‘We owe a debt that can never be repaid.’ Family of kidnapped girl thanks Fort Worth.
Editor’s note: This story has been edited to remove the name of the girl who was kidnapped because of the nature of the allegations later added against the suspect.
Heroes were everywhere in Fort Worth on Saturday night.
They were the teachers, friends and strangers who drove around Ryan Place and Fairmount. They were the uniformed police officers who worked diligently to gather information. They were the two men who drove to a hotel near Forest Hill and spotted the car at the center of a search for a kidnapper.
Now, the family of the 8-year-old girl who was taken from her mother as they walked that evening wants to thank those heroes for bringing her home safe.
In a statement to Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV, the girl’s parents said, “We would like to begin by thanking the Fort Worth Police Department, the FBI, and the numerous other law enforcement agencies involved in bringing (our daughter) back home.
“The biggest thank you goes to the people of Fort Worth and surrounding areas that made her return possible. We feel we owe a debt that can never be repaid. We do hope one day to personally thank as many of those involved as possible. We hope Fort Worth will get to know (our daughter) over time and come to see the strong, articulate, intelligent 8-year-old girl they saved.
“Things will never be the way they were, but they will get better. (Our daughter) has been surrounded by family and friends ever since she returned. As time goes by, she will be making more and more friends in this amazing city.
“And to Jeff King, a man we haven’t seen in 15 years, your name will forever be etched in our hearts.”
King, a high school classmate of the girl’s father, was one of two men who alerted police to suspect Michael Webb’s car at the hotel where he took the girl. Police arrested the 51-year-old man there.
The community has continued to gather around the family since the incident.
On Sunday, hundreds gathered in the neighborhood to walk in order to show their support.
Online, nearly $20,000 was raised for the family since May 19 on GoFundMe to help the family with expenses for services “they may need in this time of recovery.”
“...Although she was found, traumatic events like these call for healing and recovery,” the GoFundMe creator, Shannon Worthington, wrote. “This family is wonderful and loving and all funds will no doubt be put to good use.”
This story was originally published May 23, 2019 at 11:14 AM.
