Missing Montrose Teen Found Safe in New Mexico

Henry County Sheriff’s Department Major Rob Hills made the announcement in a press conference this afternoon just hours after issuing an amber alert in search of the 13-year-old Montrose teen who had been missing since Sunday.

Hills said New Mexico State Police located 55-year-old Raymond C. Vallia and Hannah Sue Kennish traveling an interstate highway near Albuquerque, New Mexico. After following the black Ford truck for some distance a stop was made. Kennish was taken into protective custody and Vallia was arrested. Hills said state charges against Vallia could come as soon as today or Tuesday morning and could range from kidnapping, child abduction and several others.

As it appears Vallia traveled with Kennish across state boundaries federal charges could also be forthcoming. Earlier Monday investigators had looked to the state of Texas but Hills declined to say whether Vallia lives in that state. The suspect truck is registered with Texas license plates. Hills did say that authorities know Vallia had lived in Texas within the last two years. He also said a records search indicates Vallia has no criminal record.

Evidence indicates Kennish and Vallia had some sort of online relationship via social media sites. So far evidence has been located by the FBI for accounts held by Kennish on Pintrest, Tumbler and Kick, all popular social chat sites. An FBI digital forensics team located accounts linked to Kennish with profile information indicating she was older than 13. Also found are chat conversations between Vallia and Kennish.

Major Hills could not say if Vallia knew Kennish was 13-years-old. Thus far digital records indicate the two had been communicating online for at least four months. Digital devices including cells phones and a computer tablet were examined by the FBI team who were able to locate the conversations and “fake” online accounts. Hills called some of the communications between the 13 and 55-year-old as “shocking.”

“She will be home either tonight or in the morning.” said Hills of the young girl. As for Vallia, he is being held in New Mexico with state, local and federal charges pending.

Authorities credit the Amber Alert system for developing the leads that led to locating Kennish alive and safe.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Department was first alerted to a missing child Sunday morning at approximately 10:15 a.m. Hannah’s mother told authorities Sunday she last saw her daughter at approximately 8 a.m. but when she looked in again at approximately 10 a.m. Hannah was not to be found and the rear door of the residence was found open. Monday afternoon Hills said her mother had spoken to Hannah by phone at 3 a.m.

Earlier Monday morning Hills said initial investigation at the home indicated the possibility this was not an abduction but that authorities were treating it as one.
At approximately 1:30 p.m. Monday the Amber Alert was issued which generated numerous leads including information from the state of Texas. Hills said it was the alert system that led investigators to New Mexico and located the suspect vehicle.

Courtesy of The Henry County Sheriffs Office
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