A woman who was kidnapped from Basye on Wednesday morning was found on Thursday and is safe, but the man suspected in her abduction is still on the loose. WMRA's Randi B. Hagi reports.
On Wednesday a family member of 41-year-old April Cline reported that Cline had been abducted by 39-year-old Mitchell Markley Jr. Shenandoah County Sheriff Tim Carter said in a statement on Thursday that his department searched the residence, where they found –
TIM CARTER: … evidence of what appeared to be a forcible entry and altercation.
On Thursday, Cline was found northwest of New Market, and is safe. As of about 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, Markley was still on the lam, and is assumed to be on foot.
CARTER: He was last seen by the victim in the Quicksburg area northwest of New Market, Virginia. Markley was last seen wearing blue jean shorts and a black jacket.
[road sounds, helicopter]
Earlier in the afternoon, Quicksburg Road was blocked off by a state trooper near the intersection of North Fork Road, and a helicopter could be seen circling the area. By around 3 p.m., the road was reopened.
Carter warned that anyone who sees Markley should not approach him, but contact local law enforcement.