Lonoke, Arkansas – Savannah Grace Childress was found in Arkansas on Saturday night after a chaotic sequence where her kidnapper allegedly shot a police officer and left before he escaped to safety.
William Robert Ice, 38, is the alleged kidnapper and died Sunday in a hospital, according to a statement from the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities found Ice near a McDonald’s restaurant in Lonoke, Arkansas, near Interstate 40.
Inside the vehicle, officers found Ice, who they believe was shot at some point after fleeing.
Authorities said Saturday, two Lonoke police officers recognized a Dodge sports utility vehicle related to Childress’ disappearance. The vehicle was parked in the restaurant near I-40. Officers approached the vehicle and Ice aimed a gun at them, firing and critically injuring an officer. The second officer was unharmed.
An Arkansas State soldier watched as the vehicle pulled out of the parking lot and began chasing him. Finally, the ice went into a snow bank, where the vehicle was deactivated. Childress, a passenger, got out of the vehicle and ran toward a state soldier.
Officials said they also wanted to look for ice in at least two states in relation to other cases of child predators. Investigators found that Ice had taken Childress from her home in Denton on Feb. 11.
Childress, 14, had been missing for more than a week. Davidson County authorities issued an amber alert on Feb. 12. On Sunday, special agents will help Childress return to North Carolina.
Ice’s body has been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the form of the death. The injured officer is in stable condition at a hospital.
Ice was carrying an address from Jackson Center, Pennsylvania and was wanted by Pennsylvania authorities.
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