Man Attempts To Abduct 9-Year-Old Amish Boy; Boy Escapes, Abductor Still At Large (UPDATE: Vehicle Photo Released)

This stomach-turning story is just appearing on news feeds. Yesterday, a young Amish boy apparently escaped an abduction attempt in Juniata County, Pennsylvania.

The alleged abductor is still at large. More from ABC 27:

JUNIATA COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A boy in Juniata County was able to get away from a man who forced him into a vehicle on Tuesday, Pennsylvania State Police say.

State Police at Lewistown said they are investigating the incident that happened in the 1900 block of Locust Run Road in Walker Township. State Police were contacted around 4 p.m. about a possible abduction of a 9-year-old Amish boy.

After interviews were conducted, Troopers said they learned a “light colored, possibly white van/SUV” stopped at the boy’s farm, and a man forced him into the vehicle.

The suspect drove a short distance, but the boy was able to get away and return home, Troopers said.

Juniata County is home to a long-established Amish settlement (founded in 1950). The area is home to over 1,300 Amish people.

There is a description of the would-be abductor, though there’s not a lot to it, via PA State Police: “he is possibly 30 years old, and he was wearing grey pants with a gray short-sleeved t-shirt, and he had glasses on.”

So they have that, and a general description of a “light colored, possibly white van/SUV”. Anyone with information is requested to call PSP Lewistown at (717) 320-1010.

There are a few public posts on Facebook about it but nothing from a law enforcement source that I’ve been able to find as of now.

That’s about it for details in this initial report. No information on how the boy was able to get away, but thank God he did.

This is not the first time Amish children have been targeted for abduction. And you don’t want to think for a minute what that person had in mind.

Update: Vehicle Photo

They have released a photo of the suspect’s vehicle:

That seems to fit the initial description of a “light colored, possibly white van/SUV”.

There is one additional detail as well: the boy was selling pumpkins at a stand when the attempted kidnapping happened.

Update #2: More Details

Further details on what happened from CBS 21:

The boy, described by Pennsylvania State Police as Amish, was selling pumpkins between 3:30 p.m. and 4: 30 p.m. at a stand in Walker Township when a white man, possibly in his 30s, approached him.

After purchasing multiple items from the stand, the man grabbed the child after he turned his back to him, and forced him into his vehicle.

Authorities stated a few minutes went by in the white four door SUV before the boy escaped the moving vehicle and ran away into a cornfield.

Video surveillance caught the SUV as PSP is working on finding the driver responsible.

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