Blackburn charged after triggering Amber Alert
By Julia Wolf
Trevor Blackburn, 22, Bell Buckle, Tenn., is in custody and facing charges, after being accused of abducting a juvenile.
Chippewa County Sheriff, Jim Kowalczyk, says they got a call the morning of Oct. 1, from a father in the Town of Ruby, who reported his juvenile daughter was missing. Kowalczyk says the department responded to the residence, and met with the father and family members.
“As the investigation continued, we then realized that she was probably abducted, rather than a missing juvenile,” said Kowalczyk, adding they focused the investigation in that direction.
The sheriff’s department partnered with other agencies to surveil the area, including by use of drones and canines, throughout the weekend, to try to locate the juvenile. Agencies like the Department of Criminal Investigation, Homeland Security, the FBI and numerous local law enforcement agencies, all contributed to the search. An Amber Alert was also issued for the juvenile Saturday.
Kowalczyk says they received a phone call the morning of Oct. 2, that a house in the Town of Ruby, had been entered into and items were missing.
“The items reported missing were money, food and water,” said Kowalczyk.
Upon investigation at the residence, Kowalczyk says there was evidence left behind linking Blackburn to the entry and theft. Law enforcement continued to canvas the area for Blackburn and the missing juvenile, that day.
The evening of Oct. 2, around 7 p.m., the sheriff’s department received a call from a residence east of Cornell, indicating they had a female at their residence, saying she was the person abducted.
Law enforcement responded to the residence and got a brief statement from the female.
“She indicated, again, that she was abducted, early Saturday morning,” said Kowalczyk.
The juvenile was transported to a local hospital and the Amber Alert was canceled.
However, the search for Blackburn continued. Kowalczyk says multiple law enforcement agencies working together determined Sunday evening, that Blackburn was likely headed to the Douglas County area, and probably in the company of a friend from that area.
“We did a ping of the suspect’s phone,” said Kowalczyk. “We verified the fact that the ping locations showed him heading north toward Superior.”
Just before 10 p.m., Oct. 2, the vehicle was stopped and Blackburn was taken into custody by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and City of Superior Police Department, without incident.
According to online court records, Blackburn faces 10 charges stemming from the incident – one count of Kidnapping/ Seize or Confine Without Consent; seven counts of First Degree Child Sexual Assault, Intercourse with Person under 16, Use of Threat of Force/Violence; one count of Strangulation and Suffocation; and one count of Burglary of a Building or Dwelling. A $1 million cash bond was set for Blackburn.
Blackburn is scheduled to appear in court for a review hearing Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 9 a.m., in the Chippewa County Courthouse.
“This all originated with social media communication between these two,” said Kowalczyk. “Be aware of who your children are communicating with.”
He says open communication between parents or guardians, and their children, like asking them what is going on in their life and who they are communicating with, is a good way to stay in the know.
Kowalczyk says those who have suspicions about online activity, should contact local law enforcement.
