VERO BEACH, FL – Authorities in Florida have apprehended a 13-year-old boy accused of attempting to abduct women in a local neighborhood, brandishing a knife in two separate incidents. The arrest follows a series of events that spanned several weeks and affected multiple victims, according to an arrest report from the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began after the Sheriff’s Office received four tips between June and July, which ultimately led them to the young suspect. The boy was detained on Wednesday while riding in a vehicle. During questioning, the teen allegedly admitted to being the individual seen in security camera footage linked to the cases. His mother also questioned him about his involvement, and he reportedly confirmed his identity.
The first reported incident occurred on June 29, though it was not initially reported to law enforcement. A victim recounted walking her dog near townhouses in the Pointe West country club community when her dog became alert and she noticed the suspect following her. Upon reaching her home, the suspect allegedly banged on her door.
Subsequent incidents in early July involved the suspect approaching victims with an 8-inch knife. In one case, a woman was retrieving shoes from outside her home when the suspect confronted her. She managed to escape by screaming and fighting back. Another victim similarly evaded the suspect by screaming.
Most recently, on Sunday, the suspect allegedly approached two different victims while wearing a mask. In one instance, he reportedly told a victim, “You’re coming with me.” In another, he put his hand over a victim’s mouth and made an inaudible statement. Both victims managed to escape after raising alarms.
Authorities collected clothing from the suspect’s home that matched descriptions provided by the victims. The teen is facing charges of attempted kidnapping and is currently held at a juvenile detention center.
Sheriff Eric Flowers praised the efforts of his team and the community for their role in the investigation. “I am incredibly proud of our entire team who worked tirelessly to put our suspect behind bars,” Flowers said. “We are thankful for the community that came together and provided the critical information that helped make this case. It’s the community-law enforcement partnership that works, and this case is proof of that.”