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NEWS RELEASE For
Immediate Release |
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Clearwater Police Investigators released tonight a forensic drawing of a man, with similar characteristics, to the man they believe responsible for the New Year's Eve abduction of a five-year-old boy, according to Clearwater Police Chief Sid Klein. The abduction three weeks ago of the child garnered national attention from various television programs including America's Most Wanted. After last Saturday night's broadcast of the Fox program, police received over 60 tips from viewers of the show; however, none of the tips led to either a suspect or the suspect vehicle. So far, Clearwater Police have run down over 300 tips on this case. America's Most Wanted brought in a professional forensic artist who specializes in high-profile cases. The artist, Jeanne Boylan, worked with the victim and witnesses during this past week and produced a forensic drawing (attached). The drawing is also available on the Clearwater Police Departments web site, www.clearwaterpolice.org, and copies are available at the main headquarters building, 645 Pierce Street. Ms. Boylan has been in this line of work for twenty-three years and has authored a book titled Portraits of Guilt. Some of her more notable cases include the Unabomber, the Polly Klass kidnapping, and the Okalahoma City bombing. Ms. Boylan said she agreed to take on this case, because, "this one sounds like it's very, very worthwhile in terms of not just potential resolution, but in the possibility of stopping this perpetrator before he attacks another or even kills a child if he has not already." She stresses that the forensic drawing is that of a man with similar facial characteristics of the suspect, but that other areas of the suspects face may be different. On New Year's Eve, the five-year-old boy was kidnapped from the parking lot of his 2690 Drew Street apartment complex in Clearwater. The boy was located about 80 miles north of Clearwater, after spending 10 hours with the abductor. The child climbed out of a garbage dumpster near I-75 and State Road 48. The boy was slightly injured, but did not require any medical treatment. Clearwater Police released last week a picture of a truck believed to be similar in appearance to the truck the suspect was driving. It is described as a dirty, mid-sized, possibly smaller, white pick-up truck with an extended cab. It has an automatic transmission, with gray interior, rear fold- down seats, light-tinted windows, and a rear-sliding window. The truck has a silver, metallic type container in the bed of the truck next to the rear window. The truck also may have the words "Stone Cold Steve Austin" on its side or bumper and may also have symbols of ice cream cones and/or waves on the sides. It is not believed that the suspect or the truck has any affiliation with the World Wrestling Federation. The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male, five feet five inches to five feet eight inches tall and between 20 and 40 years of age. He has dark hair with a slight wave, dark eyebrows, and was clean-shaven with discolored teeth. His hair length is most probably no longer than two inches and may be longer in the back. He was described by the victim as being dirty and not having any earrings or rings. He was last seen wearing a black and white jacket, dark blue jeans, and brown non-athletic type shoes. Police are asking people to phone in any tips they may have which will help them locate a man with similar characteristics as the one seen in the forensic picture and/or someone driving a truck similar in appearance to the picture police have released to the Clearwater Police Department at 727-562-4422. For further information on this incident, contact Public Information Sergeant Doug Griffith at 727-562-4347.
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