Search warrants executed in case of slain Mich. teen

WALES TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- Michigan State Police and an FBI task force were executing search warrants Wednesday afternoon in the case of murdered teen April Millsap, who was found dead near the nature trail where she had been walking her dog in Armada July 24, reports CBS Detroit.

Millsap, 14, sent a text message to her boyfriend the night of her murder that read, "Omg. Wtf. I think I'm being kidnapped," Armada Police Chief Howard Smith told The Macomb Daily. However, CBS Detroit said police wouldn't confirm the contents of the text message.

FBI agents and state police troopers served the warrants Wednesday afternoon at a home in Wales Township, about 20 miles northeast of Armada, reports MLive.com. The Detroit Free Press reports that the home is registered to a 66-year-old registered sex offender who was convicted in 1995 of second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person under 13, and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with a person between 13 and 16, citing records.

Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw wouldn't comment on the location of the search warranst to CBS Detroit. He said the goal was to collect evidence, and there are currently no arrest warrants in the case.

Shaw told the Macomb Daily on Tuesday investigators were "zeroing in" on a suspect.

"We are pretty confident that we are zeroing in on the person who did this and the person knows that as well," Shaw told the paper.

Millsap's dog reportedly led a pair of joggers to her body around 8:30 p.m. that Thursday, 15 to 20 feet off the wooded nature trail where she had been walking in Armada, Mich., about 45 miles north of Detroit.

Police say Millsap's death was ruled a homicide, reports the station, but they've released few details about how she died. There were no stab or gunshot wounds on her body, reports the Detroit Free Press.

The girl's mother had reported her missing when she didn't return home from her nightly walk with her dog, Penny.

Investigators have released a sketch of a man who was seen on the trail, but it's not clear if the man is a witness or a suspect.

Police haven't ruled anyone out in the murder, but police say they don't believe her family was involved, Armada Police Chief Howard Smith told CBS Detroit.

"...[April] was walking her dog Penny out there on the trail...the dog stayed there during the commission of the crime," Smith told the station. "This person that may match this profile may be familiar with the dog or may be very familiar with dogs in general."

Police said last week that they were also searching for a long, gray "painter's-type" box van with dents all over it that was spotted in the area. They are also hoping to speak with the two men seen inside, reports CBS Detroit.

They've also reportedly received tips about a small blue and white motorcycle with a young male rider wearing a black helmet seen on the trail around the time Millsap is believed to have been murdered.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call the Michigan State Police tip line at 877-616-4677. Tips may also be submitted online at http://www.michigan.gov/michtip.