A frantic search for a 3-year-old boy ended soon after it began with a warning issued to parents never to leave their kids in a car while running an errand.
State Police say they located Liam David Pagan at a hotel in Windsor, Conn. “He is safe,” the MSP tweeted at 10:42 a.m. Friday.
At 10:48 a.m., the agency confirmed that they had found the suspected car thief and abductor, a 52-year-old Springfield man, at Anytime Fitness in Windsor, Conn.
The suspect has been identified as Vadim Vorobyov, 52, of Springfield. He will be charged with kidnapping, child endangerment, and fugitive from justice in Connecticut. He’s also expected to be charged with kidnapping, child endangerment, and motor vehicle larceny in Massachusetts.
“Investigation indicates he dropped the child off at the Rodeway Inn and then drove to the shopping plaza where he left the car. Hotel employees contacted police,” the MSP wrote.
The child was found safe and apparently unharmed. The boy was transported to a Massachusetts hospital for a precautionary examination.
The MSP had issued the AMBER Alert reporting the abduction just before 10:30 a.m.
“Preliminary investigation suggests that at approximately 8:40 AM VOROBYOV came across the Toyota Camry as it was parked outside a residence on Exchange Street in Chicopee with the motor running and the child in the backseat,” Mass State Police wrote. “He entered the vehicle and drove away.”
The Kids and Car Safety national nonprofit quickly put out a public service announcement stating 27 children were left alone in a vehicle that was then stolen this year. “We see an increase in these cases every year as the temperatures get cooler,” they added.
“It is incredibly traumatizing for everyone involved and a significant misuse of law enforcement
resources. Incidents like this are very easily avoidable by never leaving a child alone in a
vehicle,” the nonprofit added.
Tips for parents:
1. Never leave a child of any age or pet alone in a vehicle, not even for a minute.
2. Use drive-thrus or curbside pickup so you don’t have to leave your vehicle.
3. If a business doesn’t offer curbside delivery, call upon arrival and ask them to bring your order to your car. Most people are more than happy to accommodate you when you tell them you have small children. It takes a village!
4. Keep car doors locked and keys on your person when pumping gas with children inside the vehicle.
