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CNN Sunday Morning
Amber Alert Issued in Pennsylvania
Aired April 20, 2003 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Let me go back now to this Amber Alert that's been issued in Pennsylvania. On the telephone now, out of the FBI office out of Philadelphia, is Linda Vizi.
If you can hear me OK, Linda, give us an idea of the circumstances of what happened. This alleged abduction, and alleged double murder.
LINDA VIZI, FBI: Yes, last night in Pocono Lake, Pennsylvania, which is up near the Scranton area, we believe that Robert Lee Hixson, he is a white male, 42 years old, entered the house of a relative there. He shot and killed Ellen Bigler as well as his brother-in-law, and he then abducted a 13-year-old, his 13-year-old niece, Hadley Bigler, who we have not seen since then. They -- he is believed to be in a 1993 red Chevrolet S-10 pickup with a Pennsylvania tag YHP, as in Paul, 6034 and may possibly be headed towards Canada.
WHITFIELD: And there was another child in that household, a 5- year-old, correct?
VIZI: Correct.
WHITFIELD: The sister of Hadley. And apparently she was able to get away. Explain how she was able to get away, and she was able to call for help, right?
VIZI: Right. Once he had left and she felt she was safe, she was able to call a relative who then notified the police. They arrived immediately, attempted to find out from her what happened. She is now in safe custody in an undisclosed location, and immediately then the Amber Alert was issued to find her older sister, Hadley.
WHITFIELD: And what, if anything, was she able to give in detail about what sparked this? And what kind of details are you able to glean from this 5-year-old?
VIZI: We haven't given out all the details yet, but we do know he did forcibly enter the house. We know that he killed both of the parents, one was pronounced dead at the scene and the other at a hospital where he was taken for treatment. And she was able to call a relative who immediately notified 911, so that we could get her safely, you know, into proper care should he return, and get the word out as to what he was driving, what her sister was wearing, what she looks like, get their photos out, and hope for a safe return.
WHITFIELD: And Linda, we're looking up at the screen right now, a description, the best description we have of Robert Hixson. He's the suspect you're looking for now, white male, 42 years old, 6'2", 240 pounds, brown, collar-length hair, blue eyes. And you're saying that he was last seen in a Chevy red pickup, about 1993 model.
VIZI: Right.
WHITFIELD: And that license plate YHP, as in Paul, 6034?
VIZI: Correct. And we also think that he may have a thin beard and mustache. And he is formerly a Navy SEAL. So he may well have training with weapons, and may be in very good physical condition. So we consider him armed and dangerous. And we ask that no matter where he is, if he has left the area and truly headed north to Canada, or still in the area, that if you see him that you just contact the local -- the nearest local police department, hit 911. And, you know, hopefully word is out, the Amber Alert is out and let them deal with it.
WHITFIELD: Quickly, before I let you go, you believe that he's heading north into Canada, potentially.
VIZI: Well, that's a possibility. Now, I don't want to limit people by thinking, oh, I'm south of Pennsylvania and, gee, there's that red pickup truck. So he may hear this, and he may turn around and go in a different direction. So, you know, he possibly could be heading towards Canada. He may be hiding out somewhere, too, hoping things will cool down.
So the main thing we're looking for is that car right now. Of course, you know, he could have gotten rid of that, stolen another car, but if we at least get an idea on the car we have an idea of where he was headed.
WHITFIELD: All right. Linda Vizi of the Philadelphia FBI office, thanks very much for joining us on the telephone, as we try to get the word out on this ongoing nationwide now search of this man. Robert Hixson, who allegedly shot two adults and allegedly then abducted their 13-year-old and was last seen in a red 1993 Chevy pickup, somewhere in the vicinity of Pennsylvania heading north. But as you heard from Miss Vizi that anyone south of Pennsylvania, or west, to be on the lookout for those individuals and that vehicle.
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Aired April 20, 2003 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Let me go back now to this Amber Alert that's been issued in Pennsylvania. On the telephone now, out of the FBI office out of Philadelphia, is Linda Vizi.
If you can hear me OK, Linda, give us an idea of the circumstances of what happened. This alleged abduction, and alleged double murder.
LINDA VIZI, FBI: Yes, last night in Pocono Lake, Pennsylvania, which is up near the Scranton area, we believe that Robert Lee Hixson, he is a white male, 42 years old, entered the house of a relative there. He shot and killed Ellen Bigler as well as his brother-in-law, and he then abducted a 13-year-old, his 13-year-old niece, Hadley Bigler, who we have not seen since then. They -- he is believed to be in a 1993 red Chevrolet S-10 pickup with a Pennsylvania tag YHP, as in Paul, 6034 and may possibly be headed towards Canada.
WHITFIELD: And there was another child in that household, a 5- year-old, correct?
VIZI: Correct.
WHITFIELD: The sister of Hadley. And apparently she was able to get away. Explain how she was able to get away, and she was able to call for help, right?
VIZI: Right. Once he had left and she felt she was safe, she was able to call a relative who then notified the police. They arrived immediately, attempted to find out from her what happened. She is now in safe custody in an undisclosed location, and immediately then the Amber Alert was issued to find her older sister, Hadley.
WHITFIELD: And what, if anything, was she able to give in detail about what sparked this? And what kind of details are you able to glean from this 5-year-old?
VIZI: We haven't given out all the details yet, but we do know he did forcibly enter the house. We know that he killed both of the parents, one was pronounced dead at the scene and the other at a hospital where he was taken for treatment. And she was able to call a relative who immediately notified 911, so that we could get her safely, you know, into proper care should he return, and get the word out as to what he was driving, what her sister was wearing, what she looks like, get their photos out, and hope for a safe return.
WHITFIELD: And Linda, we're looking up at the screen right now, a description, the best description we have of Robert Hixson. He's the suspect you're looking for now, white male, 42 years old, 6'2", 240 pounds, brown, collar-length hair, blue eyes. And you're saying that he was last seen in a Chevy red pickup, about 1993 model.
VIZI: Right.
WHITFIELD: And that license plate YHP, as in Paul, 6034?
VIZI: Correct. And we also think that he may have a thin beard and mustache. And he is formerly a Navy SEAL. So he may well have training with weapons, and may be in very good physical condition. So we consider him armed and dangerous. And we ask that no matter where he is, if he has left the area and truly headed north to Canada, or still in the area, that if you see him that you just contact the local -- the nearest local police department, hit 911. And, you know, hopefully word is out, the Amber Alert is out and let them deal with it.
WHITFIELD: Quickly, before I let you go, you believe that he's heading north into Canada, potentially.
VIZI: Well, that's a possibility. Now, I don't want to limit people by thinking, oh, I'm south of Pennsylvania and, gee, there's that red pickup truck. So he may hear this, and he may turn around and go in a different direction. So, you know, he possibly could be heading towards Canada. He may be hiding out somewhere, too, hoping things will cool down.
So the main thing we're looking for is that car right now. Of course, you know, he could have gotten rid of that, stolen another car, but if we at least get an idea on the car we have an idea of where he was headed.
WHITFIELD: All right. Linda Vizi of the Philadelphia FBI office, thanks very much for joining us on the telephone, as we try to get the word out on this ongoing nationwide now search of this man. Robert Hixson, who allegedly shot two adults and allegedly then abducted their 13-year-old and was last seen in a red 1993 Chevy pickup, somewhere in the vicinity of Pennsylvania heading north. But as you heard from Miss Vizi that anyone south of Pennsylvania, or west, to be on the lookout for those individuals and that vehicle.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
