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AMBER Alert: Father of abducted child texts police; manhunt continues

Posted at 6:05 PM, Aug 05, 2014
and last updated 2014-08-06 14:32:45-04

UPDATE: AMBER Alert cancelled for three-year-old Tommy Lee Able Engle

PATRICK COUNTY, Va. -- Hours after an AMBER Alert was issued for three-year-old Tommy Lee Able Engle and a manhunt launched for his father, 34-year-old Tommy Lee Travis Engle, police said the father reached out to investigators via text.

Detectives said the father texted pictures of his son to officers at about 2 a.m. Wednesday. Using GPS, police tracked the father and son to Interstate 77. Investigators said they believed the elder Engle was taking his son to Canada. No one has seen the father and son since Monday.

Virginia State Police and Virginia Missing Children Clearinghouse issued the AMBER Alert on behalf of the Patrick County Sheriff's Office Tuesday evening.

Tommy Lee Able Engle, 3, was last seen last seen August 4 at his home in Critz, Va. Tommy Engle is three-feet tall and weighs 35 pounds. He has blue eyes and short blonde hair.

Tommy Engle

Tommy Lee Able Engle, 3, was reported abducted.

The child was likely abducted by his father, police said. The father is 6’3” tall and weight 200 pounds. He has brown eyes and brown hair.

"[He] may be armed with AK-47 and in possession of ballistics vest," police said. "[He] has made suicidal threats and homicidal threats towards law enforcement."

Tommy Lee Travis Engle

If you see the Engles, police urged you do not approach them. Instead, call police.

The father and son may be traveling in a 2001 navy blue Dodge Neon that has four doors and a license WNZ-9169.

Please contact the Patrick County Sheriff's Office at (276)694-3161 or the Virginia State Police at 1-800-822-4453 (1-800-VACHILD).

You may find complete information at www.vaamberalert.com