Spotsylvania County Sheriff Ronald T. Knight said he believes the plan, patterned after a program started in Texas in 1996, is the first of its kind in Virginia. To date, similar programs in 20 jurisdictions nationwide have aided the safe return of 10 children, authorities said. Under Spotsylvania's program, radio and television stations will broadcast an emergency alert signal followed by information about the missing child and, if available, the possible suspect and vehicle involved. The broadcast will be repeated every 15 minutes for the first four hours, then at the start of each hour for the next eight hours. It also will include a phone number for the public to call.
Investigators believe the same killer is responsible for the crimes, which remain unsolved.
Authorities said they do not plan to use the new alert system for situations involving runaways or in most child-custody disputes.