Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 21, 1995 TAG: 9504210131
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD FOSTER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD LENGTH: Medium
Shouts of joy echoed down the hall of the Bedford Police Department on Thursday afternoon as officers received word that 15-year-old Jamie Wheat of Bedford, who had been missing for almost a month, turned herself in to Virginia Beach police Thursday morning.
Jamie and Crystal Kernen, 16, were reported missing together on April 2. Crystal returned home Sunday, telling police she hadn't seen Jamie since they were separated at a party in Virginia Beach on April 8.
Acting on tips from Crystal, Bedford investigators questioned several people Wednesday in Virginia Beach, according to Bedford Police Chief Milton Graham. Jamie apparently was tipped off that police were looking for her and turned herself in, Graham said.
She will appear in Bedford County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court this morning on a charge of violating a court-imposed curfew.
"I'm just glad she's safe," said her father, Jim Wheat of Roanoke. His ex-wife, Jamie's mother, traveled to Virginia Beach on Thursday to pick up Jamie.
Wheat said he spoke to his daughter briefly by phone at the crisis intervention center where she was being held.
"She sounded real tired, distant and drained," he said. "The only thing I can say is, Jamie said Crystal is not being truthful about what went on."
Wheat and other members of Jamie's family have said they thought she may have been with Crystal against her will because Jamie was expected to testify in court against Crystal, who was charged with assaulting a girl in Bedford. Jamie's sister, Melissa, also was charged in the attack.
Crystal maintains that she and Jamie are good friends and said Wednesday that Jamie wasn't going to testify against her because Jamie didn't see the fight. She said she was glad Jamie was safe and added, "I can't wait until she gets home because then we can talk, if we're allowed to see each other."
Crystal's mother, Joyce Kernen, said, "I just get real upset with people insinuating that Crystal did something with Jamie. I hope they'll leave her alone now. A lot of stuff's been distorted."
by CNB