Law enforcement officials released new information Thursday about the psychology of the "serial child abductor" in Cleveland and Elyria cases.
The suspect is a stranger who authorities believe stalks his victims while waiting for an opportunity to kidnap them, according to Cleveland police Commander James McPike.
He felt timing was important and pointed to video footage taken of the suspect in the area where a 6-year-old Cleveland girl was abducted on May 21, declaring the video was taken days before the abduction.
The suspect is dangerous and not afraid to enter a home with adults inside, according to McPike.
In the attempted abduction of a 10-year-old Elyria girl on February 25, the suspect tried to drag her out of her bedroom window while adults were home.
McPike believes the abductor is someone's neighbor, co-worker or relative and that someone will be able to identify him.
He asked people who think they recognize the suspect to call – and not to hesitate because they think he's a nice person or that he would never abduct a child.
On May 25, officials released images of what they called "a person of interest" in the case. He was walking in an alley behind the abducted Cleveland girl's residence.It later released a composite sketch of the person.
On June 16, officials released a new image, a replica of a Chevy Malibu that Anthony said was driven by the prime suspect in the Cleveland girl's abduction. He asked that anyone who had seen a similar vehicle, or perhaps purchased one recently, call and report the information.
Suspects often sell a vehicle or get rid of it altogether once its description becomes public, according to Anthony.
The 2002 or 2003 Malibu looks distinctive enough that Anthony felt someone would recognize it. The driver-side fender is a lighter color than the rest of the vehicle; it could be white or primer, he said.
At a news conference on May 27, Anthony said the search radius for a suspect had expanded because DNA evidence showed the Elyria and Cleveland cases were connected.
