Three children kidnapped from Florida on 9/11 or September 11: Jimmy Ryce Part 1

September 13, 1:55 AMTampa Crime ExaminerCharisse Van Horn

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Part 1  Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13

What are the odds that three children from Florida would be kidnapped on 9/11 or September 11th? It seems a strange occurrence, indeed. Before 9/11 became synonymous with the evil reality of terrorism, three of Florida’s children experienced terror that day as well; however, it was terror of a different form than that of suicide hijackers crashing planes into the World Trade Center. In Florida, over a span of five years, three children were kidnapped on September 11. They were Jimmy Ryce, Amanda Brown, and Zachary Bernhardt.

Jimmy Ryce disappeared on September 11, 1995, Amanda Brown disappeared on September 11, 1998, and Zachary Bernhardt disappeared on September 11, 2000; all three kidnappings took place within a five year span. Jimmy Ryce was born on September 26, 1985, his birth name was Samuel James Ryce. He was abducted, raped, and murdered by Juan Carlos Chavez on September 11, 1995 from Redlands, Florida.

Jimmy was nine years old and was walking home from his bus stop. The bus dropped him off approximately one block from his home, he never made it to his destination. Juan Carlos Chavez, Jimmy Ryce’s abductor confessed and stated that he abducted the boy at gun point, brought him to his trailer and raped him.

Chavez was discovered when he was working as a ranch hand and living in a trailer on the property of the Scheinhaus family. At approximately the same time that Jimmy Ryce disappeared, Mrs. Scheinhaus discovered that some of her possessions were missing.

She suspected Chavez, and with the assistance of a locksmith, the two broke into Chavez’ trailer. Once inside, she not only discovered her stolen items, but also found Jimmy Ryce’s book bag.

She notified the FBI and on December 6, 1995 Juan Carlos Chavez was called in for questioning. He was interviewed for approximately 55 hours and during that time, made a full confession.

According to Chavez’ confession, Jimmy heard the sound of a helicopter overhead and tried to escape, Juan Carlos Chavez shot the youngster in his back. Chavez later led police to Jimmy Ryce’s dismembered body. Chavez had dismembered Jimmy and put his body in cement within three separate containers. Juan Carlos Chavez is currently on death row in Florida for 1st degree murder. He received two additional life sentences; one for sexual battery by adult on a victim under 12 and the other for kidnapping to commit or facilitate a felony crime.

On May 19, 1998, former Florida governor Lawton Chiles signed the Jimmy Ryce Involuntary Civil Commitment for Sexually Violent Predators’ Treatment and Care Act. The Jimmy Ryce Act ensures that all sex offenders undergo evaluations to determine the level of the sex offender’s crimes and to seek appropriate programs before their release. The Jimmy Ryce Act was instrumental in determining the classification of ‘sexually violent predator’ and treating those who are identified as sexually violent predators by ensuring they are not released back into society, but rather to secure facilities for treatment.

The Act also defines sexually violent predators as being mentally insane, which is controversial. Many feel that sexual predators are not insane, but evil. The Jimmy Ryce Act continues to be a source of controversy in many courts throughout the state of Florida. However, to be defined or classified as a sexually violent predator, one must have been convicted of a sexually violent offense, or suffer from a mental personality disorder that makes the person a high risk to engage in sexual violence if not monitored or confined in a safe, secure, and controlled environment.

The Jimmy Ryce Act has been invaluable in ensuring that dangerous sexual predators are not immediately released.

Claudine Ryce, Jimmy Ryce's mother, died on January 21, 2009 after suffering a heart attack.  She was 66 years old, she is buried next to her son.

Continue to part 2: Amanda Brown

Three children kidnapped from Florida on 9/11 or September 11: Jimmy Ryce Part 1