Suspicion Over White Vans Means 'Everybody's a Suspect' in Kidnapping Case

There’s one detail at the heart of an attempted kidnapping in Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, and an incident in Marion: a white van. 

Police reports have described it as a 90’s Chevy Astro Van, an Astro Van, and, in two cases, a white van.

The problem is, there’s apparently 314 white Chevy Astro vans manufactured between 1992 and 1997 registered in Linn County. Police in and Cedar Rapids say that residents have placed about the attempted kidnapping and sightings of white vans, but so far none of these calls have lead to suspects.

Cedar Rapids Police said there’s now increased scrutiny of white work vans, which, unfortunately for the investigation, are a popular make, model and color of work vans (my father owns one for his business).

A Cedar Rapids resident reflected this same sentiment to the Gazette.

“Now everyone is looking at every guy driving a white van, thinking he could do something. Everybody’s a suspect.”

This week, the FBI released surveillance photos, taken of a white van in Evansdale the day two cousins were abducted there. That lead turned out to have no connection to the case, authorities said.

Click for background on the Marion and Cedar Rapids incidents , for information on the Dubuque incident, and for the Evansdale abduction.