Peabody Police: Recent abduction attempts not related

PEABODY-After two reported abduction attempts in one week, the town’s police chief says the cases do not appear to be connected.”We want to assure the public we take this matter seriously,” said Peabody Police Chief Robert L. Champagne. “We have put extra patrols in the neighborhood just in case.”Champagne says the most recent incident, which was reported shortly after 11 p.m. Sunday when a woman said she was grabbed on Joy Road, has not turned up many leads and there were some inconsistencies in her story.However, he says police are very concerned about the earlier incident on Oct. 3 around 7:30 p.m. when a 17-year-old woman was stabbed once in the lower back during an apparent abduction attempt on Troy Road.”We’ve had no similar incidents like that in years,” Champagne said.The victim, who was walking near her home, reported being grabbed from behind by an unknown man before she got away.”She has no prior grudges and she’s not gang related,” Champagne said.Using K-9 dogs, police scoured the South Peabody neighborhood all night looking for the suspect. Over a week later, no arrests have been made.The suspect was described as a white male, approximately six feet tall, between 18 and 22 years old, wearing a white t-shirt and dark colored pants, possibly sweatpants.Police spokesperson Lt. Dennis Bonaiuto urges anyone with information to come forward.”This is something that’s unusual in this city,” Bonaiuto said. “It’s not a common occurrence.”Detective/Sergeant Scott Richards, Det. Robert Church and Patrolman Richard Rose are handling the investigation. Anyone with information is urged to call the Peabody Police Department at 978-531-1212 or 978-538-6364. Callers are assured of confidentiality,