10-Year-Old Violet Hay Found Safe After Oregon Abduction; Suspect in Custody
A 10-year-old girl abducted from her Oregon apartment was found safe over 12 hours later, with a suspect arrested.
A 10-year-old girl, Violet Hay, who was reported abducted from her Canby, Oregon apartment overnight, was found safe on Wednesday afternoon, authorities announced.
Violet was located at a residence in Oregon City at approximately 2:45 p.m. local time, more than 12 hours after the initial report of her kidnapping. The discovery came after a coordinated search involving local and state authorities, as well as the FBI.
Canby Police Chief Jose Gonzalez announced the positive outcome during a news conference, expressing relief. "I have great news. We found her safe and alive," Gonzalez stated, appearing emotional. He confirmed that a suspect was taken into custody at the residence where Violet was found, following a SWAT team operation.
The incident began early Wednesday morning when officers responded to an apartment complex in Canby around 1:47 a.m. Investigators determined that an unknown male had entered an apartment, assaulted Violet's 12-year-old sister, and abducted Violet.
Chris Owen, Clackamas County chief deputy district attorney, described the assault on the 12-year-old sister as "vicious." The older sister was transported to a local hospital and remains under treatment, according to Canby Police Capt. James Murphy. Murphy characterized the day's events as "very dynamic" and confirmed the investigation is ongoing.
Authorities stated that the results of the investigation would be submitted to the district attorney's office on Thursday morning for charging decisions. Police did not take questions from the press, citing the active nature of the investigation. During the search, investigators were interviewing family members and collecting surveillance footage.
Chief Gonzalez extended his gratitude to all agencies and individuals involved in the search, stating their assistance was crucial. He added, "As a parent, I was anxious and I wanted to get it resolved, and I'm so glad that we found her alive and well."
In response to the incident, the Canby School District announced an increased police presence at Carus Elementary School, where Violet is a student, out of an abundance of caution. The district acknowledged the concern such news can cause for families and emphasized the importance of community support during difficult times.
This article was written by AI based on publicly available news reporting. Original reporting by the linked source.
