Amber Alert Issued For 2 Amish Girls Believed To Be Kidnapped
An Amber Alert was issued Wednesday evening after two Amish girls were reportedly abducted near New York's border with Canada.
Police and search teams have been scouring the small community of Oswegatchie, located about 150 miles northwest of Albany, and beyond for the two girls, 7-year-old Delila Miller and 12-year-old Fannie Miller. The girls had reportedly been working at the family's roadside stand when they ran up to a car to help a customer. Witnesses reported seeing the customer put something in the back seat, and when the vehicle drove away, the two young girls were gone.
Police told the Associated Press that they had received "numerous leads" regarding the girls' whereabouts, and although the Amish community tends to shun modern technology, many of the residents of Oswegatchie have already heard of the adduction and are keeping their eyes open for any strange behavior. "You'd be surprised how quick word spreads," St. Lawrence County Sheriff Kevin Wells said.
The girls were reportedly last seen wearing dark blue dresses with blue aprons and black bonnets. They reportedly speak in the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect, and the 12-year-old speaks English. Witnesses at the stand reported seeing a four-door white sedan drive away with the children.
Over 50 police officers were dispatched Wednesday evening and worked through the night in finding the girls. Police officials say the search is ongoing, and they are encouraging any people with leads to contact the national Amber Alert hotline or the Lawrence County Sheriff's department. There are reportedly no photographs of the girls since Amish society shuns modern technology.
