14-year-old Davidson County girl missing more than a week found in Arkansas; abductor
Lonoke, Arkansas — Savannah Grace Childress was found in Arkansas on Saturday night after a chaotic sequence where her abductor allegedly shot a police officer and drove off before she escaped to safety.
William Robert Ice, 38, is the alleged abductor and died Sunday at a hospital, according to a release from the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities found Ice near a McDonald’s restaurant in Lonoke, Arkansas near Interstate 40.
Inside the vehicle, officers found Ice, who they believe shot himself at some point after driving away.
Authorities said that on Saturday, two Lonoke police officers recognized a Dodge sport utility vehicle linked to Childress’ disappearance. The vehicle was parked at the restaurant close to I-40. Officers approached the vehicle and Ice aimed a gun at them, firing and critically wounding one officer. The second officer was unharmed.
An Arkansas State Trooper saw the vehicle leaving the parking lot and started pursuing. Ice eventually drove into a snowbank, where the vehicle became disabled. Childress, a passenger, then got out of the vehicle and ran to a state trooper.
Officials said Ice was also wanted in at least two states in connection with other child predator cases. Investigators discovered that Ice had taken Childress from her Denton home on Feb. 11.
Childress, 14, had been missing for more than a week. Davidson County authorities issued an Amber Alert for her on Feb. 12. On Sunday, special agents will help Childress get back to North Carolina.
Ice’s body has been submitted to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory to determine the manner of death. The wounded officer is in stable condition at a hospital.
Ice carried a Jackson Center, Pennsylvania address and was wanted by Pennsylvania authorities.
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