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Child Abduction

Updated: Tue 10:59 AM, Sep 12, 2006
Video will be available shortly

Police are looking for a man who abducted a child from a Vinton County School in broad daylight. The most frightening part is the school had no idea the child was missing.

The 10-year-old boy says he's lucky. He was not harmed in the abduction.

Ryan Wilbur and his parents said not only do they want to see the kidnapper put behind bars, they want tighter security at their children's school.

Wilbur is safe at home, playing with his family and their pet cat. Earlier Monday, Ryan’s day took a dangerous turn. When he says a man kidnapped him from school.

Ryan Wilbur tells us about what happened, “He took off my shoes, threw them out the window. He took off my shirt and threw it out.”

Police say the abductor came to Hamden Elementary at 11:30 Monday morning. Walked through the doors to the gymnasium and grabbed Ryan Wilbur. He then dragged him down the steps and threw him in his car. Ryan says his kidnapper drove him down Elm Street until it dead-ended. Apparently, he got cold feet, a little nervous and threw his shoes and clothes out and told him to go home.

Roger Wilbur, Ryan’s father, was pale as a sheet, couldn't speak and scared to death.

Ryan’s parents say they hope in the future, the school will keep all doors to the school closed.

Janet Wilbur says, “I was real upset and didn't know what to think. One parent who didn't want to be seen on camera says schools need to be more concerned with who is getting in than who is getting out.

The Wilbur family hopes somebody can help police catch their son’s abductor before he strikes again.

Police say they need your help. The suspect drove a black four door car with bucket seats and floor gear shift. The driver's seat had a rainbow colored cover. The back window had a 3 by 5 inch decal on the passenger side. Ryan told his parents his abductor had a shotgun and a bag of money in the back seat.

Anyone with information can call the Vinton County Sheriff's Department at 1-800-835-9559


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