
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, June 22, 1990                   TAG: 9006220575
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: By Associated Press
DATELINE:    PORTSMOUTH                                 LENGTH: Short

POLICE SEEKING DETAILS IN KIDNAP, DEATH OF GIRL, 14

While a sailor sat in jail, police in Portsmouth amd Norfolk were trying Thursday to piece together the details surrounding the abduction and death of a 14-year-old handicapped child from a group home.

The body of Jennifer Melissa Ball was found Wednesday about 24 hours after she was taken from her bed at the Holiday House, a private, non-profit group home in Portsmouth for handicapped children. Police have declined to say how the girl died, awaiting an autopsy report.

Sgt. Danny Williams of the Norfolk police declined to say if the girl's body had any visible wounds.

Three hours before the body was found, Jose Luis Vanegas, 29, of Rock Hill, S.C., was arrested at the Norfolk Naval Station. He was taken to Portsmouth police headquarters and charged with abduction. Vanegas subsequently was charged in Norfolk with murder.

Williams said the body was located by Naval Investigative Service agent Thomas Coyle after "a certain amount of cooperation" from Vanegas.

Williams said the girl was physically and mentally impaired from cerebral palsy and scoliosis and was taking medication to prevent seizures, which could have been fatal.

Vanegas originally came to Holiday House with a group of sailors from the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea who made a visit a few years ago "as a gesture of good will," Portsmouth police Detective Karl Morrisette said.

by CNB