Fort Bragg School Faces Possible Stalker

Posted 11:00 a.m. Aug 16, 2000 — Updated 11:00 a.m. Aug 16, 2000

FORT BRAGG — Parents and students are being warned about a possible child predator reportedly hanging around a Fort Bragg middle school.

Twice in the last few days, a man has approached students walking to Irwin Middle School.

The man has reportedly asked very personal questions and offered the students a ride. The students were smart, and they made it to school safely.

Thursday, a letter was sent home to parents warning them about the situation.

"We're going to have increased MP presence in the vicinity of all the Ft. Bragg schools," says Lt. Col. Roger King, Fort Bragg Public Affairs chief. "By that increased presence, we hope to increase the safety of the family members."

Parents have told WRAL that one child was actually grabbed, but military police will not confirm the report.

There are three rules parents should teach their children when dealing with strangers.

Children should not go out alone, because there is safety in numbers.

Children should always tell an adult where they are going.

Parents should teach their children to say no when feeling uncomfortable or threatened. Children should not be afraid to make their feelings known.

Ft. Bragg authorities are working with the students to get a good description of the suspect. One student says the suspect wore military fatigues. The other student says the man was in plain clothing.

According to theNational Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the average victim of abduction and murder is approximately an 11-year-old girl. She is described as a "normal" kid from a middle class neighborhood with a stable family.

The initial contact with an abductor usually happens within a quarter-mile of the home.

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