Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 8, 1995 TAG: 9504110053
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Maj. J.L. Viar said Friday that someone who knows Jamie Carol Wheat, 15, of Bedford and Crystal Dawn Kernen, 16, of Lynchburg reported seeing the girls Tuesday at a mall restaurant.
Jamie's family fears she may be with Crystal against her will because Jamie was supposed to testify against Crystal next week at a trial in Bedford.
Crystal is charged with beating up Jamie's best friend. Jamie's 17-year-old sister, Melissa, is also charged.
Crystal's parents believe the girls are safe and have just run away together, because both girls have histories of running away from home.
Lynchburg police, who are investigating Crystal's disappearance, concur. "There is nothing to say they are abducted," said Betty Lennard, a Lynchburg investigator. "They're being looked at as two runaways; that's it."
Jamie and Crystal were seen early Sunday in Lynchburg in a red Nissan Pulsar, license PSL-411, according to Crystal's father, Clyde Kernen. Crystal is thought to be driving the car, which belongs to her parents.
Jamie is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds. She has brown eyes and medium-length brown hair. On Sunday, she was wearing a gray-and-white shirt, black jeans and black combat boots.
Crystal is 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. She has long blonde hair that is shaved on the back and sides. She has a tattoo of a heart on her left shoulder with the name "Kurt" inside. The name and two hearts also are carved into her right forearm.
Crystal was released from a Lynchburg mental hospital last week, her parents say, and is supposed to taking medication for a mood disorder.
Anyone with information about the girls' whereabouts should call the Roanoke police at (703) 981-2212 or the Bedford police at (703) 586-7112 or 7111.
by CNB