This story highlights the tragic fact that children are not safe in their own homes. The first case that highlighted this fact, at least in my memory, was that of 13-yr-old Polly Klaus. The police were unwilling to believe that anyone would act so brazenly as to snatch a girl in front of her friends during a sleep-over. They even went so far as to view her father as a suspect.

Predators can and do strike whenever they choose, even entering people’s homes and snatching children. What’s truly sad is that there are so many of them in our midst, and some have yet to be arrested and entered in the sexual predator database. The David Westerfield case in California comes to mind.

LBG

Why?

Compare the reaction of Haleigh’s parent’s to that of Caley Anthony’s. Both had their beautiful daughters abducted, but I don’t see Haleighs parents getting a tatoo saying “its a beautiful life” and euphorically partying at their local nigh club.

From the facts of this case gathered so far, it seems obvious that she was kidnapped by someone who was familiar with this family. They knew how to get in quietly, left the door open for a quick retreat and was gone before the father got home at 3:30 am. The tracking dogs also scented the little girl to the river.

The person that took Haleigh probably watched her for some time. He knew when the father would be out and when he would return. He was probably close enough to know where they slept and that the girlfriend usually got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. He probably unlocked the back door sometime before the abduction and made sure there was something there to hold the door open. He carefully planned his getaway and most likely using a boat to access one of the many off shoots from the St. John’s river. This was a carefully orchestrated attack by someone from the area who knew the daily habits of this family. He probably waited for the girlfriend to leave the bed to use the restroom and took Haleigh then. I don’t see how you could snatch a sleeping 5 year old from a bed and not wake an adult sleeping next to her.

The police should look in the woods near this house because thats where he probably hid while watching this family. Maybe he smoked or left garbage that would lead to him somehow. If there were a certain brand of cigarette butts or candy wrappers recently discarded, they could check the local convience store for sales. There may be a video of the individual purchasing these items. I would also check gas stations in the area because he probably filled gas tanks for his boat. I’m confident that he practiced the get-a-way and probably used a boat to a remote location where he left his car. She’s close, someone this careful in his planning wouldn’t take the risk of transporting her very far.

Her grandmother’s comment of sensing that Haleigh is nearby and screaming is probably more accurate than we want to believe.