Police search for mystery child stalker
Calls continue to flood in following a rash of disturbing events involving a stranger photographing young children and the attempted abduction of an 11-year-old girl.
According to Sheriff Jackie Matheny, reports of the incidents of the past week have prompted responses from other nearby counties, who say similar incidents have happened there involving a person or persons of similar description.
“There’s definitely something weird going on and we plan to get to the bottom of it,” said Matheny following his discussions with authorities in at least two other counties. “If nothing else, we want to identify these people and speak with them.”
The concern comes after an unidentified male driving a white sedan-style car reportedly tried to entice an 11-year-old girl into his vehicle this past week. While the child was never touched, the girl’s mother said the whole episode was disturbing.
“He was obviously intending to do something,” said the mother of the girl regarding the incident outside their Jacksboro home. “I saw what was happening as he motioned for her, so I yelled toward him and he took off.”
The woman said the man had been seen slowly cruising in front of their home for about an hour and a half.
“At first I thought he was just lost or looking for a house but after a few times it became suspicious,” the mother said, noting the man, believed to be in his 30s, finally came to a stop during one pass and motioned for her daughter. “I’ve always warned them to be careful and to do anything they have to do to get away. But this still really scares me.”
While lawmen are investigating the attempted abduction, they are unsure if it is related to the rash of reports regarding a strange man taking pictures of young children playing in their yards. Thus far, reports have been received from parents on Hoover Drive, Shady Rest and Old Shelbyville Road. Reports of similar incidents involving a person in the same type of vehicle taking mysterious pictures have been received from two other counties.
“We had calls from a couple of other jurisdictions who saw the news reports, telling us they have had similar incidents,” Matheny said.
While such photography might not even bring a criminal charge, Matheny said investigators strongly suspect there is more to the incidents than just photography.
“We for sure want to talk to this person and have a little prayer meeting with him,” Matheny said, noting a man fitting the same description as the photographer here bolted when confronted by a parent in a nearby county. “Why would a person run off like that if he weren’t up to no good?”
Matheny is asking for the public’s help in identifying both the attempted abductor and the photographer. Anyone having information regarding either his identity or recent incidents should call one of the local law enforcement agencies.