May 27, 2009

• UPDATED BREAKING NEWS — AMBER ALERT PA

  UPDATE: FOUND
  missing mom Bonnie Sweeten, and her young daughter, have been found by the FBI in Orlando, Florida.

  This development came just hours after sources told Action News that video surveillance at Philadelphia International Airport captured Sweeten, 38, and her daughter Julia Rakoczy, 9, boarding a plane on Tuesday afternoon.

  Those sources say the flight left at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday and was heading to Orlando.

  Sources say they have numerous pictures of Sweeten and Rakoczy at the airport, and say they were boarding the plane of their own free will, and were not accompanied by anyone else.

  Investigators say they can now conclude that the two were not abducted.

  RELATED: Photos of Bonnie Sweeten and Julia Rakoczy

  This all began around 1:50 p.m. Tuesday when Sweeten called 911 to say she had been in a car crash. She claimed the pair of men then abducted her and her 9-year-old daughter, and stole her SUV.

  Police found the SUV early Wednesday morning at 15th and Chestnut in Center City Philadelphia.

  Cracks in her story started to appear after it was revealed that the Sweeten’s GMC Yukon Denali had a parking ticket on it with a time stamp of 2:20 p.m. Tuesday.

  That 30 minute window from when she told police she was abducted and when the ticket was issued would be an incredibly tight timeframe to get from the suburban town to the heart of the city.

  Furthermore, police say they traced Sweeten’s first 911 call to a cell phone tower near the location where the SUV was found, indicating it may have been there the entire time.

  Additionally, investigators say Sweeten gave conflicting stories about where her daughter was; Whether she was with her in the trunk, or still in her SUV.

  On Wednesday, police recovered a surveillance video from a restaurant nearby where the SUV was found. However, they have not said what, if anything, was on the tape.

  Police also visited the head of the Carlitz Foundation in New Hope, Pa. Sweeten is listed as a director of the foundation. However, Action News has learned she no longer works there.

  It bills itself as a charity, raising money for children in Burma. But, it is not registered as a charitable non-profit with the state.

  It is run by lawyer Debbie Carlitz, who would not talk to Action News except to say she has been talking to police. She also would not say why Sweeten is a former employee.

  Action News spoke exclusively to Larry Sweeten, Bonnie’s current husband. He told Nora Muchanic that he is just as much in the dark about this ordeal as everyone else.

  “I think I’m in a dream. This has taken me by such a surprise. I just want her to know she has tons of support, and whatever it is we can work through it,” Larry Sweeten said.

  He said he had no clue why his wife would go to Florida. He also says police are not looking at him as someone who’s involved in her diappearance.

  “I’m begging you, please come home,” Sweeten said, addressing his wife. “We have a new daughter, she needs you,” he said, referring to their 8-month-old baby.

  Action News also spoke to Tony Rakoczy, Julia’s father and Sweeten’s ex-husband, who says he can’t believe this is happening.

  “I just want to know where they are, if they’re safe,” Rakoczy said.

  Rakoczy said he and Sweeten have maintained a cordial relationship since their divorce in 2003. They have another daughter together, 15-year-old Paige.

  From his home in Feasterville, Pa., Rakoczy described Julia as an upbeat girl who plays softball and loves cheerleading and the Phillies. He, like everyone else, is trying to figure out what happened.

  ______________________________________________________________
  ORIGINAL POST
  

  AMBER ALERT ACTIVATION

  The Pennsylvania State Police has issued an Amber Child Abduction Alert for the Upper Southampton Township Police, Bucks County.

  Upper Southampton Township Police are searching for Julia RAKOCZY, a white, non-hispanic female, 8 years old, 4’1” tall, 59 pounds, long brown hair, blue eyes, dime-sized birthmark on her forehead, unknown clothing.  She was abducted at approximately 2:00 pm May 26^th, 2009 along State Route 132, Street Road, Upper Southampton Township, Bucks County, about 1 mile north of Philadelphia City.  Two black males, no further description, jumped in her mother’s vehicle, a silver color 2005 GMC Denali SUV, PA Registration GYK8998, and drove away.  Her mother, Bonnie SWEETEN, a white, non-hispanic female, 38 years old, 5’11” tall, 130 pounds, blonde hair, blue eyes, was in the vehicle also. 

  Anyone with information about the abduction should immediately contact the police by calling 911.

                     

         Julia RAKOCZY                                   Bonnie SWEETEN

  • 8:54 pm
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