Thanks to a concerned citizen and the quick response of a Virginia State Police trooper, two girls were rescued from the back of a U-Haul truck Tuesday (Oct. 8, 2013) afternoon.
Shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday, a motorist called State Police after seeing two young, visibly upset children being forced into the back of a U-Haul truck parked at the northbound Interstate 81 rest area at the 262 mile marker in Rockingham County. Upon receiving the call, Trooper I.S. Sargent immediately responded to the rest area and located the truck before it left the parking lot.
Trooper Sargent approached the male driver of the U-Haul, Khalid L. Sheffield, and ascertained from him that indeed two girls, ages 4 and 11, were locked inside the back of the truck. When Sheffield opened the door to the back of the truck, the Trooper observed the two girls inside. Sheffield had his belongings stored in the back of the truck along with a makeshift bed and some food for the girls. A further consent search of the truck by the trooper yielded the discovery of marijuana and various nondescript pills. The U-Haul had been traveling from Alabama, en route to Massachusetts, when it stopped at the rest area.
The trooper took Sheffield, 42, of Stockton, Calif., and his female passenger, Kathleen M. Duenas, 36, of Birmingham, Ala., into custody without incident. They are both being held at the Rockingham County Jail.
Sheffield has been charged with one count of kidnapping by a parent, two counts of child endangerment, two counts of possession of illegal drugs, and two counts of possession of drugs with the intent to distribute. Sheffield is the father of the 11-year-old girl.
Duenas was charged with two counts of child endangerment, two counts of possession of illegal drugs, and two counts of possession of drugs with the intent to distribute. Duenas is the mother of the 4-year-old girl.
Harrisonburg-Rockingham County Child Protective Services responded to the rest area to take custody of the sisters.
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Chris Graham
