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Grand Junction kidnapping suspect shoots himself; 12-year-old girl found safe

Police found girl at Walmart in Rifle
Posted at 11:28 PM, Apr 26, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-27 17:55:10-04

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – A suspect at the center of a manhunt for allegedly kidnapping his stepdaughter in Grand Junction has shot himself, according to law enforcement.

The Garfield County Sheriff's Office said Friday morning that Jody Haskin, 47, turned the gun on himself at about 7:30 a.m. as law enforcement closed in. Authorities wouldn't confirm that Haskin died but Rifle Police said they're investigating the death of a man believed to be Haskin. The county coroner will be responsible for identifying the man.

Haskin was a suspect in the disappearance of his 12-year-old stepdaughter, Raeanna Rosencrans.

Rosencrans was found just before 10 p.m. Thursday at the Walmart in Rifle, according to the Grand Junction Police Department. While she appeared to be physically unharmed, the girl was taken to a local hospital to be checked out, a press release from the Grand Junction Police Department states.

Haskin was wanted for one count of second-degree kidnapping in connection with the alleged abduction and a warrant for his arrest was issued early Thursday evening.

Amber Alert issued six hours after girl goes missing

An Amber Alert was issued Wednesday after Rosencrans was last seen willingly getting into a green “boxy” sedan in the area of D 1/2 Road and Larry’s Meadow Drive at around 3 p.m. shortly after she was dropped off by a school bus. That vehicle was later located in Rifle.

Earlier Thursday, police said their investigation led them to identify Rosencrans’s stepfather as a person of interest in the girl’s disappearance. Police later said he was a named suspect. 

Haskin's criminal history  

Haskin has another active warrant for his arrest on 12 counts of felony charges related to sexual assault of children stemming from 2006 incidents, according to court records. In addition to the 12 counts, the warrant also carries three sentence enhancers for habitual sex offenses.

The warrant was issued out of Mesa County in February, but court records indicate Haskin was never arrested. The counts include sex assault on a child – pattern of abuse, incest and sex assault on a child by one in a position of trust.