GUILTY VA - AMB, 12, Abducted, Henry County, Bassett, 12 Feb 2021 *Arrest*

[elliefant]

• The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Southwestern Virginia Internet Crimes against Children Task Force on Thursday 02-11-21 re concerning messages exchanged by Merritt and Broadaway.
• The Task Force had been contacted by a “social media platform” that had flagged inappropriate messages via “improved filtering systems.”

I didn’t know apps had this capability, thank goodness they acted on it.
Delighted she is safe.

 

[Gibbo214]

• The Henry County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by the Southwestern Virginia Internet Crimes against Children Task Force on Thursday 02-11-21 re concerning messages exchanged by Merritt and Broadaway.
• The Task Force had been contacted by a “social media platform” that had flagged inappropriate messages via “improved filtering systems.”

I didn’t know apps had this capability, thank goodness they acted on it.
Delighted she is safe.

And the messages must have been very extreme to set off the filters.

 

[Simply Southern]

And the messages must have been very extreme to set off the filters.

The Sheriff said...the messages were distributing but not enough to obtain an arrest warrant. They were able to seize his electronic devices, and obtained a search warrant for the device which lead to the initial arrest warrant.

 

[Simply Southern]

Henry County has 50k residents, everybody knows everybody. Sheriff Perry was an up and coming deputy when the Jennifer Short abduction and murder happened. He was determined we would not fail, with AB.

The entire City was without power during this event, but that didn't stop our LE !!!! All roads were iced over, trees down and high call volume due to the "Ice" storm. Every available officer, the Commonwealth Attorney were all at the Sheriff's dept working to bring her home.

We finally won one, thank GOD!!!

Again , thanks to you for all the prayers, forwarding and reposting the amber alert. Another child saved!!!

@Tillicum for creating the thread in my moment of panic, thank you a million times over

Moo....

 

[Simply Southern]

Interview with great grandmother who has raised AB, prior to be located. Shows the wooded area, he may have camped.


Loved Ones Speak About Previously Missing 12-year-old Out Of Henry County

 

[Tealgrove]

What was this guy thinking? He'd been flagged. Cops had talked him. He knew he was on their radar and yet he carried on. SMH

He had to know that he would be caught.

Not trying to defend him by any means but I'm wondering if there is some type of cognitive disability at play here. Seriously, he didn't leave her alone and brazenly kidnapped this child.

Sure is ballsy but he's done now for the rest of his life. Sex Offender forever. So be it.

So glad she's been found.

MOO

 

[MimosaMornings]

I wonder if Allie at 12 was feeling restricted during Covid living with her great grandmother versus parents/grandmother?

I’m so glad she was found!!

 

[Simply Southern]

I wonder if Allie at 12 was feeling restricted during Covid living with her great grandmother versus parents/grandmother?

I’m so glad she was found!!

In the interview posted, the great grandmother said AB has lived most all her life with the GGM.

AB goes to Henry County Schools, they have been in person until Christmas, online for Jan and then back to in person. They've have all after school and extra curricular activities, running full steam and serve breakfast, lunch and dinner onsite at all the schools.


Restaurant in door dining, movie theaters, game rooms, really everything in HC is open. We had the Christmas parade, national NASCAR races, 5ks, hosted regional and state soccer and lacrosse competition for VA and even NC, most sports are playing.

This town did NOT lock down. If you don't notice the masks, you wouldn't know we are in a pandemic. We ain't missing a beat here in SW VA. (Yes, we held the state record for percentage of cases for several weeks and some of us fought like heck to get testing sites!)


Moo.... He lured her in, just like all predators. Sheriff said, there is more to come...AB is NOT the only one. FBI is involved.


Links...Martinsville Speedway - Martinsville Speedway
Henry County Public Schools / Overview

 

[MoeInVA]

I wonder if Allie at 12 was feeling restricted during Covid living with her great grandmother versus parents/grandmother?

I’m so glad she was found!!

I hope this will be noted as a lesson taught widely to law enforcement, that warning the family is not enough to protect the victim in some cases.

In this case, she went missing what I believe was less than 24 hours after they warned the family. This family (or perhaps sole great grandmother) was apparently unable to keep a tight leash for 24 hours. In fact the gap in which LE said AB went missing was quite a long stretch - I believe it was 10 am -2pm. So apparently no one had checked on her for 4 hours the very next day after police warned them.

I also don’t want to see this family broken up, but this 12 year old seems to need more protection than her current home is able to provide currently. What’s to stop this from happening again? Is DSS involved?

JMO

 

[Gibbo214]

I hope this will be noted as a lesson taught widely to law enforcement, that warning the family is not enough to protect the victim in some cases.

In this case, she went missing what I believe was less than 24 hours after they warned the family. This family (or perhaps sole great grandmother) was apparently unable to keep a tight leash for 24 hours. In fact the gap in which LE said AB went missing was quite a long stretch - I believe it was 10 am -2pm. So apparently no one had checked on her for 4 hours the very next day after police warned them.

I also don’t want to see this family broken up, but this 12 year old seems to need more protection than her current home is able to provide currently. What’s to stop this from happening again? Is DSS involved?

JMO

I wonder where her parents and grandparents are. It is a little unusual for a great grandparent to have custody IMO.

 

[Simply Southern]

I hope this will be noted as a lesson taught widely to law enforcement, that warning the family is not enough to protect the victim in some cases.

In this case, she went missing what I believe was less than 24 hours after they warned the family. This family (or perhaps sole great grandmother) was apparently unable to keep a tight leash for 24 hours. In fact the gap in which LE said AB went missing was quite a long stretch - I believe it was 10 am -2pm. So apparently no one had checked on her for 4 hours the very next day after police warned them.

I also don’t want to see this family broken up, but this 12 year old seems to need more protection than her current home is able to provide currently. What’s to stop this from happening again? Is DSS involved?

JMO

Sheriff Perry has not released when he initially contacted the Grandmother/family date or actual time. The first and only reference is the MP call@1:45 pm.

HCSD was on this instantly. Sheriff stated, LE had already had encounters with Merritt. In small town everyone knows everyone. When a vechile shows up with Texas tags and hangs around, LE is on it. Tracked Merritt to a local gym, didn't have enough from the internet crime unit to arrest him, did seize his electronic devices. Knowing my small town, I can bet the Judge was waiting to sign a search warrant. Perry stated they were going through electronic communications from the phone carrier WHEN the missing person call was received.

AB could have easily exited a window and walked to meet him. Freezing rain and sleet started around 3AM and the roads were bad when she disappeared. The amber alert was quickly issused. They were spotted in Danville VA, 30 minutes away at 12:30 pm, prior to AA, by a Danville City officer.

I’m sure DSS will investigate per protocol but removing from home is unlikely. AB and Merritt communicated thru a private chat, most have no storage features. Even if the GGM looked at the phone, she probably would not have seen messages. Kids now jump online PlayStation or Xbox, pop on a headset and can speak with thousands of unknown predators, play games, join teams. Nope grandma can’t be blamed. Moo

MOO.. the blame is on this 21 yo predator. He was already on LE radar, per Sheriff “other” locals have communicated with him.

Initial interview Sheriff Lane Perry, also page has both press releases.
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[MoeInVA]

Sheriff Perry has not released when he initially contacted the Grandmother/family date or actual time. The first and only reference is the MP call@1:45 pm.

HCSD was on this instantly. Sherif stated, LE had already had encounters with Merritt. In small town everyone knows everyone. When a vechile shows up with Texas tags and hangs around, LE is on it. Tracked Merritt to a local gym, didn't have enough from the internet crime unit to arrest him, did seize his electronic devices. Knowing my small town, I can bet the Judge was waiting to sign a search warrant. Perry stated they were going through electronic communications from the phone carrier WHEN the missing person call was received.

AB could have easily exited a window and walked to meet him. Freezing rain and sleet started around 3AM and the roads were bad when she disappeared. The amber alert was quickly issused. They were spotted in Danville VA, 30 minutes away at 12:30 pm, prior to AA, by a Danville City officer.

I’m sure DSS will investigate per protocol but removing from home is unlikely. AB and Merritt communicated thru a private chat, most have no storage features. Even if the GGM looked at the phone, she probably would not have seen messages. Kids now jump online PlayStation or Xbox, pop on a headset and can speak with thousands of unknown predators, play games, join teams. Nope grandma can’t be blamed. Moo

MOO.. the blame is on this 21 yo predator. He was already on LE radar, per Sheriff “other” locals have communicated with him.

Initial interview Sheriff Lane Perry, also page has both press releases.
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Definitely the predator’s fault! Just worried for this 12 year old. She is just so young. Hope there is more family that can step in to provide additional support along with great grandma.

 

[Simply Southern]

Definitely the predator’s fault! Just worried for this 12 year old. She is just so young. Hope there is more family that can step in to provide additional support along with great grandma.

The Sheriff never stated who called in the MP call or the name of parentage of AB. WSLS showed a short clip of the GGM, who stated AB had lived there most of her life.

Moo...there is lots of support from ABs friends parents, the school, their church and neighbors. Reed Creek Dr is a tight community, most built there homes and the kids move back when the parents pass or the kids retire. President of the Board of Supervisors and several HC deputies live there. I’m sure everyone in our entire community is on alert, checking kids phones, having the “talk”, looking at out of state vechiles. It’s kinda of the way of a small town.

 

[Simply Southern]

Henry County abduction solved though investigators say more children may be involved

The Amber Alert ended in Henderson, North Carolina, about an hour north of Raleigh, on Saturday evening.

Capt. Chris Ball, with the Henderson Police Department, said they were called into help when investigators tracked Kaleb Merritt and the girl to their area. With help from the FBI and other agencies, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office was able to track an electronic device to break the case.

“Officers received that information and were in the area within five minutes and were able to locate the vehicle in question,” Ball said. “The street-level patrol officer was able to locate and apprehend this individual who appears to be perhaps a career individual on these types of incidents.”

<snipped>

Investigators now believe that Merritt was in communication with at least one other Henry County girl and another department somewhere else in the country is also looking for information about Merritt.

Merritt is described as a serial predator who traveled from Texas to Virginia, setting up camp behind his abduction victim’s home. Perry believed Merritt coerced his victim to go with him, rather than physically removing her from the home.

Although Merritt and his abduction victim had multiple social media contacts prior to the abduction, police were unable to arrest him due to a lack of probable cause. The Henry County Sheriff’s Office seized some electronic devices from Merritt the day before he fled town with the girl.

The victim’s family tells 10 News she continues to receive medical attention and is recovering from the incident.

 

[Tealgrove]

A serial predator. Nice.

Sure hope he goes away for a very long time. Problem is it won’t be long enough.

Once a predator always a predator. You can’t rehabilitate that.

MOO

 

[Simply Southern]

A serial predator. Nice.

Sure hope he goes away for a very long time. Problem is it won’t be long enough.

Once a predator always a predator. You can’t rehabilitate that.

MOO

Oh he will. Another case simular but not a serial predator and they did not cross state lines, the perp got 40 years.

Man found guilty of all charges in disappearance of Louisa teen

GUILTY - VA - IH, 14, taken by mothers ex-bf, Bruce Lynch, 34, Bumpass, Louisa County, 21 Oct 2019

 

[Simply Southern]

Warrants reveal what led to Henry County child abduction, Amber Alert

Kaleb Merritt, 21, now faces three felony charges in connection with the abduction and his interactions with the girl:

• Rape
• Using a communications system with means to solicit a girl under 15 years old
• Abducting a minor to make child

On Feb. 11, investigators received a notice from the Discord app about the actions of the 12-year-old girl, according to warrants.

More details in article...

 

[Sundog]

Warrants reveal what led to Henry County child abduction, Amber Alert

Kaleb Merritt, 21, now faces three felony charges in connection with the abduction and his interactions with the girl:

• Rape
• Using a communications system with means to solicit a girl under 15 years old
• Abducting a minor to make child

On Feb. 11, investigators received a notice from the Discord app about the actions of the 12-year-old girl, according to warrants.

More details in article...

He preyed on this child, thank God they found her when they did.

 

[LadyL]

Warrants reveal what led to Henry County child abduction, Amber Alert

Kaleb Merritt, 21, now faces three felony charges in connection with the abduction and his interactions with the girl:

• Rape
• Using a communications system with means to solicit a girl under 15 years old
• Abducting a minor to make child

On Feb. 11, investigators received a notice from the Discord app about the actions of the 12-year-old girl, according to warrants.

More details in article...

!@#$%^&*
I was so happy that she was found safe
I was hoping he hadn't assaulted her yet

 

[PommyMommy]

FEB 19, 2021
Charges filed in Henry County abduction case following recent AMBER Alert (wdbj7.com)
[...]

The app sent a report about the messages to authorities saying the reported user, that police now identify as Merritt, was a part of a group on the app that extorts female minors.

Warrants show Merritt and the victim exchanged messages and child through the app and the documents explicitly detail sexual acts between the two.

On February 11th, Merritt told the victim to leave her home and hide her phone after authorities contacted him.

The next day, she was reported missing after a family member found a suicide note.

[...]

According to the Southern Virginia Internet Crimes Against Children, the number of tips they received have increased by 71 percent in their region this year as kids are learning virtually.

Merritt is awaiting extradition in Henderson, North Carolina.