Parents on edge after girl says masked people tried to kidnap her at bus stop

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Parents in Orange County are on edge after a 15-year-old girl said two people wearing masks tried to kidnap her Monday at a bus stop.

The girl was waiting on the corner of North Forsyth Road and Turquoise Lane when the masked people pulled up between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m., deputies said.

Investigators said the passenger was a man with dreadlocks and wearing all black clothing.

"I saw police and several people lined down this street across the street," parent Robin Person said. "It frightened me."

Person said she then received a recorded message from her daughter’s school.

“A student was approached by an individual while at the bus stop,” Glenridge Middle School Principal Trevor Honohan said in the message. “The student fled and law enforcement was contacted immediately.”

Person said the school didn't notify her about the incident until about an hour before school let out.

"That concerned me as a parent, knowing that she could have gotten off the bus without me being home," Person said.

Person said she plans to accompany her daughter to her bus stop every morning.

Edgardo Lopez said his 17-year-old daughter catches her school bus right around the corner from where the incident is alleged to have happened.

“As a parent, it's pretty scary,” Lopez said. “I'm worried about that. I'm very alarmed.”

As two deputy patrol cars stood guard, parent Christina Richardson walked her children across Forsyth Road.

"Actually that's the first time I've ever seen them parking right there. So it’s good they're watching and making sure nothing bad happens," said Richardson. "I actually grew up in this neighborhood so I just can't believe it happened this close to home. I went to that school as well as a child."

Richardson said she offered to help her neighbors.

"I was telling the people down the street because I didn't know if they knew. So I was like, ‘I'll just bring your kids home,’ so they don't walk by themselves,” she said. "I think the area bad around here. A lot of bad people. So, bad things going on. It's sad."

Watch more about what parents had to say below:

Orange County Public Schools also sent an automatic call to parents of students at nearby Cheney Elementary School.

Deputies said they're searching for two people driving a newer-model blue four-door sedan, possibly a Nissan.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Crimeline at 407-423-8477.

Cox Media Group