A brave 9-year-old is reportedly safe and sound after escaping from an alleged abductor’s vehicle. According to authorities, it was a close call that could have had a far more troubling conclusion had the child not fled.
According to Stafford County Sherrif’s Office, the attempted abduction unfolded Friday in Stafford County, Virginia, when the little girl was walking home from a local bus stop.
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“This afternoon at 2:50 p.m. deputies responded to Embrey Mill subdivision for an attempted abduction of a child,” a statement explains. “The initial investigation revealed a nine-year-old girl was walking home from a bus stop on Embrey Mill Road when she was approached by a stranger asking her for directions.”
What purportedly happened next is a parent’s worst nightmare.
The accused allegedly snatched the child, carried her to his car, and put her in the passenger seat. That’s when the little girl boldly made a move to escape his clutches.
“As the suspect went around the car to the driver’s side, the brave young girl was able to open the passenger door and escape,” the sheriff’s office said.
Officers later arrested a man named Steven Randall Williams, 34, accusing him of attempting to abduct the child.
He was reportedly found after members of the public sent tips and shared a photo of his car, according to WTTG-TV.
It took around 12 hours for police to apprehend the suspect, as reports indicate he reportedly declined to come out when police arrived at his home. A K-9 was allegedly used to arrest him.
Williams, charged with attempted child abduction, is being held without bond, WTTG-TV reported.
Pray for the little girl and her family who are likely still grappling with the emotional toll of this stressful situation.
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