Girl found safe in Oregon search
Violet Hay was located in Oregon City after an overnight abduction from her Canby apartment.
By Marco Alvarez ·
Violet Hay, a 10-year-old girl from Canby, Oregon, was found safe on Wednesday afternoon after being taken from her apartment overnight. Police officers located her at a residence in Oregon City at 2:45 p.m. local time. This discovery occurred more than 12 hours after her family reported her missing.
The abduction began in the early morning hours of Wednesday. Officers arrived at an apartment complex in Canby at approximately 1:47 a.m. to investigate a reported kidnapping. Investigators determined that an unknown male entered the apartment around 1:39 a.m. He assaulted the girl's 12-year-old sister and took Violet by force.
A SWAT team surrounded the Oregon City residence where Violet was found. Officers took a suspect into custody during the operation. Canby Police Chief Jose Gonzalez held a news conference to announce the girl's safe return. He described the search as a collaborative effort involving local and state authorities, as well as the FBI.
The 12-year-old sister remains in a local hospital for treatment. Canby Police Capt. James Murphy stated that the girl was viciously assaulted during the incident. Clackamas County chief deputy district attorney Chris Owen confirmed the details of the attack. The district attorney's office will receive the investigation results on Thursday morning to make a charging decision.
The Canby School District increased its police presence at Carus Elementary School for Wednesday's dismissal. Violet attends this school. District officials said the extra security is a precautionary measure to reassure families. They asked residents to remain calm and report any information that could help investigators.
Police continue to review surveillance footage and interview family members. The girl's parents are cooperating with the investigation. Officials urged anyone with tips to contact the Oregon State Police at 1-800-442-0776. Callers should reference Canby Police Department case No. 26-021300. Canby is located about 25 miles south of downtown Portland.
