He was reportedly cooperative, but there wasn't enough evidence to connect him to any wrongdoing in Latoya's missing person case. @WireImgId=11191138. Lisa replied thanking him and asking about traffic. The post was likely a reference to Richard Marc Evonitz. February 02, 2021 ", Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office - Roger L. Harris Sheriff, after police sought him out for questioning. EVIDENCE BACKS MISSING WOMAN'S STEPFATHER, WHO SAYS HE DROPPED HER OFF AT THE MALL. When Kaitlin announced to her family just how in love she and Amber were, the family was more than supportive. The fact she left cash in her luggage tells me nothing at all. internal medicine tullahoma, tn. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Furthermore, authorities have stated that surveillance footage obtained from cameras in the area where she was dropped off has corroborated with the statements given by her stepfather. Pearce says that investigators have spoken to the girl in question. The teen reportedly said she had wanted to visit a mall near the airport first to kill some time. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? She was going to take the metro to the airport since there is a stop at Reagan.. However, she never made that flight, and hasnt been seen or heard from since her stepfather reportedly dropped her off. Stepfather is not a suspect in disappearance of 19 year old Katelin Akens. Also did they ever use thermal cameras over surrounding wooded areas or watery areas. The mall was beside a metro station so James told Lisa that Katelin planned to get the metro directly from the mall to the airport. The area has been home to at least one serial killer, including Richard Marc Evonitz, who was accused of killing three different girls in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. 'Hopefully we will have justice:' Who killed Katelyn Markham? - FOX19 This leads investigators to believe the suitcase was thrown. Stephen Tschida (@ABC7Stephen) December 9, 2015, Surveillance cameras corroborate Katelin Akens stepfathers account of events before she went missing: https://t.co/7NZZvfXgIU, NewsChannel 8 (@NewsChannel8) December 9, 2015. Gabriela had a new baby, a baby boy, and Katelin wanted to meet her nephew so she arranged to go back home to Virginia on a four day trip. You need ALL 3 of those things to start new elsewhere. I . One of Katelin'sfriends said that on the night of the 4th of December, one night before she went missing, Katelinwent out with two friends. One constant in Katelins life was her best friend Amber Rios. The 19-year-old moved to Lake Havasu City, Arizona, just days after her 18th birthday in 2014, to live with her fiance. Due to the condition of the luggage, the wheel was broken and the bag was scuffed, police believed that it may have been thrown out of a moving car. Latoya Thomas Vanished In 2000; Her BF Allegedly Murdered New GF At 1:52pm that afternoon, Lisa got a text from James: A few moments later at 2:00 pm Lisa got a text from Katelin: Im at the airport. The missing items are clothes, high school diploma and phone. But James said she did notmention meeting up with anyone and she simply wanted to waste a bit of time at the mall before going to the airport. It was him and he got away with it. Though her family doesnt think shed hide from them to avoid a breakup, the police arrange an intense stakeout just to be sure shes not hiding with any of her friends. But when police looked at the location records for James' phone, they discovered that his phone pinged close to his home when he sent Lisa the text message to say he had dropped Katelin off. Officials tell PEOPLE there's no connection between the cases. Her mother had dropped her off at Branton's home, and he said he'd drive her to Washington-Reagan National Airport, 80 miles north, for a flight home to her . According to James, he dropped Katelin off at the Springfield mall with her intending to take the metro to the airport. All FBI Email Updates Im not coming back today, Ill let you know when I get a new flight. In a separate text, she immediately texts, I wont be able to text for a bit. (Unsure if they ever disclosed where her phone pinged at this time. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Furthermore, authorities have stated that . It's Katelin's. And what's inside may put a di. Pearce said the case is not connected to the murder of a young woman, Heather Ciccone, who was found shot dead in a car in Spotsylvania Sunday. Not one concerned call or text. Currently, investigators are working on finding where the text was sent from, geographically, to determine whether or not it is evidence behind what happened to her. Initially he cooperated fully with investigators, and everytime he shared his explanation of the events they say his story stayed consistent. Gabrielle: Almost six years. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. At that point, Lisas ex-husband, James Branton, agreed to drop Katelin off at the airport about 80 miles away. Ciccones death is more perplexing. I dont think it matters too much, but I just want to say that youll notice different timing on these things depending on which source you look at. If these have been answered, please feel free to answer or correct me. In 2015, 19 year old Katelin Akens was to fly from Virgina to - Reddit Lisa didnt think Katelin sent those texts. Missing From SPRINGFIE https://t.co/HLX4NWjFc0, Amber UNOFFICIAL (@AmberAlertTWEET) December 9, 2015. However, authorities have confirmed that Katelin Akens' stepfather is not a person of interest or a suspect in her disappearance. She wanted to look around for a while instead of just waiting inside the airport. Lisa dropped Katelin off with James at 9:20 that morning before work, and they had a great chance to catch up at home for a few hours before they made the drive 60 miles out to the airport from Partlow where James lived. If she is out there, is she going to be the same Katelin we know? Her flight was scheduled for 5:00pm. She also has gauge-type piercings in her ears. Katelin Michelle Akens, 19, was last seen on Saturday after her stepfather dropped her off near a commuter rail station on her way to the airport. I need some time alone.". 1 Comment, "My family and myself are good, decent and very honest people. Interviewer: So, Katelin, how long has it been since you last saw her? Lisa found this alarming behavior from someone who was supposed to be a loving dad figure. 00:02:43. So much so, that when Lisa asked if he could bring Katelin to the airport, he said that it was no problem and he would be happy to do it. Case: Katelin was supposed to fly back to her home in Arizona. Sheriff's office: Person of interest identified in Katelyn - WLWT The hope was that he would change his mind about not cooperating with the police. February 04, 2022, "The criminal justice system will take a hard look at what happened to Matthew Eappen. These texts were pinged by interstate 95- Stafford county. 11:56am- Amber gets a text from Katelins phone. Um, I dont really sugarcoat it. He claimed that Katelin told him there was a lot of drinking involved and she believed they forced themselves on her. Investigators launched a desperate search to bring her home, but with each new piece of evidence, they learned that home may not have been the safest place for her. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. "It sounds as if there may be yet another serial killer in Spotsylvania County," one local posted on Facebook Tuesday. Theyare in our work places, our friendship groups and sometimes even our homes. Katelins phone never pinged far from James house. Stepfather of missing Spotsylvania teen says he dropped her off - WJLA She believes fervently that her ex-husband holds the key to finding Katelin. Sometime after this, Amber texts Lisa saying how Katelin texted her about not coming back. the body of 21 year old Heather Ciccone. Later that day, Amber reached out to Lisa. TxDPS - Missing and Unidentified Persons Online Bulletin ", by Chilling Crimes Her bodywas found slumped over the steering wheel of a vehicle parked outside a Spotsylvania residence. The investigation into her disappearance will make you question everything . According to Lisa- The mall is not one that Katelin was familiar with, and neither was the metro. Race. There are predators everywhere. We have worked with, what, three psychics? Detective Sharon Williams told WTTG-TV. He was a no call no show, and he actually never went back to work there again. 3. Pearce wouldn't comment on the contents of the suitcase or whether anything had been removed. Growing up, Kaitlin was described as nurturing, adoring little kids and loving to help others in any way she could. Katelin stated to this friend she felt remorseful and awful about the entire thing. This subreddit is about unsolved mysteries. We are not going to turn down any information.. Her suitcase was then found 45 miles away . Welcome back, everyone. It was the 5th of December 2015. Police looked into whether Katelin decided to leave of her own accord. They all kept in friendly contact, Lisa eventually remarried again, and all the family relationships seemed to be going well. Family told CBS affiliate WTVR that she texted them to let them know she had made it to the airport, but she never boarded the flight and they haven't heard from her since. Neither Tammy or Angela showed up to their classes and were last seen hitchhiking in the city. Lisa reported Katelin missing. And to add to the uneasy feeling this was giving her family, Lisa says that the text messages simply werent sent in Katelins style of texting. They never thought she was Katelin, but the fear was that they may have met the same fate. Carter was the last known person to see Katelyn . He also agreed to a polygraph, then denied on the day off. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published.