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A former Marine Corps intelligence operative who helped capture al-Qaeda insurgents in Iraq used his skills to track down a Maryland dog kidnapper after the pet’s sudden disappearance left a family devastated.
Rick Machamer, who lives in Arlington, Virginia, heard about Raquel Witherspoon’s robbery on the local television news and thought he could help.
Witherspoon received text messages along with a video of her dog, Avery, a Yorkie, locked in a crate along with a $1,200 ransom demand.
Despite bringing the case to the police, she was told it would be a week before officers could start looking into the case, so she went to local media, pointing out how the dog was an emotional support animal for her son. 12 years old. daughter, Semaj.
Avery, Yorkie, was snatched from Maryland resident Raquel Witherspoon’s doorstep
He caught the eye of Rick Machamer, a former Marine Corps intelligence operative, who used skills honed on the battlefields of Iraq to help track down a dog-abductor.
Raquel Witherspoon’s Yorkshire terrier, Avery, was stolen and caught on camera
Machamer, who owns a Norwegian hound and a Pomeranian, was concerned that someone might steal his beloved pets and contacted the family.
“I couldn’t imagine my reaction if someone took one of my dogs, especially if they sent me a picture of one in a cage,” she told the outlet. Washington Post.
The ex-military’s skills lie in tracking and gathering information. His skills were such that he was honored for participating in operations that saw him help capture al-Qaeda leaders in Iraq’s al-Anbar province.
He offered to help Witherspoon locate her dog, and she quickly agreed.
Machamer, who runs a corporate intelligence firm that conducts opposition research for political campaigns, first used his resources to track down the kidnapper’s phone number.
Witherspoon’s door camera captures the dog being kidnapped by a redheaded suspect
He ran the suspect’s phone number through an online database and used software to extract geolocation data from video of Avery in his cage, but it turned up no leads.
She then searched customer reviews of local salons near Witherspoon’s home, hoping to find the perpetrator thanks to her distinctive dyed-red hair that could be clearly seen on doorstep camera video. Once again, she was unable to obtain any useful information.
Machamer then decided to check the number of dognappers through his personal Instagram account in an effort to see if any profiles were connected to the number.
Incredibly, Machamer found a lead via the social media platform, which linked him to a body piercing business near Witherspoon’s home and a post that also linked to the owner’s personal Instagram account.
Machamer had tracked al-Qaeda insurgents on the battlefields of Iraq. He saw Witherspoon’s plea for Avery’s return on a local news channel and decided she had to help.
Machamer discovered that the owner had posted about another dog going missing in the Witherspoon neighborhood before Avery was taken away.
Googling around a bit, he came up with a social media post about the missing dog.
There was even a photo of the family talking to police about the dog along with someone who clearly looked like the dog abductor from Witherspoon’s doorbell camera. The photograph even showed the address of the house.
Four days after Avery’s disappearance, Witherspoon also received a tip that someone in the same house who had just been identified by Machamer was actually behind the dog kidnapping.
‘I was like, ‘They got it back!’ said Witherspoon’s daughter, Semaj, pictured above. “I didn’t want to face the reality of never seeing my dog again.”
Together they gave the information to police and Avery was recovered two days later, after a Prince George’s County police detective went to the home and recovered the dog.
‘I was like, ‘They got it back!’ said Witherspoon’s daughter, Semaj. “I didn’t want to face the reality of never seeing my dog again.
A 16-year-old girl was charged with theft and admitted to involvement in the theft along with an attempt to extort Witherspoon in exchange for the pet. She pleaded guilty before trial.
Dog kidnapping is becoming increasingly common in the US, with the American Kennel Club suggesting around 1,500 cases per year.
The French bulldog, the German shepherd, the Yorkshire terrier and the Labrador retriever are the breeds most sought after by criminals.