Exclusive: Mom of missing AMBER Alert tot says dad was violent in past, police say little girl is in ‘extreme danger’

As authorities continue to search for a missing West Virginia girl, her mother is getting more worried as each day passes by.

“It’s possible that he’s violent; he had gotten violent with me before I ever had Gracelynn,” Summer Scritchfield, of Fairmont, West Virginia, told CrimeOnline.

Scritchfield is 4-year-old Gracelynn Scritchfield’s mother. She hasn’t seen her little girl since July 6, when she dropped her off for visitation with her father, Arlie “Trey” Edward Hetrick III, 26. Hetrick was supposed to return Gracelyn on July 13, but that never happened.

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Scritchfield called Hetrick on the evening of July 13, but he reportedly told her he took Gracelynn on vacation and would have her back by July 19. That, too, never happened. Authorities issued an AMBER Alert shortly after.

Gracelynn Scritchfield [Photo: Provided/Facebook]
“I fear he’s either out of state or the country and maybe something could have happened to them both,” Scritchland said.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, someone reported seeing Hetrick’s car in Arizona, but West Virginia authorities indicated that the sighting has been unconfirmed.

CORRECTION: Sightings of this suspect and child HAVE NOT BEEN CONFIRMED in the Williams Area. Possible tip occurred…

Posted by Williams AZ Police Department on Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Hetrick was last seen driving a 2001 gold Subaru Forester with West Virginia license plate number, 1TH163. The car has a bungee cord holding the tailgate shut and rust around the fender wells.

Gracelynn is described as a white female who stands 3-feet tall and weighs around 35 pounds. She has brown hair and blue eyes. Hetrick is described as a white male who stands 5-feet-9-inches tall and weighs around 140 pounds. He also has brown hair and blue eyes.

Posted by Summer Scritchfield on Wednesday, July 31, 2019

 

Authorities said the little girl is considered to be in extreme danger.

According to Matthew Horn of West Virginia State Police, the suspect has been known to stand outside and protest different religious dominations. Horn described the man as “fanatical” and said Hetrick has been arrested before for trespassing while protesting against religious organizations.

Horn added that authorities think Gracelynn is in dire danger due to Hetrick’s mental instability and his attempts to “live a lifestyle off the grid.”

Hetrick was reportedly living in a tent for the past three months prior to his daughter’s disappearance, according to police.

Anyone with information about the pair’s whereabouts is urged to call 911 or West Virginia State Police at 304-367-2850.

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[Feature Photo: Gracelynn Scritchfield, Trey Hetrick/Police Handout]