Missing Girl Spotted In Grass Valley

KCRA Channel ^ | March 6, 2003 | KCRA News Staff

[Dan Cooper]

Missing Girl Spotted In Grass Valley
Police Believe Girl Is Traveling With 56-Year-Old Man

POSTED: 10:35 a.m. PST March 6, 2003
UPDATED: 5:19 p.m. PST March 6, 2003
GRASS VALLEY, Calif. -- The search for missing Michigan girl has made its way to a Sierra foothills town.

According to authorities, 14-year-old Lindsey Ryan (pictured, right) was abducted from Jones, Mich. less than a week ago. She was spotted Wednesday at a Best Western motel in Grass Valley with 56-year-old Terry Drake -- a convicted killer, according to authorities.

Best Western workers said that the two checked in Tuesday afternoon at about 2 p.m., stayed for only one hour and used the shower in the room.

Maintenance workers said they got suspicious because the room the Drake rented had only one bed.

Drake checked in under his own name and paid cash.

A hotel clerk said the two told him they were headed toward the Yuba River to go camping.

Lindsey is described as 5 feet tall and 105 pounds. She has blue eyes, and investigators say she has died her hair black.

Drake (pictured, left) is described as 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds. Authorities say he has gray hair and hazel eyes.

Terry Drake

Police say Drake was driving a white Dodge Dakota with possible plates of 406211A and/or 229929A -- both out of the state of Indiana.

Investigators say that the two met at church and spent months communicating over the Internet. They say that Drake is considered very dangerous.

Authorities say Lindsey apparently took guns, ammunition and $4,000 in cash from her parent's house when she left.

[Dan Cooper]

BOLO

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Do you have the Michigan ping list for this?

Notice that she died her hair black. I am suspecting that she is more than a willing accomplice. Poor kid.

[WSGilcrest]

From the South Bend Tribune

The Saturday disappearance of 14-year-old Lindsey Ryan, of Jones, activated the Amber Alert system. Police believe Lindsey may have been abducted by 56-year-old Terry Drake, of Middlebury.

Photo provided

[Bogey78O]

Not necessarily. It's not like you can't coerce someone to dye their hair.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

A California ping list would be better. I doubt they are headed back to MI at this point in time.

[RecentConvert]

bump

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

She might not be on her way to Michigan, but there are many of us in Michigan who are praying for her safe return.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

I know, and since I grew up in MI, I sent the appropriate links regarding this missing girl to friends in MI.

[exnavy]

Thanks for the update, we are praying for her safe return.

[mombonn]

there are many of us in Michigan who are praying for her safe return.

Amen!

[SendShaqtoIraq]

"possible plates of 406211A and/or 229929A -- both out of the state of Indiana."

Not if they read like this they aren't. Indiana plates are 2 numbers, 1 letter, 4 numbers. No variation

Teresa

[Luis Gonzalez]

"She has blue eyes, and investigators say she has died her hair black."

Proof reading at this newspaper needs improvement.

[OldFriend]

Would truck or van or commercial plates be different than ordinary car plates?

And prayers of course, for the safe return of the young girl.

[GVnana]

The Yuba River canyon would be a nice place to dump a body, but I can't imagine they'd be dumb enough to give notice of their itinerary. From here, it's either I-80 to Reno or I-5 north to Oregon.

[hobbes1]

Or Mexico.

[rintense]

No, I wish I did have the Michigan PING list. Anyone else?

[GVnana]

Maybe. But the border is 750 miles away. The night before they arrived in Grass Valley they stayed in Stockton. Seem to be moving north.

[hobbes1]

Yes, and checked in under his own name, and let the girl be seen.

ALmost like he WANTED to be seen

[WhirlwindAttack]

possible plates of 406211A and/or 229929A -- both out of the state of Indiana." Not if they read like this they aren't. Indiana plates are 2 numbers, 1 letter, 4 numbers. No variation

Not Indiana truck plates

[GVnana]

Hmmm....