Lack of leads frustrate Florida police in attempted abductions

MIAMI -- Law enforcement officials, frustrated by a lack of leads, are asking for added public vigilance to help solve three attempted child abductions in recent months by people posing as child welfare workers.

All three foiled abduction attempts occurred in Miami, and took place between May 20 and Sept. 24. In all three incidents, strangers approached homes claiming to be from the state's Department of Children & Families, but fled without taking a child.

"We do need the public's help, obviously," Miami police Lt. Jack Andrews said at a news conference Friday, flanked by officials from DCF and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. "We have no suspects."

Police are also retracing their steps in the investigations and will administer polygraph tests to determine the validity of the alleged victims' stories.

Police have found no links between the three abduction attempts, outside of the fact persons identified themselves as DCF agents in all three cases and all three occurred within the city limits.

DCF's handling of missing children in its care has been under intense scrutiny since it was determined that Rilya Wilson -- a child in the protective custody of a woman who claimed to be her grandmother -- had disappeared in January 2001, unknown to DCF caseworkers monitoring the girl's well-being.

One of Rilya's caregivers, Geralyn Graham, claims a woman identifying herself as a DCF caseworker took Rilya from the home and the girl, who would have turned 6 last month, has not been seen since.

Rilya lived with Geralyn Graham and another caregiver, Pamela Graham, from April 2000 through her disappearance.

Geralyn Graham and Pamela Graham have been jailed since Oct. 2 on fraud charges.