AMBER Alert in Virginia: A timeline of the search for 14-year-old girl, 33-year-old man

LOUISA COUNTY, Va. (WWBT) - Virginia State Police said 14-year-old Isabel Hicks was located safely on Oct. 30 after she had been missing since early Oct. 21.

Police said 33-year-old Bruce Lynch was taken into custody.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Louisa County Sheriff’s Office at 540-967-1234, Louisa Crime Solvers at 800-346-1466, or the FBI at 804-261-1044.

Here is a timeline of events of the search for Isabel Hicks and Bruce Lynch:

The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office releases the initial information that Hicks was missing and may be with Lynch. They believed that Hicks was not taken forcibly and may be in a blue Toyota Matrix.

She was last seen around 1 a.m. that day in her Louisa County home.

Cortney Lewis, Hicks’ mother, makes an emotional plea for her daughter to return home.

"Isabel, I love you and I want you to come home and just let me know you’re OK,” she said at a press conference.

“We miss you very much and we want you to come home ...you are my best friend. Please contact me whenever you can,” Hicks’ brother, Blake Saylor, said.

An AMBER Alert was issued for Hicks as the search expanded.

The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office said the pair was still believed to be in the Toyota Matrix, but may have switched license plates. The Virginia plates could be: VEM-9071, UXM-3614 or yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” tags with 2449UT.

They also say the right rear door handle is missing. Citizens should look for tarps inside the car, because it is believed Lynch recently bought some. Authorities believe Lynch left with camping gear.

The searched officially reached one week, with authorities holding a news conference on their search for the pair.

A Hanover County sheriff’s lieutenant said Tuesday that a call for service came in just after 9 p.m. Oct. 28 from a resident who says the pair came to the home in the 14000 block of Clazemont Road in Montpelier.

The encounter last only seconds.

The sheriff’s office also said the description of the pair had also changed - Lynch no longer has a beard and both of them had on dark clothing or a camo outfit.

Officials also released a new photo of Hicks.

The search for the pair continues, with authorities holding another news conference.

Authorities say U.S. Marshals are now involved in the search. New leads have taken investigators to many areas, some in Montpelier, others outside the town.

During the search efforts in Hanover County over the last few days, investigators said more than 200 people were involved. During that search several pieces of physical evidence were collected.

Base operations will now move back to Louisa County where investigators will continue with the case.

Officials released a retouched photograph of Bruce Lynch without facial hair.

Virginia State Police said 14-year-old Isabel Hicks was located safely on Oct. 30 after she had been missing since early Oct. 21.

Police said 33-year-old Bruce Lynch was taken into custody.

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