Two teens report kidnap attempt

The incident, involving girls from Crystal River High School, is not considered related to a similar case last week.

By BILL VARIAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 12, 2000

HOMOSASSA SPRINGS -- For the second time in about a week, deputies responded in force Tuesday to an attempted kidnapping report, this time involving two teenage girls waiting for the school bus.

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office does not regard the two incidents as related, though they bear some similarities.

"Nothing indicates that this case and the possible attempted kidnapping from last week are connected," said Ronda Hemminger Evan, a spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office.

Deputies responded to W Fishbowl Drive and S Acree Point shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday after two Crystal River High School girls, ages 13 and 15, reported being approached by a pickup with three men inside.

The girls were standing at the corner of Fishbowl and Acree where their school bus stops, at the entrance to the Sportsman's Cove mobile home subdivision. One man asked one of the girls her mother's name.

"She replied," Evan said. "And the suspect said, "You need to come with me.' "

Both girls ran instead.

Deputies set up checkpoints along roads leading out of Homosassa Springs and dispatched a Sheriff's Office helicopter to search for a black pickup truck. It was not found. Evan said the truck is believed to be a newer model, possibly a Chevrolet with an extended cab.

The driver and two passengers were described as white and wearing white T-shirts. No further description was available. Later in the afternoon, authorities labeled the report a suspicious incident after getting conflicting stories from the girls. Deputies still are investigating the matter.

On April 4, deputies say, a 15-year-old girl was walking home from school on W Dunklin Street in Crystal River when a man pulled alongside her and tried to persuade her to get in the car. He offered her a ride and when she declined, he persisted, she told deputies.

A witness who saw the man, driving an older, two-door white car, possibly an Oldsmobile with a luggage rack on the trunk, reported the incident when she saw the driver pass the girl, turn around and pull up next to her.

In that case, deputies released a sketch of the suspect; he is white, about 5 feet 7 and weighing 160 to 170 pounds. He reportedly spoke with slurred speech and smelled of cigarettes.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.