15 year old Female steals Patrol Car in Nebraska - Armed and dangerous, search continues

Manhunt Continues

Found on Oct. 8, 2004, Nuckolls County - Kate Ellingson

Tense moments as the Nebraska State Patrol searches high and low for a fugitive on the run. The felon is a 15 year old girl.

The manhunt started around 8:30 this morning after a state patrol trooper spotted a reported stolen car from Cozad. The events actually started Tuesday in Dawson County. Lexington Police had a 15 year old runaway from Elm Creek into custody. They were supposed to transport her to Overton and hand her over to Buffalo County authorities, that's when she stole a police car. Police believe she dumped the patrol car and stole another car from Cozad.

Authorities are still searching for the girl, 15 year old Wendy Valencia. Dawson County officials say she is armed and dangerous. The manhunt peaked when gun shots were fired at a patrol car early this morning in Clay County. So far the search has come up empty handed, but authories are doing everything they can to track the teen. During the chase the teen broke into a home in Lawrence.

Pat and Kristie Himmelberg were looking forward to a quiet night at home with their baby, that plan changed when armed suspects were loose in the area.

"The county deputy searched the area, and saw our back door broken and notified myself and I showed up and gave the floor plans to the swat team," says Pat. Fortunately their 15 month old baby was at grandma's house.

"The house is a mess, I feel invaded, I can't believe it," says Kristie. "There's blood on the carpet and mud everywhere and food everywhere."

It appears the suspects tore up the house, leaving beer bottles around the house and lighting off fire crackers, making burns all over the carpet. While they were in the house they put together a duffel bag with jewelry and food that they could find and even a cell phone that didn't even work anymore. "It looks like they were spooked out of here," says Pat. And now so are the Himmelbergs.

"I'm very angry she invaded my home and my life, we live here and in the country and you don't think this would happen, maybe in the big city," says Kristie.

The house is basically destroyed with broken glass everywhere, just unsafe. The Himmelberg's will be staying the night with family.

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