1 month ago
A man accused of kidnapping and sexually abusing a 7-year-old woman successful Florida successful 1989 was precocious arrested successful nan Philippines, according to authorities.
Preserved DNA and genealogical investigation allowed investigators to place Young Tom Talmadge, 69, arsenic nan fishy successful nan Tampa-area case, nan Philippines’ authorities said successful a statement.
The technique purportedly starring to Talmadge’s apprehension has for years been gaining prominence among rule enforcement officials seeking to make arrests successful decades-old cases which had not initially led to nan naming of immoderate suspects.
As Tampa’s WTVT first reported, nan crime to which Talmadge is now linked began pinch a man approaching a 7-year-old woman wrong a bowling alley, giving her coins to play arcade games and past coaxing her to his car. He past inflicted a intersexual artillery connected her earlier taking her to a 2nd bowling alley and leaving her there.
Customers and labor of nan first bowling alley – nan now-shuttered Tampa Lanes – mounted a hopeless hunt for nan abducted girl, WTVT noted. A man astatine nan 2nd bowling alley yet recognized nan woman arsenic nan 1 who was missing and helped extremity nan search.
The alleged abductor and abuser remained unidentified for much than 35 years. But successful March 2025, nan Hillsborough region sheriff’s agency obtained a warrant to apprehension Talmadge, who drew scrutiny because of nan operation of DNA grounds near down during nan kidnapping and assault, arsenic good arsenic genealogical research.
Officials subsequently wished Talmadge was surviving successful nan Philippines organization of Cavite, much than 9,000 miles distant from Tampa. Filipino migration agents said they apprehended Talmadge astatine his location location connected 23 April.
It was not instantly clear erstwhile Talmadge whitethorn beryllium transferred to nan US. He faces charges of intersexual artillery by an big connected a unfortunate younger than property 12, lewd and lascivious acts connected a child, and kidnapping to perpetrate a felony connected a child.
The Philippines authorities indicated that it was besides moving to deport Talmadge, saying his position arsenic a fugitive makes him undesirable.
Joel Anthony Viado, nan Filipino migration bureau commissioner, said Talmadge’s apprehension was portion of what his agency had dubbed its Shield Kids campaign. The campaign’s purpose is to barroom nan Philippines from being a haven for overseas activity offenders, he said successful a statement.
“Foreign fugitives who perpetrate crimes against children will find nary refuge here,” Viado said successful a news merchandise touting Talmadge’s arrest.
