Body of Abducted Girl, 9, Is Found Near Flagstaff

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Police here found the body of a 9-year-old abducted Yuma girl whose parents were in San Diego last week appealing for help in the search for their daughter.

The body of Jennifer Marie Wilson was discovered under brush and branches about 8 p.m. Saturday, just 4 miles from where she disappeared June 6 in Flagstaff, a spokesman for the Flagstaff Police Department said. Although the area, called Sheep Hill, was originally searched immediately after the girl was abducted, police decided to search again after two hikers came upon a sweat shirt and tennis shoe Saturday, items described in flyers about Jennifer, Sgt. Pascual Macias said.

Her identity was confirmed early Sunday through fingerprints. A preliminary autopsy revealed she died from “trauma to the head” on the day of her abduction, he said.

The police say their prime suspect is Ricky Bible, 26, who was taken into custody about six hours after the child’s disappearance on six unrelated felony charges, including at least one sex offense.

Bible was arrested after a high-speed chase in a vehicle of the same description as one seen by the child’s mother just before the abduction on the road where Jennifer was last seen.

The girl’s parents came to San Diego last week because of a report that a car matching the description of one that may have belonged to the suspect had been found in this area.