PHOENIX, Ariz. – Phoenix FBI Special Agent in Charge John E. Lewis, FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Garrity Jr., Mohave County Sheriff Tom Sheahan, and Aurora, Colorado Police Chief Daniel Oates announced today the safe return of Jade Dunn, age 5, who was abducted on September 06, 2007 from Kingman, Arizona.

Jennifer Dunn, the victim’s mother, contacted the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office reporting that on September 06, 2007, Jade Dunn was picked up from school by Patricia Sanford, who was on a contact list to pick up the child, but was not authorized or expected to pick her up on that date. On September 16, 2007, the victim’s grandmother was contacted by Sanford who advised that Jade had been transported out of Arizona. Sanford then began to relay messages to the grandmother from Virgil Kosmicki, previously Jade’s stepfather, who was initially reported as demanding two ounces of methamphetamine in exchange for Jade.

Sheriff Tom Sheahan, said "I'm pleased with our collective efforts between agencies and have arrested the suspect and reunited the child with relatives."

After an extensive investigation by the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office, it was believed that Jade Dunn was being held by Kosmicki near Denver, Colorado. On September 18, 2007, the FBI’s assistance was requested to conduct additional investigative work in Colorado. Phoenix FBI field agents and analysts began to work closely with the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office to expand their investigation in and around the Denver, Colorado area.

With information provided by the Mohave County Sheriff’s Office and assessed by FBI Phoenix analysts, FBI field agents in Denver quickly determined that Kosmicki was possibly in Aurora, Colorado. Agents enlisted the assistance of the Aurora Police Department and together law enforcement was able to locate Dunn at a residence in Aurora, Colorado and return her to Kingman, Arizona.

“Protecting the lives and safety of our children is a job taken very seriously by the FBI,” commented Denver FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert J. Garrity Jr., “This portentous coordination by various levels of law enforcement denotes the importance of this priority,”

Aurora Police Chief stated, “Child crimes have a very special place in our hearts as children are truly the “innocent”. We are more than happy to assist, and we are grateful that our efforts albeit minimal, have assisted in returning a child home.”

Kosmicki was also located at the residence and arrested. Despite the previous relationship between Kosmicki and the victim’s mother, Kosmicki had no legal rights regarding custody of Jade Dunn. Kosmicki is presently being held without bail awaiting extradition.