Authorities have announced that Cassidy Hayes has been found safe and sound in Arizona after disappearing with her step-brother, Michael Malloch, Jr. The 22-year-old man left a suicide note claiming that he could not live without Hayes before fleeing from California with her.
Thanks to an Amber Alert, Cassidy Hayes was found in Arizona after being taken by her 22-year-old step-brother. A little more about Amber Hagerman, the young girl, who inspired the creation of the Amber Alert:
In January 13, 1996, Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl from Arlington, Texas, was last seen riding her bike in a parking lot. A witness saw a man with a black, flat-bed truck snatch Amber from her bicycle. Four days later, Amber’s body was found in a creek 3.2 miles from her home. Her murder remains unsolved… residents were outraged and began calling radio stations not only to vent their anger and frustration but also to offer suggestions to prevent such crimes in the future.
Diana Simone, suggested a program be implemented that would allow use of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) to notify the public when a child has been abducted and asked that it be dedicated to the memory of Amber Hagerman.
On Monday, California authorities were called to a home in Cathedral City after a family discovered that their 12-year-old daughter, Cassidy Hayes had vanished.
The family’s nightmare worsened after discovering a suicide note left behind by Cassidy Hayes’ step-brother, Michael Malloch.
The 22-year-old man said in his letter that he could not live without “her.” An Amber Alert was immediately issued for a girl and police released the description of the car, which was a 2002 gold Subaru Legacy with California license plate 7HYS582.
Cassidy is a 5-foot-3-inch, 112-pound, white female with red hair and hazel eyes. According to video footage, her hair has been dyed dark. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie with “port” in white lettering and blue jeans.
The suspect is a 5-foot-10-inch, 165-pound, white male with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a grey T-shirt, black shorts with a white stripe, sunglasses and black shoes.
Just hours after the alert was put out, several witnesses, including a police officer spotted the duo in Page, Arizona. Local TV station, KTAR claimed:
DPS Trooper Jesse Livingston — who is just three weeks out of the academy — was on his way home when he heard the Amber Alert call come over his DPS radio. Approximately an hour later, Livingston, along with another trooper, spotted the 2002 Gold Subaru Legacy in question and proceeded to conduct a felony stop in which Hayes’ abductor and stepbrother, Michael Malloch, Jr., surrendered without incident.
Michael Malloch and victim Cassidy Hayes were both detained. It is unclear if the young girl was released to her parents. It is believed that Malloch and Hayes were heading to Massachusetts.
According to the Cathedral City Police Department, Hayes’ red hair had been dyed dark. Since Cassidy Hayes was found, the family has not commented on the story.
Words fail me.