Posted on 01/21/2005 12:46:48 PM PST by varina davis
Suspect's Car Found in Missing Boy Case
January 21, 2005 2:48 PM EST
ATLANTA - Authorities searching for a missing 11-year-old Florida boy said an abandoned car was found in Georgia on Friday belonging to a convicted child molester suspected of taking him.
Investigators suspect that Frederick Fretz, 42, picked up 11-year-old Adam Kirkirt on Tuesday at his school in Dunnellon, Fla., and left the state with him. An Amber Alert was issued Wednesday.
Officials said Fretz had been living with Adam and his father, Ivan Kirkirt, and that Fretz frequently took the boy to and from school.
Fretz's car was abandoned near Interstate 75 in Bartow County, about 40 miles north of Atlanta. "It appears it broke down," said police Sgt. Mike Powell. "There was a lot of antifreeze under the car."
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued its own Amber Alert after learning the car was found so close to the state line. The alert said the two may be hitchhiking northward on Interstate 75.
The FBI was examining the car, which had its license plate removed and had some camping gear in it, Powell said. He said K-9 units were being brought to help search the area, but there was no immediate sign of Fretz or the boy.
"I would assume they went north since they were traveling north at the time," he said.
Florida authorities had issued an Amber Alert after they learned that Fretz had been convicted in 1991 of sexually assaulting an 11-year-boy in Pennsylvania.
Fretz and Ivan Kirkirt had recently served time together in the Marion County, Fla., jail and realized they knew each other as teens in New Jersey. Kirkirt invited Fretz to move in to his Ocala, Fla., mobile home when he was released in October after serving time for domestic battery and marijuana possession. The boy joined them in December.
Officials said Fretz never informed Kirkirt or local officials he was a convicted child molester.
The boy joined them in December? Where was he before?
(If you're not a Southerner, please don't ask what this is about.)
This father allowed a convicted child molester access to his son? WTH?!
I wondered about that myself.
I'm a Southerner and I haven't a clue.......
Never mind... just read the last line. But still! Just based on his photo I would not allow him near my kid.
The father did not know he was a convicted child molester.....
See my #8... I caught that AFTER I hit post. Sigh.
Ah. Sad case. Hope it ends well.
Geez, that puts him right on his way towards me. Too bad they have no clue how they are travelling now. Bartow Co. is about 30-40 mi south of the TN line. On entering TN on 75, he could continue North on 75, take the 24 split west to Nashville, or take 59 from there. It seems to make sense that he would continue on north on 75 though. Hope our locals are keeping their eyes peeled.
I hope so, too, Wranger. This boy could be in a world of trouble.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.