Virginia State Police debunk viral mass kidnapper rumor
ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – A social media rumor claiming dozens of kids were kidnapped in Virginia in just one week is making its rounds.
Virginia State Police say there is no evidence of a “mass kidnapper” anywhere in the Commonwealth. This claim started spreading through viral TikTok’s and Facebook posts, but police want to debunk it immediately.
State Police say in reality, most missing child cases in Virginia are runaways, and most come home quickly.
Last week, 88 kids were reported missing to the state clearinghouse — right in line with Virginia’s weekly average of 98, so far this year. State Police say only about 4% remain missing long-term.
State Police say all those cases are runaways, not abductions.
Virginia reports every missing child case to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which actually makes our numbers look higher than other states. The vast majority of those kids are found and come home safely within days.
A CODI Alert is for missing or endangered children, meaning police believe they’re in danger but it’s not necessarily a confirmed abduction.
An AMBER Alert is only issued if law enforcement verifies the child was taken unwillingly and is in imminent danger of serious harm or death.
Both alerts require very specific criteria, and this year, Virginia has issued 25 CODI Alerts and two AMBER Alerts. State Police tell us every child in those alerts has been found safe.
Police say always talk with your kids about safety, things like not getting into cars with strangers and knowing how to call 911.
Anyone with information on a missing child can contact (804) 674-2000 or (804) 674-2026 after business hours.
Copyright 2025 WDBJ. All rights reserved.
