Neighbors And Police Team Up To Rescue 6-Year-Old From Kidnapper

Within minutes of the child being snatched, 911 was called and more than a dozen officers launched to the scene. The child was found and reports said 40-year-old Robby Wildt was arrested.

July 20, 2021
40-year-old Robby Wildt [via Louisville Metro Corrections]

40-year-old Robby Wildt [via Louisville Metro Corrections]

40-year-old Robby Wildt [via Louisville Metro Corrections]

By: Michelle Sigona

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Recently, a 6-year-old child from Louisville, KY was kidnapped. The child was rescued and it was all caught on camera. According to NBC News, the victim was outside on her bike when a suspect allegedly grabbed her by the neck and threw her in his car on July 2, 2021. Body cam was recently released from the scene.

Within minutes of the child being snatched, 911 was called and more than a dozen officers launched to the scene. The child was found and reports said 40-year-old Robby Wildt was arrested.

According to Wave 3, in a statement to police, Wildt said he saw the child playing when he grabbed her. She began to cry and he tried to calm her down, the report added. Wildt said he realized what he was doing was wrong and wanted to bring her back home because he was "afraid he may hurt her" and he felt badly.

The police officer who rescued the child is seen on camera carrying her away from the suspects vehicle as she cried for her dad.

Stranger abductions are not common, In fact, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) stranger abductions are rare. Many know about Elizabeth Smart, Jaycee Dugard, Shawn Hornbeck and other missing children or people who were taken, because those types of cases with recoveries years later are rare. NCMEC reports only 1% of missing children cases are non-family abductions.

Over the last decade, NCMEC compiled information about abductions and they report there were 600 cases of attempted abductions alone. Children in these cases were able to escape the situation by fighting back, screaming, refusing the abductor, another person intervened or the suspect left the area, NCMEC adds.

Authorities said attempted abductions occur most often when children are outside playing and school-age children are targeted when the child is heading to or from school related activities.

To learn more about how children can utilize safety scenarios, consider logging into the Kidsmartz program. If you know anything about a missing child case or abduction, please contact the NCMEC directly: 1-800-THE-LOST.

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