Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 21, 1990 TAG: 9006210332
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Short
Portsmouth police said about 11:30 p.m. that they thought a body found along the Campostella Bridge near downtown Norfolk was that of Jennifer Melissa Ball, 14.
A man identified as Jose Luis Vanegas, 29, of South Carolina, was arrested at the Norfolk Naval Station and taken to the Portsmouth police station, where he was charged with kidnapping.
Police had appealed earlier Wednesday for the girl's kidnapper to let her go before she developed seizures from not getting proper medication.
Jennifer was abducted about 7:50 p.m. Tuesday from Holiday House, a group home.
At the time of the abduction, police said the suspect may have been a sailor from the USS Coral Sea or someone recently released from the Navy.
A group of sailors had visited the privately run, non-profit home for handicapped children about two years ago as a public-service gesture, and several had returned in the months that followed.
Portsmouth detective Karl Morrisette said the man showed up at the house about 7:30 p.m., telling employees he wanted to bid them farewell on his way home.
"Someone saw him leaving the place carrying what looked like a person covered in a sheet," Morrisette said. "He just picked her up and carried her out."
by CNB