webeagle12 Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 Two second-grade girls who disappeared while riding bikes together were found dead Monday, both stabbed multiple times and left to die off a bicycle path in a park, authorities said. A resident walking through a wooded nature area in the park discovered the bodies of best friends Laura Hobbs, 8, and Krystal Tobias, 9, at dawn. "This is a heinous crime. It was a crime not only against those kids but against all of us," Police Chief Doug Malcolm said. The parents of one of the girls had reported her missing about 8:50 p.m. Sunday, about two hours after she was expected home, Malcolm said. The parents of the other girl called shortly afterward, and authorities with rescue dogs began searching. Malcolm said no weapons were found and there was no evidence of sexual assault. A girl's bicycle was found nearby. He said police had not identified any suspects and that there were "no solid leads that we're focusing on." The killings stunned this town about 45 miles north of Chicago, prompting police and school officials to escort children directly onto buses at the end of the school day. Dozens of anxious parents waited until their children emerged from the front doors of the school, then put their arms around their kids or clutched their hands as they walked to their cars. Fifteen-year-old Albert Tobias said he didn't know why someone would want to attack his sister. "But I would like to know what happened," he said in a brief telephone interview. Constance Collins, superintendent of the Zion Elementary School District 6, said the girls were in the same second-grade class at Beulah Park Elementary School. "They were best friends," said Laura Unrein, who lives near the park. "When one left, the other left. They were always together." "They were very sweet girls," said Julie Dobnikar, who teaches second grade at the school. Dobnikar added that the girls' teacher is "very distraught right now." School was in session Monday, and social workers and a crisis intervention team were called in to help the students. Jeanette Ortiz said she is worried because her 11-year-old son plays and rides his bike in the same park. She came to the school to pick him up. "I'm going to have to tell him that he needs to be careful no matter where he goes," she said. Unrein said the area where the girls' bodies were found is well-known in the community as a place to avoid. "There have been incidents of kids beating up people and taking their wallets and park rangers have had to shoo people out of there for hunting illegally," she said. "My husband and I don't go down there any more because you hear the stories." The park where the girls were found has a paved bike path, a ravine and trails made by mountain bikes. Police tape cordoned off the area. Zion, along Lake Michigan, was founded in 1901 by a religious faith healer as a utopian community. It has about 22,000 residents but retains a quiet, at times rural feel despite being on the edge of both the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas. http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/a...e_us/girls_dead :unsure: this just makes me mad, who want to killl 2 your girs for no reason :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: poor girls :/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurmoth Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 Sad, very very sad :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hurmoth Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 I heard that there might be an arrest in this case. I certianly hope that they catch the SOB who did this :crazy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speddy187 Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 The news that two girls out on a Mother's Day bicycle ride were stabbed multiple times and left to die near a bike path has shaken the residents of this small city near the Wisconsin line. Now the search is on for those responsible, but Police Chief Doug Malcolm said Monday that authorities have had not identified any suspects and there were no solid leads. "It was a crime not only against those kids but against all of us," Malcolm said Monday. The girls, Laura Hobbs, 8, and Krystal Tobias, 9, were best friends in the same second grade class at Beulah Park Elementary, about four blocks from the park. Their bodies were discovered shortly after dawn Monday, although police said no weapons were found and there was no evidence of sexual assault. A girl's bicycle was found nearby. Police visited the Hobbs' home and took clothing worn by family members Sunday, the day the girls disappeared, Sheila Hollabaugh, the girl's mother, told the Chicago Tribune in Tuesday's editions. She also said a relative was interviewed by police early Monday evening, the newspaper reported. Police said the relative had been interviewed and released. "I can't believe she's gone," Hollabaugh said of her daughter. Zion, along Lake Michigan, was founded in 1901 by a religious faith healer as a utopian community. It has about 22,000 residents but retains a quiet, at times rural feel despite being on the edge of both the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas. Fifteen-year-old Albert Tobias said he didn't know of any reason why someone would want to attack his sister. "I really don't know anything. All I know is she got stabbed," he said in a brief phone interview. "But I would like to know what happened." Laura Unrein, who lives near Beulah Park, said the area where the bodies were found is well known as a place to avoid. The heavily wooded park has a paved bike path, a ravine and trails made by mountain bikes. "There have been incidents of kids beating up people and taking their wallets and park rangers have had to shoo people out of there for hunting illegally," she said, adding that it's also a popular hangout for teens to drink. "Our children are told not to be down in that area," she said. "My husband and I don't go down there anymore because you hear the stories." The parents of one of the girls had reported her missing about 8:50 p.m. Sunday, about two hours after she was expected home, Malcolm said. The parents of the other girl called shortly afterward, and authorities with rescue dogs began searching. A resident walking through the park discovered the bodies at dawn. Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said it appears the girls were killed where their bodies were found. They had both been stabbed multiple times, authorities said. "They were best friends. When one left, the other left. They were always together," said Unrein. The killings stunned this town about 45 miles north of Chicago, prompting police and Beulah Park Elementary School officials to escort children directly onto buses at the end of the school day. "I know that they were very sweet girls," said Julie Dobnikar, who teaches second grade at the school, adding that the girls' teacher is "very distraught right now." Dozens of anxious parents waited until their children emerged from the front doors of the school, then put their arms around their kids or clutched their hands as they walked to their cars. "I'm concerned for their safety," Cynthia Taylor said of her granddaughters, ages 5 and 6. "It's bad and scary that people could be so cruel to innocent kids." http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=743418 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shane Pitman Posted May 11, 2005 Share Posted May 11, 2005 If I'm not mistaken I heard on the news last night that they are holding the father as a possible suspect. Correct me if I'm wrong. Sad sad news. I feel for the families. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Veteran Posted May 11, 2005 Veteran Share Posted May 11, 2005 Threads merged. As of today they are holding one of the girl's (the brown haired one, I think) father. He apparently has a very violent history and arrest record. Very, very sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts