Alexis Murphy Update: Arrest made in abduction of Va. teen who is still missing
(CBS) CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Randy Allen Taylor, 48, was arrested Sunday and charged with abduction in the disappearance of Alexis Murphy, a 17-year-old Virginia girl who was last seen August 3, CBS affiliate WDBJ reports.
According to the station, Taylor, of Lovingston, was taken into custody without incident and is being held without bond in the Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Jail. The missing teen has not been located. Her car was found in Charlottesville on August 6 in a movie theater parking lot.
In a news conference Monday, the FBI said it is looking to speak with anyone who may have seen Taylor or his vehicle. Investigators released a photo of the GMC suburban-like truck with Virginia license plates, that he was driving.
"We are also looking for any information the public may have regarding suspect Randy Taylor, prior to the disappearance on August 3, and anything regarding his activities and involvements that might prove helpful to this investigation," FBI Special Agent in Charge Jeff Mazanec said.
Mazanec said investigators are not ruling out possible connections to other disappearances in the area.
"I know there is some speculation that this case may be connected to other similar disappearances or abductions in the region," Mazanec said. "We are certainly looking at all possibilities and information in this regard. However, we are not prepared to discuss this at the present time. And our focus here today is to bring attention to Alexis' disappearance."
Laura Murphy, Alexis Murphy's mother, made a plea to the public Monday afternoon for help in locating her daughter.
"If anyone knows anything knows anything about Alexis, I want her to come home because today would have been her first day of school," Laura Murphy said. "I carried my younger son to school this morning, but I didn't have a daughter to take. If anybody knows anything, please, please let us know. Please."
Taylor is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call (434) 263-7050.