Call it maternal instinct. Or maybe Leisa Hilton of Richfield was just being a good citizen. When Hilton saw alleged kidnapper Charles William Mix with 5-year-old Anabella Clark on a ward house lawn Monday afternoon, it didn't set right with her and she called the Richfield police.
"He didn't appear to be a person to have a little girl with him. I'm not trying to judge people. But it didn't look right," the mother of three told the Deseret News.
Hilton's willingness to get involved foiled the abduction of a Riverside, Calif., girl, who disappeared from her father's home sometime between 1:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. Monday. Today, Hilton is being held up as a hometown heroine.
Although an AMBER Alert had been activated in California, word had not yet reached Utah when the suspected kidnapper and Anabella stopped in Richfield, apparently to get a bite to eat and stretch their legs. While authorities may have otherwise determined the suspect's vehicle was stolen, Hilton brought the man and child to the attention of the police department.
Hilton's own words beautifully describe the dilemma many of us find ourselves in when we see something out of the ordinary. From the time we're children, we're taught not to judge people on their appearance. But in a small town where everyone knows one another or is aware of one another, a stranger tends to attract attention. The gray-haired Mix didn't appear to be a likely companion for little Anabella.
Fortunately for Anabella, her family and the Richfield police, Hilton set aside her initial hesitation to get involved and contacted the authorities. Today, we join a chorus of Utahns who wish to thank her and salute her willingness to do so.