DANVILLE, Va. (WAVY/WFLA/CNN) — The mother of a baby who was kidnapped at knife point fears for her child’s life.
Virginia State Police issued an Amber Alert Monday after 7-month-old Emma Grace Kennedy was abducted by 51-year-old Carl Ray Kennedy, who carried a knife when he assaulted the infant’s mother at a Kwik Stop. State police said the baby faces “extreme danger.”
The FBI says Kennedy is registered as a sex offender in North Carolina, and is currently out of jail on a $250,000 bond for drug distribution.
Danville police released images of the vehicle Monday afternoon that also show the suspect with the child. Police said to note that there is a spare tire on the back rear passenger side of the vehicle.
Emma’s mom, Krysten Murphy, says Carl Kennedy was harassing her for the past month after the two broke up in March.
The two agreed to meet at the Kwik Stop gas station in Danville Sunday. When Kennedy allegedly started hitting her and tried to stab her, before taking Emma.
“He has nothing left to lose now,” Krysten Murphy said. “I feel like he would hurt Emma. He is just gonna either disappear or I’m never gonna see her again, because he’s gonna harm her. I think he is that sick.”
Emma’s aunt, Amy Metzger, lives in Virginia Beach. Metzger says Kennedy has health issues and may do anything to get back at Murphy.
“She’s a happy growing baby but she has needs. From everything that I know about Carl, he has no means to take care of a child. My worst fear is that she is on the side of the road somewhere or left alone in an unknown place and abandoned,” said Metzger.
Metzger said Kennedy was upset at her sister for getting full custody of Emma two weeks ago. She said Kennedy had been harassing the family since.
“He has been making fake profiles on social media trying to attack her,” Metzger said. “He was following the family and passing by the house multiple times.”
Family wouldn’t let Emma and her mother Krysten go anywhere alone, but last night they weren’t with her when she stopped at the convenience store.
Metzger says Kennedy told her sister, “I’m taking Emma and you’ll never see her again.”
Kennedy is described in the police alert as a white man with gray hair, 5 foot 8 inches, weighing 170 lbs, last seen driving a gold 2007 4-door Suzuki, with North Carolina plate FAA-1873 or EKZ-5093.
The Suzuki has a Johnny’s Auto Sales emblem on the trunk. Police say the suspect may also be driving a Burgundy Toyota Camry, a blue Jeep Cherokee or a Dodge truck.
Monday night, state police said Carl Kennedy was possibly sighted around Seven Springs, in Wayne County, North Carolina. It is believed he may be heading to Oak Island, North Carolina.
A Durham police spokesperson told NBC affiliate WRAL Tuesday a man tried to sell a baby around 1:20 a.m. in the 100 block of East Woodcroft Parkway The man described by the caller did not completely match that of Kennedy, but it was enough for authorities to add Durham and Wake counties to the area of their search for Emma. Police later determined this was unrelated to the search.
