Chief: Girl likely murdered
Alexis Glover ran away from the Central Library in Manassas on Wednesday. An intense manhunt has been under way for the last two days.
Published: January 9, 2009
Updated: January 9, 2009
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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 went 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 two feet of water, police said.
Alexis, an adopted teen with severe mental and health issues, 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 six.
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 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 electronic bracelets 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 and 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 second crime in the area in less than three days. A 79-year-old woman was attacked inside of her home Tuesday night near the McCoart County Government 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’ 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.
You can follow updates on this developing story on our Twitter site.
Reader Reactions
My heart is saddened and troubled yes just as I suspected and so did others. I didn’t want to believe it but it is an embarrassment that this little girl had to die in the hands of her (adoptive) mother and even though she has been only charged with child neglect and filing a false police report and not with homicide but held without bail. The TRUTH is the TRUTH whether we want to believe it or not, the police arrested the right person that should be arrested!! She could have prevented this crime by giving the child back to Child Protective Services if she couldn’t handle her but CPS don’t care too much about the kids they let this happen far too often. A 3 yr old was just beaten to death by the mother’s boyfriend and they knew of his beatings prior to his death, so I think little of them now. And then the mother has the audacity to go on National Television pleading for the person or persons to come forward with information surrounding her daughter’s death, knowing all the time she was the murderer.. If Alexis was living a horrible life with this mother I hope that everyone who knew this turned her in and if you sit back and let this happen to her then SHAME on you!! PEOPLE I SAY TO EVERYONE ON THIS PAGE..THIS IS HAPPENING FAR TO OFTEN…WE ARE TRULY LIVING IN A SICK AND DANGEROUS WORLD!! Such a senseless tragedy that did not have to occur.. She is a COLD BLOODED MURDER and I hope that she rots in jail where she resides this morning along with her husband because he knew about this to.
Alexis “Rest in Peace” we all love you…
I agree someone had to know that the watch was activated with a locater, so the theory of child preditors being right around the library doesn’t fly with me because that preditor would of had to know the family and I doubt, or hope that they do not associate with them. The idea that she fell in is probable, but then what about the watch being cut. The main question I have is why this little girl had run away like 4-5 times within 3 weeks???
I would like to point out to the previous posters that Alexis was NOT at the library alone. I’ve been following this story, and from what I understand, she “ran away from her mother at the library”.
I am a foster parent to a child with RAD (reactive attachment disorder); RAD is impossible to understand until you have tried to parent a child with it! The adoptive mother is in NO WAY to blame for any of this!!! If you want to blame someone, blame the child’s biological parents who harmed this child in the first place…or blame the sick-o who kidnapped and killed Alexis.
Every parent is NOT like Casey Anthony or Susan Smith. It’s sad that parents like that make us question good parents when tradgedies occur. For what it’s worth, I know the adoptive mother, and I assure all of you, she is a GOOD person and a good parent.
It made me very sad to read the previous post that cast suspicion on the family. This family has been thru enough already! Let them grieve Alexis in peace, and keep your insulting comments to yourselves. For those of you that use God to condemn others—remember, your judging God will also judge your actions and comments one day.
Sadly, I think Alexis encountered a child predator after running away. I did a search of registered offenders in that area, and found that there are 5 offenders within a HALF mile of the library! (Note: this means there are 5 offenders within a half mile of the school!) There are nearly 300 offenders between where Alexis was last seen and where her body was found. I suspect Alexis didn’t get very far from the library before being abducted. I hope the police investigate EVERY single registered offender who lives or works in the immediate surrounding area. We need to find the person who did this before another child is harmed!
It is indeed a sad thing to have happened to a young person however, the police should suspect fowl play….someone knew about the bracelet and removed it from the victim therefore I pray to GOD the police finds this individual and press charges to the fullest extent of the law possible even if it means the death penalty also start by looking at her family who just might have gotten tired to the little girl I personally dont trust anyone other than GOD I believe her family knows something more and is not talking….To whoever did this GOD will get you and so will the POLICE
This is a horrible sad thing that has happened, but we have to remember that even though we all struggle to understand the things that happen in this world, that God has his plans and his reasons. And she is now if a far better place.
Although I do agree that she should not have been alone at all, because like the other person said a Library is a Library not a daycare. If someone had been with her I highly doubt anything would’ve happened at all.
this is just so sad..so tragic..May God bless this little girl and may God give comfort to her family..
This is such a horribly ending. How could this child end up so far from home without anyone seeing her. I SMELL A RAT. The washdown theory just makes no sense. Its a long way to travel in just a couple days.
The first person I would question(if foul play is suspected)is that scum-ball you arrested for the assault on the poor 79 year old woman, who by the way lives
in walking distance to where this young lady was found.
HEY PEOPLE, the chances that she slipped into Bull Run running scared, then was washed down to the Occoquan, is likely. The water is way up and it’s been very wet! Don’t jump to conclutions that it was foul play.
God bless her little soul.
This is horrifying! what is happening to woodbridge? This area USED to be so safe so calm. Now its built into a “city” and there 4 murders in a month what is up with that?
So heartbreaking, pray for her family in this hard time. 2009 is off to I’m having trouble understanding how this girl was able to trek such a long distance without a single person seeing her. This case is troubling and very suspicious.
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