Here is an article about a man arrested in walmart there for trying to molest a child in the store.
http://www.momlogic.com/2009/10/man_in_wheelchair_tackles_child_molester_at_walmart.php
What a hero. Thanks for sharing the link, Soulmagent. Hopefully that guy is still locked up?
I had to take a break from this for a while. I was watching a movie that included many child abuse/rape scenes, and it really upset me and made me mourn even more for Jessica. Normally things like that don't affect me on such an emotional level, (I've been a true crime junkie for years), but then yesterday evening it came out on the local news here that a woman witnessed a child being abducted in broad daylight. Their bike was left behind on the street. But, the LE can't figure out who the child was. Anyway, I was just overwhelmed with anger and sadness yesterday ... it is a very dark, scary world out there.
I'll bet the perp was at the memorial. If not at the actual service, maybe he drove by or stayed close to the area in hopes of seeing her family.
On another tangent, I walked to the store yesterday afternoon. On my way, I was thinking what someone could approach me with that would give me pause. Normally I ignore men TOTALLY (I'm married & I watch too much Criminal Minds ... :rocker
, whether I'm walking, in line at the store, at the gas station ... if it's a group conversation or a simple "How are you? Nice day isn't it?" I may nod or smile... that's it though, even if it seems innocent or just small talk, I never want to give someone that opportunity to catch me off guard. Now, Jessica wasn't hyper vigilant about RSOs and strange men (I'm sure she was aware, just not to the degree that an adult would be IMO).
The only thing I could come up with that might be plausible in this situation is the "lost puppy" scenario. I know there was an attempted abduction in the area using that ruse. It didn't work that time, so maybe he did things to make it seem more truthful ... printed out a picture, bought a leash ... Personally, I am an animal lover, and I have had animals lost in the past, so if someone were to ask, have you seen my dog?, I would at least stop and look at the photo from the outside of the vehicle. Most people drive around when their dog is lost. However, a ten year old may not take the proper precautions. If it were me, I'd be asking lots of Q's. Where do you live? Is that where it got lost? Does it come to it's name? What is your phone number so I can call you if I see it? A ten year old might have been lured into the car to go look, or something of that nature. I'm chilled when I remember Jessica's family stating that she liked to pretend to be grown up ... someone probably took advantage of that fact.
