Police: Missing girl slain
URIAH A. KISER and KARI PUGH
Hours after a neighborhood resident found the body of a missing girl in a creek bed, Prince William County police Chief Charlie T. Deane said he believes the teen was murdered.
The body of 13-year-old Alexis Glover was found Friday about 12:30 p.m. in a shallow creek near the McCoart Administration Building, two days after she was reported missing.
A man who lives on Asdee Lane west of Lake Ridge was out for a walk when he found the remains near the Old Hickory Golf Course. She was submerged in about 2 feet of water, police said.
Alexis, an adopted teen with severe mental and health problems, ran away from her mother near the Central Library in Manassas about noon on Wednesday. Police launched an intense search, calling in volunteers by the dozen, bloodhounds and police helicopters to help find the girl.
Her adoptive mother said Alexis had sickle cell anemia and post-traumatic stress disorder from a tough past, as well as developmental issues. Alexis was adopted when she was 6 years old.
Alexis was found Friday 7.9 miles from where she disappeared, Prince William County police Maj. Ray Colgan said.
Chief Deane told reporters Friday night that it appears the girl was slain. He said the circumstances surrounding the case point to a homicide, but he would not elaborate.
Police had been concentrating their search for Alexis in the Manassas area. Prince William police spokeswoman Erika Hernandez said the girl, who had a history of running away, had never left that area.
After Alexis ran away several times, her adoptive mother put her in the Prince William Sheriff's Department's Project Lifesaver program, which uses an electronic bracelet to monitor locations of those in the program.
Alexis' bracelet was found Wednesday at Woodhue Court, off Manassas Drive.
Officers were going door-to-door along Asdee Lane and Greatbridge Road late Friday seeking clues. A command post was set up at Asdee Lane and Greatbridge Road.
Neighbors in the Woodbridge golf community were both shocked and saddened to learn of a second crime in the area in less than three days. A 79-year-old woman was attacked inside her home Tuesday night near the McCoart complex.
"It's a sad shame to have two crimes happen in two days … it's kind of scary," said Gary Mosser, who lives on Asdee Lane near where Alexis's body was found.
Police charged a 48-year-old man in that crime. Prince William police 1st Sgt. Kim Chinn said detectives are aware of the proximity of the "two very serious" crimes and are investigating, but don't believe they are related.
If Alexis's death is officially ruled a homicide, it will mark the county's first murder of the new year. An autopsy will likely be performed this weekend.
Prince William County had 12 murders in 2008. In Manassas there were four.
Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.