2 arrested after luring children

Facebook posts tip investigators to attempted kidnappings

By Suzanne Le Breton
St. Tammany News
Published on Sunday, August 29, 2010 12:22 AM CDT

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Postings on a popular social networking site, tipped off St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s investigators to a series of attempted kidnappings in the Slidell area.

Using the information garnered through the investigation, two individuals, an unidentified 16-year-old and Wylie VanScoter, 17, of 533 Louisiana Ave., Slidell, have been arrested and charged with attempted kidnapping.

The Sheriff’s Office began investigating the case Thursday morning when deputies noticed several postings on Facebook warning parents about two men in a minivan attempting to lure children inside.

VAN SCOTER

Later that day the case took on more validity when several parents filed formal complaints with the Sheriff’s Office, stating their children had been approached by two men in a blue minivan while they were waiting at their bus stops earlier this week. The men allegedly offered the children candy and rides to school in an attempt to get them to climb inside the van.

A van matching the description of the one used in the attempted abductions was reportedly seen at a residence in the Slidell area, and the homeowner at that residence gave investigators more information that led to the to individuals in question being indentified as VanScoter and his 16-year-old accomplice.

Both suspects reside in Slidell, and Slidell Police assisted in locating them.

The two were initially charged with disturbing the peace while investigators gathered more information.

VanScoter was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail, and the 16-year-old was issued a summons and released into the custody of his parents. Warrants were issued Friday against both individuals for two counts of attempted kidnapping charges.

Capt. George Bonnett, spokesman for the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, said it is believed the two suspects approached more than a half dozen children over the past week. The incidents occurred in subdivisions throughout the city of Slidell, and at no time did any of the targeted children ever enter into the van with the suspects.

This is not VanScoter’s first run in with the law.

He was among six teenagers who were arrested in June in connections with an armed robbery at a Shell gas station in Slidell.

It is believed the motive behind that robbery was to obtain money to buy narcotics.

He was out on bond for that charge when he was picked up Thursday in connection with the attempted kidnappings.

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Comments

12 comment(s)

concerned slidell wrote on Jan 16, 2012 5:07 PM:

" of course he would say it was a prank, cuz he got caught! His reasons are deeper and darker. He needs help before he hurts some child. Hes a danger at this point "

OB wrote on May 3, 2011 2:20 PM:

" This makes me sad. I love this kid. Wylie is a very good kid and made a very stupid decision. He had intended this to be a joke and didn't think it would go this far. Hang in there Wylie and family. I love and miss you guys. "

carrassell wrote on Mar 14, 2011 5:45 PM:

" okay...look, i personally know wylie, & he is an amzing friend. who, granted, does EXTEMELY STUPID THINGS. this being one of them. but to him, this was just a joke(trust me, i talked to him after the fact). he should have been more mature and knew that it could get him in trouble, but he didnt. yes, he does need to grow up and be a man, but he doesnt deserve all of the name calling. i love wylie & will ALWAYS BE HIS FRIEND. "

sick of the north shore wrote on Oct 30, 2010 11:46 PM:

" You are all too quick to judge, i hope you all get an article written by an over jealous reporter and put your name and picture in the paper before you know all the facts.How can you all sleep at night. "

Thetruth wrote on Sep 16, 2010 11:18 AM:

" These kids were pulling a very bad prank. I know van scoter personally and he is not some sick child molester the media is making him out to be. It was just a joke done in very bad taste. Honestly, you people need to lay off these teenagers. "

Free Speech wrote on Sep 7, 2010 9:45 AM:

" Send them both to the "Big House" where they can become some ones boy toy. The shoe will be on the other foot then. "

HOSS wrote on Sep 3, 2010 8:10 AM:

" Get them both lots of help, medication if need be, and a place to live away from society. There is no need to risk the injury to an innocent child by ever letting these two walk the streets ever again. They had thier chance, both know right from wrong, and now they need to be put away for ever. "

R.SIDE wrote on Aug 31, 2010 2:03 PM:

" That sick puppy needs to be housed at the pound, not jail. Is he wearing make-up? You have to wonder, were these two going to kill a child? "

cdngodess wrote on Aug 30, 2010 6:18 PM:

" sick sick sick sick !!! "

Steve S wrote on Aug 30, 2010 10:33 AM:

" It's called the law, a 16 year old is a minor, and until convicted, they can't just go publishing his name. "

j. wrote on Aug 29, 2010 1:18 PM:

" what is wrong with this picture?you are going to protect the identity of a 16 year old who is trying to lure children in a van for what purpose?to kill or molest them stop protecting crimanals and protect children damit what is wrong with you people... "

CK wrote on Aug 29, 2010 11:36 AM:

" Let's keep this scumbag locked up for good this time! This is starting to sound like New Orleans when criminals get out of jail and commit other heinous crimes. "

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