The Arizona Department of Public Safety announced that a suspected kidnapper’s care may have been spotted in Williams, Arizona, last week, but West Virginia authorities say the sighting has not yet been confirmed.
Metro News reports that although Arizona authorities initially said the car was spotted on Tuesday, officials said the spotting may have possibly happened after “Live PD” aired a segment on the case, and are now working to confirm the validity of the claim.
Gracelyn Scritchfield, 4, was reportedly taken by her biological father, Arlie “Trey” Edward Hetrick III, 26, from Fairmont, West Virginia. Her father 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.
Grace’s mother, Summer Scritchfield, told authorities that her father picked her up on July 6 and she has not been seen since.
According to Scritchfield, Hetrick was scheduled to drop Grace off at home on July 13 after visitation time but never showed up. She told police she called Hetrick at around 6:30 p.m. on July 14, and he told her he decided to take the little girl on vacation, according to ABC3.
CORRECTION: Sightings of this suspect and child HAVE NOT BEEN CONFIRMED in the Williams Area. If seen please contact…
Posted by Williams AZ Police Department on Tuesday, July 30, 2019
Scritchfield said Hetrick, who apparently never mentioned the vacation previously, said he would have Grace home by July 19. That never happened.
The worried mother told police she had no idea where Hetrick may have taken Grace, although she reportedly heard rumors he may have taken her out of the state or possibly out of the country.
Live PD Nation, help us find Gracelynn! @MissingKids #LivePD pic.twitter.com/ZpHGuhLrWT
— Live PD on A&E (@OfficialLivePD) July 28, 2019
Gracelyn 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.
Authorities said the little girl is considered to be in extreme danger.
“I think he’s going to have to be found. I don’t think he’s going to bring her back on his own time,” Scritchfield told CBS5.
Posted by Summer Scritchfield on Wednesday, July 31, 2019
Scritchfield added that the suspect’s family said they cannot get in touch with him either, despite efforts to locate him.
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 Gracelyn 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: Gracelyn Scritchfield, Trey Hetrick/Police Handout]
