Oct 4, 2008 8:15 pm US/Central
Mistaken Identity In Attempted Abudction Case
Arezow Doost
WEATHERFORD (CBS 11 News) ―
A north Texas School District is apologizing to two families.
It appears a mistake was made by an attendance clerk at Tison Middle School in Weatherford.
Weatherford Independent School District tells CBS 11 the problem is that the students have similar names.
On Monday Crystal Wright got a note in class which said to meet her father after school and not ride the bus.
When Crystal walked out after school she couldn't find her mom or dad so she immediately called them.
"I got my stuff and went to my locker and went outside and stood in front of the school looking for my mom and dad's truck and they weren't out there," said Crystal Wright.
The reason for the mix up is simple. The father of another student wanted to pick up his daughter, but the note he left with the clerk went to Crystal instead.
The Wrights, terrified that their daughter could have been kidnapped, called police.
"You don't know who is stalking her or will come and get her," said Lawrence Wright, Crystal's father.
Investigators released surveillance photos and wanted to know what the man was doing on campus.
Turns out he was simply there to pick up his own daughter.
"The two names the girls first and last names are extremely close to another students first and last name and the note was delivered to the wrong student," said Dr. Deborah Cron the Weatherford ISD Superintendent.
The district's policy requires parents to show their driver's license when they are picking up their students.
They will be reviewing their procedure.
"We are very sorry for the difficulties we put both families through," said Dr. Cron.
The Wright family feels relieved knowing that their daughter was not a target and that this was just a mis-understanding.
"Whole house left off your shoulders! Thank God it was all thanks to Channel 11 News," said Lawrence Wright.
The district says the attendance clerk will not be disciplined. Instead, they say they will focus on extra training and make sure everyone knows their policy.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
