Investigators in North Carolina are searching for a man suspected of kidnapping an 11-year-old girl in Mebane while she waited for the school bus and then sexually assaulting her, according to deputies in Alamance County.
Around 7:10 a.m. Tuesday, deputies with the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office responded to a child abduction in Mebane, according to KTLA sister station WGHP in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Officers arrived at the scene and were advised that an 11-year-old girl had been kidnapped while waiting for the school bus. A boy who was also at the bus stop witnessed the abduction, authorities said.
Shortly before 8 a.m., the victim flagged down a driver who drove her back to the scene.
The victim told authorities the suspect drove her to a church where he assaulted her in the parking lot. The man drove away from the scene and the victim left on foot.
Authorities described him as white, tall, and possibly between the ages of 35 to 45. He was wearing dark pants, a gray, ribbed long-sleeve shirt, light brown boots and a red baseball cap. He was also described as having light facial hair.
The man is believed to be driving a gray, four-door vehicle, possibly a Buick or similar type car. It may have a sticker on the back that includes a skull, investigators said.
The Alamance-Burlington School System issued an incident advisory to parents on Tuesday:
“This is a very important safety message from Alamance-Burlington Schools and the Alamance County Sheriff’s Department for all of our parents and student bus riders. Today we received a report from the Alamance County Sheriff’s Department that this morning, one of our student bus riders from Hawfields Middle School was forcibly taken by an unidentified male adult while waiting at the bus stop. The student was later released and is assisting the Sheriff’s Department which continues to investigate all possible leads and has released descriptive information to all media outlets.
It is extremely important to review our bus safety procedures. We want to remind all students when walking to and from the bus stop each day to pay attention to their surroundings. Walk with other students, wait in a group or with an adult when possible and remember, to never accept a ride from anyone in a car or truck, Run away if at all possible if approached. Observe all safety rules and always report any suspicious activity to your bus driver, parents or another responsible adult. These safety procedures were also reviewed with students this afternoon at school.”