A 75-year-old woman was kidnapped in east Alabama Monday, and later rescued by law enforcement officers who found her bound with duct tape in the closet in an Anniston home.
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office just before 1:30 p.m. received a 911 call about a woman – Betty Cobb – that was missing. The woman’s family members made the call, said Sheriff Matthew Wade, after they searched her house and property but were unable to find her.
Deputies learned Cobb had been grocery shopping. Some of those purchased groceries were inside her home, and some of her personal items were found in the road.
The sheriff called in off-duty deputies and launched a massive search. Wade said community members, along with area fire departments, organized search parties once they heard the woman was missing.
Investigators obtained video from stores Cobb had visited, which led them to look into several different vehicles. Using the technology and resources of the East Alabama Metro Crime Center, they developed a picture of the suspect vehicle as well as a license plate number.
They also developed 47-year-old Tony Lamar White as a suspect.
Calhoun County sheriff’s officials are searching for kidnapping suspect Tony Lamar White. They said White could be in a silver Chrysler 300 with license plate 11JA702. (Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office)
The information led investigators several residences in Anniston linked to White in the Anniston area. When they arrived at a residence on South Wilmer Street, deputies cleared the residence and found Cobb bound with duct tape in a closet.
Wade said Cobb had been kidnapped and taken to the residence. White was not there when law enforcement officers arrived.
Cobb was evaluated by EMS on the scene and taken to the hospital for treatment and observation.
Authorities said White could be in a silver Chrysler 300 with license plate 11JA702.
White and Cobb did not know each other, Wade said. The suspect followed the victim home from Walmart.
White has multiple warrants and is considered dangerous. Anyone who sees the vehicle or White is asked to call 911 immediately.
The Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office thanked the East Alabama Metro Area Crime Center, the Oxford Police Department, the Center of Applied Forensics at JSU, Calhoun County District Attorney Brian McVeigh, the Anniston Police Department, the Quad Cities Fire Department and all the volunteers that that assisted.
