October 9, 2007
WINCHESTER, VA. A Nationwide manhunt came to an end Saturday when Virginia State Police arrested 46-year-old William Joe "Billy Mitch" Mitchell, a convicted sex offender with a violent past, in Winchester, Virginia. Police had been looking for Mitchell since he lured 15-year-old Alyssa Frank away from her family home in Bartow, Florida last week. Fortunately, the teen was able to get away from Mitchell in DeFuniak Springs. From there, Mitchell led police on a manhunt through several states along the East Coast.
The hunt for Mitchell intensified on Thursday, when police in Pennsylvania received a tip that Mitchell's black Chevrolet Lumina with Florida license plate number G025EL had been spotted in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, Mitchell left the area before police could locate the vehicle. The trail went cold from there, but then, on Saturday morning, a second tipster reported seeing Mitchell's car at the Flying J Truck Stop in Winchester, where police were able to take him into custody without incident.
"Virginia State Police swooped down upon him at gun point, arrested him, and he offered absolutely no resistance," Polk County, Florida Sheriff Grady Judd said in an interview with WHSV.com, adding, "Now our goal is to see that he never breathes another breath of air! outside of prison."
Alyssa's father, Roger Frank, was overjoyed when he received new of the arrest.
"When we got the news today about that he was caught, it was absolutely the best joy in the world," Frank told WHSV.com. "We're very happy my daughter's doing fine; she's going to be OK."
Alyssa's parents reported her missing on the morning of October 1, after going to her room to wake her up for school, and discovering her missing. When investigators interviewed Alyssa's friends, they learned that she had been chatting with Mitchell, a man who portrayed himself as a teenager, through the popular social networking website, MySpace.com. Alyssa allegedly told her friends that she had fallen in love with Mitchell, and was going to run off with him.
Authorities immediately issued an Amber Alert, asking for the public to look out for Mitchell's Chevrolet Lumina. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd also held a press conference, at which time he directly addressed Mitchell.
"Don't you dare hurt this young lady. Let her go," Judd said. "Take her to a convenience store. A bus station. But let her go."
As the search for Alyssa intensified, Mitchell apparently felt the heat, and decided that it was in his best interest to part ways with her before going into hiding. After driving to Alabama, Mitchell decided to turn back and head for DeFuniak Springs. There, he stopped at a local Wal-Mart, and told Alyssa that he was going somewhere for about 5 minutes. He also told her that if she sought help, he would kill her. Mitchell then drove away, leaving Alyssa behind. When he failed to return, she identified herself to the authorities, and provided them with information on the events leading up to her separation from Mitchell.
According to court documents, Mitchell is currently on probation. His rap sheet details 14 arrests for crimes including aggravated assault with a weapon, bomb threats, extortion, burglary, "grand larceny and offenses or offers of lewdness and lewd and lascivious behavior."
Mitchell is currently being held in the Frederick County Regional Jail without bond. He is charged with solicitation to commit a lewd act, enticing a child via the Internet, interference with custody, and traveling to meet a minor for the purpose of unlawful sexual contact. Mitchell also faces charges in Alabama for taking the victim across the state line.
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