On June 2, 2011 at about 1:20 p.m. an eight-year-old girl was abducted for approximately an hour and a half, and while she was initially believed to be unharmed, police soon determined she was sexually assaulted.
Almost just as quickly, Denver Police obtained an arrest warrant for 27-year-old Bret Lee Luckett Thompson and the FBI joined in on the pursuit.
Today, the Denver District Attorney's office filed charges.
"We know it's this guy," FBI spokesman Dave Joly told the HuffPost. Joly also explained the FBI became involved partly because the victim involves "a child of tender years," and also because there's a real possibility Thompson is in another state.
"We had to go national, and we anticipate he's running," Joly said.
Denver DA spokeswoman Lynn Kimbrough explains the decision to file charges against Thompson after reviewing the case, saying her office believes they have proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
The girl was abducted in an alley way while she was playing with friends in the 400 block alley of South Raleigh Street and South Stuart Street. She was discovered about 3 miles away at the Diamond Shamrock gas station on Federal Boulevard.
In a press conference Saturday, Thompson was described as a white male, six-feet tall, 190 pounds, brown eyes, and light facial hair. Thompson also may go by the name "Wyatt" Thompson, and has a visible tattoo on his right arm that reads "SS" or "55."
Thompson's car, the vehicle he allegedly used to kidnap the victim, is described as a 1999 white Pontiac Montana with Colorado license plate number 697WJA or Louisiana license plate number STV813.
New photos were released on Thompson on Tuesday, from the surveillance of a Colorado convenience store in the early morning hours of Friday, June 3, the day after the crime.
The FBI and Denver Police are offering a $12,000 reward for tips, even if anonymous, that lead to Thompson's capture.
Anyone with information as to Thompson's whereabouts is asked to contact the Denver Police Department at 720-913-2000 or call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). You can text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter your message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com.