50,000.
Friends from Carlie's former Girl Scout troop took Wednesday off from school to help canvass neighborhoods near the car wash.
Bruce Meeks, whose daughter, Tiffany, was joining in the search, said the community was trying to support the family, "just be there for them, let them do what they want to help us."
Carlie was walking home from a friend's house at about 6:20 p.m. Sunday when she took a short cut behind Evie's Car Wash, which was closed for the day.
Car wash owner Mike Evanoff said he checked the security system video Monday after bloodhounds led deputies to the business. The images of Carlie popped up almost immediately when he turned on the system, he said.
"It was cold chills right up my back," Evanoff said. "My manager couldn't even look at it. It's an awful feeling."
___
On the Net:
Center for Missing and Exploited Children: http://www.missingkids.com
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
I have been thinking about this little girl since the story has been on the news.
I pray that she is alright and will be returned home.
I can`t imagine what her parents are going through
or herself for that matter.
I hope they catch her kidnapper also and put him in jail.
I seen this on the news, isn't it just terrible. I hope they find her soon.
I live just across the bay from this. It is just so sad. I've been praying ever since the story broke. We see it at every chance on the news here, since it uses the same local stations as my area. The poor family.
There was just an update on our local channel. The have a suspect in custody and are searching his vehicle. Hopefully they find something or get some answers. It's so scarey. I can't imagine how those parents feel. Prayers, Prayers.
Storming heaven. Hopefully she is still okay...
I dearly hope she is ok, but something about this just bothers me. I saw the tape and the guy did nothing forceful to take her away. They were on a busy street across from a car wash. Why didn't she fight? Scream out?
When I was about 7 or 8 I was on my bike, maybe a hundred feet in front of my house, riding my bike.
I was in front of our neighbor's mailbox and a VW bug stopped and the guy said "get in." What seemed like forever and a state of shock, I remembered mom was behind the house hanging up clothes, if I would have screamed she would have heard me or just looked around the house.
I took my bike down over the yard and to mom. Of course by the time I got to her and she went running up the hill, he was gone.
I know when this happened. There were those seconds that you are in "shock" that this is happening to you.
I truly believe looking at the tape that this either happened or she knew the person
Marg, I am thinking she knew him too.
Annie,
Didn`t you notice her expression though ?
He said something to her then grabbed her arm and her facial expression was one of shock.
I think he threatened her life or said something
of that nature about her parents.
I am sure she was in shock.
I am just sick about this.
I have an 11 year old DD also.
Also on the good morn. america this a.m
said that he was arrested before on kidnapping.
With that victom they said that he threatened her life.
He said if you don`t come with me now I will slit your throat.
I hope he is put behind bars for life !!!
My dd is 10 so this just makes me sick also. I can't explain, I just have a weird feeling.
I thought it looked like she was in shock too. It looked like to me he put his hand in his pocket like he was saying I have a weapon of some sort in here and then grabbed her arm and she just went with him!!!!!! UGH!!!!!!!!!
My kids (boys 10 and 11) saw this on the news with me yesterday morning. Let me tell ya, I took the opportunity to go over every scenario with them and asked them what they would do if this happened to them. They 'said' they would turn the other way scream and try to run making lots of noise. I HOPE this is the case if something like this ever happens. I do agree that this would take a child by surprise and I also told the boys that the person might be as nice as could be-- but DONT GO WITH THEM to look for a dog or anything. They really thought alot about it.
I am sure this mother had the same talks with her dd though. I hope they catch this scum.
scumbag isn't talking. They need to seriously up the pressure on him....like start taking body parts or something. He never should have been on the streets to begin with. I am praying they find her quickly.
I also have a 11 year old DD and have talked to her alot about what she would do or what she should do if this ever happened. It scares me to death to think what could have happened to this girl. I hope and pray she's Ok and they find her soon. I can't imagine what these parents are going through.
I thought she looked shocked, too. It happened so quickly, I don't know that a grown woman would have reacted much differently. She looks older than she is, but she's just 11 years old -- just a child. He obviously spoke to her. Maybe he said something like, "Scream and I'll shoot you." Who wouldn't hesitate?? And then they're gone, just like that. The video is haunting -- the quickness with which it happened, and knowing those were her last seconds before being abducted, is disturbing. She's there one second and then she's gone, just like that.
Sad news in Sarsota. They found her body this morning and she was identified. Her poor parents. I can't imagine what her parents are going through right now. I had goose bumps listening to the press conference a few minutes ago. They have the guy in custody and they said he will be booked on kidnapping and murder charges right away. It's a very sad day in Florida.
I just saw this. God help those parents.
I cannot imagine having to go through this. Prayers for all.
It was so disheartening this morning to turn on the t.v. and hear that this girl's body had been found. I had realized all along that this was the most likely outcome but was hoping against hope that she would be found alive. I will never be able to understand what kind of animal could do something like this.
I just saw it also, this is so heartbreaking.I feel the exact same way Joan.
My heart is breaking for those parents.
I know. I feel sick. Her poor parents and family.
Do the have a death penalty in Flordia ?
Yes they do have the death penalty.
I think the death penalty should be used anytime a child is hurt like this. I feel very strongly about that. I just think jail is too good for the kind of person it takes to do seomthing like that.
I feel the same way.
I couldnt even finish my work out this morning after seeing this. I am just so sad and mad all at the same time.
Prayers go out to the family. I can't imagine what they are going through. I just set and cried for them this morning when I heard they found her body. I also have a 11 year old and it breaks my heart for their lose.
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