Man charged with kidnapping in case of missing Amish teen

Kevin Moore
York Daily Record
Justo Smoker

East Lampeter Township Police have charged 34-year-old Justo Smoker with the kidnapping of Linda Stoltzfoos, the Amish teen who has been missing since June 21.

Police said they charged Smoker Friday with felony kidnapping and misdemeanor false imprisonment. He was arraigned Saturday and District Judge Joshua Keller made him ineligible for bail.

Stoltzfoos was last seen around 12:30 p.m., on Sunday June 21, after leaving a church service at a home in Bird-in-Hand, in Lancaster County.

Local police and FBI continue to search for the 18-year-old. Community volunteers have been helping in the searches.

More:FBI offers reward for information on missing Amish teen Linda Stoltzfoos

More:Missing Lancaster, Pa. Amish woman: What we know now about Linda Stoltzfoos

Smoker became a person of interest after witnesses told police that an Amish woman was seen in the passenger seat of a vehicle that matched the description of Smoker's red Kia Rio sedan.

Investigators said Smoker's vehicle was seen parked in a rural location in Ronks on June 23. That is the same location investigators believe Stoltzfoos was taken after being kidnapped. 

Police obtained video that shows the abduction of Stoltzfoos on Beechdale Road and Smoker's vehicle is shown involved in the abduction.

More:FBI joins search to find missing Amish teen

Investigators are asking if anyone may have saw Smoker, or his car, during the time of the abduction to contact police at 717-291-4676. 

Smoker's car is a red Kia Rio sedan with an "LCM" sticker on the trunk with the Pennsylvania license plate KYB-9713.