Front Royal July 4 Amber Alert child returned unharmed – suspect sought

Raequon Alan Ashby, age 2, was returned home safely Thursday afternoon. Photos Courtesy Virginia State Police

The two-year-old Front Royal child reported abducted and in extreme danger shortly after midnight on July 4 was returned home safely according to a press release from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. The press release from the office of Sheriff Michael Arnold issued at 12:18 p.m. July 4 states that, “On July 4, 2019 at approximately 11:45 a.m. Raequon Ashby, a 2 year old that an Amber Alert had been previously issued for due to his abduction was returned to his residence unharmed.”

However the suspected abductor of two-year-old Raequon Alan Ashby, 21-year-old Jashar Raequon Ashby is still being sought on three related charges: § 18.2-95 Grand larceny; § 18.2-47. Abduction and kidnapping; and § 18.2-57.2. Assault and battery against a family or household member.

While two-year-old Raequon Ashby was described as a “white male with curly, brown hair and blue eyes” in the AMBER Alert, the suspected abductor Jashar Raequon Ashby was described as a black male, 5-10, 130 pounds, sporting blond dreadlocks. Photos of Jashar Raequon Ashby with and without the dreadlocks were included in the VSP Amber Alert.

Suspected abductor Jashar Raequon Ashby, 21, 5-10, 130 pounds, is being sought on related charges.

As noted above, his relationship to the child was not included in the Amber Alert, update or press release on the child’s safe return. But while the relationship between the child and alleged abductor has yet to be publicly mentioned, the name similarity of the boy and suspect could indicate the child may have been taken during a domestic incident between the father and mother, or the father and maternal relatives.

A July 4 WCSO press release initially marked “draft” offered more detail on the incident leading to the AMBER Alert for young Raequon Ashby and the consequent charges against Jashar Raequon Ashby: “On July 3, 2019 at approximately 2:30 P.M. the Warren County Sheriff’s Office responded to Park Way for the report of fight in progress.

“When deputies arrived and spoke with the victim who was identified as a 17 year old female of Front Royal, VA, it was determined that during the incident she had been assaulted by a Jashar Raequon Ashby. Ashby is a 21 year old male previously of Front Royal VA.

“During the assault Ashby stole a Chrysler van red in color with Virginia registration VTR-8376 which had been driven by the 17 year old juvenile. The van was later recovered in Warren County and was unoccupied.”

The initial Virginia State Police AMBER Alert went out early Thursday morning, July 4, at 12:25 a.m. A VSP update issued 21 minutes later at 12:46 a.m. stated the believed involved vehicle, the above-described red 2008 Chrysler Town and Country minivan, had been found abandoned, though no location was included in that report.

Vehicle believed used in July 3 midday abduction, found abandoned early Thursday morning, July 4.

It was in that update on the vehicle location that it was first stated authorities believed the child to be in “extreme danger” and that he had gone missing just over eight hours earlier. The boy was returned home safely after an absence of about 20 hours.

The WCSO is asking anyone with information on the incident, or the current location of the suspect, who was last seen wearing a purple camouflage shirt, to contact WCSO Investigator Pugh at (540) 635-4128.