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3 Year Old Boy returned by Abductor
B.C. family thankful abducted boy returned unharmed; search on for abductor
Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press : Sunday, September 11, 2011 10:57 PM
SPARWOOD, B.C. - With the resilience of a three year-old, Kienan Hebert is back to playing with his brothers and sisters, happily running around as police continue their search for a suspect who snatched the boy from his Sparwood, B.C., home and mysteriously returned him there unharmed five days later.
His weeping parents appeared before the media Sunday to thank all who supported them during the gruelling hours and days following their son's abduction last Wednesday, including police and community volunteers.
But the boy's father, Paul Hebert, had a special thank you for "the person" who brought his little boy home Sunday morning. Police allege that person was the abductor _ convicted sex offender Randall Hopley.
"To the person who returned Kienan to our family I'd like to say thank you," Paul Hebert sobbed. "It was the right thing to do. I thank God that Kienan was returned unharmed."
RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said medical personnel assessed the boy and found him unhurt, in good spirits and happy to be reunited with his family.
Moskaluk's announcement generated a loud cheer from several of the volunteers who had searched for Kienan and had packed the tiny tent where the news conference was taking place.
Paul Hebert — who appeared almost stoic before the media over the five days since his child vanished — had difficulty speaking.
"Thank you, thank you," he managed to say before breaking down in tears. His wife, Tammy, sat beside him, tears running down her face.
Police received an anonymous call around 3 a.m. local time Sunday morning telling them where to find the boy.
Moskaluk said the most troubling thing was that the caller told police they could find Kienan in his own home.
"Taking the child undetected and then placing him back undetected certainly is a chilling prospect," Moskaluk admitted.
The family wasn't home at the time and were staying with a neighbour. The house, which had been surrounded by yellow police tape since the boy's disappearance, had been thoroughly searched by investigators.
After the boy's return, the police tape was placed around the entire block. Later in the day investigators were scouring the house once again for more forensic evidence.
No one saw Kienan taken some time last Wednesday morning and no one witness his return.
"This young boy was returned by an abductor. In 26 years of policing I have never seen this," said an emotional Moskaluk. "The little guy appears to be in good health. Little guys like this are very resilient.
"To the rest of the world 9-11 means New York. 9-11 to me means Kienan Hebert."
Moskaluk also had a message for Hopley.
"Randall, if you're listening, you need to reach out to the police," he said.
"We're not going to put any other children at risk. We want this to be completed."
Roadblocks were set up on the highways in and around Sparwood. RCMP officers stopped hundreds of vehicles, checking in back seats and ordering drivers to pop their trunks to make sure that Hopley was not catching a ride.
Word of Kienan's return spread quickly throughout Sparwood, a coal mining town of about 4,000 surrounded on all sides by mountains and trees. The community had mustered hundreds of volunteers to search the area around the Hebert home.
"I'm rather ecstatic right now. When we heard the news first thing this morning we were already up planning for today's operations. In this case, a little boy being brought back — man, it's excellent," said search and rescue spokesman Jeff Smedley.
Sparwood's acting mayor Sharon Fraser paid the Hebert family a visit early Sunday morning.
"I've never heard of this happening. I've never heard of a child being abducted and then returned right back to the home. So to me it's nothing short of a big miracle," said Fraser. "It just scares the heck out of you period."
Former Sparwood mayor David Wilks, now the Conservative MP for the area, worked as an RCMP officer in Sparwood before entering politics.
Wilks, who attends church with the Hebert's, said he remembers dealing with Hopley in his policing days and admits the circumstances are disturbing.
"Is there another child next? He's still out there," shrugged Wilks.
"He has the uncanny ability to get into a house and back out with everyone in it and not only take a child but deliver the child back," he added.
But Wilks had been optimistic that Kienan would be delivered home safely.
"I felt that he would not harm him but for whatever reason he wanted him to be with him."
The boy's father called his pastor shortly after Kienan was found Sunday morning.
Pastor Ron Rutley of the Sparwood Fellowship Baptist Church gave thanks for Kienan's safe return in his Sunday morning sermon.
"It's just like a dream. Lord we thank you that Kienan is home safe. We pray for him right now," said Rutley.
"Lord we come before you with bittersweet hearts. Sweet for you have heard our prayers and answered them and bitter because we struggle to understand why those prayers had to be uttered at all."
On Saturday, the boy's parents brushed away tears as Moskaluk confirmed that their son was kidnapped from his home in this scenic close-knit mountain community. The boy has a history of sleepwalking, and many were hoping he had perhaps just wandered away.
Clasping his wife's hand tightly under the table, Paul Hebert had a message for Kienan's suspected captor saying they only wanted their son returned unharmed.
Police said a second abduction attempt happened at another home on the evening Hebert went missing. A suspect tried unsuccessfully to lure another child out of the home.
Hopley, 46, was convicted of sexual assault in the mid-1980s and was given a two-year federal prison sentence.
An incident in November 2007 led to charges of break and enter, unlawful confinement and attempted abduction, and the indictment for the case indicated the victim was under 16 years old.
B.C.'s Criminal Justice Branch has confirmed Hopley pleaded guilty to break and enter and was sentenced to 18 months in jail, while the other charges were stayed.
Crown spokesman Neil MacKenzie said Hopley admitted at trial that he attempted to abduct a 10-year-old boy, who was in foster care at the time. Hopley claimed he was acting on behalf of the child's parents.
Read it on Global News: Global Toronto | B.C. family thankful abducted boy returned unharmed; search on for abductor
Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press : Sunday, September 11, 2011 10:57 PM
SPARWOOD, B.C. - With the resilience of a three year-old, Kienan Hebert is back to playing with his brothers and sisters, happily running around as police continue their search for a suspect who snatched the boy from his Sparwood, B.C., home and mysteriously returned him there unharmed five days later.
His weeping parents appeared before the media Sunday to thank all who supported them during the gruelling hours and days following their son's abduction last Wednesday, including police and community volunteers.
But the boy's father, Paul Hebert, had a special thank you for "the person" who brought his little boy home Sunday morning. Police allege that person was the abductor _ convicted sex offender Randall Hopley.
"To the person who returned Kienan to our family I'd like to say thank you," Paul Hebert sobbed. "It was the right thing to do. I thank God that Kienan was returned unharmed."
RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said medical personnel assessed the boy and found him unhurt, in good spirits and happy to be reunited with his family.
Moskaluk's announcement generated a loud cheer from several of the volunteers who had searched for Kienan and had packed the tiny tent where the news conference was taking place.
Paul Hebert — who appeared almost stoic before the media over the five days since his child vanished — had difficulty speaking.
"Thank you, thank you," he managed to say before breaking down in tears. His wife, Tammy, sat beside him, tears running down her face.
Police received an anonymous call around 3 a.m. local time Sunday morning telling them where to find the boy.
Moskaluk said the most troubling thing was that the caller told police they could find Kienan in his own home.
"Taking the child undetected and then placing him back undetected certainly is a chilling prospect," Moskaluk admitted.
The family wasn't home at the time and were staying with a neighbour. The house, which had been surrounded by yellow police tape since the boy's disappearance, had been thoroughly searched by investigators.
After the boy's return, the police tape was placed around the entire block. Later in the day investigators were scouring the house once again for more forensic evidence.
No one saw Kienan taken some time last Wednesday morning and no one witness his return.
"This young boy was returned by an abductor. In 26 years of policing I have never seen this," said an emotional Moskaluk. "The little guy appears to be in good health. Little guys like this are very resilient.
"To the rest of the world 9-11 means New York. 9-11 to me means Kienan Hebert."
Moskaluk also had a message for Hopley.
"Randall, if you're listening, you need to reach out to the police," he said.
"We're not going to put any other children at risk. We want this to be completed."
Roadblocks were set up on the highways in and around Sparwood. RCMP officers stopped hundreds of vehicles, checking in back seats and ordering drivers to pop their trunks to make sure that Hopley was not catching a ride.
Word of Kienan's return spread quickly throughout Sparwood, a coal mining town of about 4,000 surrounded on all sides by mountains and trees. The community had mustered hundreds of volunteers to search the area around the Hebert home.
"I'm rather ecstatic right now. When we heard the news first thing this morning we were already up planning for today's operations. In this case, a little boy being brought back — man, it's excellent," said search and rescue spokesman Jeff Smedley.
Sparwood's acting mayor Sharon Fraser paid the Hebert family a visit early Sunday morning.
"I've never heard of this happening. I've never heard of a child being abducted and then returned right back to the home. So to me it's nothing short of a big miracle," said Fraser. "It just scares the heck out of you period."
Former Sparwood mayor David Wilks, now the Conservative MP for the area, worked as an RCMP officer in Sparwood before entering politics.
Wilks, who attends church with the Hebert's, said he remembers dealing with Hopley in his policing days and admits the circumstances are disturbing.
"Is there another child next? He's still out there," shrugged Wilks.
"He has the uncanny ability to get into a house and back out with everyone in it and not only take a child but deliver the child back," he added.
But Wilks had been optimistic that Kienan would be delivered home safely.
"I felt that he would not harm him but for whatever reason he wanted him to be with him."
The boy's father called his pastor shortly after Kienan was found Sunday morning.
Pastor Ron Rutley of the Sparwood Fellowship Baptist Church gave thanks for Kienan's safe return in his Sunday morning sermon.
"It's just like a dream. Lord we thank you that Kienan is home safe. We pray for him right now," said Rutley.
"Lord we come before you with bittersweet hearts. Sweet for you have heard our prayers and answered them and bitter because we struggle to understand why those prayers had to be uttered at all."
On Saturday, the boy's parents brushed away tears as Moskaluk confirmed that their son was kidnapped from his home in this scenic close-knit mountain community. The boy has a history of sleepwalking, and many were hoping he had perhaps just wandered away.
Clasping his wife's hand tightly under the table, Paul Hebert had a message for Kienan's suspected captor saying they only wanted their son returned unharmed.
Police said a second abduction attempt happened at another home on the evening Hebert went missing. A suspect tried unsuccessfully to lure another child out of the home.
Hopley, 46, was convicted of sexual assault in the mid-1980s and was given a two-year federal prison sentence.
An incident in November 2007 led to charges of break and enter, unlawful confinement and attempted abduction, and the indictment for the case indicated the victim was under 16 years old.
B.C.'s Criminal Justice Branch has confirmed Hopley pleaded guilty to break and enter and was sentenced to 18 months in jail, while the other charges were stayed.
Crown spokesman Neil MacKenzie said Hopley admitted at trial that he attempted to abduct a 10-year-old boy, who was in foster care at the time. Hopley claimed he was acting on behalf of the child's parents.
Read it on Global News: Global Toronto | B.C. family thankful abducted boy returned unharmed; search on for abductor
We are way way to soft on crime here. I'm good with no death penalty, but honestly....half the time here they get a "that wasn't nice. now promise you won't do it again..". Ok, maybe not that soft, but far to soft nonetheless. When will our legal system learn that there are no second chances when it comes to kids. We have to protect them at all costs, and someone that hurts a child cannot be given a second chance. Period. End of story.
Glad they got him! Goodness...creepy being near you, especially you having a little one!
It better be more than a year!
It better be more than a year!
Just thought I would update this story...his abductor has been captured (near my city actually...gives me the chills). Now, let's see what happens. How much do you want to bet he'll get a year and therapy or something..
He would be charged with kidnapping and hopefully spend an awful lot of time in jail. Unfortuantely our justice system is often not hard enough on these guys...not sure what kind of time he would get, and consideration would be given for the fact that he returned the child unharmed. Shouldn't matter, he should get a life sentence anyway, but bet he doesn't. I know they also give lighter sentences if he turns himself in vs. being caught. And of course he would be given treatment. As if these guys are treatable..sigh.
What happens to him if he turns himself in?
That is creepy! Thankfully he was unharmed! Wow!
Whats really bizarre about the return of this child is that the house was under police guard. The parents were staying with friends, and supposedly there were police at and around the house 24 hours. Somehow the guy managed to sneak it, leave the child there, then phoned the police to tell them the child was there.
As for the child being returned..the kidnappers mother had gone on TV pleading with her son to return the child. They think that is what did it. On the news last night, the officer said that they have never had this happen before..a child being returned like that. And yes, he was thoroughly examined and had not been touched...thank God.
The father was on the news last night and could barely speak he was so choked up. It truly is incredible and a real miracle. Now they need to catch this guy so he does not go after another child. I hope he turns himself in, but I doubt it.
As for the child being returned..the kidnappers mother had gone on TV pleading with her son to return the child. They think that is what did it. On the news last night, the officer said that they have never had this happen before..a child being returned like that. And yes, he was thoroughly examined and had not been touched...thank God.
The father was on the news last night and could barely speak he was so choked up. It truly is incredible and a real miracle. Now they need to catch this guy so he does not go after another child. I hope he turns himself in, but I doubt it.
Great story with a happy ending, but I have to say....I would do some serious repairs to my house after that. To think someone could sneak in and get a child and then sneak back to return him? I dont know how that is possible...unless God did a miracle..and had angels return the child, because I would imagine parents of a kidnapped child are not sleeping...at leats not the first week or two. They are most likely up all night long, and sitting in the childs room. (just trying to imagine how someone can return the child without anyone noticing).
Did I read correctly somewhere it had been four days? The child was not sexually abused?
So now what? If this guy twisted guy did not do anything to the child, does the child now consider him a "friend"? What if the guy comes back?
Did I read correctly somewhere it had been four days? The child was not sexually abused?
So now what? If this guy twisted guy did not do anything to the child, does the child now consider him a "friend"? What if the guy comes back?
What a story! So many like this turn the other way.
This is not all that far from me, and of course all of us have been watching this story hoping against all odds that this beautiful little boy would be found. The police suspected Hopley immediately, and an Amber Alert was put out complete with descriptions, photos and license plate info within hours. This little boy was taken out of his own bedroom. Thank God he has been returned unharmed, but this Hopley is still at large. So terrifying. Of course, the fact that he only received 2 years for sexual assault in the first place makes me wonder why their is any surprise that he struck again. In any event, I'm so grateful for the return of this child.
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