By Gina Yarbrough
Oceanside, CA–In a renewed push for answers in a 45-year-old cold case, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), in partnership with FBI San Diego, has announced new developments in the abduction of Kevin Art Verville, Jr., who was taken as an infant on July 1, 1980, in Oceanside.
Verville, Jr. was 17 days old when he was abducted from his family’s home by a woman posing as a social worker named “Sheila.” The suspect had claimed to be offering services to military families living near Camp Pendleton. Despite extensive efforts at the time, the case remains unsolved.
Officials now hope that new tools and public awareness will help bring closure. NCMEC has released an updated age-progression image of what Verville, Jr. might look like today as an adult. The FBI continues to offer a $10,000 reward for information that leads to his whereabouts and the arrest of those responsible.
“It’s very possible that Kevin Art Verville, Jr. is out there, alive, with no idea about his real identity—and we need your help to bring him home,” said Angeline Hartmann, Director of Communications at NCMEC. “We’ve studied hundreds of infant abductions. In many cases, the child grows up unaware they were taken. We believe that may be true for Kevin.”
Houtan Moshrefi, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Diego office, has continued to play an active role in the investigation, underscoring the agency’s ongoing commitment to resolving the case.
“Although baby Kevin was abducted 45 years ago, our work to reunite him with his family has not ceased,” Moshrefi said. “We ask the public to view Kevin’s updated image and contact us with any information.”
Tips can be submitted to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips.fbi.gov. Information can also be provided to NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).
