Florida Man Suspected in 1989 Kidnapping Arrested in the Philippines

In 1989, a seven-year-old girl went missing from a bowling alley in Tampa, Florida. Reporters say she was lured into a man’s car, sexually assaulted, and then dropped off at a different bowling alley location. At the time, rape kits were limited in their scope, and DNA testing was not nearly as developed as it is today. 

Because of this, the suspect had been unidentified for roughly 37 years, despite police sketches circulating in the news in the area. However, new and advanced DNA testing techniques, along with DNA preservation techniques, were combined to be able to identify the suspect. 

Tom Talmadge, currently aged 69, was identified from DNA evidence collected at the time of the assault. Talmadge had a warrant issued for his arrest and was just recently taken into custody in Cavite, Philippines. According to Fox News, “the Bureau of Immigration says the arrest is part of its ‘Shield Kids’ campaign, which focuses on preventing the Philippines from becoming a safe haven for fugitives accused of committing crimes against children.”

Despite his arrest, it has not been made clear by law enforcement when Talmadge will be returned to the United States. Talmadge is facing multiple charges, including sexual battery by an adult on a victim younger than age 12, lewd and lascivious acts on a child, and kidnapping to commit a felony on a child. 

Sources: Fox News, The Guardian, People Magazine