Convicted Sex Offender Kidnaps 9-year-old Mesa Girl
January 27, 2011
On January 26, 2011 at approximately 7:00 pm, Mesa Police
officers responded to a possible kidnapping of a 9-year-old girl
in the area of 1850 N. Stapley Drive. It was discovered that the
9-year-old victim and her 11-year-old friend (witness) were
playing near the entrance of Stapley Greens community when they
were contacted by the suspect driving a smaller, orange car. The
suspect approached the girls from his car and asked the girls if
they knew who owned a black puppy, which he had just found. The
suspect told the girls he had the puppy tied up in the back of
the community parking area. The two girls then followed the
suspect's vehicle, which stopped a short distance away. While
the girls were engaged in conversation with the suspect about
the "puppy," the suspect was able to grab the 9-year-old victim
and drag her into his car. The suspect then quickly drove away
with the victim inside the vehicle. The 11-year-old
witness quickly rode her bike to the victim's home where the 911
call was made.
At
7:12 pm, Mesa Police Communications received another 911 call
from a resident in the area of 2200 E. Fairfield. The call
explained that a 9-year-old girl had knocked on her door and
asked to call her mother. The victim disclosed to investigators
that as the suspect drove her away, she was screaming and
kicking at the passenger car door. She told responding officers
that the suspect had driven through residential neighborhoods
and then released her near the home where she knocked on the
door. The 9-year-old victim was not physically injured during
this incident. Both girls were able to provide investigators
with a very detailed description of the suspect and the
suspect's vehicle.
At 7:40 pm, while searching for the suspect's vehicle, officers
spotted an orange Chevy Cobalt in the area of 1600 E. Main
Street. They conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and
detained the driver. Both the victim and witness were able to
positively identify the driver as the suspect in this case. The
suspect was identified as Jeffrey M. VanWagoner (48), seen here
in photo.
Investigators discovered that VanWagoner is currently a Level 2
registered sex offender from a prior conviction for child
molestation and sexual conduct with a minor. When investigators
attempted to interview VanWagoner, he invoked his right to an
attorney. VanWagoner was booked for Kidnapping, ARS 13-1304.A4,
a class 4 felony.
This incident was extremely frightening for the victim and her
family. The Mesa Police Department would like to encourage
parents to share this information with their children to
reaffirm the "stranger danger" message.