Man Wanted in (Monica) Sharp Case Held

TimesDispatch.com ^ | Oct 25, 2005 | Jim Nolan

[smartin]

The Illinois man wanted in connection with Richmond runaway Monica Sharp's five- week odyssey away from home was taken into custody by police this morning. Jeffery Nichols, 57, was picked up by Henrico Police around 8:50 a.m. driving in the Wal-Mart parking lot on 7901 Brook Road, said Henrico Police Lt. Doug Perry. The store is located directly across the street from Brook Road Academy, the small alternative school the 17-year-old Sharp attended before she left her family's home Sept. 18. Sharp returned yesterday to her parents' Grove Avenue home in the Museum District accompanied by Nichols, with whom police said she had developed a relationship through the Internet. Investigators believe Nichols and Sharp met in person in Richmond on Sept. 18, and spent the last five weeks traveling in and out of state. Nichols, who was wanted by police on felony charges of using a communications device to entice a minor, eluded authorities due to what Chief Rodney Monroe said was a "delayed response" in the family contacting police once Nichols had arrived with Sharp.

[smartin]

Thank God Monica returned home yesterday.

[twigs]

Yes, I'm glad to see that she's home safe. She's a fortunate young lady.

[smartin]

I agree.

[smartin]

Hey twigs, here's a great article about Fawley:

http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-98478sy0oct23,0,1272316.story?track=mostemailedlink

[geezerwheezer]

Does this young lady have some kind of mental problem, or is she just really, really stupid? I cannot imagine what her parents have gone through these last few weeks. Horrible!!

[smartin]

Yes, something must be missing upstairs and it must have been a parent's worst nightmare.

[elc]

That's a great article. I was just thinking about Taylor last night and wondered what had happened since they found her body. Thanks for sharing the article.

[smartin]

Anytime