Kidnapped at 17 Days Old: Can Your Tip Bring Kevin Verville Home After 46 Years? - Criminally Obsessed

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Transcript71 lines

[00:00]
A
Hey everyone, it's Ann Emerson. And this is criminally obsessed. I need your help on this one. Seriously. Because there's a family that's been waiting 46 years for answers. And there's a chance that the person who holds those answers is still out there. Listen to what Kevin Verville's father says just days after his 17 year old son was taken.
[00:20]
B
Kevin, if you had a chance to talk to the woman who took your child, what would you say to her? I don't want to talk to her. I just want my baby.
[00:27]
A
That baby was Kevin Verville Jr. He was abducted near Oceanside, California just 17 days after he was born. Look closely at this age progression image. Now look closely at this sketch of this woman that investigators believe took him. Do you know either of them? Because there are people that have never given up hope. Like Kevin's sister, Angelica Ramsey.
[00:50]
C
I don't want my parents to pass without seeing him again.
[00:54]
A
Today she joins us alongside Angeline Hartman from the national center for Missing and Exploited Children to talk about the search for Kevin Verville Jr. Who vanished decades ago and why they believe this case can still be solved. After the national center asked people to share Kevin's story last year, they did. The story reached new people, new tips came in. And the FBI is actively following up those leads, but they still need your help. And Angeline Hartman says the person who took Kevin actually fits of profile that investigators have seen before.
[01:29]
D
We know that this is usually a woman who has either lost a baby recently or has lied about being pregnant and is now looking for a baby to either replace that baby or, you know, she needs to produce a baby
[01:47]
A
because she's been lying somewhere out there. Kevin could be living an entire life never knowing his real name or the family that has never stopped looking for him. So don't just watch this episode, share it, because it's never too late to find Kevin Vervall. And be sure to like subscribe and turn on your notifications. I don't want you to miss any of the updates to stories like this one. Now let's get into it. Tell me what you know about the abduction and disappearance of Kevin.
[02:27]
C
Well, there was a woman going around Sterling Homes, which is an off base housing, she was calling herself Sheila and she's going door to door looking for low income military families, telling them that she could provide aid for families with newborns and said that they need to measure my brother for the program, weight and height and all that stuff. Okay. So she asked my mom to come along. I Do remember my dad said that he was putting groceries away and he wanted to come along, but she said there wasn't going to be room in the car because they had to pick up another mother. And so my mom said that they had to walk a long ways off of base because her car was parked off base. And she drove up to another house. The lady was saying that she wasn't feeling well or couldn't get out of the car for some reason she was pretending to be pregnant. So she asked my mom to knock on the door of the other mother that was coming with them. And so when my mom stepped out of the car, she wasn't even all the way out of the car when the lady drove off.
[03:39]
B
Wow.
[03:40]
A
With your, what would be your big brother? Kevin?
[03:44]
C
Yes.
[03:45]
A
And for everybody to understand too, like how much older would Kevin be than you?
[03:51]
C
Five years.
[03:52]
A
Five years. So it wasn't for another five years before Angelica was even born. And remember we're Talking about a 17 day old baby that was taken.
[04:02]
D
So mom and dad are, have only been at Camp Pendleton in Southern California for about a year or so. They had been overseas, they had met in the Philippines and, and they got married and then came over to Southern California. And so they're young, they're in their 20s, the baby is 17 days old. Then this happens.
[04:24]
A
What do we know about like what she was driving?
[04:27]
D
It was a gray four door sedan and it had California license plates, but that's pretty much all that we know at this point.
[04:36]
A
Have you been able to get some of the details of like where we think Sheila had driven your mom and baby Kevin?
[04:46]
C
So my mom would not have recalled. She was very new to the United States. She didn't know how to read plates, she didn't know how to drive.
[04:55]
A
When your mom and dad talked to you about that day, what they were able to share with you about that day, what did they tell you?
[05:03]
C
I remember her saying that she had a really hard time walking off base because she had stitches. So I remember her like just really that it was, it was hard to get to the car. Then I remember her saying that the lady had, that she wasn't all the way out of the car and her purse was still in the car. Also when the lady drove off and after she drove off, my mom said that she was in shock and she was like holding her mouth open and like moving her hands a lot. And she said that she could just stand there and that some man in a truck drove by and saw that she was in shock and asked her what was wrong, and she couldn't talk because she was in so much shock. And so then he drove her to the police station.
[05:55]
A
Can you tell me where we think that the mom and baby Kevin was taken?
[06:01]
C
I do have the FBI report here, and it says rural north San Diego County.
[06:07]
A
Angelica, when your mom got back to your dad and they started asking the investigators, like, where is my baby? They were not getting any answers.
[06:21]
C
I believe that the case went cold very fast.
[06:25]
B
This is the couple's only child. The baby has no birthmarks. He has brown hair and weighs six pounds. Meanwhile, it was impossible for the mother to talk about the kidnapping.
[06:40]
C
They were in such shock. I know my mom had to be hospitalized because of it.
[06:46]
A
This must have taken an enormous emotional toll on your family.
[06:52]
C
It definitely did. My dad was very overprotective. He was extremely overprotective. And then I'm very high anxiety, which I learned from my counselor, would have been passed down in vitro to me because I was the first baby after my brother was kidnapped. So she would have been high anxiety, and that would have passed down through the uterus.
[07:15]
A
Angelica, you know, you had not even been born yet when this all went down. How did it affect your, your family? Is it just you or do you have any other siblings? Tell me about your family life a little bit.
[07:31]
C
I have one full brother besides Kevin Jr. And then I have a half brother from my mom's side. And so they didn't bring him up very often. It was very hard for them to talk about it. Every time it was brought up, it was super emotional. So it didn't, it wasn't something that we talked about all the time, but it was definitely something that was on the back of their minds because of how strict my dad was. Like, we couldn't go anywhere. He would interrogate my friends. It was just. He was, he. He had to know where I was at all times, I bet.
[08:10]
A
And I mean, as far as the, the marriage itself, did it survive all of this?
[08:18]
C
No. No. So part of the reason I was born five years later is they actually divorced after Junior was kidnapped. And then at some point they got remarried and then had my, my brother and me. And then again, they divorced because it was just too much history, I think
[08:38]
A
with both of your parents. They're, you know, they're not. Not in the best of health, from what I understand. What's driving you to, to get answers now, 46 years later?
[08:51]
C
Yes. Well, my mom has had two strokes. She is now hemiplegic and non verbal. She is diagnosed with global aphasia, which means that she doesn't understand and she cannot express. I think there's some under a little bit of understanding and being able to express, but she does have that diagnosis. My dad's got poor health. He's a disabled veteran from the military, and he's also got, you know, hereditary heart problems also, also. So he's not in the best health either.
[09:27]
A
I mean, as far as you wanting to find them, though, as your parents are in this bad health, what's driving you to keep on looking and keep on searching?
[09:36]
C
Right now, I don't want my parents to pass without seeing him again.
[09:42]
A
I think we're gonna find him. I know we've got a lot of really great people working on your side. What would be the first thing that you would say to him if. If you were able to. To meet?
[09:54]
C
I have no idea. I probably tell him that he's always been loved. He's always been loved. And I don't know what kind of circumstances he had growing up, but he was definitely loved and. And thought about.
[10:10]
A
There's a place for him. Do you picture of what it. What it looks like to be Kevin today?
[10:18]
C
I'm definitely curious, you know, did he become a doctor? Did he join the military like my dad and my brother? What. What did he do?
[10:26]
A
Have you heard anything about this woman since that time? Has anyone heard about Sheila since that time? Any leads at all?
[10:38]
C
No.
[10:39]
A
We do have a picture of her, though, and I'm going to share that with everybody. Are there any more details about her that. That she told you that may not come across in a picture like that?
[10:50]
C
You know, my mom never really described her. She only described how she felt and the shock that she was in and what had happened. As far as him being abducted. There is a tattoo on her hand which could have been a drawing or removed was a X inside of the web of her left hand. So, like right in here.
[11:15]
A
Did anybody else report a strange woman coming to their door and saying, hey, can you talk to me about your baby?
[11:24]
C
Yeah. So she went to many apartments looking for a baby.
[11:29]
A
I was told that she was this woman. Sheila was asking if any E5 ranked soldiers had had a baby recently. Am I right about that? Was that information that they. She was specifically targeting military families?
[11:48]
C
She was targeting military families and she was looking for lower rank.
[11:52]
A
Angeline, do you think that Sheila was local to that area, or do you think Sheila was coming into that area?
[11:59]
D
It's hard to say, but here's what we know. She spoke to Galog the national Filipino dialect. Whether she spoke phrases or was fluent, it's unclear. But she spoke some Tagalog and she was drawn to this community. She was looking for a part Asian baby. Was her partner Filipino? Was he in the military? Did she live in, you know, have some tie to Camp Pendleton? Was he away, you know, as part of his duty and coming back and she needed to produce a baby. These are all interesting questions. Really do support the. The theories.
[12:43]
A
Yeah, no, this is so interesting. So we're kind of building a profile of what it could be, what it could. This abductor could look like. Did you contact ncmec? How did that. How has this connection happened? Angelica with Angeline and. And this incredible organization.
[12:59]
C
So a family friend told heard about my brother missing when he asked my husband about our family and he's a retired cop and so he urged me to call the FBI and have them look into the case and find out what was going on and urged me to ask for a press conference. After I called the FBI, they realized that he was not in NCMC's database. I don't think he was in any database. And so they hooked me up with NCMEC and Angeline got in contact with me.
[13:34]
A
Oh, fantastic. Well, Angeline, I mean, what. What happened when Nick mc got a hold of this information? Like what was the reaction?
[13:44]
D
Well, for me personally it was shock and anger. So many things because we had not heard about this case. Right. This case only came to us in I want to say, a few years ago. And basically what had happened was it the FBI had this case all this time, but it's, you know how it goes. And you know, new, new people come on board. It's it, you know, a case becomes cold. And at first there was a lot of attention on this case. Right. Let's say the first year. And then Angelica's parents just were so overwhelmed they didn't know. You have to think this was 46 years ago too. There was no social media. And so when they were told, we will, you know, investigate your case and we will update you. They sat back and waited until they were told something new. And one year became two years, became 10 years. Fast forward to 40 years. Here comes Angelica asking questions. And then they'll realize, oh, it is kind of back there. Right. Amazing cases.
[14:59]
C
Yeah.
[14:59]
D
And so once she contacted nc, Nick, then we got involved and worked with the FBI and our forensic artists created a new age progression of what Kevin might look like today. And we wanted to just re energize the case.
[15:16]
A
You've got a 17 day old baby. That's the picture you have. Right. How in the world do you do a progression, age progression photo with this tiny little baby to 46 years old?
[15:29]
D
Right, right. And those, our forensic artists say those are the hardest images to age, progress because babies have not formed their features fully yet and they're changing every day. Right. And so they have the 17 day old pictures, anything from 0 to 17, and then family reference photos. And so our forensic artists put all that together and, and with their expertise and the tools that they use, that's what they came up with. It's a technique we've used for a long time and it's tried and true. And the main thing that we wanted to say was that Kevin may not realize that he was abducted as a baby. He likely does not know that we believe this woman abducted him to raise him as her own child. This woman wanted a baby, a specific baby to raise as her child. And again, that's why we believe he's still out there today. That's why your audience is so important, because we can find him. When she talked to Kevin, Kevin Verville's parents, when she talked to mom and dad, that was like her second or third visit at that military housing complex. She had been there a few days before. She had talked to dozens of families, knocked on a lot of doors and took her time. So it's not like we have a scenario where a woman needs. Wants a baby, knocks on a door, finds the information and then leaves. Right. She, we believe she studied this community, selectively picked this family, which means and was looking for a baby who was newborn or under six months, was part Asian. He's. His mom is Filipino. And of course, Sheila is likely not her name. She probably was wearing a wig. The glasses were part of her disguise. It's unclear whether or not she was pregnant.
[17:36]
C
She.
[17:36]
D
Some people said that she thought, they thought she was pregnant. Some people said that she might not have been. But when we look at the profile of an infant abductor, we know that this is usually a woman who has either lost a baby recently or has lied about being pregnant and is now looking for a baby to either replace that baby or, you know, she needs to produce a baby because she's been lying.
[18:06]
A
Have you submitted your DNA to some of these ancestry sites and to. To kind of work that angle of genealogy?
[18:15]
C
Yeah, so I've been in the ancestry sites for years. I'm in Ancestry.com23andMe. Good match MyHeritage. I know there's a few more smaller ones that I'm in. And so no hits yet. I'm just waiting for maybe one of his children or him to take a DNA test.
[18:37]
A
I just did a case, Michelle Newton with, with her mom, Deborah Newton. Deborah Newton was outed basically on social media for having abducted her own daughter 43 years earlier. And her daughter had no idea that she had been a missing person for 43 years.
[18:53]
D
That's an amazing story. An amazing story. And that tells you that case after 40 something years. Right? I mean, and that mother was out in the open essentially. She was living in a different community. And so when you're talking about the Michelle Newton case, that really gives us incentive, doesn't it? If Michelle Newton can be found this, why can't Kevin Verville Jr. Be found? He can.
[19:20]
A
So what can we do now as far as getting the message out? Besides doing interviews and talking about this and showing pictures? What are the next steps with ncmec?
[19:32]
D
Well, NCMEC created a video to tell the full story and we asked that people watch that so that they understand what happened. It's about nine minutes and it's on YouTube. And then share his age progression image as much as possible and let people know that, you know, because sometimes people hear, oh, it's an old case. And they think, ah, the. No, this is an active case that's happening now even though it's 40 something years old. And for your audience, we really want to hear what their thoughts are, their suggestions are regarding this woman. Angelica mentioned the tattoo. It's on the woman's left hand in the web between her thumb and her forefinger. It was a circle with either a cross or an X. Was there a woman with a newborn baby around that time? Did something not feel right? Are you a man in your mid-40s? Is there? Have you had questions, you know, about your identity? Because he's out there and he has no idea. And we know that cases like this have been solved because people ask questions. So that's what we're asking of your audience.
[20:56]
A
We have a lot of armchair detectives out there. I call all of my armchair detectives together right now. I want them to listen to this case, put their thinking caps on, send me comments, send me information, and we will pass it on to you guys immediately. So before I forget to say something like that, I just want you to know you have a whole community here at Criminally Obsessed that is invested in your case and wants to help you find your big brother.
[21:23]
C
Thank you.
[21:25]
D
Thanks, Ann. I mean, it is like that's exactly what this case needs because it has been more than 40 years, more than 45 now, and this family's determined and they deserve answers. So this, your audience, is exactly what we need. So thank you for having us.
[21:42]
A
Drop a comment below. You never know who may be watching this, so be sure to share this episode with your friends and family and share Possibly someone out there knows where Kevin Verville is, and it would be amazing if we could be part of the story to help him find his family. Be sure to, like, subscribe. Turn on your notifications. I'll be updating this case when we can, as well as all of the other cases that you're obsessed with.

Summary5 min read

Podcast Summary: Criminally Obsessed Episode: Kidnapped at 17 Days Old: Can Your Tip Bring Kevin Verville Home After 46 Years? Date: July 30, 2026 Host: Ann Emerson Guests: Angelica Ramsey (Kevin’s sister), Angeline Hartman (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children - NCMEC)

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on the unresolved case of Kevin Verville Jr., abducted as a newborn in 1978 from Oceanside, California near Camp Pendleton. Host Ann Emerson guides a deeply compassionate and meticulous discussion with Kevin's sister Angelica Ramsey and Angeline Hartman from NCMEC, exploring the impact of the crime on the Verville family, the investigative journey, and appeals for public help in finding Kevin after 46 years. The episode urges listeners to share Kevin’s story and assist in the search.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Abduction: What Happened

Setup (02:26–05:55):
- A woman calling herself “Sheila” posed as an aid worker, targeting low-income military families and convincing Kevin’s mother to come with her to “measure” the baby for an assistance program.
- “Sheila” drove Kevin’s mother and the 17-day-old baby off base, gave a false story about another mother joining, and abducted Kevin when his mother stepped out of the car.
- Angelica (Kevin’s sister): “She wasn't even all the way out of the car when the lady drove off.” [03:27]
- Kevin’s mother was left in shock and had to be driven to the police station by a bystander.
- The family was new to the US; the mother, a Filipino immigrant, faced language and cultural barriers in the aftermath.
Abductor Profile (01:28, 17:36):
- Angeline Hartman: “We know that this is usually a woman who has either lost a baby recently or has lied about being pregnant and is now looking for a baby to either replace that baby or… needs to produce a baby because she's been lying.” [01:28; 17:36]

The Aftermath & Family Impact

Rapidly Cold Case (06:20–06:40):
- The case quickly went cold as leads dried up. The trauma forced Kevin’s mother into hospitalization.
- Angelica: “They were in such shock. I know my mom had to be hospitalized because of it.” [06:40]
Family Trauma & Intergenerational Anxiety (06:51–07:31):
- Angelica reports inherited anxiety, affecting her upbringing and family dynamics.
- Restrictions and overprotective parenting led to strained relationships. The parents’ marriage did not survive.
Motivation to Keep Searching (08:38–09:27):
- With their parents now in poor health, Angelica is determined: “I don't want my parents to pass without seeing him again.” [09:35]

Case Details & Investigative Gaps

Suspect & Community (11:15, 11:51):
- The abductor had a distinctive tattoo on her left hand: an “X” or a circle with an X/web between thumb and forefinger.
- “Sheila” targeted military families, specifically lower-ranking, possibly seeking a part-Asian newborn.
Ethnic Ties and Linguistic Clues (11:59):
- The suspect spoke Tagalog, hinting potential Filipino connection. Was she, or a partner, Filipino? Was she embedded in the local military community?
Age Progression & DNA Efforts (15:15–18:15):
- NCMEC produced an age-progression portrait using limited early photos and family reference images.
- Angelica has submitted DNA to numerous ancestry databases, hoping for a future match: “No hits yet. I'm just waiting for maybe one of his children or him to take a DNA test.” [18:15]

Why This Case Still Matters

Parallel Cases Give Hope (18:37–18:52):
- Ann cites a similar 43-year-old abduction recently solved via social media and genealogy, giving hope that Kevin can be found.
- Angeline: “If Michelle Newton can be found, this, why can't Kevin Verville Jr. be found? He can.” [18:52]
Call for Public Help (19:31–20:56):
- NCMEC and the family urge viewers to watch and share Kevin’s story, look out for the unique suspect tattoo, and encourage anyone with knowledge (especially men in their 40s unaware of their origins) to come forward.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Kevin’s Father Pleads (Early Segment):
- Quote from days after the abduction: "I don't want to talk to her. I just want my baby." [00:20]
On the Emotional Toll:
- Angelica: “He had to know where I was at all times… He was extremely overprotective.” [07:14]
Unwavering Determination:
- Angelica: "Right now, I don't want my parents to pass without seeing him again." [09:35]
- Ann: “I think we're gonna find him. I know we've got a lot of really great people working on your side.” [09:41]
Profile Building & Investigative Frustration:
- Angeline: "She spoke Tagalog... She was looking for a part Asian baby." [11:59]
Why Age Progression Matters:
- Angeline: “The main thing that we wanted to say was that Kevin may not realize that he was abducted as a baby. He likely does not know… This woman wanted a baby, a specific baby, to raise as her child.” [15:28–16:43]
Hope for Resolution:
- Ann: “We have a lot of armchair detectives out there. I call all of my armchair detectives together right now.” [20:56]
- Angeline: “This family's determined and they deserve answers. So this, your audience, is exactly what we need.” [21:24]

Critical Timestamps for Key Segments

00:20 – Kevin’s father’s emotional plea
02:26 – Angelica recounts sequence of abduction
05:55 – Family’s immediate response and trauma
06:20 – Case goes cold
08:10–08:38 – Family and marriage impact
09:35–09:41 – Angelica’s motivation and hope
11:15–11:51 – Suspect details: tattoo, ethnicity, targeting
12:59–13:44 – Getting NCMEC involved
15:15–16:43 – Age progression and public outreach
18:37–18:52 – Similar case gives hope
19:31–20:56 – Next steps and appeal for information
20:56–21:24 – Ann’s call to armchair detectives

Community Call-to-Action

Viewers are urged to:
- Watch and widely share the NCMEC video on YouTube.
- Circulate Kevin’s age progression image and suspect sketch.
- Look for clues, especially men in their 40s with questions about their family origins.
- Provide any leads on women matching the suspect profile, especially those with the characteristic hand tattoo.

Ann Emerson concludes by galvanizing her dedicated audience, emphasizing collective effort and the enduring love and hope of the Verville family.

For more updates, follow Criminally Obsessed and stay engaged with the search for Kevin Verville Jr.

Loading summary

Transcript71 lines

[00:00]
A
Hey everyone, it's Ann Emerson. And this is criminally obsessed. I need your help on this one. Seriously. Because there's a family that's been waiting 46 years for answers. And there's a chance that the person who holds those answers is still out there. Listen to what Kevin Verville's father says just days after his 17 year old son was taken.
[00:20]
B
Kevin, if you had a chance to talk to the woman who took your child, what would you say to her? I don't want to talk to her. I just want my baby.
[00:27]
A
That baby was Kevin Verville Jr. He was abducted near Oceanside, California just 17 days after he was born. Look closely at this age progression image. Now look closely at this sketch of this woman that investigators believe took him. Do you know either of them? Because there are people that have never given up hope. Like Kevin's sister, Angelica Ramsey.
[00:50]
C
I don't want my parents to pass without seeing him again.
[00:54]
A
Today she joins us alongside Angeline Hartman from the national center for Missing and Exploited Children to talk about the search for Kevin Verville Jr. Who vanished decades ago and why they believe this case can still be solved. After the national center asked people to share Kevin's story last year, they did. The story reached new people, new tips came in. And the FBI is actively following up those leads, but they still need your help. And Angeline Hartman says the person who took Kevin actually fits of profile that investigators have seen before.
[01:29]
D
We know that this is usually a woman who has either lost a baby recently or has lied about being pregnant and is now looking for a baby to either replace that baby or, you know, she needs to produce a baby
[01:47]
A
because she's been lying somewhere out there. Kevin could be living an entire life never knowing his real name or the family that has never stopped looking for him. So don't just watch this episode, share it, because it's never too late to find Kevin Vervall. And be sure to like subscribe and turn on your notifications. I don't want you to miss any of the updates to stories like this one. Now let's get into it. Tell me what you know about the abduction and disappearance of Kevin.
[02:27]
C
Well, there was a woman going around Sterling Homes, which is an off base housing, she was calling herself Sheila and she's going door to door looking for low income military families, telling them that she could provide aid for families with newborns and said that they need to measure my brother for the program, weight and height and all that stuff. Okay. So she asked my mom to come along. I Do remember my dad said that he was putting groceries away and he wanted to come along, but she said there wasn't going to be room in the car because they had to pick up another mother. And so my mom said that they had to walk a long ways off of base because her car was parked off base. And she drove up to another house. The lady was saying that she wasn't feeling well or couldn't get out of the car for some reason she was pretending to be pregnant. So she asked my mom to knock on the door of the other mother that was coming with them. And so when my mom stepped out of the car, she wasn't even all the way out of the car when the lady drove off.
[03:39]
B
Wow.
[03:40]
A
With your, what would be your big brother? Kevin?
[03:44]
C
Yes.
[03:45]
A
And for everybody to understand too, like how much older would Kevin be than you?
[03:51]
C
Five years.
[03:52]
A
Five years. So it wasn't for another five years before Angelica was even born. And remember we're Talking about a 17 day old baby that was taken.
[04:02]
D
So mom and dad are, have only been at Camp Pendleton in Southern California for about a year or so. They had been overseas, they had met in the Philippines and, and they got married and then came over to Southern California. And so they're young, they're in their 20s, the baby is 17 days old. Then this happens.
[04:24]
A
What do we know about like what she was driving?
[04:27]
D
It was a gray four door sedan and it had California license plates, but that's pretty much all that we know at this point.
[04:36]
A
Have you been able to get some of the details of like where we think Sheila had driven your mom and baby Kevin?
[04:46]
C
So my mom would not have recalled. She was very new to the United States. She didn't know how to read plates, she didn't know how to drive.
[04:55]
A
When your mom and dad talked to you about that day, what they were able to share with you about that day, what did they tell you?
[05:03]
C
I remember her saying that she had a really hard time walking off base because she had stitches. So I remember her like just really that it was, it was hard to get to the car. Then I remember her saying that the lady had, that she wasn't all the way out of the car and her purse was still in the car. Also when the lady drove off and after she drove off, my mom said that she was in shock and she was like holding her mouth open and like moving her hands a lot. And she said that she could just stand there and that some man in a truck drove by and saw that she was in shock and asked her what was wrong, and she couldn't talk because she was in so much shock. And so then he drove her to the police station.
[05:55]
A
Can you tell me where we think that the mom and baby Kevin was taken?
[06:01]
C
I do have the FBI report here, and it says rural north San Diego County.
[06:07]
A
Angelica, when your mom got back to your dad and they started asking the investigators, like, where is my baby? They were not getting any answers.
[06:21]
C
I believe that the case went cold very fast.
[06:25]
B
This is the couple's only child. The baby has no birthmarks. He has brown hair and weighs six pounds. Meanwhile, it was impossible for the mother to talk about the kidnapping.
[06:40]
C
They were in such shock. I know my mom had to be hospitalized because of it.
[06:46]
A
This must have taken an enormous emotional toll on your family.
[06:52]
C
It definitely did. My dad was very overprotective. He was extremely overprotective. And then I'm very high anxiety, which I learned from my counselor, would have been passed down in vitro to me because I was the first baby after my brother was kidnapped. So she would have been high anxiety, and that would have passed down through the uterus.
[07:15]
A
Angelica, you know, you had not even been born yet when this all went down. How did it affect your, your family? Is it just you or do you have any other siblings? Tell me about your family life a little bit.
[07:31]
C
I have one full brother besides Kevin Jr. And then I have a half brother from my mom's side. And so they didn't bring him up very often. It was very hard for them to talk about it. Every time it was brought up, it was super emotional. So it didn't, it wasn't something that we talked about all the time, but it was definitely something that was on the back of their minds because of how strict my dad was. Like, we couldn't go anywhere. He would interrogate my friends. It was just. He was, he. He had to know where I was at all times, I bet.
[08:10]
A
And I mean, as far as the, the marriage itself, did it survive all of this?
[08:18]
C
No. No. So part of the reason I was born five years later is they actually divorced after Junior was kidnapped. And then at some point they got remarried and then had my, my brother and me. And then again, they divorced because it was just too much history, I think
[08:38]
A
with both of your parents. They're, you know, they're not. Not in the best of health, from what I understand. What's driving you to, to get answers now, 46 years later?
[08:51]
C
Yes. Well, my mom has had two strokes. She is now hemiplegic and non verbal. She is diagnosed with global aphasia, which means that she doesn't understand and she cannot express. I think there's some under a little bit of understanding and being able to express, but she does have that diagnosis. My dad's got poor health. He's a disabled veteran from the military, and he's also got, you know, hereditary heart problems also, also. So he's not in the best health either.
[09:27]
A
I mean, as far as you wanting to find them, though, as your parents are in this bad health, what's driving you to keep on looking and keep on searching?
[09:36]
C
Right now, I don't want my parents to pass without seeing him again.
[09:42]
A
I think we're gonna find him. I know we've got a lot of really great people working on your side. What would be the first thing that you would say to him if. If you were able to. To meet?
[09:54]
C
I have no idea. I probably tell him that he's always been loved. He's always been loved. And I don't know what kind of circumstances he had growing up, but he was definitely loved and. And thought about.
[10:10]
A
There's a place for him. Do you picture of what it. What it looks like to be Kevin today?
[10:18]
C
I'm definitely curious, you know, did he become a doctor? Did he join the military like my dad and my brother? What. What did he do?
[10:26]
A
Have you heard anything about this woman since that time? Has anyone heard about Sheila since that time? Any leads at all?
[10:38]
C
No.
[10:39]
A
We do have a picture of her, though, and I'm going to share that with everybody. Are there any more details about her that. That she told you that may not come across in a picture like that?
[10:50]
C
You know, my mom never really described her. She only described how she felt and the shock that she was in and what had happened. As far as him being abducted. There is a tattoo on her hand which could have been a drawing or removed was a X inside of the web of her left hand. So, like right in here.
[11:15]
A
Did anybody else report a strange woman coming to their door and saying, hey, can you talk to me about your baby?
[11:24]
C
Yeah. So she went to many apartments looking for a baby.
[11:29]
A
I was told that she was this woman. Sheila was asking if any E5 ranked soldiers had had a baby recently. Am I right about that? Was that information that they. She was specifically targeting military families?
[11:48]
C
She was targeting military families and she was looking for lower rank.
[11:52]
A
Angeline, do you think that Sheila was local to that area, or do you think Sheila was coming into that area?
[11:59]
D
It's hard to say, but here's what we know. She spoke to Galog the national Filipino dialect. Whether she spoke phrases or was fluent, it's unclear. But she spoke some Tagalog and she was drawn to this community. She was looking for a part Asian baby. Was her partner Filipino? Was he in the military? Did she live in, you know, have some tie to Camp Pendleton? Was he away, you know, as part of his duty and coming back and she needed to produce a baby. These are all interesting questions. Really do support the. The theories.
[12:43]
A
Yeah, no, this is so interesting. So we're kind of building a profile of what it could be, what it could. This abductor could look like. Did you contact ncmec? How did that. How has this connection happened? Angelica with Angeline and. And this incredible organization.
[12:59]
C
So a family friend told heard about my brother missing when he asked my husband about our family and he's a retired cop and so he urged me to call the FBI and have them look into the case and find out what was going on and urged me to ask for a press conference. After I called the FBI, they realized that he was not in NCMC's database. I don't think he was in any database. And so they hooked me up with NCMEC and Angeline got in contact with me.
[13:34]
A
Oh, fantastic. Well, Angeline, I mean, what. What happened when Nick mc got a hold of this information? Like what was the reaction?
[13:44]
D
Well, for me personally it was shock and anger. So many things because we had not heard about this case. Right. This case only came to us in I want to say, a few years ago. And basically what had happened was it the FBI had this case all this time, but it's, you know how it goes. And you know, new, new people come on board. It's it, you know, a case becomes cold. And at first there was a lot of attention on this case. Right. Let's say the first year. And then Angelica's parents just were so overwhelmed they didn't know. You have to think this was 46 years ago too. There was no social media. And so when they were told, we will, you know, investigate your case and we will update you. They sat back and waited until they were told something new. And one year became two years, became 10 years. Fast forward to 40 years. Here comes Angelica asking questions. And then they'll realize, oh, it is kind of back there. Right. Amazing cases.
[14:59]
C
Yeah.
[14:59]
D
And so once she contacted nc, Nick, then we got involved and worked with the FBI and our forensic artists created a new age progression of what Kevin might look like today. And we wanted to just re energize the case.
[15:16]
A
You've got a 17 day old baby. That's the picture you have. Right. How in the world do you do a progression, age progression photo with this tiny little baby to 46 years old?
[15:29]
D
Right, right. And those, our forensic artists say those are the hardest images to age, progress because babies have not formed their features fully yet and they're changing every day. Right. And so they have the 17 day old pictures, anything from 0 to 17, and then family reference photos. And so our forensic artists put all that together and, and with their expertise and the tools that they use, that's what they came up with. It's a technique we've used for a long time and it's tried and true. And the main thing that we wanted to say was that Kevin may not realize that he was abducted as a baby. He likely does not know that we believe this woman abducted him to raise him as her own child. This woman wanted a baby, a specific baby to raise as her child. And again, that's why we believe he's still out there today. That's why your audience is so important, because we can find him. When she talked to Kevin, Kevin Verville's parents, when she talked to mom and dad, that was like her second or third visit at that military housing complex. She had been there a few days before. She had talked to dozens of families, knocked on a lot of doors and took her time. So it's not like we have a scenario where a woman needs. Wants a baby, knocks on a door, finds the information and then leaves. Right. She, we believe she studied this community, selectively picked this family, which means and was looking for a baby who was newborn or under six months, was part Asian. He's. His mom is Filipino. And of course, Sheila is likely not her name. She probably was wearing a wig. The glasses were part of her disguise. It's unclear whether or not she was pregnant.
[17:36]
C
She.
[17:36]
D
Some people said that she thought, they thought she was pregnant. Some people said that she might not have been. But when we look at the profile of an infant abductor, we know that this is usually a woman who has either lost a baby recently or has lied about being pregnant and is now looking for a baby to either replace that baby or, you know, she needs to produce a baby because she's been lying.
[18:06]
A
Have you submitted your DNA to some of these ancestry sites and to. To kind of work that angle of genealogy?
[18:15]
C
Yeah, so I've been in the ancestry sites for years. I'm in Ancestry.com23andMe. Good match MyHeritage. I know there's a few more smaller ones that I'm in. And so no hits yet. I'm just waiting for maybe one of his children or him to take a DNA test.
[18:37]
A
I just did a case, Michelle Newton with, with her mom, Deborah Newton. Deborah Newton was outed basically on social media for having abducted her own daughter 43 years earlier. And her daughter had no idea that she had been a missing person for 43 years.
[18:53]
D
That's an amazing story. An amazing story. And that tells you that case after 40 something years. Right? I mean, and that mother was out in the open essentially. She was living in a different community. And so when you're talking about the Michelle Newton case, that really gives us incentive, doesn't it? If Michelle Newton can be found this, why can't Kevin Verville Jr. Be found? He can.
[19:20]
A
So what can we do now as far as getting the message out? Besides doing interviews and talking about this and showing pictures? What are the next steps with ncmec?
[19:32]
D
Well, NCMEC created a video to tell the full story and we asked that people watch that so that they understand what happened. It's about nine minutes and it's on YouTube. And then share his age progression image as much as possible and let people know that, you know, because sometimes people hear, oh, it's an old case. And they think, ah, the. No, this is an active case that's happening now even though it's 40 something years old. And for your audience, we really want to hear what their thoughts are, their suggestions are regarding this woman. Angelica mentioned the tattoo. It's on the woman's left hand in the web between her thumb and her forefinger. It was a circle with either a cross or an X. Was there a woman with a newborn baby around that time? Did something not feel right? Are you a man in your mid-40s? Is there? Have you had questions, you know, about your identity? Because he's out there and he has no idea. And we know that cases like this have been solved because people ask questions. So that's what we're asking of your audience.
[20:56]
A
We have a lot of armchair detectives out there. I call all of my armchair detectives together right now. I want them to listen to this case, put their thinking caps on, send me comments, send me information, and we will pass it on to you guys immediately. So before I forget to say something like that, I just want you to know you have a whole community here at Criminally Obsessed that is invested in your case and wants to help you find your big brother.
[21:23]
C
Thank you.
[21:25]
D
Thanks, Ann. I mean, it is like that's exactly what this case needs because it has been more than 40 years, more than 45 now, and this family's determined and they deserve answers. So this, your audience, is exactly what we need. So thank you for having us.
[21:42]
A
Drop a comment below. You never know who may be watching this, so be sure to share this episode with your friends and family and share Possibly someone out there knows where Kevin Verville is, and it would be amazing if we could be part of the story to help him find his family. Be sure to, like, subscribe. Turn on your notifications. I'll be updating this case when we can, as well as all of the other cases that you're obsessed with.