Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Convicted child molester arrested

A phone tip leads authorities to Frederick Fretz, 42, who was hitchhiking near Interstate 75.

Related 10 News video:

Kidnapper arrested

The convicted sex offender wanted in the abduction of an 11-year-old Dunnellon boy from his school was arrested in Cartersville, Ga., on Sunday, two days after the boy was found safe.

Frederick Fretz, 42, was hitchhiking along Main Street near Interstate 75, authorities said.

Police Sgt. Mike Powell of nearby Emerson, Ga., whose department is involved in the case, said a phone tip Sunday afternoon said Fretz appeared to be hitchhiking in Cartersville. Fretz was arrested without incident at about 2:30 p.m. and was held in the Bartow County Jail, Powell said.

Police say Fretz picked up the boy at Dunnellon Elementary on Tuesday and headed north. The trip with the boy ended when his car broke down on an exit ramp off Interstate 75, just north of Atlanta. The discovery of the abandoned car Friday triggered the search for the 11-year-old, which ended less than 12 hours later.

Emerson police received a call that day when Fretz and the boy went to a store to buy a gallon of water and some candy, Powell said.

The boy was found about 2 miles from the car. Fretz fled into the woods and eluded police.

There was no indication the boy was abused or molested.

Fretz was held on Florida warrants for violation of probation and failure to register as sex offender, a felony, said Marion County Sheriff's Capt. Dennis Strow. There was also a federal warrant issued for kidnapping.

It will take at least a couple of days to bring Fretz back to Florida, Strow said. If he is brought back on the federal warrant, U.S. marshals would bring him.

Strow said decisions about extradition and how to continue with additional charges were still being decided.

"That's all being discussed right now," he said.

[Last modified January 24, 2005, 01:31:19]