There have been so many abductions and missing children in the news lately, and we always hope that those children will be found safe, alive, and well. And now we can report that at least one child has been found and will soon be reunited with his father after having been missing for four years. A persistent international investigation by the Maryland State Police Computer Crimes Unit Child Recovery Section in cooperation with the Talbot County State’s Attorney’s Office has led to the location and recovery of an Eastern Shore child abducted from his home four years ago. Skye J. Elliott, 4, previously of the 29000-block of Porpoise Creek Rd., Trappe, Md., was located yesterday by local authorities in the Dominican Republic and the FBI. He is in the custody of authorities and awaiting the arrival of his father.
The investigation first began in August 2001, when the victim’s father, James R. Bradfield of Baltimore, reported that the child’s mother, Bobbi Jo Elliott, 34, had failed to make the child available for several visits. During that period, an Eastern Shore judge awarded legal and physical custody of the child to Bradfield. Bradfield filed a missing person report with State Police at the Easton Barracks, which initiated the investigation
In early 2004, Sergeant Ron Riggin of the Computer Crimes Unit Child Recovery Section, reviewed the case and initiated additional investigation. Recently, Sgt. Riggin developed information that indicated the suspect and victim may be living in the Dominican Republic. Maryland State Police information was provided to law enforcement authorities in the Dominican Republic and, with the assistance of Interpol and the FBI, a search warrant was served yesterday at the home of Elliott’s grandparents.
Although the two were not located, information was developed that led authorities to a hotel where the child was located in the custody of a woman claiming to be his/her “aunt.”Further investigation revealed the aunt to be the suspect, Elliott.
Elliott was arrested and is being held by Dominican authorities, pending a hearing. Talbot County States Attorney Scott Patterson has approved extradition of Elliott back to Maryland. State Police investigators have initiated extradition proceedings, in cooperation with the FBI.
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