Mother, children reunited following carjacking

Published 9:00 pm Wednesday, October 18, 2006

ARLINGTON — A Marysville woman was reunited with her two young children early this morning several hours after she reported that a man had carjacked her van with them still inside.

Abigail Sobania, 4, and Caleb Sobania, 2, were found uninjured about 5 a.m. inside their mothers silver minivan. Three machinists found the van behind the foundry where they work in the 13100 block of 41st Avenue NE in Marysville.

The children were brought to the Arlington Police Department where the 23-year-old mom spent the night with family monitoring the investigation.

When youre with a mom who has been on pins and needles all night, and you see them reunited, its a powerful feeling, Arlington Police Chief John Gray said.

Now the hunt is on for the suspect.

The woman told police she was loading her children into her van about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday outside Rite Aid in the 17200 block of Smokey Point Boulevard. The man allegedly walked up behind her and threatened her with a knife, Gray said.

Then he drove the mother and her children to north Marysville, where he stopped the van.

The woman told authorities she and the man struggled alongside the van. Then the man returned to the van and drove away with her children still inside, Gray said.

The woman ran to a nearby home and called 911.

Police released a sketch of the suspect early today. Hes described as a white man in his 30s, about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, with a shaved head and a slight goatee. He was wearing a navy blue or black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Anybody who carjacks and takes children needs to be held ultimately accountable, Gray said.

An Amber Alert turned up two leads in Snohomish County, but neither led investigators to the stolen van.

Arlington police received help throughout the night from law enforcement agencies throughout the county. An FBI agent came to the police station to assist with the investigation, Gray said.

Detectives will begin searching the van today for clues they hope may lead to the carjacker. They will ask the children for details about their abductor, Gray said.

Investigators are also gathering video footage from surveillance cameras at businesses surrounding the Rite Aid.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the Arlington Police Department at 360-403-3400.

We need to know who the offender is, Gray said. Somebody knows this guy.

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.