On the late morning of Friday, March 29th, you were likely startled to receive an AMBER alert that was briefly issued for 3 year old Liam David Pagan, who was seated inside of a 2021 Toyota Red Camry on Exchange Street in Chicopee.
But what exactly is an AMBER Alert and how did it start?
What Happened Early Friday Morning?
Around 8:50am earlier that morning, a 2021 Red Camry was stolen outside of a store on Exchange Street in Chicopee. The car was reportedly left running “less than a minute,” and had 3 year old Liam David Pagan in the backseat.
Liam has autism, and was wearing a “green Easter shirt with a dinosaur and eggs.” at the time according to the AMBER Alert.
The alert also described the suspect as a man in his 50s or 60s and was wearing black Crocs and black pants.
The license plate of the car was captured on a license plate reader on Route 91 in Longmeadow; before the suspect fled further south into Connecticut.
The suspect then dropped Liam in the back of Rodeway Inn in East Windsor, CT. Liam was found unharmed and was evaluated at a local hospital.
Surveillance footage shows the suspect dropping off the boy and driving off. The footage later shows Liam approach a woman walking her dog. The woman brought Liam to the front of the hotel and authorities were called. Liam was officially found safe by police at 10:42am.
The stolen red Camry was quickly found abandoned outside of a Stop & Shop in Windsor, CT at approximately 10:30am. The suspect was quickly apprehended outside of Anytime Fitness in Windsor, CT by 10:48am.
The suspect is 52 year old Vadim Vorobyov of Springfield, MA, and he is currently detained at state police barracks in Hartford, CT with a 2 million dollar bond.
Vorobyov is being charged in both Massachusetts and Connecticut, in Massachusetts he is charged with kidnapping, child endangerment, and larceny of a motor vehicle. In Connecticut he is charged with fugitive from justice, child endangerment, and kidnapping.
Authorities say they believe the act was random and were told the suspect did not know Liam.
How and Why Did AMBER Alert Start?
According to AMBER Alert (.gov), The AMBER Alert System began in 1996 when broadcasters from the Dallas-Fort Worth area teamed with police to develop an early warning system to find abducted children. AMBER is an acronym that stands for America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response, and serves as a legacy for 9 year-old Amber Hagerman. 
Amber was kidnapped after riding her bike outside of her grandmother’s house in Arlington, Texas, and her body was found four days later in a drainage ditch. Her case remains unsolved 28 years later and her killer has never been identified.
The alert system was adopted nationwide despite some variation in responses from state to state. However, for an Amber Alert to be issued the missing person in question must be below the age of 18 and law enforcement must believe that the child is in imminent danger of injury or death.
According to AMBER Alert (.gov) “As of December 31, 2023, 1,186 children were successfully recovered through the AMBER Alert system and 165 children were rescued because of wireless emergency alerts. There are 82 AMBER Alert plans throughout the United States.”
Can I Actually Help In an Investigation?
When they are issued it is important to take these alerts seriously, and to be on the lookout for possible vehicles or suspects who match the descriptions of these alerts. As you can certainly aid in the recovery of a missing child and or capture of a suspect.
This was highlighted just recently in 2020, when a couple followed a car that matched an AMBER Alerts’ description on the Massachusetts Turnpike near Brimfield. The couple’s decision to follow the car in a high speed pursuit led to the capture of Miguel Rodriguez who kidnapped 11-year old Charlotte Moccia who was getting off the school bus in Springfield.
If you ever happen to acquire any possible information in any missing person case or a possible crime contact appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Sources
https://www.wwlp.com/news/crime/police-vehicle-stolen-in-chicopee-with-child-inside/
https://amberalert.ojp.gov/es/node/256
AMBER Alert Resources