Resilience Smart Cities

Quick-thinking neighbors, police lead to rescue of kidnapped Kentucky girl

Story at a glance

  • A 6-year-old girl was snatched off her bicycle by a stranger in Valley Station on July 2.
  • Witnesses were able to provide a detailed description of the car, and police located the girl unharmed within 30 minutes.
  • Forty-year-old Robby Wildt has pleaded not guilty to a charge of kidnapping a minor and is being held at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections on a $1 million bond.

A 6-year-old girl who had been snatched off her bicycle by a stranger in Kentucky was found unharmed within 30 minutes thanks to the actions of quick-thinking neighbors and the police.

The girl was riding her bike in Valley Station on July 2 when neighbors witnessed a man pull over his car and grab the girl off of her bike before dragging her into the car and driving away, according to WHAS-TV.

Witnesses attempted to chase the man’s car and called 911, giving law enforcement a description of the vehicle and a partial license plate. 


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“Witnesses quickly called 911 with a very detailed description of the event & the vehicle and even had a partial license plate. MetroSafe dispatch was very thorough in communicating the urgency of this situation and 3rd Division promptly responded and saturated the area,” Louisville Metro Police Department officer Beth Ruoff said.

Responding officers located the vehicle within half an hour, with released bodycam footage showing the arrest of 40-year-old Robby Wildt while officer Jason Burba recovered the kidnapped girl from his car.

“I want my daddy!” she can be heard crying as Burba carries her away.

Wildt has pleaded not guilty to a charge of kidnapping a minor and is being held at the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections on a $1 million bond. 


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