Possible New Clue Develops In Case Of Missing Taylor Behl - The Post Chronicle

Possible New Clue Develops In Case Of Missing Taylor Behl
by Mike Baron, Sep 28, 2005

There appears to be a new clue in the disappearance of Virginia college student Taylor Behl. Richmond Police are asking anyone who can shed some light about a stolen Virginia license plate -- that could be connected to Behl's disappearance -- to contact the authorities. The plate is "GRN ERTH."

The personalized plate was stolen in Richmond around the same time the 17-year-old Virginia Commonwealth University freshman disappeared, and "preliminary information" indicates that the two events may be connected, police said, according to published reports.

Police also said the stolen plate was placed on a different car. They want to know what kind of car, where and when it was seen and if possible, a description of who was driving it. If you can provide any information, they are asking you to please call (804) 514-TIPS.

The person it was stolen from is not connected to the case, Richmond police spokeswoman Cynthia Price said, according to the AP. Citing the ongoing investigation, she declined to release further details.

Fawley No Longer Person Of Interest

According to police in Richmond, Va., 38-year-old photagrapher Ben Fawley, a self-described license-plate collector who got the nickname "Skulz" for the number of human skulls he has drawn, made and collected is no longer a 'person of interest' in the disappearance of Virginia Commonwealth University freshman Taylor Behl.

Police spokeswoman Kirsten Nelson said it's just a matter of semantics. She said Fawley is still someone police are interested in and that he's "still a part of this case," according to published reports

Fawley was initially called a 'person of interest' because police wanted to interview him.

Fawley, who has admitted to being intimate with Behl, was thrown into the local media spotlight because of photographs he posted on an Internet art Web site featuring a fully clothed Behl modeling. During their investigation, police seized evidence including a reported seven computers from the photographer's home.

Fawley was arraigned Monday on 16 counts of possession of child pornography and ordered held without bond.

Police say they found the evidence while searching Fawley's home for items that might belong to Behl, such as clothing.

Fawley's computers contained at least 30 movies depicting sexual acts with children between 10 and 14 years old — and as young as 1 to 2 years old.

Fawley, reportedly wrote in his profile on OneModelPlace.com: "Gotta have some fun before I start looking my age."

Behl, a 17-year-old freshman from Vienna, Va., was last seen Sept. 5 leaving her dorm. She was reported missing two days later.

She is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 135 pounds. Police said she was last seen wearing blue jeans and a black hooded sweatshirt.

Anyone with information should call Richmond City Police Department at (877) 244-4357, Virginia State Police at (800) 822-4453 or (804) 828-1196.

Last week, police said they had several persons of interest in the case. Richmond police spokeswoman Cynthia Price says that now they have none.

Second Car Found

Richmond Police said they have impounded a second car in connection with their investigation into Behl.

This car, a tan Nissan Altima, was recovered by police approximately two days ago. It is being examined by forensic teams for any trace of the 17-year-old.

Kirsten Nelson said that investigators are interested in the vehicle because Behl is believed to have been in it sometime prior to her disappearance. Nelson did not disclose where the car was recovered or to whom it is registered.

"Right now, it's a very small piece of a very big puzzle," said Nelson, according to published reports.

George Peterson, an attorney for Behl's mother, Janet Pelasara, said he believes police were alerted to look for the vehicle as a result of interviews and evidence gathered from a search of Behl's own car, a white Ford Escort.

That car, was found two weeks later, about two miles away. The car's Virginia plates were reportedly replaced by a set of Ohio tags that had been reported stolen in Richmond.

Read the full article at : Possible New Clue Develops In Case Of Missing Taylor Behl - The Post Chronicle