March 3, 2015

Multi-Agency Task Force Investigation Results in the Safe Recovery of Two Abducted Children

Paul Abbate, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office, announced the safe recovery of Emma and Aaron Blackwell (brother and sister) following their forcible abduction in Indianapolis, Indiana.

On Monday, March 2, 2015, at approximately 2:30 a.m., Emma Blackwell (13 years old) and her brother, Aaron Blackwell (16 years old), were forcibly abducted from their residence in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Later that day, information obtained through the investigation led law enforcement authorities from multiple Detroit area joint task forces to the vicinity of Liddesdale Street in Detroit, Michigan. During the evening, uniformed officers of the Detroit Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle of interest in the investigation. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed, and the officers pursued. When authorities successfully stopped the vehicle, the occupants attempted to flee on foot. At that time, several subjects were detained and Aaron Blackwell was safely recovered from the vehicle.

At approximately 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, Emma Blackwell was safely recovered in Indianapolis, where she was returned home.

During the fast-moving investigation, several persons of interest were detained and questioned regarding their knowledge of and possible involvement in the abductions and current location of the children.

This multi-state case was investigated by the FBI Detroit Field Office through its Southeast Michigan Crimes Against Children Task Force (SEMCAC), Violent Crime Task Force (VCTF), and Violent Gang Task Force (VGTF); the U.S. Marshals Service Detroit Fugitive Apprehension Team (DFAT); U.S. Customs and Border Protection; Air and Marine Operations; and the FBI Indianapolis Field Office.

The Southeast Michigan Crimes Against Children Task Force (SEMCAC) is a partnership of the FBI Detroit Field Office; the Michigan State Police; the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office; the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office; and the Detroit, Southfield, Dearborn, Livonia, Highland Park, and Roseville Police Departments.

The Violent Crime Task Force (VCTF) is a partnership of the FBI Detroit Field Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Michigan State Police; the Michigan Department of Corrections; the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office; and the Detroit, Hamtramck, Harper Woods, and Detroit Public Schools Police Departments.

The Violent Gang Task Force (VGTF) is a partnership of the FBI Detroit Field Office; Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Border Patrol; Immigration and Customs Enforcement-ERO; U.S. Secret Service; the Michigan State Police; the Michigan Department of Corrections; and the Detroit, Wayne State University, and Redford Police Departments.

Grateful acknowledgement is made to the officers, agents, and employees of each of the above departments and agencies for their rapid response, hard work, and dedicated effort in pursuit of this investigation and safe return of the children.