Girl rescued in Bartholomew County after carjacking

Press Release

Bartholomew County deputies helped rescue an abducted Seymour teen Tuesday night.

At about 9:40 p.m. that night, Bartholomew County deputies were advised of a possible child abduction that had occurred in Seymour. The victim, a 12-year-old female, called 911 and provided information in ref to her location. The suspect vehicle was reported as a black Dodge Durango.

Deputy Andrew Whipker was at the I-65 67-mile marker when he observed a vehicle matching the description of the suspect vehicle traveling northbound on I-65.

Deputy Whipker pulled behind the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. Deputy Whipker observed a female driver, later identified as Shawna Lucas, 28, Hope, IN and a juvenile in the rear passenger’s seat. Lucas was taken into custody and the juvenile advised that she was not injured.

The juvenile told deputies that she was waiting in the car for her mother who had gone into a store in Seymour when Lucas got behind the wheel and drove away. The victim said she advised Lucas that she was in the backseat; however, Lucas told the juvenile that she “had to get away from someone who had just killed multiple people” which was later determined to be unfounded.

Seymour PD brought the victim’s mother to the scene where they were reunited. Lucas was transferred to the Seymour Police Department where charges will be determined.

“Fortunately, this case had a positive outcome," said Bartholomew County Sheriff Matthew A. Myers. “Multiple agencies and dispatch worked well together to recover this missing child quickly and safely... As parents, we take a risk anytime we leave a child alone in a motor vehicle, no matter how briefly."

Assisting Whipker were Sgt. Dean Johnson, Deputy Matt Bush, Deputy Adam Warner, Columbus Police Department, Indiana State Police and Seymour Police Department.